In this week’s sermon at River Life, Pastor Tom Golden delved into the Christmas story, focusing on Mary’s profound journey and the uncertainties she faced while carrying Jesus. He explored the emotional challenges Mary likely encountered in Nazareth, prompting the universal question, “What’s my purpose in this world?” Despite the iconic imagery of silent nights, Pastor Tom highlighted Mary’s anxiety. The sermon compellingly unfolded how, just as Jesus turned water into wine in his ministry, he can transform any aspect of our lives into something extraordinary.
The sermon beautifully conveyed the notion that, much like Mary, entrusting our challenges to Jesus can lead to a life filled with purpose and fulfillment.
Bible Verses:
Luke 1:26-27
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
Isaiah 11:1-3
The Branch From Jesse
11 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
Jeremiah 11:17-18
17 The Lord Almighty, who planted you, has decreed disaster for you, because the people of both Israel and Judah have done evil and aroused my anger by burning incense to Baal.