Sermons

Introduction:

Pastor Jim: (thinks hard) Um, Beauregard! (writes it down)
Jeff: Hey Pastor Jim, what are you doing?
Pastor Jim: We just started a new year, right? I thought a great way to embrace that new beginning would be to find a new name.
Jeff: A new name?
Pastor Jim: Sure. I mean, maybe this is a year for "Beauregard" or "Sylvester" or -- oh! "Mauricio"!
Jeff: Hmm, maybe so. You know, when you talk about new beginnings you remind me of our Bible passage today, where Jesus had a new beginning. See, for most of his life Jesus was pretty much like everybody else: working, eating, hanging out with friends. But then he decided it was time to make a change and dedicate himself full time to sharing God's love in the world. So he came to the Jordan River to be baptized.
Pastor Jim: What happened next?
Jeff: After Jesus was baptized and as he was praying, something that looked like a dove suddenly came down from the sky and landed on him. It was the Holy Spirit. A voice came out from the heavens, saying, "You are my son, the beloved; in you I am well pleased."
Pastor Jim: That must have been amazing to see.
Jeff: I'm sure it was. And it gave Jesus the encouragement to go out and do God's work in the world.
Pastor Jim: Hey, do you think God feels that same way about us? That God is pleased with us and calls us God's children?
Jeff: Yeah, I think that's exactly how God feels about us.
Pastor Jim: Then I guess I have my new name this year.
Jeff: What's that?
Pastor Jim: Beloved!
Jeff: Now that's a great name!