They Laughed At Me

Laughter is a funny thing. It is fun to tell a funny story or a joke and people respond with laughter. (It is not as much fun when you think you are telling a funny story and no one laughs, especially in a sermon). But laughter can have a darker side. It is not much fun when people are laughing AT you.

Few things are more embarrassing and hurtful than to have people laughing at you during a moment of failure. Come on, think about your own life -- this has happened to you, probably when we were younger. I have been on both sides-- the laugher, and the one laughed at. Not good, either way.

Have you ever gone out of your way to be nice, or to help someone--it goes wrong and they laugh at your expense? Imagine the pain and disgrace you might feel.

In my bible reading plan I came across this story about Jesus,

Matthew 9:23-25
"23 And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district. "

First of all, we should be careful projecting our emotions and experience into something similar that happens to Jesus in scripture. But, in this text Jesus is laughed at---and it's not good. The people are mocking Him with laughter. It is meant to be hurtful and to bring embarrassment. Why were they laughing at Him? He was coming to help.

Their laughter is unbelief and lack of understanding. No one can raise some from the dead? The girl had died, it was too late. But, it's not too late for the Author of Life. He has the power over life and death. He can do what seems impossible.

This text is highlighting the person and power of Christ, and the scorn He received during His life. He was laughed at.

I know that Christmas has past, but this is a Christmas text. Jesus willingly left heaven and allowed Himself to be subject to ridicule, scorn, derision. He allowed Himself to experience derisive laughter and humiliation from a people He was coming to help -- from a people He was coming to raise from the dead.

This text demonstrates the incredible depths of God's love that He would sink Himself into humanity and face being laughed at.

Christmas Charity

Tis the season to give. I often remark about the incredible lengths our culture has gone to commercialize Christmas. That topic is kind of like the proverbial “beating a dead horse”. But, what about charitable giving? Have you noticed how ubiquitous ads for giving to charities have become near Christmas? I have. It’s everywhere.

Of course, the Salvation Army has been doing this for a long time. Frankly, I find the bell ringing workers really annoying. Lose the bell, please. I also feel sorry for these people. They have to stand outside, no matter what the weather, and ring that bell for hours. I am sure that aren’t getting paid much, not enough to endure that agony. But, a job is a job.

I guess other charities have caught on, because it is no longer just the Salvation Army. Every good charity is asking for your donations. I have heard ads for the following: homeless shelters, food banks, cancer support/research, military personnel, military families, toys for tots, educational programs, chemical dependency groups, oversea orphanages, Angel Tree, and much more. Our church participates in the Lottie Moon Christmas offering for International Missions, and in collecting canned goods for our local food banks.

And the great thing is, people give. I don’t know if it has always been this way, but it seems like these charities are asking and more and more people are giving. It seems to have become part of our culture for families to put charitable giving as a part of their Christmas budget.

This is a good thing, right? I definitely think that generosity is a good thing. It is even a biblical thing. It is a requirement for Christ followers to be generous and seek ways to assist those in need. Yes, I know that some people give just to receive the tax break on their IRS returns. But, I am glad that we live in a generous culture.

But, a couple of things trouble me. I don’t want to discourage people from giving to these worthy causes, but I do want to point out a couple of issues for consideration.
The Bible is pretty clear that giving is not enough. The motivation behind the giving is what counts. God looks at your heart first, and then what is in your hand. Well, don’t people who give demonstrate a good heart? Yes, but the biblical motivation is not just goodness or even concern for our fellow man – it is a recognition of the Lordship of God in our lives. It is also a recognition that all that I have comes from the grace of God. I am afraid that many give to charity, but not from a heart that is honoring God as Lord.

This brings me to another issue. I think that people like to give to charities at this time of year because they think that it is adding to their own intrinsic goodness, or mitigating their own intrinsic badness. I encounter this all the time – people think that they are or have to be good in order to have some type of standing with God.

No one gets into heaven because they gave to charity! God doesn’t analyze the financial books of your life to determine if you can enter His presence. Giving money to charity makes you a good person on a human level, but it does nothing for you on a spiritual level. For all our righteous deeds amount to a pile of filthy, disgusting rags in God’s eyes. We are spiritual wretches, sinners in the hands of an angry God, deserving His condemnation for violating His holy character. Giving to the Salvation Army or collecting canned food cannot erase our spiritual condition. The grace of God through Jesus Christ appropriated by repentance in faith is the requirement for right standing with God.

So, as you consider charitable giving this Christmas , take a moment and check your heart. That’s what God is looking at.

Praise Him For The Incarnation

Praise Him for the incarnation,
for the word made flesh.
I will not sing of shepherds
watching flocks on frosty nights,
or angel choristers.
I will not sing of a stable bare in Bethlehem,
or lowing oxen,
wise men trailing star with gold,
frankincense, and myrrh.
Tonight I will sing praise to the Father
who stood on heaven's threshold
and said farewell to his Son
as he stepped across the stars
to Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
And I will sing praise to the infinite, eternal Son,
who became most finite, a baby
who would one day be executed for my crime.
Praise him in the heavens,
Praise him in the stable,
Praise him in my heart.

writen by Joseph Bayly.

Christmas Eve Worship

You are invited to our Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service

Dec. 24th 5:30 p.m.

Christmas Worship Services

You are invited to our Christmas Worship Services at First Baptist of Southlake

Sunday December 20th

We have Sunday school at 9:30 a.m.
Service is at 10:45 a.m.

I will be preaching from Isaiah 9:6

Christmas Eve - Dec. 24th
Special Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service
Bring the whole family as we read from the gospel accounts of Christ's birth, worship with some great Christmas music and hear a message about the meaning of Christ's birth.

Not Yet, Please!

I had to go into Home Depot the other day and was instantly greeted by something that annoys me to no end. Christmas junk! It's barely October and at the Depot you have to walk through their giant ilses of Christmas junk.

I actually love Christmas time. I like the music, the lights, the stuff. But, I don't like too much of a good thing.

I have a personal Christmas embargo at my house. No Christmas until Thanksgiving. 3 months is too much. 6 weeks is just enough.

By the way, I know this is not going to change. I will have to continue to be annoyed.

The Christmas Gift

The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.

Martin Luther


I pray that you have a truly blessed Christmas and ponder the richness of the mercy of God in the gift of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christmas VS. Easter

The Big Deal:

The Christmas season is the undisputed heavy weight champion of holidays in the US. For proof of that assertion just go to Wal Mart in mid October. The Christmas promotions are in full swing earlier and earlier every year.

From a commercial standpoint and overall societal emphasis - Christmas is the big dog.

What about Easter? It does get some promotional considerations, but it is not nearly as big a deal. Have you ever noticed that? I have.

Easter is commercialized. Stores look for anyway they can to get a buck. The markets are closed for Good Friday. But, there is a two week break at Christmas. Schools are closed, people are on vacation. There are Christmas parties, specials, and all kinds of activities that take place for about 6 weeks.

Why? Let me delve into some social analysis.

First, I am not dealing with biblical/spiritual reasons just yet. I know that America's fascination with Christmas is not on a true/biblical/spiritual level. I am making general observations.

Second, Christmas should be a big deal. Especially for us Christ followers. It should be more than what our society has turned it into. I want Christmas to be a big deal, I also want Easter to be a big deal.

#3 Christmas falls at a strategic point in our yearly calendar. The end of one year and beginning of another makes it a good time to have a break. It is also the middle of the school year. Easter being in the spring makes that time more difficult to take as much time off.

#4 Christmas is the same time each year. Easter is different every year. There is a complicated formula for determining when Easter Sunday will fall. That gives an edge to Christmas.

I think there are other reasons that Christmas is so grand in our society(tradition, etc.). What I really want to address is why Easter is not so grand.

There will be a commercial push. You will see Easter bunnies, eggs, and the like appear in the stores. But, it is so small comparatively to Christmas.

I think the reason why is because the cross is offensive. Galatians 5:15. The word of the cross is folly. 1 Corinthians 1:18.

A baby in a manger is cute. Let's make figurines, books, pictures about a little baby and his loving family. Throw in some cute sheep, a camel, and a donkey and we've got a precious story.

Put a man on a cross, bleeding, gasping for breath, dying for sin - people want to stay away from that. We can celebrate a baby, but a bloody execution? No thanks. That is the attitude that has led to the difference between Christmas and Easter.

What we need to keep in mind is that Christmas is for the purpose of Easter. Christmas comes so Easter can follow. The purpose for the birth of the little baby was so that baby could grow, live and die on a cross. Take away Easter and Christmas is nothing all that special.

The cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to those being saved it is the power of God. Embrace the cross of the Christ child this Christmas and you will be head and shoulders beyond were the majority of society has placed itself.

For more on the connection between Christmas and Easter read Hebrews 2:10-18.

The Grinch Couldn't Steal Christmas

One of my favorite Christmas shows is Dr. Seuss' famous "Grinch". I love the voice, animation, the songs, and the story. The story has a great moral message, and with a bit of a tweak from me, a message for Christ followers as well.

The Plot

The Grinch hates Christmas and hates that the Whos in Whoville love it. So, he tries to steal Christmas. He takes every outward expression of Christmas. The Grinch steals the trees, ornaments, presents, the food, the feast, even the Roast Beast. He leaves nothing but a small crumb that the little mouse doesn't even get to eat.

After successfully stealing everything the Grinch waits with malicious glee for the sounds of sadness - he has stolen Christmas.

But, he hears no sounds of sadness, but joyful singing. His mistake - thinking Christmas was about presents, trees, and food. It meant something much deeper to the Whos of Whoville. Even with the outward expressions of Christmas stolen the Whos still had Christmas.

The Tweak

Dr. Seuss' moral seems to be that family and friends are more important than presents and whopudding. He is right, and that is good.

Here is my message for us Christ followers. Christmas is not about the external trappings, or even family and friends. It is and should be about the Lord Jesus Christ.

I love presents, carols, trees, lights, and the food. I wish I could spend the season with all of my family and friends. But, if that is all Christmas has become then I am missing the main ingredient. If I never get another Christmas present, or my tree burns to the ground but I still have a life focused on Jesus - I have Christmas.

I encourage you to learn from little Cindy Lou Who, all the Whos and even the Grinch. Hopefully no one will steal all of your Christmas loot, but don't allow the hustle and bustle to rob you of the true joy of a Christ centered Christmas.

P.S. The little dog with the antlers tied to his head is my favorite.

Christmas Gift

Up at the crack of dawn,
Eager and filled with glee,
Gifts wait no more,
Ripped, opened, seen,
Eyes full of surprise,
Hearts warmed with love.


It is a joy to watch kids on Christmas morning! The excitement builds to a crescendo until it is about to burst. It is a wonder that they ever went to sleep at all. Hannah and Emily got everything a little girl could possibly want.
I also received many gifts and presents, and opened them with the anticipation of someone much younger than I actually am.

I did finally take a moment to pause and reflect, and I am glad I did. Otherwise, I might have missed Christmas. I have received another gift, one much more important than something that comes in a box. I have received the gift of life. And not just any life, life in Christ, eternal and full of hope, love, joy, purpose...
It takes my breath away! To think that God would send His most treasured Son for someone like me. I am a worm, a wretched man, the chief of sinners, and God gave a Gift, a precious Gift, the Gift of His Son. And this came not in fancy wrapping, but "in the form of man, taking the very nature of a servant, and became obedient to death, even death on a cross".(Phil. 2:5-11) The Gift shed His blood for my wretchedness and sin. He died as my substitute, in my place. And the Gift rose again on the third day. I have received this Gift into my life, almost 18 years ago, by repentance and faith. Have you received the Gift -- Jesus Christ?

Thank You Lord for sending the Gift for us! I praise you!