"Learn of Jesus Christ..." December 26, 2021

St. Stephen learned from Jesus and wants to teach us by his example.

"O Little Town of Bethlehem" December 19, 2021

From this insignificant place would come the Lord's mighty Ruler.

"Where Is God When You Need Him?" December 12, 2021

Roomba, rat or rescued? Which one are you?

"Are You Ready for the Lord's Arrival?" December 5, 2021

Jesus takes us as we are but doesn't leave us as we are.

"Can You Endure the Waiting?" November 21, 2021

Waiting for the Lord's return can be tiresome. Jude tells us how to stay prepared.

"Why Is Jesus Such a DRAG?" November 14, 2021

Is Jesus a DRAG? You bet He is! Pastor Engel tells us why.

"Who's Got It All Together?" November 7, 2021

On All Saints Sunday we celebrate the one who's got it all together and who puts it all together for us.

"God Is Still Our Mighty Fortress" October 31, 2021

Psalm 46 inspired Martin Luther and still inspires us today.

"Resting at the Ranch" October 17, 2021

"A rest remains for the people of God" is the theme of this modern day parable.

"Come, Follow Me" October 10, 2021

A man came to Jesus with a weighty question.

"Nobody Likes a Complainer" September 26, 2021

While Moses and the Israelites whine and yelp, the Lord provides divine help.

"Are We Really Walking with Jesus?" September 19. 2021

Jesus and His disciples were on the same road but not the same page.

"The Tough Task of Teaching" September 12,2021

We all owe a debt to those who taught us, especially those who taught us the faith.

"The Lord of the Marginalized" September 5, 2021

Jesus has a heart of compassion for the outcast. Do we?

"Whose Armor" August 29. 2021

How do you engage in spiritual warfare against the devil? Let St. Paul tell you how.

"Be Subject to One Another" August 22, 2021

Consider the profound mystery of God's design for marriage.

"Feed Your Children: The Bread of Wisdom" August 15, 2021

Which voice do you follow, the voice of wisdom or folly?

"Feed Your Children: The Sustaining Bread" August 8, 2021

When your life's path is too great for you, Jesus, the true Bread of Life, can sustain you.

"The Bread from Heaven" August 1, 2021

Manna in the wilderness was a foretaste of the true bread from heaven, our Lord Jesus.

"The Rainbow and the Cross"

The rainbow in the clouds points us to another sign of God's grace, the cross on the hill.

"Jesus Is Our Peace" July 18, 2021

With all the division in our world, Jesus is our only hope for genuine peace.

"A Different Kind of Guarantee" July 11, 2021

We all like a good guarantee. Hear about the one that God offers.

"A Prophet Was Among Them" July 4, 2021

Where the prophet is without honor, the people are without blessings.

"The Season of Growth" June 13, 2021

Jesus' seed parables teach us about the reign and rule of God.

"For Us Fights the Valiant One" June 6, 2021

Spiritual warfare is real and the enemy is sly, but we have a valiant warrior who fights for us.

"Holy Smoke! Holy Fire! Holy Call!" May 30, 2021

The Lord asks, "Whom shall I send?" What is your answer?

"Hear the Word of the Lord" May 23, 2021

The Word of the Lord that gave new life to dry bones can give you new life as well.

"Powerless No More" May 16, 2021

In Jesus, our victorious and ascended Lord, we are no longer powerless against our spiritual enemies.

Pulpit Preview May 16, 2021

Let's turn our thoughts to Ascension Day. We hope you can join us on Facebook Live at Messiah Houston, 9:00am Central Time.

Jesus and Justice

In "The West Wing" episode entitled "In God We Trust" President Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen) and presidential candidate Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) converse over some tubs of ice cream.

In his run for office, Vinivk has run into a problem. He doesn't go to church.

He and Bartlet talk about the issue and Vinick explains that the more he read the Bible, the harder it was to believe in what it taught, especially regarding the strict penalties for such things as working on the Sabbath or adultery.

He then points out that the Bible is silent on the issue of slavery and that Lincoln could have used some Scriptural support during that social justice struggle.

Well, to be honest, the words "social justice" aren't in the script, but they would be if that episode were written today instead of sixteen years ago.

The truth is that the Bible does not directly address issues of social justice such as slavery or racism.

Jesus Himself was no social justice warrior in the modern sense of the term. He didn't host rallies. He didn't organize protests. He didn't advocate civil unrest.

Does that mean that Jesus didn't care about social issues? Did Jesus approve of slavery? Was He unconcerned about the plight of the poor and disenfranchised? By no means!

Jesus, however, chose a different path to address those concerns.

He taught a very simple truth: Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39).

His words get to the core of social justice concerns.

If I love my neighbor, how can I own him as a slave?

If I love my neighbor, how can I cheat her or mistreat him?

If I love my neighbors, how can I discriminate against them?

The principle of "love for neighbor" makes those things unthinkable.

Jesus' words were actually drawn from Leviticus 19:8, which reads, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself."

Do not bear a grudge, but love your neighbor.

I don't see a lot of that in today's social justice movement. I don't see a lot of love.

I, instead, see a lot of grudges, a lot of anger, a lot of rage, and, dare I say it, a lot of hatred.

Jesus's words about love present a challenge to today's social justice movement just as they challenge those guilty of perpetrating injustice.

Rather than trying to overturn the social order of His day, Jesus set forth a manner of life that would provide a platform for social change generation after generation, because each generation will face its own set of social ills.

There will always be injustice in this fallen, broken realm. Racism, poverty, discrimination, and the like will always be with us this side of eternity.

Lasting social justice and reform, however, is not accomplished by enacting laws or cancelling culture.

Rather, it comes when people on all sides of the issues are taught to love one another, to love their neighbors as themselves.

"Servants, and So Much More" May 9, 2021

Are you only Jesus' servant, or are you His friend?

"The Great Commission in Action" May 2, 2021

Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian official shows us how to tell others about Jesus.

"God Is Greater Than Jiminy Cricket" April 25, 2021

God has the answer for a condemning conscience.

"Easter Means It's Never Too Late" April 18, 2021

Like Peter and the temple crowd, we have also denied Jesus.

"Unbelievers" April 11, 2021

Jesus has a special place in His heart for unbelievers like Thomas.

"This Is the Feast" April 4, 2021

You are invited to the feast celebrating Jesus' defeat of death!

"The Burden Bearer" March 28, 2021

How does the humble donkey proclaim the Savior of the world?

"Our Eternal Priest" March 21, 2021

Jesus is the priest we need.

"Divine Discipline and Deliverance" March 14, 2021

Sometimes God needs to get our attention.

"The Temple of His Body" March 7, 2021

Jesus had no patience with those who abused His Father's house.

"Jesus: Who, What, and How" February 28, 2021

Learn the answers to three important questions regarding Jesus.

"Declare a Holy Fast" February 21, 2021

We begin our Lenten journey with a call to repentance.

"What Shall I Do for You" February 14, 2021

Elisha's request prepared him to succeed Elijah in ministry. What would you ask of God?

"Waging Spiritual Warfare" January 31, 2021

The unclean spirit was no match for the Holy One of God.

"The Struggle Is Real" January 24, 2021

Paul urges us to "struggle the good struggle of the faith," just as Jesus did.

"The Lord Is for the Body" January 17, 2021

Paul invites us to consider this question: "How can we equip ourselves and others to lead sexually pure and decent lives?"

"The God Who Speaks Light, Calm, and Life" January 10, 2021

In dark and chaotic days, we need the God of creation and new creation.

The Warfare Is Real

Spiritual Warfare is what is going on in our nation. Satan has been working behind the scenes to create chaos, strife, and violence.

The Bible is clear that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil.” (Ephesians 6:12-13)

The people with whom I disagree are not my enemies, nor am I theirs. We dare not treat each other that way or we will forever cease to be a nation united.

The invective and vitriol that saturates our media, social or otherwise, prevents any true understanding of one another’s views. If a person can’t express his or her views without fear of condemnation, then all genuine conversation ceases.

I especially call upon my brothers and sisters in Christ to “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15) and “let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Col. 4:6)

I implore all of us to recognize the dark spiritual forces at work to destroy this nation. Tone down the rhetoric, stop viewing your fellow citizens as your enemies, and make a conscious choice to “not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

Let’s not give Satan the win he so desires.

"The Wisdom of the Son of David" January 3, 2021

Solomon and Jesus are both sons of David, but could not be more different.