Christmas Magic
Pastor Luke Walker preaches the first sermon in a 4-week Advent series exploring the mysterious Magi who came to worship Christ. Who were these wise men from the East, and what does their journey reveal about God's plan?
Pastor Luke Walker preaches the first sermon in a 4-week Advent series exploring the mysterious Magi who came to worship Christ. Who were these wise men from the East, and what does their journey reveal about God's plan?
Scripture Text: Matthew 2:1-12
"Now, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod, the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose, and have come to worship him. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled. And all Jerusalem with him, and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them, where the Christ was to be born. They told him in Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet, and you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared, and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word that I too may come and worship him. After listening to the king, they went on their way, and behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. Going into the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him amazing. Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh, and being warned in a dream not to return to Herod. They departed to their own country by another way."
Series Outline
This Advent series asks four questions about the Magi:
WHO - Who were these mysterious visitors? (Today)
WHERE - Where did their travels take them?
WHY - Why did they journey so far?
WHAT - What did they come to do?
Sermon Outline
I. WHO Were They? We don't know their personal identities. Church tradition names three (Balthazar, Melchior, Caspar) based on three gifts, but Scripture doesn't confirm numbers or names. They were wealthy, mysterious figures—Gentiles who came to worship Christ before anyone else did.
II. WHAT Were They?
Magi/Magicians - Not evil sorcerers like Simon Magus, but scientists and scholars
Astrologers - Masters of the stars, experts in natural law and the movements of the sky
The Scientists of Their Day - Rock stars of ancient astronomy who understood the heavens like a clock
Dream Interpreters - Specialists who could discern visions (God warned them in a dream)
Descendants of Daniel's School - Part of the same order of wise men Daniel led in Babylon 600 years earlier
Men of Diligence - They alone knew what was happening when Christ was born
III. WHERE Did They Come From?
From the East - Babylon/Persia, where Daniel served
The Chaldeans - This term meant both an ethnicity and a learned class of wise men
Abraham's Homeland - Ur of the Chaldeans, connecting back to God's promise to Abraham about the stars
Daniel's Legacy - These Magi may represent the last vestige of Daniel's influence, coming to bow their whole system before Christ
Key Themes
Daniel as chief of the magicians influenced Gentile scholars for 600 years
Natural law and true science point to the one Creator God
The Magi "plundered Egypt"—took pagan learning and used it to serve God
All lowercase truth serves capital-T Truth (Christ and the gospel)
God spoke through creation (the star) to those studying natural order
Connection to Abraham: "Look at the stars...so shall be your descendants"
These Gentiles worshiped Christ ahead of Israel
Application: Plunder Egypt
Like Moses and Daniel, the Magi took everything good from their pagan system and used it to serve God. Christians need not fear true knowledge—we can learn from scientists (even atheist ones) because all truth is God's truth. Our hobbies, interests, and areas of expertise can be spiritual activities driving us closer to Christ. As Paul said, "We can do nothing against the truth."
The Christ Connection
The Magi represent the fulfillment of God's ancient promises. When God called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeans, He pointed him to the stars as a picture of his descendants—ultimately pointing to Christ, the promised Son. Daniel planted seeds of gospel hope in Babylon that bore fruit 600 years later when his spiritual descendants traveled to worship the newborn King.
These Gentile scientists, through studying natural law, discovered what Israel's religious leaders missed: the Messiah had come. Their journey shows that all true knowledge points to Christ. The same God who governs the stars with vast wisdom became a baby in Bethlehem. The Magi came to bow their entire system of learning before Him—astronomy, science, and wisdom all submitted to the Savior of the world.
This is the gospel breaking into history: Gentiles from the East, Abraham's homeland, following a star to worship the Son promised to Abraham, the descendant of David, the hope of Israel, the King of all creation. What Daniel hoped for and Abraham looked forward to, the Magi witnessed and worshiped. Christ is the capital-T Truth that all lowercase truths serve.
Christmas Magic | Matthew 2 - Who were the Magi? Scientists from Daniel's school in Babylon who studied the stars and discovered the King. Part 1 of Advent series.
Like the First Day of School
Pastor Luke Walker preaches this sermon exploring Solomon's wisdom about life, death, and living with purpose in the present moment.
Pastor Luke Walker preaches sermon exploring Solomon's wisdom about clothing, fragrance, and how we present ourselves as celebrations of God's goodness—staying fresh for Jesus every day.
Scripture Text: Ecclesiastes 9:8
"Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head."
Sermon Outline
Fits - Let your garments be always white. Solomon addresses how we dress and present ourselves as a way to celebrate God's goodness. White Garments Signify Cleanness - Wearing clean clothes helps us feel confident and ready to face the day. There's joy in fresh threads and presenting ourselves well before God and others. White Garments Signify Celebration - Bright, festive clothing communicates the celebratory nature of life in Christ. Even Solomon and Puritan John Owen knew about "the drip"—dressing well within our means to honor God. Always White - Continually - We should celebrate life this way consistently, as long as we have life today. "Stay dipped like the first day of school"—every day is an opportunity to celebrate.
Fragrance - Let not oil be lacking on your head. Solomon encourages us not to spare precious ointment. Oil as Comfort - In the dry climate, anointing oil brought comfort and refreshment. We shouldn't needlessly deny ourselves creature comforts that help us in life (lotion, cocoa butter, etc.). Oil as Fragrance - Cologne, perfume, beard oil, even deodorant—these are ways to celebrate life and take care of ourselves. Don't be stingy with these blessings. Taking Care of Ourselves - There's wisdom in treating ourselves in small ways that help sustain us. We can't pour out for others if we're constantly crashing from self-denial.
Function - Why does this matter? What do clothing and fragrance do for us?
Wins Favor and Opens Doors - Dressing well is one of the easiest ways to make good impressions and show hospitality to the world. It helps us represent Christ well.
Affects How We Feel - Our clothing impacts our confidence, mood, and ability to engage with life. Feeling good in what we wear helps us seize the day.
Pictures Holiness and Christ - The entire reason clothing exists is to picture Christ! We needed covering after sin. Now we're clothed in Christ's righteousness—far greater than any earthly wardrobe.
Oil Represents the Holy Spirit - Fragrant oil points to the Holy Spirit who lives in us. These tangible blessings remind us of gospel realities.
Expresses Celebration - How we dress is a way to praise God and celebrate that we're alive, redeemed, and His children.
Three Applications
Stay drippy for Jesus - Be comfortable in your skin, dress confidently, be presentable. Live freely in divine blessings within the bounds of wisdom and decency.
Don't Be Stingy with Ourselves - We don't serve a stingy Lord. While we must be ready to give up everything for Christ, He may not be calling us to deny every creature comfort. Enjoy the present blessings God gives—get new clothes, pick up a nice fragrance. It helps us serve others.
Enjoy the Fit and Fragrance of Christ - All of this points to Jesus. We were naked, ashamed, and exposed before God. Now we're clothed in Christ's righteousness, covered and safe. The Holy Spirit is our anointing. When we dress well and wear fragrance, let it remind us of these greater gospel realities.
Every time we present ourselves well, it points to a greater reality: we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ. The oil and fragrance, the Holy Spirit, was poured out after Christ ascended and now lives within us. When we stay fresh, celebrate life, and enjoy these creature blessings, we're embodying the celebration of heaven itself. Christ has redeemed us. Our sins—not in part but the whole—have been nailed to the cross, and we bear them no more. Praise the Lord! Every fresh outfit, every pleasant fragrance, every clean garment can remind us: we're God's children, clothed in Christ, anointed by the Spirit, celebrating the gospel.
Key Themes
🕰️ Life is short—celebrate God's goodness intentionally
🎯 God cares about creature-level blessings
👟 Dressing well within our means honors God
🧴 We should be comfortable in our skin, not our sin
🤑 Don't be stingy with yourself—God isn't stingy with us
✝️ Everything points to Christ and gospel realities
Like the First Day of School | Ecclesiastes 9:8 - Stay fresh for Jesus! Solomon's wisdom on how dressing well celebrates God's goodness & points to Christ.
Ice Cold Bottles of Cristy
Pastor Luke Walker preaches this sermon exploring Solomon's wisdom about life, death, and living with purpose in the present moment.
Pastor Luke Walker preaches a sermon exploring Solomon's command to eat bread with joy and drink wine with a merry heart, because God has already approved what we do.
Scripture Text: Ecclesiastes 9:7
"Go, Eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do."
Sermon Outline
Forward - Solomon commands us to go forward, to seize the day. Time is precious and constantly passing. We should face the future with our heads in the game, making the most of every opportunity.
Festivities - Eating and drinking with joy are not just suggestions but commandments. These basic enjoyments become spiritual disciplines as we learn to participate in life's simple pleasures with gratitude before God, just as Jesus did.
Fermentation - An exploration of what Scripture says about wine and alcohol. The Bible celebrates wine as God's gift to cheer the heart, while condemning drunkenness. Christians have freedom before God to navigate these consumable joys with self-control and good conscience. We must do everything in faith and for God's glory.
Foundation - The reason we can enjoy life's blessings: God has already approved what we do. This points to the doctrine of justification by faith—God approves of us in Christ. He delights in our work, our worship, and even our simple enjoyments when done before Him with believing hearts.
Four Applications
Take to the Blessings of Life - Don't try to be super-spiritual. We're made of dust, designed to enjoy God through tangible earthly blessings.
Enjoy the Blessings We Have - A bird in hand is better than two in the bush. Live within your means and enjoy what God has given you, whether fine wine or coffee.
Do All with Believing Hearts - Everything should be done unto God with intentionality. Whatever doesn't proceed from faith is sin. Rejoice even over scantier meals.
Cheer Hearts with the Old Gospel Vintage - Wine symbolizes Christ's blood and the gladness of the gospel. The ultimate thing that cheers us is knowing God approves of us in Christ.
Pastor Luke reminds us in this sermon of the freedom we have in Christ, through justification by faith and being are clothed in his righteousness, that God watches us with delight and pleasure, rejoicing when we enjoy His gifts with grateful hearts. This is the old gospel vintage that truly cheers our souls—God loves us, enjoys us, and delights in us through Christ. Jesus Himself drank wine and experienced this blessing fully, showing us He is right down to earth with us in all things.
Key Themes
🙌 Seizing the day in light of life's brevity
😍 The spiritual discipline of joy and gratitude
🍷 Biblical teaching on wine, alcohol, and Christian freedom
❤️🔥 Doing everything with a good heart before God
🗿 The difference between enjoying God's gifts and making them idols
🚭 How sin ruins even good things and why abstinence is sometimes necessary
🩸 Wine as a picture of the gospel and Christ's blood
🥹 God's delight in His children
Never Forfeit or Quit
Pastor Luke Walker preaches this sermon exploring Solomon's wisdom about life, death, and living with purpose in the present moment.
Pastor Luke Walker preaches this sermon exploring Solomon's wisdom about life, death, and living with purpose in the present moment.
Ecclesiastes 9:3-6
"The hearts of the children of man are full of evil and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that, they go to the dead. But he who is joined with all the living has hope for a living dog is better than a dead lion, for the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward for the memory of them is forgotten. Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun."
Outline
I. Low Quality Life - The reality of evil and madness in human hearts, even among believers. Understanding our sinful nature and the need for daily grace.
II. Living Hope - Why it's better to be alive: we have opportunity and the present moment. Like pawns on God's chessboard, we're still in the game and called to seize the day for Christ's glory.
III. Little Knowledge - Facing the uncomfortable truth that we will die and be forgotten. Solomon calls us to look mortality in the face rather than suppress this reality.
IV. Complete Loss - Everything we do is animated by love, hate, or envy, and when we die, all perishes. Our works and memories fade, which shows us the seriousness of sin.
Four Applications
I. Repent of Our Evil and Madness - Acknowledge the sin in our hearts and walk humbly before God, choosing love over hate and envy.
II. Take Advantage of Life as We Have It - Embrace the present moment and live fully in the circumstances God has placed us in today.
III. Look Death in the Hairy Eyeball - Face our mortality honestly, which leads us to trust in Christ who removes death's sting.
IV. Praise God for the Living Memory of Christ's Love - Unlike us, Jesus lived perfectly without evil, envy, or hate. His life and memory live on through Scripture and through His people.
Key Themes
⚙️ The human heart as an idol factory (John Calvin)
🌅 Living in the present moment as Jesus did
⚖️ Death as the great equalizer
👀 The superiority of being alive and having opportunity
✝️ Christ as the answer to human brokenness
📖 The living memory of Christ preserved in Scripture
This message reminds us that while our lives are marked by sin and will end in death, we have hope in Christ who conquered death and gives us eternal life. Let us live fully in the present, face our mortality with courage, and trust in the Savior who transforms our low-quality lives into something eternally meaningful.
Rev Ain’t Right
In this message from Ecclesiastes 8:10–13, Solomon looks out over a world where even the wicked seem to prosper—praised at their funerals, applauded in the temple, and never struck down for their sin. Why does God wait? Why do hypocrites thrive?
Three insights from Ecclesiastes 8:10–13
Hypocrites – the religious wicked who go in and out of the holy place but live for human praise.
Don’t Be Hasty – why God’s patience tests our faith and calls us to imitate His slow, merciful timing (with a little help from Treebeard and The Dark Knight).
Who Wins – those who live coram Deo, before the face of God, trusting that it will be well with those who fear Him.
Ultimately, this passage drives us to Christ—the only One who ever lived with perfect sincerity before God. Jesus went in and out of the temple without hypocrisy, worshiped wholly for the Father’s glory, and clothed us in His righteousness so that even our imperfect worship is accepted in Him.
