Week 3 of our Advent Series - The Soul Felt its Worth

What gives your life worth when the darkness feels heavy, joy feels distant, and hope feels fragile?

In this Advent sermon from Isaiah 9:1–7, we explore the stunning promise that God sent light into the darkest places—and that He began His work where no one expected. Long before Bethlehem, Isaiah foretold a Savior whose coming would restore worth to the overlooked, joy to the burdened, and peace to the restless soul.

In this message, you’ll discover:

• How Christ’s light destroys real darkness—not just metaphorical gloom
• Why joy is not something we manufacture, but something Christ delivers
• What the divine titles of Jesus—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace—reveal about His worth and ours
• How the kingdom of Christ is already at work today, and how its fullness is still to come
• Why Advent is about both present hope and future restoration

Whether you feel spiritually weary, burdened by shame, or longing for what is still “not yet,” this message reminds us that Christ has come—and He is coming again. His worth is real, present, and eternal.

Perfect for listeners searching for: Advent sermons, Isaiah 9 sermons, Christmas messages, Christian hope, biblical theology, gospel-centered preaching, and messages about joy, peace, and restoration.

This message takes us back to the very beginning of our broken story to discover the first whisper of hope. In Genesis 3:15, we encounter what scholars call the 'proto-evangelium'—the first gospel—where God promises that the serpent who deceived humanity will one day be crushed. This isn't just ancient history; it's the foundation of our redemption story. We see God immediately responding to humanity's fall not with abandonment, but with a promise of restoration. The moment Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame with fig leaves, God showed them something profound: their self-made coverings would never be enough. Instead, God Himself provided garments of skin, requiring the first sacrifice, the first shedding of blood. This powerful image foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice to come. Throughout the Old Testament, we see this pattern repeated—from Abel's offering to the Passover lamb, from David striking Goliath's head to Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering servant. Every sacrifice, every victory, every prophecy points forward to the One who would finally and fully restore our worth. The exile from Eden wasn't just punishment; it was mercy, preventing humanity from being eternally trapped in brokenness. We cannot create our own Eden or restore ourselves, but the beauty of Advent is that God crossed the distance we could never cross. Our souls ache because we are east of Eden, and Advent is God's answer to that longing.

In today’s Mailbag Episode, we tackle three big questions every Christian—new or seasoned—faces:

• Who exactly is Melchizedek—and could he have been Jesus?
• What does Ephesians 4:30 mean when it says not to “grieve the Holy Spirit”?
• And what should new believers do when all their friends are unbelievers? Should you get new friends?

This episode walks through Genesis 14, Psalm 110, Hebrews 7, and Ephesians 4 with clear, practical teaching. You’ll learn why Melchizedek matters for understanding Jesus’ priesthood, what it really means to grieve the Holy Spirit, and how to navigate friendships wisely as you grow in your faith.

Whether you’re a new Christian or just curious about Scripture, this episode gives biblical clarity, real-life wisdom, and encouragement for the journey.

Keywords: Melchizedek explained, was Melchizedek Jesus, who is Melchizedek, grieve the Holy Spirit meaning, Ephesians 4:30 explained, new Christian friendships, unbelieving friends, how to follow Jesus, Christian podcast, Bible teaching.

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logandmerrick@gmail.com

This powerful exploration of Genesis 3 invites us to confront the raw reality of shame and sin while discovering the breathtaking truth of God's relentless pursuit. We journey back to humanity's first moments of hiding—when Adam and Eve covered themselves and retreated into the shadows after believing the serpent's lie. But here's where the story becomes beautifully transformative: God doesn't abandon them to their shame. Instead, He walks into the garden asking 'Where are you?'—not because He's lost them, but because He refuses to leave them hidden. This question isn't about location; it's about invitation. We learn that shame always distorts our perception of God, making us see Him as harsh when He's actually merciful, distant when He's pursuing us, angry when He's grieving for us. The sermon unpacks how lies—whether about our identity, our worth, or our bodies—echo that ancient deception in Eden. From the tragedy of sexual abuse victims believing they're dirty, to cultural narratives that contradict God's creative design, we see how the enemy still whispers 'Who told you that?' becomes God's heartbreaking question as He tears down the lies that bind His children. This Advent message intentionally leaves us in the tension, feeling the weight of sin's fracture, so we can truly appreciate the promise that's coming. We're reminded that our worth isn't restored by perfection—it's restored by the God who runs toward us when we're standing in danger, just as a father snatches his child from oncoming traffic.

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This powerful exploration of Jonah chapter one reveals something extraordinary: we're not just reading about a reluctant prophet, but witnessing a preview of Christ himself. The storm that rages around Jonah's disobedience becomes a vivid picture of God's wrath against sin, and Jonah's sacrifice—being thrown overboard to calm the waters—foreshadows Jesus's ultimate sacrifice on the cross. What makes this even more compelling is the contrast: Jonah went into the sea reluctantly for his own sin, while Jesus willingly went to the cross for ours. The pagan sailors desperately rowing harder to save themselves mirrors our own tendency to work our way out of spiritual storms through good deeds, religious activity, or self-rescue efforts. But the message is clear: the storm only stops when we surrender to God's way, not our own. Perhaps most beautiful is how God doesn't waste our failures—even through Jonah's rebellion, the pagan sailors come to know Yahweh by name. This reminds us that our testimonies, even the messy parts, can become lifelines for others struggling in their own storms. We cannot row our way to peace; we can only receive it through the one who stepped into the storm for us.

Chapter 1: Introduction and Jonah's Reluctant Admission

0:00 - 15:00

We explore how Jonah's reluctant confession of guilt parallels our human tendency to hide sin, contrasting this with Jesus who willingly stepped forward to bear our shame.

Chapter 2: The Sailors' Struggle and the Danger of Self-Rescue

15:00 - 30:00

We see how the pagan sailors' attempt to row harder instead of throwing Jonah overboard represents our tendency to rely on works and self-effort rather than surrender to God.

Chapter 3: The Storm Silenced by Sacrifice

30:00 - 40:00

The immediate calming of the storm when Jonah is thrown overboard pictures how Christ's perfect sacrifice instantly stilled God's wrath against our sin.

Chapter 4: The Sailors' Conversion and the Power of Testimony

40:00 - 50:00

God used even Jonah's disobedience to draw pagan sailors to himself, demonstrating that God doesn't waste our storms and highlighting the importance of sharing our testimonies.

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“I’ll be back.” The Terminator’s famous line feels a little different in a world filled with chatbots, algorithms, and AI doing everything from writing emails to predicting human behavior. But how should Christians actually think about artificial intelligence?

In this episode, Pastor Logan dives into a biblical, balanced perspective on AI—its dangers, its potential, and the ways it quietly shapes our souls. We talk about how AI can dehumanize us, why it can become a tool that uses us instead of the other way around, and why Christians must care about the ethical frameworks behind emerging technology.

Pastor Logan also shares honestly about how he personally uses AI (and how he absolutely doesn’t), why it’s not the “mark of the beast,” and how believers can navigate modern technology with wisdom, discernment, and love for their neighbor.

If you’ve wondered whether AI is harmless, helpful, or something more complicated, this episode will equip you to think clearly and faithfully..

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logandmerrick@gmail.com

In this episode, Pastor Logan unpacks a jarring moment from Jonah’s story—one that exposes how easily we root our identity in anything other than God. When the sailors demand answers, Jonah introduces himself by his ethnicity before his faith: “I am a Hebrew… and I worship the Lord.” That order reveals a heart untethered from its true calling.

We do the same. We lead with our careers, our family names, our achievements, our politics, our personality types—everything except our identity as children of the living God. And like Jonah, our misplaced identity doesn’t just derail our spiritual lives—it creates storms for everyone around us.

This episode challenges you to examine what comes first in your life’s identity hierarchy and invites you to rediscover the mission God has entrusted to you.

Why did the demons beg Jesus to enter the pigs? Why did Jesus allow it? And what does this unusual moment in Mark 5 actually teach us about spiritual warfare, judgment, and the mission of Christ?

In this episode, Pastor Logan Merrick gives a clear, biblical, and theologically rich explanation of the demon-possessed man in Mark 5. We discuss:

• why demons seek physical bodies
• why the demons recognized Jesus as the Son of God
• what the presence of pigs reveals about Gentile territory
• how this event foreshadows the Gospel going to the nations
• why demons are powerful but not all-knowing
• the economic impact of the 2,000 pigs
• and how Jesus restores broken humanity

Whether you're a student of Scripture or curious about one of the strangest stories in the New Testament, this episode will help you understand the meaning and message behind the demons and the pigs—and why this passage still matters today.

Why are the Gospels Different a blog to answer that question: https://open.substack.com/pub/redeemingthedirt/p/why-four-gospels?r=2rnfoe&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Have a question for me? Email me at logandmerrick@gmail.com

Check out our website at Christourcornerstonechurch.com