Pastor Scott's Musings

 Sermon for Milledgeville and Centenary UMC... [Title Slide] Finding Jesus (Luke 2:41-62)   “Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” [Slide] A preacher was interrupted during his sermon by two boys giggling in the back pews. He stopped, pointed right at them, and shouted, “Boys! Where is God?” They sat paralyzed and silent. The preacher asked again, “Answer me now! Where is God?!!” The boys jumped up and ran out of the church, not stopping until they got home. Their mother could see they were upset and asked what was wrong. One son said, “Oh Mom! We’re in so much trouble. They’ve lost God at the church, and they think we took Him!”   A parent’s nightmare scenario is to lose a child in a crowd. It happens. You’re browsing the store, checking out sales. [Slide] Your little one wanders off. Suddenly you realize they are not with you. You panic. You scan the crowd. You can’t find them. You call out their name, but they don’t answer. Now you’re...

 Sermon for Milledgeville and Centenary UMC... [Title Slide] The Magi (Matthew 2:1-12) The Wise Still Seek Him [Slide] A kindergarten class is performing the traditional Nativity scene for their adoring parents. The three kings enter the manger scene, dressed in royal color, with glittering cardboard crowns and costume jewelry.   The first little tyke bellows, "I bring you a gift of gold!"   The second confidently says, "I bring you myrrh!"   The third hesitates a moment, then mumbles, "Here, Frank sent this . . . "   Merry Christmas everyone! Like the magi from the east, we are gathered to worship Christ and His Nativity. Hail the newborn King!   Let’s have a quiz. How many kings visited the manger? That’s a trick question. There were no kings. These were magi.   We don’t know how many magi came to Bethlehem. Matthew doesn’t tell us. There could have been 2 or 20! We only say three because of the gifts of gold, frankincense an...