MissionWay Church Sunday Sermons

For the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, we reflect on the profound impact of God's grace revealed through Jesus' first coming, and how it trains us to live in light of His second coming. Grace is not just for forgiveness but empowers us to renounce sin, pursue righteousness, and eagerly anticipate Christ's return. The message challenges us to examine our lives: Are we renouncing ungodliness and zealously pursuing good works in preparation for His glorious return?

Isaiah 9:6-7 gives us a prophecy of Jesus that shows us Jesus did not only come to deliver His people from their darkness, but to give peace and hope in the midst of their darkness and usher in His eternal Kingdom. He is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace whose Kingdom will increase without end until He puts all His enemies under His feet. This should fill our hearts with unshakeable peace and hope.

Are you ready for Christ’s return? This Advent message from Isaiah 40:3-5 challenges us to prepare our hearts for the coming King, just as John the Baptist did before Jesus’ first Advent. It’s a call to repentance, readiness, and trust in God’s unchanging Word.

Micah 5:2-5 highlights God's faithfulness in sending Jesus, the promised Shepherd-King, born in Bethlehem to bring hope, peace, and salvation to a broken world. Despite humble beginnings, Jesus reigns in majesty, offering peace that surpasses all understanding to those who trust in Him. This Advent season reminds us to rest in the fulfilled promise of His first coming and live in hope for His return - even in the midst of the darkness around us.

This sermon explores Matthew 17:22-27, revealing how Jesus paying the temple tax foreshadows His ultimate act of humility in atoning for our sins. It emphasizes Christ's willingness to fulfill God's law and His omniscience and omnipotence, as shown through the miraculous provision of the coin. The sermon highlights the Gospel message: Jesus humbly laid down His life to pay the debt of sin we could never repay, offering freedom and redemption to all who trust in Him.

In this story of Jesus casting out a demon from this young boy, we see that unbelief renders us unable to fight spiritual battles while faith strengthens us to move mountains. Many of life’s challenges are rooted in the spiritual realm, and true faith—trusting fully in Jesus—gives us the power to face them.

The Transfiguration of Jesus reveals His divine glory as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, underscoring His unique authority as God’s beloved Son. When Moses and Elijah appear alongside Him, it symbolizes the unity of the Law and Prophets pointing to Jesus. In this divine moment, the disciples are both awestruck and terrified, yet reassured by Jesus' words, "Rise, and have no fear," reminding them—and us—of the call to listen and respond to Christ’s glory with faith and obedience.

This sermon explores one of the most critical moments in the Gospel of Matthew—Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Matthew 16:13-20). It emphasizes that recognizing Jesus as more than a prophet or teacher, but as the Messiah, is foundational for personal faith and the hope of the Church. The sermon challenges listeners to personally answer Jesus' question, "Who do you say that I am?" and encourages reliance on Jesus as the one who builds and sustains His Church, even in the face of challenges and uncertainty.

In Matthew 16:1-12, Jesus confronts the Pharisees and Sadducees, exposing their obsession with signs and warning His disciples about the dangerous influence of their teaching. Despite witnessing miracles, the Pharisees demanded more proof, revealing their lack of faith—something Jesus said would only be satisfied by the ultimate “sign of Jonah,” His resurrection. This passage challenges believers to confront our unbelief and constant tendency to focus on the wrong things while we miss what God is doing right in front of us. 

In this story, Jesus is revealed as the provider who feeds both the body and the soul, extending His compassion and provision to all who come to Him in faith. Despite the disciples' doubts and forgetfulness of His past miracles, the story serves as a reminder that Jesus’ care is both spiritual and physical, satisfying every need. Through the feeding of the Gentile crowd, Jesus illustrates His love beyond just the Jewish people to all, urging us to trust Him fully and seek His kingdom above all else.