Christmas Eve Sermon

Christmas Eve

Luke 2:1-20

Why God thought of Christmas

1 ¶ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.

7 And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8 ¶ And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.

10 And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people;

11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!"

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

16 And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child;

18 and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

19 But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.RSV



Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ.

I would like you to pretend that you are back 2000 years ago in Bethlehem, you wake up on this day, get the morning newspaper and you read about some strange happenings which occurred in your town during the night. As most newspaper do, this one, the Daily Bethlehem covered the story from every angle. You read....There is a story about astronomy in which the strange bright star over Bethlehem is explained The top astronomers of the day give their opinions concerning this latest appearing in the sky.

As you read further, you find on article concerning the many miles people traveled and the crowded conditions in your town especially last night. A special human interest story appeared which told of a pregnant woman traveling 70 miles on top of a donkey, then arriving so late that Mary and Joseph find no room in the inn, so they have to settle for a stable.

Then in the police reports, you find that a group of shepherds invaded your town during the night. The report gives little detail, but the shepherds were reported to have gone to that stable to see a little baby who was suppose to have been born. The police kept close track of those shepherds because of their reputation for causing trouble whenever they come to town. The report said something about the shepherds seeing angels in the sky and hearing the angels singing and telling them about a special baby being born this night in a stable. The report went on to say that the police were very suspicious of the shepherd's story.

Finally in the birth announcements you read about a baby born who as yet has not been named being born in a stable behind the inn. You find out that the parents, Mary and Joseph were of the house and lineage of David and that is why they are in your town because of the census ordered by Herod.

By all the accounts, there were some strange happenings in your town last night. As you read these stories, you come to the conclusion that these were all unrelated events. You wonder how the baby is doing since little was said concerning his welfare.

Using your imagination, those might have been the stories you read concerning the strange events in Bethlehem. Notice every angle was covered, but the story which was the short shortest concerned the baby born in that stable. Is that how it should have been? Maybe not, but that is the way it was and I bet if it happened today, it would be reported in the same manner.

The most important event of Christmas, the birth of God's Son would probably receive the least print, except the human interest side, the baby being born in a stable.

Is the human interest side of the story the reason God thought of Christmas? Did God think of Christmas so that everyone would feel for Mary and the Baby born in a cold, drafty stable in the middle of the night?

Why did God think of Christmas?

God thought of Christmas because God wanted to give us the gift of Himself. God wanted to be with us, in a human form. God wanted to give us the gift of salvation. God wanted to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, to love us, to forgive us, to bring peace and contentment into our lives.

A story entitled The Miraculous Staircase by Arthur Gordon explains the gift of Christmas very well It seems in 1878 a chapel was built and completed and named Our Lady of Light and run by the sister of Loretto . But a problem developed, it seemed that the plans for the chapel came from Paris and the architect who drew them forgot to put a staircase leading to the choir loft. After the chapel was built, it was soon discovered that there was no room for a staircase.

One cold December day a carpenter came hearing about the problem and offered to build a staircase. The mother superior Magdalene was leaving to help in a village with sickness and couldn't talk with the Carpenter.

The best ones in Santa Fe and New Mexico couldn't figure out how to guild a staircase so she figured this one wouldn't either. She left giving orders for him to be fed and then he could go on his way. While fighting the sickness in the village she received some strange letters from home. It seemed that the carpenter was working late, into the night on something.

The Mother Superior having completed her mission in the village hurried home. Because of a snow storm she arrived late at night on Christmas Eve. The chapel was ablaze with light. She hurried in and was met by excited sister ushering her quickly into the chapel to the choir loft area.

"Like a curl of smoke the staircase rise before them as insubstantial as a dream. Two completed spirals it made, nothing seemed to support it. One sister whispered, it has 33 steps, One for each year of the Lord. Mother Magdalene moved toward the staircase, stepped up and began to climb. She reached the choir loft, she was ecstatic

"How did he do it?" she asked, "How did he finish it in time? What is his name?"

The sister answered,"He finished today, he left when he was done."

A young girl who had been mute came forward trying to form words and uttered, "his name was Jose" Jose is the name in Spanish for Joseph. The sisters bowed their heads.

This staircase can be seen today in Santa Fe. No one can explain how it was built. 33 steps make two complete turns without central support. There are no nails, only wooden pegs. The curved stringers are put together with precision and the wood is spliced in seven places on the inside and nine on the outside!

That mysterious staircase was a gift, an unexplainable gift just as the baby born in the manger is an unexplainable gift from God to us.

Why did God think of Christmas, easy, to give us a gift, a gift of love which was freely given. A gift which is just as masterful as that staircase in Santa Fe.

This closing story tells it all, why God gave us Christmas!



NO JACKET REQUIRED

Author Jimmy D. Brown



I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn't be the right place. After all, I couldn't possibly be welcome here. I had been given an invitation several times, by several different people, and had finally decided to see what this place was all about. But, this just couldn't be the right place. Quickly, I glanced down at the invitation that I clutched in my hand. I scanned past the words, "Come as you are. No jacket required." and found the location. Yes, I was at the right place.

I peered through the window again and saw a room of people whose faces seemed to glow with joy. All were neatly dressed, adorned in fine garments and appeared strangely clean as they dined at this exquisite restaurant. Ashamed, I looked down at my own tattered and torn clothing, covered in stains. I was dirty, in fact, filthy. A foul smell seemed to consume me and I couldn't shake the grime that clung to my body. As I turned around to leave, the words from the invitation seemed to leap out at me......"Come as you are. No jacket required." I decided to give it a shot. Mustering up every bit of courage I could find, I opened the door to this restaurant and walked up to a man standing behind a podium. "Your name, sir?" he asked me with a smile.

"Jimmy D. Brown," I mumbled without looking up. I thrust my hands deep into my pockets, hoping to conceal their stains.

He didn't seem to notice the filth that I was covered in and he continued, "Very good, sir. A table is reserved in your name. Would you like to be seated?"

I couldn't believe what I heard! A grin broke out on my face and I said, "Yes, of course!"

He lead me to a table and, sure enough, there was a placard with my name written on it in a deep, dark red. As I browsed over a menu, I saw many delightful items listed. There were things like, "peace," "joy," "blessings," "confidence," "assurance," "hope," "love," "faith," and "mercy." I realized that this was no ordinary restaurant! I flipped the menu back to the front in order to see where I was at......"God's Grace," was the name of this place!

The man returned and said, "I recommend the 'Special of the Day.' With it, you are entitled to heaping portions of everything on this menu."

"You've got to be kidding!" I thought to myself. "You mean, I can have ALL of this? What is the 'Special of the Day'" I asked with excitement ringing in my voice.

"Salvation," was his reply.

"I'll take it," I practically cried out.

Then, as quickly as I made that statement, the joy left my body. A sick, painful ache jerked through my stomach and tears filled my eyes. Between my sobs I said..."Mister, look at me. I'm dirty and nasty. I'm unclean and unworthy of such things. I'd love to have all of this, but, I just can't afford it."

Undaunted, the man smiled again. "Sir, your check has already been taken care of by that Gentleman over there," he said pointing to the front of the room. "His Name is Jesus."

Turning, I saw a man whose very presence seemed to light the room. He was almost too much to look at. I found myself walking towards Him and in a shaking voice I whispered, "Sir, I'll wash the dishes or sweep the floors or take out the trash. I'll do anything I can do to repay you for all of this."

He opened His arms and said with a smile, "Son, all of this is yours if you just come unto me. Ask me to clean you up and I will. Ask me to take away the stains and it is done. Ask me to allow you to feast at my table and you will eat. Remember, the table is reserved in your name. All you must do is accept this gift that I offer you."

Astonished, I fell at his feet and said, "Please, Jesus. Please clean up my life. Please change me and sit me at your table and give me this new life."

Immediately, I heard the words, "It is finished." I looked down and white robes adorned my squeaky clean body. Something strange and wonderful had happened. I felt new, like a weight had been lifted and I found myself seated at His table. "The Special of the Day has been served," the Lord said to me. "Salvation is yours."

We sat and talked for a great while and I so enjoyed the time that I spent with Him. He told me, me of all people, that He would like to me to come back as often as I liked for another helping from God's Grace. He made it clear that He wanted me to spend as much time with Him as possible. As it drew near time for me to go back outside into the "real world," He whispered to me softly, "And Lo, I am with you always." And then, He said something to me that I will never forget. He said... "My child, do you see these empty tables throughout this room?"

"Yes, Lord. I see them. What do they mean?" I replied.

"These are reserved tables...but the individuals whose names are on each placard have not accepted their invitations to dine. Would you be so kind as to hand out these invitations to those who have not joined us yet?" Jesus asked. "Of course," I said with excitement as I picked up the invitations.

"Go therefore into all nations," He said as I turned to leave. I walked into God's Grace dirty and hungry. Stained in sin. My righteousness as filthy rags. And Jesus cleaned me up. I walked out a brand new man...robed in white, His righteousness. And so, I'll keep my promise to my Lord. I'll go. I'll spread the Word. I'll share the Gospel...I'll hand out the invitations. And I'll start with you.

Have you been to God's Grace? There's a table reserved in your name, and here's your invitation...

"Come as you are. No jacket required."

God gave us Christmas so we can go to God's Grace.

Amen

Written by Pastor Tim Zingale December 18, 2006
You may freely use this but please give credit. Not for commercial use.

4th sunday in Advent sermon

Fourth Sunday in Advent

Luke 1: 39-45 (46-55)

"Singing for Joy"



39 ¶ In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,

40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit

42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.

45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;

49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,

52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.

54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever."RSV

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

Our gospel lesson this morning is about song. Mary and Elizabeth sing songs of praise to God.

They sing because of the joy in their hearts at the miracle of life which God gave them.

They sing songs of joy to God for being allowed to bring John the Baptist and Jesus into this world.

Mary who was pregnant with baby Jesus and Elizabeth was pregnant with John. Mary went to see Elizabeth after she found out from the angel she was carrying God's son. Mary, I imagine, had to find someone to talk with to help her sort out all that had happened to her. She greeted Elizabeth and the text says,"and when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb. .." further the text says, as Elizabeth is speaking, "For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. "

As one studies this passage closely, one finds it is Mary's humble song of praise to God for being chosen by God so that God's power of love, mercy and forgiveness may be manifested in this world.

Mary sings to God

"My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;

49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

Mary sings to God for the blessing he has bestowed upon her. This Magnificat not a song about Mary, but a song about God. It is a song about how God used Mary to bring his son into this world.

We can sing praises to God for this miracle of life that he brought into this world through Mary. The virgin birth is a sign for us that God can , when he wants to, puts aside the laws of nature, the natural order of thing to do his mighty will. Mary understood this greatness of God. Mary knew that God had done something great. Mary knew that her glory came not from anything she did or didn't do. Her glory came from God himself. She knew and understood her's was a borrowed glory, a glory bestowed upon her from God.

So she says in that passage called the Magnificat, " My soul magnifies the lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour." God had accomplished something truly special with Mary and Mary gave Him the praise and the glory.

One of the Christmas presents I received many years ago was a recording of Handel's Messiah. I especially enjoy the Hallelujah Chorus and the tradition that goes along with it . At every performance of that work when the Hallelujah Chorus is sung the audience stands. They stand because at the first performance the audience applauded so loud and all turned toward Handel and as they did he a rose and pointed with his finger toward heaven, silently indicating that the glory for this magnificent piece of music should be given to God rather than to himself.

And in the same way, Mary's praise of God indicates that she also knew to whom the glory for this special event should be given. The glory should be given to God. All things are possible with God even when our human minds and reason have a difficult time accepting it. But God is more than our minds and reason. God can and does work through the erected order, but he is not limited as seen in the virgin birth. God chooses at times to work outside the natural laws, outside human reason and understanding and in those events we truly see his almighty power.

Not only did God reveal his power with Mary, but in the place of his Son's birth God showed us his humility. For who would have guessed that God being born into this world would break into our history in such a backwater town as Bethlehem in a humble place as a stable. But with God all things are possible so we sing. God does not need what we consider grand and glorious. God can use the simple, the common to show us his glory. So it is fitting, I think, that Jesus the Son of God was born in such a small town in a tiny country. Born in such a unlikely place as a stable. It shows us the true nature of this God we worship.

We sing songs at the impending Christmas event because of the gift of hope which the baby in the manger brings to our lives. There is a hopefulness about life because of Christ. No matter what the circumstances in which we find ourselves, there can be hope because of Christ. Hope that says somehow we will be delivered, rescued, or given the courage and strength to endure any circumstance in which we might find ourselves.

When we realize that alone without Christ we are only loosing life, then there is hope because we turn our lives over to Christ to redeem and save. By ourselves as human beings hope does not spring eternal in our nature. We are a race of people given to despair. We are prone to give up on life, to quit, to find the easiest, painless solution to our problems. We are a generation of people who have gotten used to looking for the quick fix, the instant solution. When it doesn't come, we give up, we throw up our arms in despair and complain about the unfairness of life.

There is a movie about the ultimate despair in life entitled "They Shoot Horses Don't They". I saw it in college and again just recently on TV. The movie is about an actress who has a fallen career on the big screen during the 20's. She enters a dance marathon hoping to win the jackpot and to use the money to launch a new movie career. As the marathon draws closer to the end, she realizes that she and her partner have a good chance of winning. During one of the rest breaks, the promoter calls them into the office, and explains to them that the winner has to pay for the expenses of the dance out of the $750.00 prize money.

She sees life is not worth fighting any longer, because when she thought she was winning, she was loosing. There was no hope for her she thought, only this brokenness. She feels broken, used, washed up. She gives up on life. The final scene of the movie shows her going round and round as if on a merry-go-round. She steps off and goes outside with her boy friend, hands him a gun and asks him to shoot her.

As the viewer, you can feel her helplessness, but as a Christian you want her to live, to be redeemed, but the gun goes off. She falls to the ground.

The police come and ask the boy friend why he shot her. He replies,"They shoot horses don't they!!"

The hope of Christmas says no matter how desperate our lives seem, no matter how much hurt, brokenness, and alienation there is, because of Jesus there is hope. We as God's children are more than horses being shot when our usefulness in life is through. Because of Christ, no life should be without hope. There is hope for the redemption of life either through the strength to endure or the power to overcome. Because of Christ, in the long run of things, in each life, hope does spring eternal. Christ can do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. Christ can redeem our lives now and in the future. Because of Christ, no life need end in a moment of despair, for with Christ every life can be and will be redeemed.

A closing story about hope.

In September 1995 Caryl and Charlie Harvey answered an early morning knock upon their front door. Two policemen stood there grimly, passing on the terrible news that their 20 year old son Brad had been found murdered.

Grief stricken they went through the motions of the funeral and life. But as Christmas approached Caryl found herself giving vent to her disappointment and anger with God. He had failed her. Why hadn't he protected her son as she had so often prayed?

In desperation she prayed, "God, if you care about me, I need a miracle. Otherwise, I think I'll probably die." She waited, and that Christmas her miracle came.

One night the doorbell rang. When Caryl's 13 year old daughter answered it she found a gift but no giver, nor any mark identifying the giver. The gift was a treebranch with apples planted in it and a blue plastic nightingale perched on top. Attached was a piece of paper which read:

"On the first day of Christmas My true love gave to me A partridge in a pear tree.

We couldn't find a partridge, And our pear tree died, So you have to settle for a Bluebird in an apple tree."

Also attached was a bible verse describing the birth of John the Baptist.

The next evening there was another ring of the doorbell and another gift. Though Sarah, Cheryl's daughter, raced to the door, she wasn't fast enough to discover who the mystery giver was. This time there was a box containing "turtle" brand lollies and two Dove brand chocolate bars.

The note read

"On the second day of Christmas My true love sent to meTwo turtledoves…." and included a bible verse about the angel Gabriel appearing to the virgin Mary.

And on it went for the next ten days. The third day were three cornish hens (the French hens had lost their passport the note said); the fourth day there was a cassette tap with songs which had the word "bird" in the title, and a calling card - "four calling birds"; on the fifth day five golden rings were freshly cooked doughnuts; on the sixth day six geese-a-laying were pastel chalk eggs; on the seventh day, seven swans swam across the top of a blue-frosted cake.; on the eighth day eight maids-a-milking was a Holstein cow candle; on the ninth day nine ladies dancing were 18 gingerbread people decorated as dancers (the Equal Opportunity Employment Act wouldn't allow them to send just nine ladies); on the tenth day there were ten wooden leaping puppets; on the eleventh day a James Galway tape did for eleven piper piping; on the twelfth day of Christmas there were twelve drums made out of iced biscuits. And each day there was a Scripture verse preparing them for the approaching holiday.

Caryl found that this was her miracle. For the first time since Brad's death she had begun looking forward to the next day, wanting to know what would come next. Thinking of that time she says "My miracle. When I couldn't talk to God, when I didn't even want to talk to him, he sent my miracle through someone else. God used earthly hands to send it to me, but his fingerprints were all over it." 1

Caryl's experience reminds us that when people are wounded our action can be a miracle to them, helping them find healing and recovery.

We sing for joy this season because with God, all things are possible. Our hearts sing for joy because of the gift of the baby born in the manger who brings hope into our troubled lives.

"My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;

49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

Amen

Written by Pastor Tim Zingale December 18, 2006

1Source: Caryl's story reported by herself in Christianity Today Magazine, November/December 2001,"artvol">Vol. 39,No. 6.

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3rd Sunday in Advent Sermon

3rd Sunday in Advent

Luke 3:7-18
"Signs of Love in Our World"

Zephaniah 3:

14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has cast out your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear evil no more.
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.
17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing
18 as on a day of festival. “I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it.
19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
20 At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you together; yea, I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the LORD.

Philippians 4:

4* Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
5* Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand.
6* Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7* And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Luke 3:

7* He said therefore to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8* Bear fruits that befit repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
9* Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10* And the multitudes asked him, “What then shall we do?”
11* And he answered them, “He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”
12* Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
13* And he said to them, “Collect no more than is appointed you.”
14* Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
15* As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ,
16* John answered them all, “I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
17* His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18* So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people.RSV

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

God is in our world in wonderful ways when we least expect or as it goes unnoticed by the majority of people. Signs of God's love go unnoticed. As Christmas approaches we excited about this dramatic sign which shows us God's love. The Christmas sign is not the only way God reveals himself to us. His signs of love are all around us, in the in the people who touch our lives, or encouragement we receive in all sorts of subtle and yes even dramatic ways revealing his love for us today.

Let me demonstrate with the following: "A lady, during one of the coldest spells of the winter' noticed an eleven year old boy standing barefoot over a heater grate on a street corner selling his evening newspapers.

"Son, where are your shoes and socks?" asked the lady.

"I ain't got none!"' was his reply.

Taking the boy by the ham she led him into a department store and bought him some thick wool socks and heavy shoes.

The boy quickly ran out of the store, but then turned suddenly toward the lady and asked," "Lady, are you God?"

Surprised the woman said with a smile on her face, "No, but I am one of his children."

"Well, I knowed you must have been kin to him somehow," said the boy as he ran off to continue selling his evening papers.

That lady was a 'Christ-figure' to that little paper boy. Only we don't see those events as signs of God's love, but we should. This morning we are going to look at God's signs of love in our world, how God keeps repeating the Christmas event even today with his signs of love.

In our first lesson, Zephaniah is telling the people of Israel that God is in her midst. God has driven out the enemies, he has given strength to Israel's hands, has brought love into the land. God has ruled and will continue to rule over the land. Yes, God was with that nation of Israel. God had come, God was in her midst. In the same way as God was with Israel, God is with His people today. God is with us because we are his people, his children through the event of Baptism.

Zephaniah tells the nation to rejoice to sing songs, to be exceedingly happy with all of their heart that God is in her midst. God coming into our midst is a joyous time a time to celebrate, to make merry. The Christmas event is a reminder in a very dramatic way that God came into this world as one of us, and that He continues to come into this world on a daily basis.

This is good news or is it? Is it good news that God is coming or does that news frighten you? Do you fear God because you know His presence while bringing good news also brings a judgment, a time of accounting into our lives?

In our gospel lesson, John the Baptist shows us very clearly the judgment side of God's presence in our midst. The Christmas event is a sign of good news, but at the same time it can be a sign of judgment for us. It all depends where you are in your relationship with Jesus.

Are you playing games with him trying to pretend you are really righteous and good, saying you don't need his saving grace because you haven't been that bad? Are you playing the game of being good on the outside, but inside there is a well of hostility toward God and others?

Or, Or are you honest with God saying that the only way you can come into His presence is through the forgiving love of His Son Jesus Christ? God's presence in our lives can either be the bad news of judgment or good news of grace, it all depends on where you are in your relationship with Jesus.

Two different examples, the first the bad news of judgment, then the presence of God as good news as grace.

" A mine worker was trapped in a cave-in. When he was rescued, he was brought to the hospital where the doctors informed him he didn't have much time left. He was dying. A pastor who had been visiting with the man in hopes to enlighten him with the good news of Christ was called to the hospital. He addressed the dying man saying, ' I know and you know that you are dying. Do you want to repent now and ask God for his forgiveness? Do you want to be honest with God now?"

The man answered, "Pastor, I have told you many times that I am not afraid to die."

The pastor answered," You are not afraid of standing in front of God's presence as you are, alone, without the benefit of Christ's cleansing and forgiveness? You mean you can stand in front of God and have him look into your heart, your life without the redemption of the cross of Calvary?"

The man looked at the pastor and said softly, I didn't realized what it really meant to be in the presence of God. God's presence for me will be a time of judgment time of revealing all the events of my life." At that time, he began to cry and turned to the pastor and asked for Christ's forgiveness in his life.

The presence of God as good news.

Picture of Peace

An artist was commissioned by a wealthy man to paint something that would depict peace. After a great deal of thought, the artist painted a beautiful country scene. There were green fields with cows standing in them, birds were flying in the blue sky and a lovely little village lay in a distant valley. The artist gave the picture to the man, but there was a look of disappointment on his face. The man said to the artist, "This isn't a picture of true peace. It isn't right. Go back and try again.

The artist went back to his studio, thought for several hours about peace, then went to his canvas and began to paint. When he was finished, there on the canvas was a beautiful picture of a mother, holding a sleeping baby in her arms, smiling lovingly at the child.

He thought, surely, this is true peace, and hurried to give the picture to the wealthy man. But again, the wealthy man refused the painting and asked the painter to try again.

The artist returned again to his studio. He was discouraged, he was tired and he was disappointed. Anger swelled inside him, he felt the rejection of this wealthy man. Again, he thought, he even prayed for inspiration to paint a picture of true peace. Then, all of a sudden an idea came, he rushed to the canvas and began to paint as he had never painted before. When he finished, he hurried to the wealthy man.

He gave the painting to the man. He studied it carefully for several minutes. The artist held his breath.

Then the wealthy man said, "Now this is a picture of true peace." He accepted the painting, paid the artist and everyone was happy.

And what was this picture of true peace? The picture showed a stormy sea pounding against a cliff. The artist had captured the furry of the wind as it whipped black rain clouds which were laced with streaks of lightening. The sea was roaring in turmoil, waves churning, the dark sky filled with the power of the furious thunderstorm.

And in the middle of the picture, under a cliff, the artist had painted a small bird, safe and dry in her nest snuggled safely in the rocks. The bird was at peace midst the storm that raged about her. 1

The good news of this Advent season is that God comes to earth to shelter us from all the roaring turmoil in our lives.

Yes, the presence of God is felt many times in our lives through His Son as he protects us from all the chaos, all the baying of the hounds of illness, sorrow, loneliness, heartache, personal hurts, despair, and guilt. In many different ways, God's touch has been and will continue to come into our lives. That touch of God will come in many different ways through either other people, or events, or whatever. I believe that God continually comes into our lives with salvation or release, deliverance or courage, healing or strength as we turn over to him even our everyday events.

Isn't that how God came to earth at Christmas through the natural process of child birth? God continues to act today in the same way, through the simple down to earth events in life. God acts through events, through people, through numerous ways which are to many to name. God's hand is all around us, but we needs eyes to see it and a faith to accept it.

Paul reminds us of God's actions in his letter to the Phillipians when he says, "Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything."

Yes, have no anxiety about anything . . whatever is a burden or worry turn it over to God in prayer and then somehow it will work out. It will work out according to God's timetable, and God's way and in that we need to have faith and patience. We need to have the confidence that God will indeed act for our own benefit, our own good.

And that brings us to the final part of this sermon a question which needs to be answered. In our gospel lesson John the Baptist has been telling people about the coming of the Lord in their lives and then the people ask him What then shall we do? What is our response to the Lord's coming?

God is coming, has come and will continue to come in our lives. In a few short weeks we will experience that great coming again in the Christmas event, what shall we do? How shall we respond?

An old story which you might have heard tells us very clearly what our response to God's coming shall be.

It is a poem by Edwin Markham , "How the Great Guest Came."

"A old cobbler named Conrad had a dream that the Lord was coming to visit him. So he washed the walls of his small shop and his shelves until they shined. He decorated his shop with holly and fir. He put milk and honey on his table to offer to his special guest. He sat down and waited.

As he was waiting, he saw a poor barefoot beggar walking in the rain outside his door. He felt sorry for the man and invited him and gave him a pair of shoes. His clean floor was now dirty from the rain and mud.

As he was about to clean it up, he noticed an old lady who was bent over carrying a heavy load of firewood. He invited her in to sit and rest, shared some of his food with her and walked with her, helping carry some of the wood.

When he returned to his shop, he thought of all that needed to be done. He began to clean again and hoped he had tome to find more food. Just then a knock at the door. He answered hurriedly and it was a small child crying lost and cold. He picked up the child, dried the tears, gave her something to drink, the cup of milk and walked her to her home down the street and around the corner.

He hurried back to the shop. He was too tired now to clean or find more food but he still waited. Evening came and he began to wonder if the Lord had forgot.

Then he heard a soft voice break the silence in that shop, 'Lift up your heart, for I kept my word. Three times I came to your friendly door, Three times my shadow was on your floor. I was the beggar with bruised feet; I was the woman you gave to eat, I was the lost child on that homeless street."

Conrad smiled to himself, put his feet up on the table and settled back in his chair to pray and talk with the Saviour so fair. "

Amen

Written by Pastor Tim Zingale December 11, 2006
You may freely use this but please give credit. Not for commercial use.

1 Unknown Author

2nd Sunday in Advent Sermon

2nd Sunday in Advent

Luke 3:1-6

"Law, Grace"


3:1 ¶ In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

2 in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness;

3 and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching

4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

Our Advent story continues with the story of Elizabeth and John.

John comes preaching in the wilderness. He comes preaching "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."

John comes preaching the law. And at the same time, he comes to bring a message of good news. Someone mightier than him is coming into this world.

There are two kinds of religion in the world, a religion of law and a religion of grace. Those who cling to a religion of law are like a young monkey who clings to his mother for dear life as she transports it around.

A religion of grace is like a mother cat who picks up her kittens in their helplessness and carries them.

A religion of law produces a fearful, uncertain clinging to the proposition that if a person's good deeds outweigh his bad, God will look upon him with favor.

A religion of grace recognizes one's personal helplessness and inability to find favor with God. The transforming good news is that God for Christ's sake rescues us in our helplessness. He lifts us out of the old life with its downward pull and motivates us to live by his love and Grace.

John came with a message of both law and grace. The law of repentance and the grace of the one who was coming to forgive sins.

John was unique because he was special.

John was a special child as his existence was foretold early on as it says in Isaiah 40 3 ¶ A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

John was born of special parents for John was of the priestly race by both parents, for his father Zacharias was himself a priest of the course of Abia, or Abijah offering incense at the very time when a son was promised to him; and Elizabeth was of the daughters of Aaron. Both, too, were devout persons--walking in the commandments of God, and waiting for the fulfillment of his promise to Israel.

Elizabeth's son, John was a special child and child called to a mission even before his birth. A mission to proclaim the coming of the Lord. For this Advent season is a season of proclaiming. Proclaiming the coming of the babe born in the manger.

And John's job was to make us ready for the coming by proclaiming that we should repent and turn to the Lord.

That word repent is difficult to understand, as the dictionaries say it means, A complete reversal of one's attitude and values, i. e. a turning toward God or To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one's mind regarding it or To make a change for the better as a result of remorse or contrition for one's sins.

As you can see all the definitions contain one common idea, it is to make a change. But change is difficult for us. And it is even more difficult because many of us never believe that we must repent.

We say to ourselves, I'm not so bad. I'm better than that person.

Our text says that "he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."

John knew that for the people to get ready for the coming of the Babe, they had to see that indeed they were sinners and needed the forgiveness that the Babe would bring through his life, death and resurrection.

But if you believed that you indeed did not need to repent, then you do not need the Saviour?

So John told the people over 2000 years ago to repent, to get ready for the Saviour, and he is telling us the same thing. Get ready, acknowledge your sinfulness, repent and the forgiveness of the Babe born in the manger will be yours.

A man said.

"Most people repent their sins by thanking God they ain't so wicked as their neighbors."1

Isn't that true. We can see the speck in our neighbors eye but not the log in ours. But John is saying to us that all of us fall short of what God expects of us. All of us sin, period. So all of us need to repent and accept the forgiveness of the one born in the manger.

Without John there would be no Jesus. For without hearing from John the Baptist that we are sinners, we would not need the Christ child. For what good is forgiveness without acknowledging that one has something to be forgiven for? John knew we needed the two edge sword of the law and grace. The law convicts us of sin and grace forgives.

Many years ago C.S. Lewis wrote the Screwtape Letters. Screwtape was an assistant devil writing to his nephew Wormwood. Screwtape was telling his nephew how to make the "patient" leave the camp of the arch enemy, the Prince of Peace, and dwell in the camp of the real boss, the prince of darkness.

I would like to share with you another letter, this one written by Twisttape to his apprentice Harshwood as they discuss his training and graduation from devil's school.

The letter begins:

Dear Harshwood,

I have read the notices that you are about to graduate and begin your work on earth. Glad to hear that your training went well. I see that you will be a graduate with honors. Splendid!

Apply all of your knowledge to the task at hand, for the enemy, the Prince of Peace, God of Love is a resourceful enemy. Just when you think you have him in your grasp or one of this people, he pulls a trick and low and behold you stand empty, you lost your soul for the fires of hell.

I would like to give you one piece of advice, one bit of wisdom as you begin your tour of duty in the enemy's camp. Throughout my tour of duty, I have learned one thing about these humans which I feel can be so very useful for you.

Humans usually have a very high regard for themselves. They think they are pretty good. They can see the faults, the sins, the evil in another, but they see only good in themselves.

My advice to you my dear Harshwood, is to encourage that thinking. Encourage it for all its worth.

The chief antagonizer, that Christ fellow, wants the humans to see their own sins, but Harshwood, blind their eyes, their hearts, their souls to that sigght. Let them think only of the good in themselves, and you, may dear friend Harshwood, will meet your quota of human beings who will spend the rest of their lives with our master, the lord of the heat and fire, Master Satan.

Let them see that when repentance is called for it is not them who needs to repent. Let them see over and over again that they are really better than the guy next to them in the pew. When the pastor reads about John the Baptist, let them fall asleep, turn to other thoughts, so they will not realize that it is them John is talking to. Let them see that they are indeed really pretty good, no need for repentance, no need for forgiveness, and then you will have them. You will have them because they will see that they do not really need that Christ fellow, and they really need is themselves. Then, then they will be ours.

For you see my dear Harshwood, when these humans see themselves as great, then they are filled with self pride, and they don't need that Jesus fellow. This is how it will begin. They you will have them in your claws.

Good luck on your tour of duty, my heart goes out to you as you use every trick, every scheme, every evil desire, every good intention, every proud thought to win souls for our side.

Signed

Your admiring friend

Twisttape

Twisttape is right. If the devil, our own thoughts can make us believe that we have no need for repentance, then we will not need Jesus, and we will be in the devil's camp.

A closing story tells of a man who did repent and found joy in his life.

Not too many years ago newspapers carried the story of Al Johnson, a Kansas man who came to faith in Jesus Christ. What made his story remarkable was not his conversion, but the fact that as a result of his newfound faith in Christ, he confessed to a bank robbery he had participated in when he was nineteen years old.

Because the statute of limitations on the case had run out, Johnson could not be prosecuted for the offense.

Still, he believed his relationship with Christ demanded a confession. And he even voluntarily repaid his share of the stolen money!

"he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."

Amen

Written by Pastor Tim Zingale December 4, 2006

You may freely use this as is or in parts, but please somehow give credit even if you only use an illustration. Thanks! Not for commercial use.

1 by Josh Billings


"You can't always beat what is difficult in your life. Sometimes you have to let it win and shout hallelujah anyhow."
Bebe More Campbell



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1st Sunday in Advent

1st Sunday in Advent

Luke 21: 25-36

Sermon

"Ready or Not -- Here I Come"


Luke 21
25* “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,
26* men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27* And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28* Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29* And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees;
30 as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near.
31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all has taken place.
33* Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34* “But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare;
35* for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth.
36* But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.”RSV

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

An elderly man sat on a park bench one afternoon late in the fall. The air was cold, but he had been shopping on foot for 2 hours, ached, he needed to put down his parcels and rest a little before heading for home. He was never prone to feel sorry for himself, but he felt a loneliness in the cold busts of wind and the thoughts of returning to his now empty house did not excite him. He stared a this large, round hands as he worked them back and forth between his keens.

Suddenly a smaller hand, pink and chubby, was placed on top of his own. He jerked his head back and said, "hi-yah" in a bit of a raspy voice.

Then he got to his feet, took the child by the hand and let it gently back to its mother who stood smiling just a few paces away.

"Thank you," the mother said, 'He has just learned to walk and has to race over and greet everyone."

The man smiled, nodded, then hefted his packages and started for home. The ache was gone now. So was the loneliness. Memories of a chubby hand and a grinning face warmed hims. And just a few minutes before, he had possess no idea of how close he was to this particular experience of joy."

That story reminds me of my grandson. He loves to reach out to those around him. And since I am in a wheelchair, he is not afraid of people who he sees in a wheelchair, and goes up to them and say hi.

The story of the man and the little boy, and my grandson tells us that something wonderful is coming into this world. during this season of Advent, we wait, we hope, get ready for the Christ child who like that little boy will bring a measure of joy and happiness into this world.

In our gospel lesson this morning, Jesus is reminding us that his kingdom is coming into this world. he says:

25* “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,
26* men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27* And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.


The son of man is coming into the world. Jesus is coming. Jesus is coming at the end of time. He is coming as a babe born in the manger. He is coming to us through the word and sacraments. He is coming!

Jesus tells us to prepare. During this season of Advent, we are to prepare for the coming of Jesus. And how do we prepare, we repent. Jesus tells us to watch, to wait for He is coming. Coming this Christmas and coming again at the end of time to redeem the whole world.

Advent is the season of hope, and the season of repentance. Our altar clothes have changed over the years for the season of Advent. Remember they used to be purple which is the sign of repentance. But now they are blue, the color of hope.

In the chaos of this world. In the tumult of life. In the brokenness we all feel, there is hope. There is hope because Jesus is coming. Coming as a babe to redeem this world. Coming again at the end of time to finish His act of redemption.

"In late 18th century Poland, the Kaiser's forces were burning all the Jewish villages. One village had been burned and nothing was left standing. As the sun came up the next morning an old Jewish gentlemen pounded a few boards together, made a sellers stall and opened it up for business.

A young man walked passed, stared in disbelief and asked, "What are you selling among these ruins.
The man smiled and said, "I am selling hope. You can sell water on a dry desert, so the place to sell hope is on the ash heap of destruction."

Hope! We all want to hope. Hope for a loved one who is sick. Hope for someone who lost a job and wants to find a new one. Hope for someone who has been given a broken heart and want stop find a new companion. We all hope for something.

Advent is a time for hope. We hope and look forward to Jesus coming.

The hope of Jesus' coming whether as a babe born in the manger or His second coming changes our lives. We change into people who bring of measure of love, kindness and our own hope in this world.

This season of Advent reminds us again of the great love God has for us through His son. His son who was born in a manger and died on a Cross. That love changes us, and bring hope into our lives.

But sadly many of us are like Lucy in the following Peanut cartoon.

In a "Peanuts" cartoon Lucy announces, "Boy, do I feel crabby!"

Linus tries to help her feel better, and gives her his chair in front of the TV besides fixing her a sandwich. some chocolate cookies, and milk. As he gives the sandwich to her, he asks, "Now, is there anything else I can get you? Is there anything I haven't thought of?"

To which Lucy replies, "Yes, there's one thing that you haven't thought of," and with a sound that bowls him over. she yells, 'I DON T WANNA FEEL BETTER!"


Do you want to feel better? Do you want the hope of Advent to fill your life?

Jesus is saying during this Advent season ready or not here I come. I am coming as a babe in the manger. I am coming at the end of time to finish redeeming the world. I am coming now to bring hope to all those who are feeling the brokenness of this world.

Ready or not here I come.

When Jesus comes lives change. When Jesus comes heart change. When Jesus comes the world around us seems more hopeful. Jesus comes amid the chaos of life.

Christmas shoppers were racing every which way in the bargain center; cashiers struggled to stay ahead of growing lines and mounting customer impatience; loud speakers blasted a new "fantastic sale item" every five minutes. Amid the havoc, nobody noticed that an elderly woman had dropped her packages near an exit door and was having a rough time getting them together.

Nobody, that is, except a plain looking teenage boy who came over, wordlessly reassembled her purchases, and then lifted the packages in his lanky arms. "I can get them to your car," he said, a bit hesitantly.

"Thanks!" she answered in a loud voice, and winked.

The boy smiled. Nobody saw them as they headed out the exit, but in a crowded bargain center something very good had happened.

Jesus came in the form of that shy, plain looking teenage boy and brought a smile and hope to that elderly woman.

There is a hopefulness in this Advent time. But also there is a warning from Jesus that we must be ready for his second coming.

Jesus says: 34* “But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare;

Jesus says ready or not here I come. Take heed to yourself means you must be ready. You must repent. You must not take Jesus' salvation for granted.

Remember Jesus' salvation cost something, His life.

Dietrich Bonhoffer says:

“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”-

As we prepare for the coming of Jesus, we must be ready. He is telling us ready or not here I come.

Are you ready?

Or are you like the fisherman in this closing story:

A fisherman had planned a special fishing trip for several months. He made out a list of essentials and scratched each item off as he packed. He had his car checked and serviced. All of his appointments were under control. Everything was ready. He even made sure to leave his wife and family well stocked with whatever they might need. The long awaited time finally arrived, and he eagerly bid them goodbye,
hopped in his car and left.

He arrived at his fishing cabin that evening, got things tidied up and his food in order, set the alarm for 4 AM, then went to sleep dreaming of the fish he would catch on the morrow.

He arose hurriedly at the first sound of the alarm, quickly ate eggs and bacon, almost gulping the food down in his anxiety to get out on the lake. Just as he was getting into his boat, he made a startling
discovery: he had not brought along any bait-the bait box was empty!

Many people prepare to meet God in a similar way.

Ready or Not Here I come.

Amen

Written by Pastor Tim Zingale Written on November 27, 2006
You may freely use this but please give credit. Not for commercial use.

"You can't always beat what is difficult in your life. Sometimes you have to let it win and shout hallelujah anyhow."
Bebe More Campbell



Home pages


http://www.dodgenet.com/~tzingale/SermonIllst.html
main sermon and illustration page

http://www.dodgenet.com/~tzingale/St_Olaf.html
St Olaf Lutheran Church Fort Dodge (where I am a member)


Join my yahoo group

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tzingalesermons



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