Jesus’ birth established a beachhead in the cosmic war between good and evil. But the Serpent will not take it lying down.

The problem of evil explored through the story of the slaughter of the innocents

Sermon Outline: 1. All evil is personal 2. All evil is cosmic 3. God restrains evil 4. Jesus is the answer to the problem of evil

Previous Sermons Referenced: How Can a Loving God Allow Suffering? Hard Questions, Real Answers, Part 4 The Problem of Evil: Hard Questions, Real Answers, Part 4 – Sermon Follow-up Podcast

Links: Youtube: Neil de Grasse Tyson on God and Faith Youtube: Stephen Frye on atheism Augustine – On the Problem of Evil Norman Malcolm – Cornell Philosopher

Scripture Texts: Jeremiah 31:15-17 15 Thus says the Lord: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” 16 Thus says the Lord: “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope for your future, declares the Lord, and your children shall come back to their own country.

Matthew 2:13–18 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Liturgy bulletin link

“The Serpent Strikes Back” preached by Rev. Dr. Timothy R. LeCroy, Sunday, December 29, 2024 at 10:00AM at New Life Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, NY. Come see the beautiful Finger Lakes region, and worship God with us. www.newlifeithaca.org.

Sermon music is from “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” provided by Sandra McCracken and with her permission. www.sandramccracken.com.

The post The Serpent Strikes Back first appeared on New Life Church Ithaca.