"Make Straight the Way of the Lord"

Dec 10, 2023  •  Rev. Charlie Holt

In this second Advent sermon, Reverend Holt passionately calls the congregation to prepare their hearts for the coming of the Lord, echoing the cry of John the Baptist: “Make straight the way of the Lord.” Framing the message around a childhood game of Hide and Seek—“Ready or not, here I come”—Holt likens our spiritual condition to children hiding from God because of guilt and shame, just as Adam and Eve did in the garden.


He draws a powerful distinction between guilt (linked to actions) and shame (linked to identity), and warns that both can become spiritual roadblocks. John the Baptist’s call to "make straight" isn’t merely metaphor—it’s a prophetic wake-up to remove the valleys, mountains, and crooked places in our lives that obstruct the Lord’s presence.

Sermon Transcription

More From All Sermons

“Sent to Make Disciples: Living the Great Commission” - 10am Traditional Eucharist
May 31, 2026  •  The Rev. Charlie Holt
“Living by the Power of the Holy Spirit” - 10am Traditional Eucharist
May 24, 2026  •  The Rev. Billy Cerveny
“The Everyday Work of the Holy Spirit” - 5pm The River Service
May 24, 2026  •  The Rev. Billy Cerveny
“The Cross-Shaped Journey: Finding Christ in the Middle of Suffering” - 5pm The River Service
May 17, 2026  •  The Rev. Billy Cerveny
“When the Brochure Lies: Finding Christ in the Midst of Suffering” - 11am Traditional Eucharist
May 17, 2026  •  The Rev. Billy Cerveny
“Faithful Through the Fire: Hope, Humility, and Endurance in Christ” - 9am Traditional Eucharist
May 17, 2026  •  Rev. Carolyn Jones
"The Victory of Christ”- 11am Traditional Eucharist
May 10, 2026  •  The Rev. Billy Cerveny
“Paid in Full: Fighting From the Victory of Christ” - 5pm The River Service
May 10, 2026  •  The Rev. Billy Cerveny
“Back to the Basics: Growing Deeper in the Gospel” - 5pm The River Service
May 3, 2026  •  The Rev. Billy Cerveny
“From Showing Up to Belonging: A Journey of Faith and Growth” - 11am Traditional Eucharist
May 3, 2026
“No More Stars and Dots: Finding Your Worth in the Eyes of God” - 9am Traditional Eucharist
May 3, 2026  •  The Rev. Charlie Holt
“Grace in the Fire: Reflecting Christ Through Unjust Suffering” - 11am Traditional Eucharist
Apr 26, 2026  •  The Rev. Charlie Holt
View Series