Introduce kids to the Savior of sinners. This is a series of audio podcasts for kids who want to meet with Jesus by
using Meeting with Jesus: A Bible Reading Plan for Kids (RHB) Listen to previous episodes here.

As you get older you are going to face some hard situations. Some of
them will feel like impossible situations.

• There’s no solution to our problem
• There’s no way out of this situation
• There’s no way I can face this challenge

Mary faced an impossible situation. In Luke 1:34-38, we’ll see how the impossible became possible for Mary.

SOME THINGS ARE IMPOSSIBLE FOR US (34)

• Mary’s impossibility (34): A child when she hasn’t been married
• Mary’s question (34): How can this be? It’s impossible

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD (35-38)

• God’s explanation (35): The Holy Spirit will do this
• God’s example (36): Mary’s cousin Elizabeth has had a child in her old age
• Mary’s faith (38): “Let it be to me according to your word.”

Remember when some things are impossible for us, nothing is impossible for God.

Listen to this episode on Living the
Bible podcast. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Spotify.

Introduce kids to the Savior of sinners. This is a series of audio podcasts for kids who want to meet with Jesus by using Meeting with Jesus: A Bible Reading Plan for Kids (RHB) Listen to previous episodes here.

One of the biggest mistakes we can make is to try to be happy without Jesus

• We try to find joy in small things (ending up with small joy)
• We try to find joy in short-lived things (ending up with short joy)
• We miss the greatest joy of all (ending up with no joy)

Jesus came to give us joy (John 15:11). In fact Jesus brought joy to Mary before he was even born. In Luke 1:28, an angel came to tell Mary that she would be Jesus’ mother. The angel’s first words were “Rejoice highly favored one” (NKJV). Why was she to rejoice?

The Lord loves you (28)

• The Lord favors you (28)
• The Lord is with you (28)
• The Lord is blessing you (28)

The Lord is saving you (31-33)

• Jesus will be in you (31): Jesus will be your son
• Jesus will be over you (32-33): Jesus will be your Lord and Savior

Now do you see how Jesus made Mary happy? So how can we be happy? Same way as Mary, Rejoice in Jesus’s love and Jesus’s salvation.

Listen to this episode on Living the Bible podcast. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Spotify.

“Social justice” is a term that few of us had heard until recently. Now it’s mainstream in our culture, and even in many churches. But what does it mean?

If we look up a dictionary, the words simply mean “justice in society”, which all Christians support. We all surely want a fair society that treats everyone the same before the law regardless of color, age, gender, etc. And we don’t just want equal treatment before the law; we also seek fair treatment for all in all walks of life and oppose all bigotry and prejudice.

However, if ask our culture what “social justice” means, we get a much more political definition. It has more to do with environmentalism, punitive redistribution of wealth, reparations, anti-capitalism, positive discrimination, the redefinition of marriage and gender, and transgender rights.

I could provide a biblical analysis of this social justice movement. I could offer a constructive critique that highlights its pros (e.g. it’s desire for a better society) and cons (e.g. it’s definition of a just society and the methods used in getting there). However, this is such a political hot potato that I fear it could inflame passions and be spiritually unprofitable. I’ve linked to some articles at the end if you want to follow up on that.

In this sermon, though, I’d like to simply provide an exposition of a key passage in Proverbs that  highlights the advantages of pursuing the Bible’s view of social justice. I hope to show that if we followed the Bible’s teaching on this, it would transform our society in a wonderful way. Indeed, such a just society would be a powerful argument for Christianity.

For more, see my sermon notes.

Has anyone ever told you, “You need to change?” and you’ve wondered what on earth are they talking about? They see it but you can’t see it. Or perhaps you reply, “I know, but I don’t want to change.” Or, “I know, I want to change, and I’ve tried to change, but I just can’t.” Or, “I’m trying, but it’s just so slow and small.” Personal change is hard. It faces four big obstacles

• We don’t see the need (lack of insight)
• We don’t want to change (lack of desire)
• We can’t change (lack of ability)
• We change so slowly (lack of hope)

Colossians 3:1-4 will help us see the need for change, strengthen the desire to change, point us to the power for change, and give us hope of change.

For more, see my sermon notes here.

Introduce kids to the Savior of sinners. This is a series of audio podcasts for kids who want to meet with Jesus by using Meeting with Jesus: A Bible Reading Plan for Kids (RHB) Listen to previous episodes here.

WEEK ONE: SUNDAY

Well done, you’ve completed the first week of Meeting with Jesus.

This week we’ve been thinking about how God prepared the world for Jesus. Today, Sunday, Meeting with Jesus asks you a very personal question: How can you prepare the way for Jesus to come into your heart?

I want to tell you how God prepared my heart for Jesus.

1. God prepared me with truth

• Truth from parents
• Truth at church

2. God prepared me with sadness

• Sad deaths
• Sad events
• Sad sins

3. God prepared me with Christians

• I saw their joy
• I saw their kindness

Ask God to prepare your heart for Jesus and give him truth to work with.

Listen to this episode on Living the Bible podcast. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Spotify.

Introduce kids to the Savior of sinners. This is a series of audio podcasts for kids who want to meet with Jesus by using Meeting with Jesus: A Bible Reading Plan for Kids (RHB) Listen to previous episodes here.

WEEK 1: SATURDAY

Have you ever been ashamed? Maybe you fell at school and got your clothes all dirty and ripped. You didn’t want anyone to see you.

• Shame makes us hide
• Shame makes us lonely
• Shame makes us sad

Elizabeth was ashamed. She was an old lady but had never had children. In her culture people believed that was a result of God’s curse. She was ashamed. Let’s see how God took away her shame in Luke 1:23-25.

1. The Lord gives new life (24)

• Elizabeth believed the promise of life
• Elizabeth experienced the growth of life

2. The Lord takes away old shame (25)

• God took away her shame before himself
• God took away her shame before people

Look to God to give you new life by taking away old shame.

Listen to this episode on Living the Bible podcast. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Spotify.