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From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2)

Have you ever faced something that seemed insurmountable? On Wednesday, July 19, 1989, Mark Wellman began his ascent up the 3,000 vertical feet of El Capitan, a sheer rock granite in Yosemite National Park. A few rock climbers have successfully scaled El Capitan, but this time was different. Mark gained national recognition by becoming the first paraplegic to have climbed El Capitan with newspaper headlines reading, “Paraplegic and partner prove no wall is too high to scale." This feat was made possible with the support of his trusted friend, Mike Cobertt, who climbed ahead of Mark to anchor ropes at each stage of the ascent. Together, Mark and Mike reached the summit. Like Mark, we can face mountains in life that make us feel overwhelmed. During those times God promises to be our trusted guide.

In Psalm 61, King David found himself in circumstances that were beyond his control. Although the nature of his despair is not spelled out, he shares that his suffering wore on him to the point of despair. David’s urgent prayer was that he would be able to experience peace in God’s presence by reaching the summit of The Rock, a motif for Christ, the ‘Rock of Ages.’ David is well aware that the rock is too high for him to reach in his own strength, so he cries out to God to be his mountain guide. Only by trusting in God’s leading will he be able to scale the mountain and take refuge. Only by depending on God’s unfailing love will David experience the rest he seeks in the rock that is higher than him, a rock where rest can only be found in the presence of Christ.

It can be overwhelming to consider that our holy God would be willing to be our mountain guide. He knows that in our own strength we could never scale the mountain of loss, fear, despair, anxious thoughts, or hurtful habits. But through His love and grace He leads us to Christ our refuge. Only in Christ will we be above the reach of the enemy seeking to conquer Christ’s loved ones. For David, troubles appear to lose their grasp when they are surveyed from the pinnacle of God’s perspective. Today, may our prayer be, “God lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

Reflect

1. What insurmountable mountain are you facing today? How does the assurance of God being your devoted guide give you comfort?
2. The “rock that is higher than I” represents Christ, the Rock of Ages. What are some ways we can attempt to reach the summit in our own strength? 
3. Since you can never reach the summit of Christ by yourself, what specific areas is God asking you to trust Him with today? 

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. (1 John 4:9)

You cannot be near to God without being affected by His divine love. Born in 1707, Charles Wesley, wrote ten poetic lines each day for 50 years; no wonder he is called the greatest hymn writer of all time. Ten lines each day may not sound like much, but it quickly adds up. To put it into perspective, if you were to sing one hymn every day, it would take you nearly 25 years to get through the 8,989 songs Wesley wrote. One of those hymns is titled, Love Divine, all Loves Excelling, and it was sung today at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in Westminster Abby, England. The hymn touches on various elements of Christian doctrine, including the praiseworthiness of God’s divine love as expressed in the incarnation of Christ.

In 1 John 4:9, the apostle seeks to describe the lavish love of God for us through the sending of His Son. The divine love of God was released through the sending of His Son to this world. The incarnation reminds us that Jesus did not seek to save us from a distance, rather He came to this broken and sinful earth so that we might live through Him. Here, John makes a significant distinction when he encourages his audience to live through Christ. The life he is referring to is not simply the physical existence of flesh, blood, and bones, rather it goes much deeper. The divine love of God was revealed so that we might live a life of eternal significance, a life that replaces bitterness with forgiveness, selfishness with generosity, and hate with love. Such a life is impossible unless God’s divine love, through Christ, fills our hearts. Could it be that is why Wesley included the following stanza:

Jesus, Thou art all compassion,

Pure, unbounded love Thou art;

Visit us with Thy salvation,

Enter every trembling heart.

Today, let’s pray that the limitless love of God will allow us to see others through the excelling love of Christ towards us. No other love can motivate us towards God’s mission more than His love divine.

Reflect

• In John 17:20-23, Jesus prays that the world would know that He was sent from God through the love and unity His followers show towards each other. How is God’s divine love and our personal/institutional mission connected?
• How does getting closer to God’s divine love affect and effect your life? 

“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10, NIV)  

“But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”” (Daniel 3:18, NIV) 

God may not always save us from the fire, but He will be with us through the fire. Last week our campus heard the remarkable story of Kechi Okwuchi at Convocation. As shared in the Southern Accent, Kechi was one of two passengers who survived a plane crash that took the lives of 107 individuals in 2005. She tragically suffered third-degree burns on 65 percent of her body due to that accident, yet she refused to allow her pain to limit her purpose. Kechi currently advocates for several organizations including the United Nations Foundation #TOGETHERBAND project. 

Do not be surprised if a trial is kindled while you are in the midst of trusting in God. In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar tests the faith of three Hebrew young adults. The King commands Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to bow down to his golden image or pay the ultimate price and be thrown into the fire. Their response to the King was immediate. They knew God had the power to save, but they continued and said, “even if He does not.” You see, it is easy to be faithful when God answers our prayers according to our expectations, but what happens when He doesn’t? An even if faith says, “I am going to trust anyway, I am going to be faithful anyway, and I am going to believe anyway.” Even when we are facing the furnace, we can choose to have an even if faith!

As you experience your faith being tested your sorrows can also be a catalyst that turns your face from the fiery trial to the caring face of the Savior. “True virtue never appears so lovely as when it is most oppressed, and the divine excellency of real Christianity is never exhibited with such advantage as when under the greatest trials.”1] During times of great trial our desire is for God to save us from the fire, but He sometimes wants to reveal that He can also save us through the fire.

Reflect

• Is there any area of your life where you feel you faith is being tested? It could be your studies, family, finances, health or relationships.
• How may God be calling you to have an “even if” kind of faith in your situation?
• Complete this sentence, “Even if _____________, I will still trust God!” 

“I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power. Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving.” (Psalm 69:29–30, NLT) 

Praying in times of pain is as important as praising God in times of deliverance. In her book Troubled Minds, Amy Simpson reveals the following highlights from her survey about dealing with mental illness in the church. Simpson reveals nearly half (44.5 Percent) of church leaders are approached two to five times per year for help in dealing with mental illness. She also emphasizes when Christians are on medication or diagnosed with a mental illness, over a third of Christians keep the matter very private. Unfortunately, there is an unbiblical belief held by some churches which equates emotional distress with a lack of faith.

In Psalm 69, we find David praying while experiencing intense suffering. Instead of keeping his pain private, David describes his stress to God in painstaking detail. He declares how he cried out so intensely that his “throat” feels like it is burning; he mentions that his inner being is ablaze; he feels he cannot go on because his eyes are “failing” after shedding so many tears. Yet even though David is in emotional distress, He is still holding onto faith by seeking God. For David, emotional pain did not lead to distrust in God - it gloriously pointed him to God. It appears Christians can shed tears and hold onto God at the same time.

Even though David’s tears made it difficult to see how God was going to rescue him, he was still filled with hope by looking forward to the day that God would act. By commenting on this chapter Ellen White writes, “Let His [God’s] love take possession of mind and heart. Guard against becoming overwearied, careworn, depressed. Bear an uplifting testimony. Turn your eyes away from that which is dark and discouraging, and behold Jesus…” Seeking God in times of pain also prepares our hearts to praise Him during times of rescue. “The humble shall see this and be glad; And you who seek God, your hearts shall live.” (Psalm 69:32, NKJV)

Reflect

• Have you ever felt the emotional intensity that David described? A burning throat, fever-like symptoms or the inability to control tears? When? What was this like?
• If you are in a season of suffering or pain, find someone with whom you can share your struggles with. Choose someone who will listen well and pray for you.
• If you are in a fruitful season, you may know someone to whom you can reach out with a listening ear and a heartfelt prayer.

Ellen Gould White, Maranatha, The Lord Is Coming (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1976), 159.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12, NIV) 

This week students, faculty and staff at Southern Adventist University have been gathering each night for Student Week of Prayer. From the heartfelt responses of students, the presence of the Holy Spirit has been evident as students have led in song, prayer and preaching centered around the theme of clothing ourselves with the character of Christ based on Colossians 3:12.

In this verse, Paul reminds believers that even though God originally chose the nation of Israel to be His people, being chosen in Christ is not based on what they are ethnically but whose they are spiritually. The believers in Colossae are to consider themselves holy and dearly loved by God, practicing virtues that are countercultural to the world around them.

Today, many accomplished athletes sign lucrative sports deals with well-known companies. Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan has made over $1 billion from his deal with Nike (that is nine zeros.) Large companies have famous athletes wear their shoes, clothing, gloves, and hats. What is the goal? To have their chosen athlete covered by their brand from head-to-toe. 

As God’s chosen, Paul urges us to dress "head-to-toe" in Christ's wardrobe. His clothes are made of the finest materials known as compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Ellen White writes, “The Saviour longs to save the young. He would rejoice to see them around His throne, clothed in the spotless robes of His righteousness.”

Reflect

• In what ways are you clothing yourself with the characteristics of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience? 
• In what ways do you fall short in putting on the character of Christ? 
• If you were totally honest with yourself, are you more concerned about what you wear outwardly than how you clothe yourself inwardly? Genuinely talk to God about the things you wish you could understand about being more like Christ.

 Ellen Gould White, God’s Amazing Grace (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1973), 287.

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16, NLT) 

Love is tested by our ability to show it without seeking anything in return. On September 16, 1962, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached one of the greatest sermons on counter-cultural love at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA. The sermon is titled, “Levels of Love” whereby he sets a thesis on one of the most misunderstood expressions today, love. Dr. King preached that the highest form of love both displayed and described in the Bible is agape. During his sermon he provided a contemporary application by stating, “The person may be tall, or the person may be short. The person may be light, or the person may be dark. The person may be rich, or the person may be poor. The person may be up and in; the person may be down and out. The person may be white; the person may be black. The person may be Jew; the person may be Gentile…[but] you come to the point of loving every man and becomes an all-inclusive love. It is the love of God operating in the human heart.” 

Dr. King was often attacked for his nonviolent approach, his incorporation of agape during the Civil Rights movement was frequently labeled as weak and sentimental. However, Dr. King believed that agape love was not at all weak, but one of the strongest powers that could be experienced, “It is a very stern love that would organize itself into collective action to right a wrong by taking on itself suffering.” The apostle John also describes “real love” as being strong through the ultimate act of self-sacrifice demonstrated by Jesus on the cross. Such love, real agape love, does something that no other love can do; it causes us to love others without seeking anything in return.

REFLECT

• What does the apostle John mean when he says, “So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters?”
• What opportunities can you take to love your neighbor as yourself?
• How can you help foster a community not just for the hurt and mistreated, but a community of the hurt and mistreated?

Life moves in the direction of our deepest attention. When a popular phone app decided to analyze user behavior right after New Year’s celebrations, they sought to answer the question, how long does it take for the average person to break their New Year’s resolution? Answer, February 4th (at least that is the date they came up with). The app designers reported that user visits to fast-food joints increased while trips to the gym experienced a downturn. Shoppers also bought 15 percent more ice cream and desserts, and 35 percent more pizza, in early February than during the first two weeks of January. 

We live in a culture that aims for 30 days of fame rather than 60 years of faithfulness. The quick fix promises us that we can get rich quick, lose weight quick, get to know someone quick, no wonder people quit so quickly. 

There is an excitement of the new year, but newness can easily wear off. What if instead of focusing on outward goals, we focused on changing the way we think? In Romans 8:6, Paul inspires us be spiritually minded by allowing God to guide our thoughts, purposes, and intentions. Put simply, being spiritually minded is loving the things that God loves. In so doing, God promises that we will experience true life and peace through reconciliation with Him.

The years will change but we can live in faith knowing that God’s love towards us never changes, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. For the moments we battle to stay spiritually minded, “The Holy Spirit is making intercession for every sincere wrestler, and Christ will make His words to be spirit and life, the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” When God has our attention, our lives will move in the right direction.

Reflect

• What hopes do you have for this new year? For yourself? For your family? For your friends? For your studies? For your relationships? For your church?
• What areas of your life would you like God to transform your mind in 2022? Where do you need to be made new so that you can experience life and peace?

 Ellen Gould White, Our High Calling (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1961), 101.

saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2) 

You can walk through the darkest night when God is your guiding light. My wife Christina recently told me a story of being a student at Southern during Christmas. To make things more festive in her dorm room, she would get some empty boxes and wrap them with Christmas-themed wrapping paper topped with a bow. When her friends visited her, they would immediately notice her well-wrapped boxes placed under her Christmas tree. The reality is the boxes looked great on the outside, but if anyone were tempted to unwrap them, they would be shocked to discover that they were empty on the inside. Unfortunately, many people today desire to be outwardly blessed rather than inwardly transformed. If we are to be transformed, we must seek to follow the light! 

In the 2nd chapter of Matthew, the Magi from the East declared, “We have seen His star.” Although they traveled at night with no streetlights to aid their journey or Google Maps to provide precision coordinates, God guided them with His star. Being in the dark can make us anxious, disorientated and cause us to lose our purpose. But even in the dead of night, God causes His star to shine. For some of us, when we thought our sins could not be forgiven we saw the star of grace. When we felt forgotten, we saw Immanuel’s star; God with us! When we were afraid, we saw the shining star of faith! The star reminds us that we can walk through the darkest night when God is our guiding light. 

In speaking of God’s guiding light Ellen White shares, “We can walk safely in the darkest path if we have the Light of the world for our guide.”1 In other words, even in our darkest moments, God will give us a star to lead us through a lighted path. It may be that the star you see is barely twinkling, but it will be enough to see you through! 

Reflect 

• As we begin the season of Advent, what are you longing for? Where have you been going for guidance in your life?  
• What is one thing you can do to seek God as your guiding light?  
• In what ways does Christ’s salvation give you hope and cause you to worship? 

Christmas is upon us, and like last year, the world is—different. Yet students are still coming home for the holidays, and families are (mostly) still gathering. Amid the uncertainty, people are looking for comfort and even direction. It’s a vital time for solid, gospel-focused preaching.

Below we offer some unexpected Christmas texts worth using—plus some tips for how Logos can help you discover new Christmas sermon ideas. Plus, we’ll share why recording and archiving your Christmas sermon should be top of mind.

Start below with 10 unique Scripture passages to consider for your message—or hop to one of the following:

10 unexpected Christmas sermon texts worth using

While the Matthew and Luke narratives are timeless Christmas sermons waiting to be preached, numerous other passages in Scripture can draw out themes and nuances often neglected.

Here are 10 to use as a starting point.

1. Genesis 3:15

Often considered the first Messianic prophecy recorded in Scripture, this verse finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus—the offspring of a woman, who eventually crushes Satan. Genesis 3:15 predicts the seed who would come to uproot the thorns and break the curse of sin.

2. Genesis 49:8–12

Toward the end of Genesis, Jacob speaks a word of prophecy over each of his sons. He promises Judah, from whom Jesus would ultimately descend, that the scepter will not depart from him. Jacob calls Judah “a lion’s cub,” and Scripture goes on to call Jesus the Lion from the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5). This unique passage offers an opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ supreme authority, which he holds even when he is just a cub.

3. Exodus 1:1–2:10

There are striking parallels between Moses’ infancy and Jesus’. Both are born in humble circumstances. Both escape murderous plots of evil rulers. Both grow up to lead their people out of captivity. This passage can help your congregation appreciate the way the Bible holds together, as well as see God’s sovereign hand in preserving a mediator for his people.

4. Exodus 16

This is the narrative of God providing manna and quail for Israel as they wander in the desert. God sends bread from heaven, and in John 6 Jesus explicitly refers to this story and calls himself the “bread of life.” God sent eternal bread to hungry wanderers in the form of his Son, making this Exodus event a rich foreshadowing. You can capture the imagination of a congregation—and follow the homiletical example of Christ himself—by drawing parallels between the physical hunger of Israel in the desert and the spiritual hunger of all those without Christ.

5. Exodus 33:12–23

In one of the most beautiful scenes of Exodus, Moses pleads boldly and personally to the Lord for his presence. The Lord honors Moses by agreeing to reveal his goodness and glory—but not his face. In the incarnation, however, God is fully revealed, and his presence is offered to all who receive him. This intimate moment Moses experiences with God is made available to all through Christ—but we will see him “face to face” (1 John 3:2; 1 Cor. 13:12).

6. 2

Samuel 7

In this famous covenant God makes with David, God promises that his offspring’s throne will be established forever. Eventually, the kingdom divides and falls, and by the time Jesus comes riding into Jerusalem on a donkey—several hundred years and two exiles later—the throne is still not established. So when the crowds shout “Hosanna to the Son of David!”, they are heralding this covenant: they are hoping for a king. Joy is bursting from under sorrow long-held because Hope has come. The incarnation offers the same “thrill of hope” today.

7. Psalm 27

At the end of this psalm, David writes, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Christians today can repeat these words only because Christ has come and has promised to come again. Like Anna and Simeon, who in their old age finally beheld the hope they waited so long for (Luke 2:22–38), those who hope in Christ will not be disappointed.

8. Isaiah, various

Isaiah is chock-full of references to the coming Messiah. Chapter 7 speaks of a virgin who will conceive and bear a son, whose name will be called “Immanuel”—God with us. Chapter 9 provides a brief portrait of this Son-King, and it continues throughout Isaiah, such as in chapters 11, 40–43, 49, and 58. Preachers could do a tour through Isaiah to fill out the portrait of the Messiah and then juxtapose the majesty described there to the humility displayed in the manger, leading to a reflection on God’s wisdom in working mightily through humble means.

9. Angel appearances

Another interesting choice would be to preach on various angel appearances in Scripture. From the beginning of Old Testament history to its end—from Abraham to Daniel—angel appearances tend to coincide with God’s revelation and rescue. So when angels burst onto the scene in Luke and Matthew, we know from past behavior that God is up to something big, something miraculous and merciful. Preaching through some of these angel appearances would build that sense of anticipation and provide texture to Jesus’ birth story. Consider Genesis 16, 19, 21, and 31–32; Deuteronomy 33:2 (see Ps. 68:17; Acts 7:53; and Gal. 3:19); 1 Kings 19; and Daniel 3 and 6.

10. Matthew 1:1–17 (plus vv. 18–23)

Jesus’ family tree is a bit scandalous—and the attention is justified. For one, it’s not common for genealogies in patriarchal societies such as Israel’s to mention women. It’s even more surprising, then, that when Matthew does, it’s to bring up memories that any family would rather forget, such as incestuous rape (Judah and Tamar, v. 3), prostitution (Rahab, v. 5), and adultery and murder (David and the wife of Uriah, v. 6). What’s the point of recalling such a sordid past? It’s probably to remind readers of God’s power to work beauty from ashes, to bring redemption from a family—and to the family—that desperately needs it. The genealogy provides an excellent opportunity to proclaim how the incarnation means all our stories can be rewritten in Jesus.

Scripture is full of rivers and streams that flow to Jesus. These are just a sample of texts you can use for Christmas without bending them to be about the incarnation.

From: https://blog.logos.com/christmas-sermon-ideas/?utm_source=l8_homepage&utm_medium=homepage_card&utm_campaign=rss#3-reasons-why

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13b–14) 

When everything seems to be falling apart, focus on the one thing. On a frosty February evening, Diane Van Deren made history as the first woman to complete the Yukon Arctic Ultra. Touted as the world’s coldest and toughest race, The Yukon Arctic Ultra is a grueling 430-miler run in the dead of winter. For 10 days Diane ran across the frozen Canadian tundra. For the first 100 miles she drank no water and only slept about an hour each night. But that’s not the crazy part – Diane can’t read maps telling her where to turn. At 28-years-old she had a seizure in a car while being three weeks pregnant. As she remembers it, she felt a funny sensation that was brief. The next thing she remembered was waking up in a hospital confused wondering where she was. She was quickly sent to have an MRI where scans revealed she had epilepsy. Doctors decided they needed to remove part of her brain but in the process, they also removed her basic awareness of time. You would think that after all she had been through she would have given up, but as Franklin Roosevelt once said, “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” If we are going to look beyond our circumstances, we need to know how to maintain our focus. Just as Roosevelt learned - when we reach the end of our rope, tie a knot.

In the epistle to the Philippians, the apostle Paul was imprisoned yet he chose not to focus on his circumstances. He said, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” Paul could have chosen to focus all his attention on his prison cell, but he chose to look beyond his circumstances and focus on God’s promise. How? By directing his thoughts to this one thing – Christ Jesus. That was Paul’s way of tying a knot at the end of a rope. Paul’s one purpose was knowing Christ and His calling, that’s what helped him move forward in the midst of trouble. 

“The great purpose that constrained Paul to press forward in the face of hardship and difficulty should lead every Christian worker to consecrate himself wholly to God’s service. Worldly attractions will be presented to draw his attention from the Saviour, but he is to press on toward the goal, showing to the world, to angels, and to men that the hope of seeing the face of God is worth all the effort and sacrifice that the attainment of this hope demands.”

Reflection:

Is there something taking your attention from focusing on the one thing – Christ Jesus? What one thing do you want to apply from this passage in your life today?