“His Name Is John”

When the Bible makes a big deal about a baby’s name, you better pay attention. No, I’m not talking about Jesus, though his name is significant. It means, “Yahweh saves,” and is also the name of the man (Joshua) who led the Israelites into the Promised Land, which is not without its own significance. But for...

Census, Cradles, and the Cross

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of...

Presence, Not Presents

  Larry L. Eubanks, First Baptist Church, Frederick, Maryland, December 4, 2016 Today is the second Sunday in Advent, and the second in my Advent message series, A Cinematic Christmas, where we are looking at the biblical themes of the birth of Christ through the lens of some popular Christmas movies....

If Jesus Hadn’t Been Born

Larry L. Eubanks, First Baptist Church, Frederick, Maryland, November 27, 2016 In the modern age, Christmas movies and TV shows are as much a part of Christmas as Christmas trees and Christmas carols. When I was growing up, my brothers and I would carefully scan the TV guide every week to make sure we...

Advent Waiting

Waiting always has a future tense. Something is going to happen, but not yet. Without this sense of something approaching there is no waiting. The thing that is on the way could be bad; this kind of waiting is called dread. When my brothers and I were acting up and wouldn’t listen to Mom she would say,...