Sunday Sermon 01-04-2026: Back to the Beginning

The Reverend Dr. Samuel T. PowersBoston Avenue Methodist ChurchJohn 1: 1-18“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, andthe Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All thingscame into being through him, and without him not one thing cameinto being. What has come into being in him was life, and the lifewas the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, andthe darkness did not overtake it. There was a man sent from Godwhose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light,so that all might believe through him. He himself was not thelight, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, whichenlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in theworld, and the world came into being through him, yet the worlddid not know him. He came to what was his own, and his ownpeople did not accept him. But to all who received him, whobelieved in his name, he gave power to become children of God,who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the willof man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived amongus, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son,full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘Thiswas he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead ofme because he was before me.”’) From his fullness we have allreceived, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given throughMoses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one hasever seen God. It is the only Son, himself God, who is close to theFather’s heart, who has made him known.”