Text Messages

Text Messages focus on the backstory of the upcoming text for this Sunday’s sermon. Provided by our pastors, these messages will give some background on that section of scripture text and give a few hints about where the sermon might be going. We hope you find these Text Messages helpful!

Sunday, January 12, 2025

SERMON SERIES:
“Radiance, In Plain Sight”

MESSAGE THEME:
“Marked as God’s Own”

TEXT(S):
Luke 3:15–17, 21–22

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

REFLECTION:
From Pastor Meta Herrick Carlson

I think about John a lot. Even for a preacher, I wonder about him quite often. Both of his parents were physically changed by the news that they would bear a son in their old age, a prophet who would be about the work of deconstruction and clearing and preparation of one voice. It would be his life’s work and it would cost him everything and still it would not be about him. It would be about the one who would come after him. 

I imagine it was hard for his neighbors and friends and followers to comprehend. And so I’m grateful he was raised by parents who were grafted into his prophetic call, who wore his vocation in their own bodies. Zechariah was forever changed by those silent trimesters and deep time spent listening. Elizabeth felt the child leap in her body, baby John filled with the spirit so much that she was, too.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

  • Who in your life has believed in you beyond measure, holding space for all of who you are?
  • What spiritual gifts might have helped John fulfill his call as a messenger, even when people wanted him to be more or less or different?
  • Why do you think it was important for Jesus to be baptized by John?

PRAYER:
Saving God, you sent your only Son to experience the full weight of humanity. Thank you for the gift of baptism, the promise that heaven has been torn open and your real presence is right here. Make us messengers of your good news and generous stewards of the baptismal promises we make to all of our siblings in Christ. Amen.