It’s no accident, no coincidence, that temptation follows baptism. John offered a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Jews were familiar with the forgiveness of sins: they gloried…
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So Jesus was baptized. He wasn’t in need of it: John the Baptist was quite plain about that, confessing that, truly, John was the one in need of baptism at…
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Mark’s version, church tradition tells us, is based upon Peter’s recollection. Mark was secretary and personal assistant to Peter in his last years. Mark’s—Peter’s—account begins, not with a genealogy, nor…
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It’s not hard to think of biblical lands as wilderness and wasteland: Big Bend as far as the eye can see, but remember that the land God promised His people…
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In Matthew’s account, Jesus tells John the Baptist that it’s good for John to baptize Jesus, in order to “fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus, who had no sin and did no…
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God created us for a purpose. There is a reason you and I are here: here on this earth, here in this church this morning. The reasons are connected. Through…
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God’s love is “one another” love. This makes perfect sense, for God is one God in three Persons, blessed Trinity. John was writing in a situation where people in…
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God created. There is so much wonder and joy, power and glory in those two words. I have no way to unpack that here, today, in this hour, but…
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Bible Text: Matthew 3:13-17 | Preacher: Paul Kucera | Have you ever been at the grocery store and seen what you wanted there on the top shelf, and realized, after…
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Bible Text: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 | Preacher: Paul Kucera | John didn’t look like a Messiah, didn’t act like a Messiah, but some thought that maybe he kind of spoke…
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