There were centuries of preparation and prophecy leading up to the first advent of Jesus. On this third Sunday of Advent, we consider how we might prepare for Jesus—not only in light of his first advent, but looking ahead to when he comes again.
This week, we're taking some time to reflect and recenter on our mission: Inviting Boston and beyond into a life-changing relationship with Christ and his church. From a few verses in Matthew 9, we'll see Jesus' motivation for his mission and how he intends to accomplish his mission--through the earnest prayer and faithful witness of us, his church!
This has been one of the most volatile years for the church, and our church, in a long time. The global pandemic, a racial justice movement, a contentious presidential election, and more have contributed to confusion and discouragement over the nature and mission of the church. In God's providence, this is the perfect time for us to jump back into the Gospel of Matthew and receive Jesus' triumphant, and comforting, promise: "I will build my church."
This last year has been an unexpected storm for all of us. When we're surprised by the circumstances in our lives, how can we survive--or even thrive? Matthew is the only Gospel writer to include Peter's attempt to walk on the stormy water with Jesus. So we'll explore how we might find faith not only to step out of the boat but to stay above the water as well.
This is the final installment of our sermon series entitled "The Church: The Dearest Place on Earth." This week's sermon expounds on Ruggles Baptist Church's new mission statement: "Inviting Boston and beyond into a life-changing relationship with Christ and His Church."
