From an article in Christianity Today, we see an alarming trend noted by Christian researcher George Barna, namely, people are stopping the practice of going to church:
"Storm the barricades! According to researcher George Barna, we're in the midst of a "spiritual revolution that is reshaping Christianity, personal faith, corporate religious experience, and the moral contours of the nation."
"But before we break out the party poppers, we should note that, like every revolution, this one has a loser: the local church.
"Unlike the Great Awakenings, which brought people into the church, this new movement "entails drawing people away from reliance upon a local church into a deeper connection with and reliance upon God [Emphasis mine]." Already "millions of believers have stopped going to church," so Barna expects that in 20 years "only about one-third of the population will rely upon a local congregation as the primary or exclusive means for experiencing and expressing their faith." Down will go the number of churches, donations to churches, and the cultural influence of churches."
So, should we go to church? Should we be concerned with the fact that fewer people are coming to church than ever before?
Luke 4:16 (NIV): "He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read."
This passage in Luke relates the start of Jesus' public ministry. After His baptism in the Jordan River and His 40-days of temptation in the desert, Jesus went back to Nazareth to begin His ministry. This verse tells us that Jesus went to the synagogue on the Sabbath Day and read the Word of God there during the worship service.
This is an important thought. Even Jesus -- even God Himself -- went to church and spent time reading the Scriptures. This verse says that going to synagogue was a custom of Jesus. It was something that He did on a regular basis. As a religious Jew, He probably went to synagogue every Sabbath Day to worship God and to hear God's Word and to pray with God's people
We have a lot of people in our communities today who are unchurched. I see them every morning when I'm driving to and from church. I know a lot of them are probably not saved, and their presence is an indictment against the church today for not reaching out to them in a more proactive manner. However, I know that a lot of them are probably Christians who, for whatever reason, just don't feel a need to be a member in a church.
Howver, the message of the Bible is clear. We are commanded to follow the example of Christ and He went to church on a regular basis. Hebrews 10:26 (NIV) says, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Church is the place where we receive instruction and encouragement and revival. All of us need to be in church on a regular basis just like we need to be doing the other spiritual disciplines on a regular basis: praying, reading the bible, participating in the sacraments
I've had some tell me that they don't go to church because there are too many hypocrites in our churches today. Or they say they don't go to church because there's too many fights in church or too many divisions. "There's problems in the church," they say.
But this has always been the case in churches and synagogues. You don't think there wasn't problems in the synagogue that Jesus visited on that day in this passage? These people had gotten so caught up in doing church that they had forgotten why they were there. They had so many laws and rules that it was hard to find God at that church. But still Jesus went, because He knew that God was still there and still working, even in the midst of man's best efforts to mess it up. God still used churches and church people to spread His message and to proclaim His word in the world.
Can you find God outside of church? Of course. But, the example of Christ says to go to church and seek God's face, and God will still speak to your heart in spite of the hypocrites and the fightings and the division. Let us never forget that the church is the body of Christ, and God still uses the church to touch hearts and lives today.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Friday, December 23, 2005
LOVE CAME DOWN AT CHRISTMAS
Preaced by Gregory Lee
18 December 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to John 3:16 [read 3:16]
-- this morning marks for us the fourth Sunday of Advent -- for several weeks now, we have been looking at what Christmas really means as we have been preparing ourselves to celebrate the birth of Christ -- but sometimes I wonder if the church hasn't forgotten the true meaning of Christmas
-- we're quick to take offense is someone tries to secularize this holiday -- we're quick to point out that the meaning of Christmas is the birth of Christ -- but that's not the whole story, is it?
-- Christmas is not just about the birth of Christ -- that would be like saying that Martin Luther King, Jr day is just a celebration about the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr. -- that's not why we celebrate that holiday -- we don't celebrate that day just because a man was born -- no, we celebrate it because of what Martin Luther King, Jr. did with his life to gain equality for blacks in this country
-- in the same way, Christmas is not just about the birth of Jesus but about what the birth of Jesus meant for us -- about what the man who was born at Christmas did on our behalf
-- Christmas is the day when we celebrate the fact that God came down to earth and wrapped Himself in flesh -- He became for us "Emmanuel" -- God with us -- for a purpose and a reason -- no, the story of Christmas is more than just the story of a baby born in a manger on a cold winter night in a small town in the Middle East -- it is the story of God loving us so much that He became a man to save us when we couldn't save ourself
-- there once was this little boy who loved sailboats -- one day, he decided to make his own toy sailboat -- he took a block of wood and he started carving -- every day, he would work on his boat, carefully and patiently shaping it and molding it until it looked just like a real sailboat -- he painted it and built a sail for it and it was perfect
-- when he was finished creating his sailboat, he carried it down to the river near his house to play with it -- he tied a small line to the stern so that he could reel it back in after he was done -- he set it in the water and it floated and began to sail on the surface of the river just like a real boat
-- but, suddenly, a storm came up and the wind caught the sails of his boat and his line broke -- all he could do was watch as his boat sailed away -- that which he had created was gone -- he looked and looked for it, but he never could find it
-- one day, as he walked past the local toy store, he looked in the window and there was his boat -- he rushed in and grabbed it up and said "it's mine -- it's mine -- I have my boat back at last" -- but the storekeeper said that if he wanted the boat, he would have to buy it
-- so the boy worked all summer and saved his money -- finally, when he had enough, he went back to the toy store and handed his money to the owner and took the boat out of the window -- he hugged it to his chest and said, "You're mine -- you're mine -- I made you and you got away -- but I've got you back and I'll never let you go again"
II. Scripture Lesson
A. John 3:16
-- Christmas is the day we celebrate the fact that God loved us so much that He refused to let us go even though we were lost -- in fact, He loved us so much that He sent His only Son to earth to die on the cross for us -- to pay the price to buy us back from bondage to sin and death -- to get back that which He had created and to never let us go again
-- in the familiar verse that we opened with -- John 3:16 -- we see the true meaning of Christmas -- because God loved us so much -- He "gave" His only Son -- that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life
-- the Father gave us His Son -- it was His gift to us -- it was the gift of Christmas, wrapped in love, and delivered through a peasant girl to a world of sinners -- Chuck Swindoll said that "God's gift to us came wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. Talk about doing the unexpected for the undeserving!"
-- have you ever experienced the unexpected when you were undeserving? -- just like all of you, I exchange presents with my family and friends at Christmas -- and, if you're like me, when you pick out your gift, you're always trying to match what you think they're going to spend on you -- especially if it's just a friend -- you kind of guess what they're going to spend based on how close your friendship is and what they got you last year and then you go out and get them something in that price range -- we all do it -- every single one us
-- but there have been occasions when I have exchanged gifts with someone and they've gotten me something that was more than I expected -- something that was just so valuable -- so precious -- so thoughtful -- that my gift paled in comparison
-- I was left speechless -- holding the unexpected and feeling so undeserving of what I had received -- knowing that my gift was nothing compared to what they had given me -- that, my friends, is grace -- and that is the gift of Christmas
-- as it says in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast."
-- yes, Christmas is more than just a day we celebrate the birth of a child -- for the child born in the manger at Christmas -- the holy and perfect child of Mary -- was God's gift to us -- God clothed in flesh -- Grace clothed in flesh -- Love clothed in flesh
B. Romans 5:1-8
-- if you would, please turn over to Romans 5 and let's look a little more closely at what the love of God at Christmas means to us -- verse 1 [read vs. 1-8]
-- What is the true meaning of Christmas? -- God giving us the gift of His Son to demonstrate His love to us -- even though we didn't expect it -- even though we were undeserving -- even though we were sinners -- separated from God by our own evil thoughts and desires and actions and held in bondage to sin and death -- God showed His love for us through Christ's death on the cross at Calvary
-- verse 8 tells us that Christ died for us "while we were still sinners" -- that shows us the extent of His love for us -- He didn't wait and die for us after we started coming to church -- He didn't wait and die for us after we put our faith and trust in Him -- He didn't wait and die for us after anything that we did or didn't do -- but before we ever thought of Him -- while we were still sinners -- Jesus died on the cross for our sins
-- Christmas demonstrates the Father's love for us just as the cross demonstrates Christ's love -- God had no assurance that we would love His Son, but He sent Him to earth anyway -- Jesus had no assurance that we would love Him, but He willingly went to the cross for us anyway -- He loved us even though He knew that we might never love Him or trust Him -- He loved us enough to die for us, even though many in this world continue to reject Him to this day
-- one Sunday a little boy looked up at his daddy and asked, "Daddy, how does God love us?" -- His father answered, "Son, God loves us with an unconditional love."
-- the boy thought for a moment and then asked, "Daddy, what kind of love is unconditional love?" -- after a few minutes of silence his father answered, "Do you remember the two boys who used to live next door to us and the cute little puppy they got last Christmas? -- "Yes" -- "Do you remember how they used to tease it, throw sticks and even rocks at it?" -- "Yes" -- "Do you also remember how the puppy would always greet them with a wagging tail and would try to lick their faces?" -- "Yes" -- "Well, that puppy had an unconditional love for those two boys -- they certainly didn't deserve his love for them because they were mean to him -- but, he loved them anyway"
-- the father then made his point: "God's love for us is also unconditional -- men threw rocks at His Son, Jesus, and hit Him with sticks -- they even killed Him -- but, Jesus loved them anyway"
-- 1 John 3:16 says, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." -- the sinless dying for the sinner -- that is the definition of unconditional love -- that is the meaning of Christmas
-- Max Lucado wrote this perspective on the incarnation of Christ:
-- "Can anything make me stop loving you?" God asks. "Watch me speak your language, sleep on your earth, and feel your hurts -- Behold the maker of sight and sound as He sneezes, coughs, and blows His nose -- You wonder if I understand how you feel? -- Look into the dancing eyes of the kid in Nazareth; that's God walking to school -- Ponder the toddler at Mary's table; that's God spilling His milk."
-- "You wonder how long my love will last? -- Find your answer on a splintered cross, on a craggy hill. -- That's me you see up there -- your maker -- your God -- nail-stabbed and bleeding -- Covered in spit and sin-soaked."
-- "That's your sin I'm feeling -- That's your death I'm dying -- That's your resurrection I'm living -- That's how much I love you." -- that's...Christmas
III. Conclusion
-- Candy Chand wrote a story several years ago about the time her son Nicholas was in a kindergarten Christmas play -- for weeks, Nicholas had worked to memorize the songs that they would be singing -- finally, the big day arrived -- Candy got there about 10 minutes early, found a spot in the cafeteria, and sat down -- the seats began to fill with other parents and with other children in the school
-- each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor -- then, each group -- one by one -- rose to perform their song -- Candy said that since the school had quit referring to the holiday as "Christmas" but as "winter break," she didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment -- songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer
-- so, when her son's group rose to sing, "Christmas Love," she was surprised -- as the class sang the song, the kids in the front row -- center stage -- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song -- as the class would sing, "C is for Christmas", a child would hold up the letter "C" -- then, "H is for Happy" and on and on -- until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love"
-- the performance went smoothly until suddenly, the audience noticed her -- a small quiet girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down -- totally unaware that her letter "M" appeared as a "W"
-- the audience snickered at her mistake -- but she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W"
-- the teachers tried to get the kids to quit laughing, but the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and then they all saw it together -- a hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen -- in that instant they understood the reason they were there -- why they celebrated the holiday in the first place -- why even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season there was a purpose for Christmas festivities
-- for when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear: "Christ Was Love" -- Christ was Love -- Christ is love -- Christ continues to love us no matter what we do -- there is nothing that we can do that will make God love us more -- there is nothing that we can do that can make God love us less -- God loves us completely -- perfectly -- unconditionally -- because He is love
-- rather than just telling us about His love in the Bible -- rather than just speaking His message through the prophets and evangelists and apostles -- God showed us His love by sending His own Son to earth to die in our place
-- as Max Lucado wrote in the book "In the Grip of Grace" -- "From the cradle in Bethlehem to the cross in Jerusalem we've pondered the love of our Father. What can you say to that kind of emotion? Upon learning that God would rather die than live without you, how do you react? How can you begin to explain such passion?"
-- "There is no way our little minds can comprehend the love of God. But that didn't keep Him from coming" -- Love came down at Christmas -- He came for you -- He came for me -- He came for all of us
-- God's love surrounds us and envelopes us -- He showed it through the birth of His Son at Christmas -- and He showed it again at the cross of Calvary -- the question before us this morning, then, is what will you do in response? -- will you return His love with your own or will you just go about your life as before?
-- just like gifts cannot be appreciated until they are received, love cannot be realized until it is accepted -- will you accept the love of God this Christmas? -- will you accept the love of God today?
-- I want to close by sharing with you a song by Point of Grace called, "Love Came Down at Christmas" -- as this song is played, if you have felt God tugging at your heart -- if you have felt a need to come to Him this year and to accept His love and demonstrate your love for Him -- then I would invite you to come to the altar and speak with Him this morning
-- God loves you so much and all He wants is for you to love Him, too -- that is the meaning of Christmas and that is why we are here
-- let us pray
18 December 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to John 3:16 [read 3:16]
-- this morning marks for us the fourth Sunday of Advent -- for several weeks now, we have been looking at what Christmas really means as we have been preparing ourselves to celebrate the birth of Christ -- but sometimes I wonder if the church hasn't forgotten the true meaning of Christmas
-- we're quick to take offense is someone tries to secularize this holiday -- we're quick to point out that the meaning of Christmas is the birth of Christ -- but that's not the whole story, is it?
-- Christmas is not just about the birth of Christ -- that would be like saying that Martin Luther King, Jr day is just a celebration about the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr. -- that's not why we celebrate that holiday -- we don't celebrate that day just because a man was born -- no, we celebrate it because of what Martin Luther King, Jr. did with his life to gain equality for blacks in this country
-- in the same way, Christmas is not just about the birth of Jesus but about what the birth of Jesus meant for us -- about what the man who was born at Christmas did on our behalf
-- Christmas is the day when we celebrate the fact that God came down to earth and wrapped Himself in flesh -- He became for us "Emmanuel" -- God with us -- for a purpose and a reason -- no, the story of Christmas is more than just the story of a baby born in a manger on a cold winter night in a small town in the Middle East -- it is the story of God loving us so much that He became a man to save us when we couldn't save ourself
-- there once was this little boy who loved sailboats -- one day, he decided to make his own toy sailboat -- he took a block of wood and he started carving -- every day, he would work on his boat, carefully and patiently shaping it and molding it until it looked just like a real sailboat -- he painted it and built a sail for it and it was perfect
-- when he was finished creating his sailboat, he carried it down to the river near his house to play with it -- he tied a small line to the stern so that he could reel it back in after he was done -- he set it in the water and it floated and began to sail on the surface of the river just like a real boat
-- but, suddenly, a storm came up and the wind caught the sails of his boat and his line broke -- all he could do was watch as his boat sailed away -- that which he had created was gone -- he looked and looked for it, but he never could find it
-- one day, as he walked past the local toy store, he looked in the window and there was his boat -- he rushed in and grabbed it up and said "it's mine -- it's mine -- I have my boat back at last" -- but the storekeeper said that if he wanted the boat, he would have to buy it
-- so the boy worked all summer and saved his money -- finally, when he had enough, he went back to the toy store and handed his money to the owner and took the boat out of the window -- he hugged it to his chest and said, "You're mine -- you're mine -- I made you and you got away -- but I've got you back and I'll never let you go again"
II. Scripture Lesson
A. John 3:16
-- Christmas is the day we celebrate the fact that God loved us so much that He refused to let us go even though we were lost -- in fact, He loved us so much that He sent His only Son to earth to die on the cross for us -- to pay the price to buy us back from bondage to sin and death -- to get back that which He had created and to never let us go again
-- in the familiar verse that we opened with -- John 3:16 -- we see the true meaning of Christmas -- because God loved us so much -- He "gave" His only Son -- that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life
-- the Father gave us His Son -- it was His gift to us -- it was the gift of Christmas, wrapped in love, and delivered through a peasant girl to a world of sinners -- Chuck Swindoll said that "God's gift to us came wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. Talk about doing the unexpected for the undeserving!"
-- have you ever experienced the unexpected when you were undeserving? -- just like all of you, I exchange presents with my family and friends at Christmas -- and, if you're like me, when you pick out your gift, you're always trying to match what you think they're going to spend on you -- especially if it's just a friend -- you kind of guess what they're going to spend based on how close your friendship is and what they got you last year and then you go out and get them something in that price range -- we all do it -- every single one us
-- but there have been occasions when I have exchanged gifts with someone and they've gotten me something that was more than I expected -- something that was just so valuable -- so precious -- so thoughtful -- that my gift paled in comparison
-- I was left speechless -- holding the unexpected and feeling so undeserving of what I had received -- knowing that my gift was nothing compared to what they had given me -- that, my friends, is grace -- and that is the gift of Christmas
-- as it says in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast."
-- yes, Christmas is more than just a day we celebrate the birth of a child -- for the child born in the manger at Christmas -- the holy and perfect child of Mary -- was God's gift to us -- God clothed in flesh -- Grace clothed in flesh -- Love clothed in flesh
B. Romans 5:1-8
-- if you would, please turn over to Romans 5 and let's look a little more closely at what the love of God at Christmas means to us -- verse 1 [read vs. 1-8]
-- What is the true meaning of Christmas? -- God giving us the gift of His Son to demonstrate His love to us -- even though we didn't expect it -- even though we were undeserving -- even though we were sinners -- separated from God by our own evil thoughts and desires and actions and held in bondage to sin and death -- God showed His love for us through Christ's death on the cross at Calvary
-- verse 8 tells us that Christ died for us "while we were still sinners" -- that shows us the extent of His love for us -- He didn't wait and die for us after we started coming to church -- He didn't wait and die for us after we put our faith and trust in Him -- He didn't wait and die for us after anything that we did or didn't do -- but before we ever thought of Him -- while we were still sinners -- Jesus died on the cross for our sins
-- Christmas demonstrates the Father's love for us just as the cross demonstrates Christ's love -- God had no assurance that we would love His Son, but He sent Him to earth anyway -- Jesus had no assurance that we would love Him, but He willingly went to the cross for us anyway -- He loved us even though He knew that we might never love Him or trust Him -- He loved us enough to die for us, even though many in this world continue to reject Him to this day
-- one Sunday a little boy looked up at his daddy and asked, "Daddy, how does God love us?" -- His father answered, "Son, God loves us with an unconditional love."
-- the boy thought for a moment and then asked, "Daddy, what kind of love is unconditional love?" -- after a few minutes of silence his father answered, "Do you remember the two boys who used to live next door to us and the cute little puppy they got last Christmas? -- "Yes" -- "Do you remember how they used to tease it, throw sticks and even rocks at it?" -- "Yes" -- "Do you also remember how the puppy would always greet them with a wagging tail and would try to lick their faces?" -- "Yes" -- "Well, that puppy had an unconditional love for those two boys -- they certainly didn't deserve his love for them because they were mean to him -- but, he loved them anyway"
-- the father then made his point: "God's love for us is also unconditional -- men threw rocks at His Son, Jesus, and hit Him with sticks -- they even killed Him -- but, Jesus loved them anyway"
-- 1 John 3:16 says, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." -- the sinless dying for the sinner -- that is the definition of unconditional love -- that is the meaning of Christmas
-- Max Lucado wrote this perspective on the incarnation of Christ:
-- "Can anything make me stop loving you?" God asks. "Watch me speak your language, sleep on your earth, and feel your hurts -- Behold the maker of sight and sound as He sneezes, coughs, and blows His nose -- You wonder if I understand how you feel? -- Look into the dancing eyes of the kid in Nazareth; that's God walking to school -- Ponder the toddler at Mary's table; that's God spilling His milk."
-- "You wonder how long my love will last? -- Find your answer on a splintered cross, on a craggy hill. -- That's me you see up there -- your maker -- your God -- nail-stabbed and bleeding -- Covered in spit and sin-soaked."
-- "That's your sin I'm feeling -- That's your death I'm dying -- That's your resurrection I'm living -- That's how much I love you." -- that's...Christmas
III. Conclusion
-- Candy Chand wrote a story several years ago about the time her son Nicholas was in a kindergarten Christmas play -- for weeks, Nicholas had worked to memorize the songs that they would be singing -- finally, the big day arrived -- Candy got there about 10 minutes early, found a spot in the cafeteria, and sat down -- the seats began to fill with other parents and with other children in the school
-- each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor -- then, each group -- one by one -- rose to perform their song -- Candy said that since the school had quit referring to the holiday as "Christmas" but as "winter break," she didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment -- songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer
-- so, when her son's group rose to sing, "Christmas Love," she was surprised -- as the class sang the song, the kids in the front row -- center stage -- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song -- as the class would sing, "C is for Christmas", a child would hold up the letter "C" -- then, "H is for Happy" and on and on -- until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love"
-- the performance went smoothly until suddenly, the audience noticed her -- a small quiet girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down -- totally unaware that her letter "M" appeared as a "W"
-- the audience snickered at her mistake -- but she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W"
-- the teachers tried to get the kids to quit laughing, but the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and then they all saw it together -- a hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen -- in that instant they understood the reason they were there -- why they celebrated the holiday in the first place -- why even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season there was a purpose for Christmas festivities
-- for when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear: "Christ Was Love" -- Christ was Love -- Christ is love -- Christ continues to love us no matter what we do -- there is nothing that we can do that will make God love us more -- there is nothing that we can do that can make God love us less -- God loves us completely -- perfectly -- unconditionally -- because He is love
-- rather than just telling us about His love in the Bible -- rather than just speaking His message through the prophets and evangelists and apostles -- God showed us His love by sending His own Son to earth to die in our place
-- as Max Lucado wrote in the book "In the Grip of Grace" -- "From the cradle in Bethlehem to the cross in Jerusalem we've pondered the love of our Father. What can you say to that kind of emotion? Upon learning that God would rather die than live without you, how do you react? How can you begin to explain such passion?"
-- "There is no way our little minds can comprehend the love of God. But that didn't keep Him from coming" -- Love came down at Christmas -- He came for you -- He came for me -- He came for all of us
-- God's love surrounds us and envelopes us -- He showed it through the birth of His Son at Christmas -- and He showed it again at the cross of Calvary -- the question before us this morning, then, is what will you do in response? -- will you return His love with your own or will you just go about your life as before?
-- just like gifts cannot be appreciated until they are received, love cannot be realized until it is accepted -- will you accept the love of God this Christmas? -- will you accept the love of God today?
-- I want to close by sharing with you a song by Point of Grace called, "Love Came Down at Christmas" -- as this song is played, if you have felt God tugging at your heart -- if you have felt a need to come to Him this year and to accept His love and demonstrate your love for Him -- then I would invite you to come to the altar and speak with Him this morning
-- God loves you so much and all He wants is for you to love Him, too -- that is the meaning of Christmas and that is why we are here
-- let us pray
OBITUARY
(Click on picture to make the obituary large enough to read. If that doesn't work, I have posted the text below the picture.)
Obituary -- Jerusalem -- 33 A.D.
Calvary
Jesus Christ, 33, of Nazareth, died Friday on Mount Calvary, also known as Golgotha, the place of the skull. Betrayed by the apostle Judas, Jesus was crucified by the Romans by order of the Ruler Pontus Pilate. The causes of death were crucifixion, extreme exhaustion, severe torture, and loss of blood.
Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham, was a member of the house of David. He was the Son of the late Joseph, a carpenter of Nazareth, and Mary, His devoted Mother. Jesus was born in a stable in the city of Bethlehem, Judea. He is survived by His mother Mary, His faithful Apostles, numerous disciples, and many other followers.
Jesus was self educated and spent most of His adult life working as a Teacher. Jesus also occasionally worked as a Medical Doctor and it is reported that He healed many patients. Up until the time of His death, Jesus was teaching and sharing the Good News, healing the sick, touching the lonely, feeding the hungry, and helping the poor.
Jesus was most noted for telling parables about His Fahter's Kingdom and performing miracles, such as feeding over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, and healing a man who was born blind. On the day before His death, He held a Last Supper celebrating the Passover Feast, at which He foretold His death.
The body was quickly buried in a stone grave which was donated by Joseph of Arimathea, a loyal friend of the family. By order of Pontius Pilate, a boulder was rolled in front of the tomb and Roman Soldiers were put on guard.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that everyone try to live as Jesus did.
Donations may be sent to anyone in need.
Obituary -- Jerusalem -- 33 A.D.
Calvary
Jesus Christ, 33, of Nazareth, died Friday on Mount Calvary, also known as Golgotha, the place of the skull. Betrayed by the apostle Judas, Jesus was crucified by the Romans by order of the Ruler Pontus Pilate. The causes of death were crucifixion, extreme exhaustion, severe torture, and loss of blood.
Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham, was a member of the house of David. He was the Son of the late Joseph, a carpenter of Nazareth, and Mary, His devoted Mother. Jesus was born in a stable in the city of Bethlehem, Judea. He is survived by His mother Mary, His faithful Apostles, numerous disciples, and many other followers.
Jesus was self educated and spent most of His adult life working as a Teacher. Jesus also occasionally worked as a Medical Doctor and it is reported that He healed many patients. Up until the time of His death, Jesus was teaching and sharing the Good News, healing the sick, touching the lonely, feeding the hungry, and helping the poor.
Jesus was most noted for telling parables about His Fahter's Kingdom and performing miracles, such as feeding over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, and healing a man who was born blind. On the day before His death, He held a Last Supper celebrating the Passover Feast, at which He foretold His death.
The body was quickly buried in a stone grave which was donated by Joseph of Arimathea, a loyal friend of the family. By order of Pontius Pilate, a boulder was rolled in front of the tomb and Roman Soldiers were put on guard.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that everyone try to live as Jesus did.
Donations may be sent to anyone in need.
Book Review: The Last Disciple
I just finished reading "The Last Disciple," by Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer, the book I referenced in an earlier post as an alternative to the "faulty" theology presented in the Left Behind books by Terry LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins.
My bottom-line impression of the book is that it is, well, o.k. Not bad. Not great. Just o.k. Will I rush out to buy the next book in the series? No. If I happen to run across it on a sale rack somewhere, then I might buy it, but otherwise, I was not intrigued by the book to the point where I would go out and purchase other fiction books by these authors.
In my opinion, the book borrowed heavily from the storyline of "Quo Vadis" by Henryk Sienkiewicz, a much, much superior book without the theological trappings. As I read "The Last Disiciple," the parallels between the two were striking: the conscience-stricken Roman noble who secretly supports the Christian cause and who falls in love with a Jewish slave who is also a Christian (slight deviation from "Quo Vadis" -- Sienkiewicz had the Roman noble fall in love with a political hostage from Lygia who was a Christian). The Jewish slave is protected by a strong bodyguard, Maglorius, a retired gladiator who is described as a "bear" of a man (slight deviation -- in "Quo Vadis" the bodyguard is described as a "giant").
The intent of the authors to show the fault with the Left Behind books overshadowed the story line in the book. Where they had the opportunity to flesh out their characters and advance the plot, they took time to denigrate the theology of LaHaye and Jenkins. The main failure of the book, then, is that it is a theological book thinly disguised with a superficial fiction storyline.
It just wasn't a "fun" read. Whether you agreed with the theology in the Left Behind books or not, you have to admit they were fun to read. The LaHaye and Jenkins books were not deep writing and will never be considered classical literature or win a Nobel prize, but they were engaging and interesting and fun. You finished one book and were left with a hunger to know what happened to the characters in the next. True, once the series became popular and Jenkins and LaHaye sold out for money and stretched the original concept of seven books into 12, the story line dragged in places, but over all, they were a fun read that you could enjoy without really having to put a lot of thought into what you were reading. "The Last Disciple" was not that way.
As an analogy, I would say that if these book series were televison shows, the Left Behind books would be a reality series on a major network airing at 8:00 prime time, watched by the majority of the country. "The Last Disciple" would be the tell-all show about the reality series that aired at 11:00 pm on The Learning Channel -- it might be more factual, it might be absolutely correct in its story line, but it certainly isn't as much fun or as popular.
My bottom-line impression of the book is that it is, well, o.k. Not bad. Not great. Just o.k. Will I rush out to buy the next book in the series? No. If I happen to run across it on a sale rack somewhere, then I might buy it, but otherwise, I was not intrigued by the book to the point where I would go out and purchase other fiction books by these authors.
In my opinion, the book borrowed heavily from the storyline of "Quo Vadis" by Henryk Sienkiewicz, a much, much superior book without the theological trappings. As I read "The Last Disiciple," the parallels between the two were striking: the conscience-stricken Roman noble who secretly supports the Christian cause and who falls in love with a Jewish slave who is also a Christian (slight deviation from "Quo Vadis" -- Sienkiewicz had the Roman noble fall in love with a political hostage from Lygia who was a Christian). The Jewish slave is protected by a strong bodyguard, Maglorius, a retired gladiator who is described as a "bear" of a man (slight deviation -- in "Quo Vadis" the bodyguard is described as a "giant").
The intent of the authors to show the fault with the Left Behind books overshadowed the story line in the book. Where they had the opportunity to flesh out their characters and advance the plot, they took time to denigrate the theology of LaHaye and Jenkins. The main failure of the book, then, is that it is a theological book thinly disguised with a superficial fiction storyline.
It just wasn't a "fun" read. Whether you agreed with the theology in the Left Behind books or not, you have to admit they were fun to read. The LaHaye and Jenkins books were not deep writing and will never be considered classical literature or win a Nobel prize, but they were engaging and interesting and fun. You finished one book and were left with a hunger to know what happened to the characters in the next. True, once the series became popular and Jenkins and LaHaye sold out for money and stretched the original concept of seven books into 12, the story line dragged in places, but over all, they were a fun read that you could enjoy without really having to put a lot of thought into what you were reading. "The Last Disciple" was not that way.
As an analogy, I would say that if these book series were televison shows, the Left Behind books would be a reality series on a major network airing at 8:00 prime time, watched by the majority of the country. "The Last Disciple" would be the tell-all show about the reality series that aired at 11:00 pm on The Learning Channel -- it might be more factual, it might be absolutely correct in its story line, but it certainly isn't as much fun or as popular.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Christmas Nomenclature
What Are These Christmas Songs? Answers are down below.
Don't cheat.
1. Move hitherward the entire assembly of those who are loyal in
their belief
2. Embellish interior passageways
3. Vertically challenged adolescent percussionist
4. Natal celebration devoid of color as a hallucinatory
phenomenon for me
5. Majestic triplet referred to in the first person plural
6. Twelve o'clock on a clement night witnessed its arrival
7. Soundless nocturnal period
8. The Yuletide occurrence preceding all others
9. Precious metal musical devices
10. Omnipotent Supreme Being who elicits respite to ecstatic
distinguished males
11. Caribou with vermilion oil factory appendage
12. Allow crystalline formations to descend
13. Bipedal traveling through an amazing acreage during the
periods
between December 21st and March 21st
14. Exclamatory remark concerning a diminutive municipality in
Judea
southwest of Jerusalem
Answers
1. O Come all ye faithful
2. Deck the Halls
3. Little Drummer Boy
4. I'm dreaming of a White Christmas
5. We three Kings
6. It came upon a midnight clear
7. Silent Night
8. The First Noel
9. Silver Bells
10. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
11. Rudolph the Red nose reindeer
12. Let it snow ~ Let it snow ~ Let it snow
13. Winter Wonderland
14. Oh little town of Bethlehem
Don't cheat.
1. Move hitherward the entire assembly of those who are loyal in
their belief
2. Embellish interior passageways
3. Vertically challenged adolescent percussionist
4. Natal celebration devoid of color as a hallucinatory
phenomenon for me
5. Majestic triplet referred to in the first person plural
6. Twelve o'clock on a clement night witnessed its arrival
7. Soundless nocturnal period
8. The Yuletide occurrence preceding all others
9. Precious metal musical devices
10. Omnipotent Supreme Being who elicits respite to ecstatic
distinguished males
11. Caribou with vermilion oil factory appendage
12. Allow crystalline formations to descend
13. Bipedal traveling through an amazing acreage during the
periods
between December 21st and March 21st
14. Exclamatory remark concerning a diminutive municipality in
Judea
southwest of Jerusalem
Answers
1. O Come all ye faithful
2. Deck the Halls
3. Little Drummer Boy
4. I'm dreaming of a White Christmas
5. We three Kings
6. It came upon a midnight clear
7. Silent Night
8. The First Noel
9. Silver Bells
10. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
11. Rudolph the Red nose reindeer
12. Let it snow ~ Let it snow ~ Let it snow
13. Winter Wonderland
14. Oh little town of Bethlehem
Saturday, December 17, 2005
JOY TO THE WORLD
Preached by Gregory W. Lee
11 December 2005
I. Introduction-- turn in Bibles to Isaiah 9
1. Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan--
2. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
3. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
4. For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
5. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
6. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
-- as we know, this is the third Sunday of Advent -- the season when we prepare ourselves -- our hearts and our minds and our spirits -- for the coming of the Lord
-- it's a time when we try to separate ourselves from the ways of the world for a few weeks -- to separate ourselves from the rush and the hustle and bustle of our American secular Christmas season -- and take time to reflect:
-- time to reflect on the first advent of Christ as a baby born in a manger in Bethlehem-- to reflect on His death and resurrection at Calvary to gain for us salvation and eternal life -- and to reflect on His return to earth as King of King and Lord of Lords
-- Advent is a time on the calendar that marks for us thebeginning of the celebration of Christmas and the holiday season
-- as a Moody AFB employee, I have another way to mark the beginning of the holiday season -- I always know when the holidays are getting close because that's the time of the year when you are required to attend mandatory training on suicide prevention and intervention
-- you see, this is a poignant reminder that we are entering the holiday season -- this is a time that should be filled with happiness and joy and get-togethers with family and friends -- but, for many people, this is a time of sadness and depression
-- there are a lot of people in our midst who have been hurting and lonely for some time -- who are suffering through tragedies and separation from family and friends -- who may have lost loved ones over the past year -- and during the holiday season, when we join together as family and friends to celebrate the birth of Christ, these people may feel left-out and more alone than ever -- and it just points out to them the unhappiness in their life
-- part of this annual condition may be brought about because of our country's unhealthy obsession with happiness -- the search for happiness is a national epidemic, and it is doing more to hurt people and relationships in this country than anything else today
-- we have somehow gotten it into our heads that we are supposed to be happy all the time -- happy in our lives -- happy in our jobs -- happy in our relationships -- happy in everything -- and then, when we find ourselves in a situation that is not happy right now at this moment, we cannot be content and we think there is something dreadfully wrong
-- our Constitution gives us the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," and boy, do we pursue it -- this is the reason that the entertainment industry in the United States is the largest industry in the country -- this is the reason that we have so many commercials promising happiness if we just buy their product -- this is the reason why so many people rush into relationships and marriages that aren't healthy -- it's all because we think we are owed happiness in our life, and so we rush out and try to get it any way we can -- whether that's by going to the latest movie or by owning that new car or by having the perfect spouse
-- John Maxwell once said that Americans suffer from "Destination Disease" -- they look at their lives and they feel unhappy and then they see someone else other than their spouse and they think, "If I could just be with them -- if I could just be over there -- I would be happy" -- so they end their marriage and rush off into another relationship seeking happiness -- or, they look at their lives and they feel unhappy and they see the latest and greatest new vehicle on the market and they think to themselves, "If I could just have that new car, I would be happy" -- and so they rush off and buy and buy and buy, but never find what they are looking for -- they are never satisfied and content with what they have but are always looking for more
-- the problem with living life in this way is that happiness is fleeting -- happiness is not a permanent state of mind -- happiness is dependent on things outside yourself and it comes through your perception of external events -- that's the reason why you can have everything in the world, and still not be happy -- in fact, those people that we sometimes look at and think, "Wow, they have everything in life -- they have everything they could ever want -- they have money and things and a great family" -- turn out to not be as happy as we think
-- one day, right before the turn of the 19th century, a very depressed man went to a London psychiatrist seeking help -- he was very unhappy with his life and with everything about his life -- the doctor tried everything he could think of to cheer the man up -- but nothing worked -- finally, he gave up and suggested to his patient, "Why don't you go see Grimaldi the clown?" -- Grimaldi was the greatest clown in nineteenth-century Europe -- the doctor thought that surely Grimaldi would be able to lift this man's spirit and restore happiness in his life, if only for a moment
-- the patient sighed and remained silent for a long time -- finally he answered, "I am Grimaldi the clown"
-- as Dennis Swanberg writes, "True happiness and contentment cannot come from the things of the world." -- I guess that's why the Bible never promises us happiness in our lives as Christians -- instead, the Bible promises us joy -- rather than blessing us with happiness that is here today and gone tomorrow -- God gives us something more permanent -- joy in our hearts through our Lord Jesus Christ
-- in this familiar Christmas passage from Isaiah, we see a great promise of joy given from God to the Israelites and to the entire world
II. Scripture Lesson
-- before we begin, let me give you a little context on this passage -- in the passages preceding Chapter 9, Isaiah has been prophesying to the nation of Israel that judgement was coming because of their evil deeds -- already the people had suffered because of invasions by other countries and Isaiah had prophesied that more suffering and tribulation was going to come their way -- in fact, he told them, they would be carried off into captivity in Assyria and Babylon
-- in verse 8:22, Isaiah said that in the midst of their trials and tribulations they would look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom and that they would be thrust into utter darkness -- they would be a group of people desperate for happiness but lost in the gloom of their despair with no hope in sight
-- but then we turn to Chapter 9, and Isaiah brings these people a message of hope that would bring light to the darkness -- a promise of joy and restoration in the future -- a promise that things would be better if they would only turn from their evil ways and trust in their Lord and Savior
-- look at verse 1
1. Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan--
2. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
3. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
-- these people from the land of Zebulon and Naphtali -- which we know better as the region of Galilee -- had been, and were going to, experience a time of darkness in their life -- a time of trials and tribulations -- Isaiah says that they were going to walk in darkness and live in the land of the shadow of death
-- this happens to people who go through life living for happiness -- when things don't go their way -- when life brings them tragedy and trials and tribulations -- they find themselves lost in a darkness that seems unending -- and so they try to bring light into the darkness through periods of happiness -- but, like I said, happiness is fleeting -- it's like lighting a match in the dark -- for a moment, there is light and things are bright -- but then, the match burns out and you find yourself plunged back into darkness again
-- but this passage tells us that in the midst of the darkness -- just when all hope seems lost -- something better than fleeting happiness and momentary lightness will come along -- God promises us that a great light will dawn that will bring more than happiness -- it will bring hope and life -- instead of being a match it will stand in our hearts as a lighthouse, and no matter where we go, no matter what darkness we find ourselves in, this light in our life will shine forth permanently -- this light is the joy that comes through Jesus Christ
-- in John 1:4 we read, "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men" -- God is telling us that the way to remove the darkness in our life is not by looking for happiness provided by the world but to look for the joy that comes through Jesus
-- there is a vast difference between happiness and joy -- happiness is externally influenced -- in order to be happy, you have to rely on things and people and places outside of yourself -- that is why happiness is fleeting -- because none of the things of the world is permanent -- all of them will fade away and disappoint in the end
-- but joy, on the other hand -- is eternal -- joy comes from the Lord and shines brightly in your heart even in the midst of the storm -- joy is that feeling of hope and contentment that you have in the midst of trials and tribulations because you know that these are only temporary afflictions and that a better future is promised -- joy is faith-driven and is based on the promises of God given to us through Christ
-- joy tells us that yes, we may be in the midst of a storm, but that the sun is still shining on the other side of the clouds
-- in this passage, Isaiah is telling the people of Galilee to have faith -- to have hope -- and to trust in the joy of the Lord even in the midst of their suffering -- even if they are living in the land of the shadow of death and are walking in darkness -- because God is sending a great light for them that will dispel the darkness and the death and that will never, ever, go out
-- and then he goes through and gives them two reasons for the joy they should have through the Lord
-- verse 4
4. For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
-- here we see the first reason -- Isaiah told them that they were going to rejoice before the Lord, "for" -- because -- the yoke and the rod that had tormented them and held them in bondage would be broken and removed from them forever
-- now, to the Israelites who received this prophesy from Isaiah, this was a promise of restoration from captivity -- a promise that the time of invasion and exile would end and that the cruel yoke of slavery to the Assyrians and the Babylonians would end
-- but, this also was a promise of restoration from the spiritual bondage that held the entire world -- both Jew and Gentile -- in chains
-- in the book of Romans, we read that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and that we are in bondage to sin in our lives -- when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, we were exiled into the land of the shadow of death -- we were sold into slavery -- but Isaiah promises us here that the chains of sin and death would be broken and removed from us through the power of the Lord -- as it says in Romans 6:23, "for the wages of sin are death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"
-- verse 5
5. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
-- this is the second reason why we should have joy in our hearts -- following our release from sin -- following our restoration and return into the kingdom of God -- we will enter into a time of eternal peace -- peace always follows the grace of God -- and it is the joy of the Lord in our hearts that gives us this peace in our lives
-- verse 6
6. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
-- and here we see the source of our joy -- the promise of the Messiah -- a prophesy of the birth and ministry of Christ -- Isaiah tells us in this passage that the baby in the manger will grow up and break the yoke of sin and death and bring peace to the world -- and that He will become the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords -- ruling the entire world with justice and righteousness forever -- something that is attainable only in and through the Messiah -- the child of Mary and Joseph -- the Son of God -- our Savior
III. Conclusion
-- Howard Hughes was one of the richest men in the early part of the 20th century -- yet his life was characterized by profound unhappiness and depression -- no matter how much money he had -- no matter how many women he married -- no matter how much he accomplished -- he never was truly happy -- he went from one emotional high to another -- trying desperately to find the formula that would bring him peace in his life
-- one day someone asked him what it would take to make him happy -- he responded, "just a little more -- just a little more"
-- that is the problem with happiness -- it is never enough -- you can never burn enough matches and make enough light to keep the darkness away -- as it says in Isaiah 8:22, "they look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom" -- this is the state of a person without the hope and joy of the Lord
-- it is only through Christ Jesus that you can have the contentment and peace that comes through hope and joy
-- the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11-12, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
-- this secret of contentment is the peace that comes through the joy of the Lord -- the joy of knowing that your sins have been forgiven and that sin and death hold no power over you
-- the joy of knowing that the trials and tribulations and sufferings of this life are temporary, and will soon give way to the permanence of eternal life with God in Heaven
-- if you don't have this joy in your life, you can have it this morning -- you can have the peace and the joy and the contentment of knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior this Christmas Season
-- all you have to do is confess to the Lord that you are a sinner and that you need forgiveness for your sins -- ask Him to forgive you and trust in His atoning death and resurrection and ask Him to come into your life as Lord and Savior -- and the joy of the Lord will fill your life and you will know peace and contentment as never before
-- may you all be filled with His joy this Christmas season, and may you share it with others everywhere you go
-- let us pray
11 December 2005
I. Introduction-- turn in Bibles to Isaiah 9
1. Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan--
2. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
3. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
4. For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
5. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
6. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
-- as we know, this is the third Sunday of Advent -- the season when we prepare ourselves -- our hearts and our minds and our spirits -- for the coming of the Lord
-- it's a time when we try to separate ourselves from the ways of the world for a few weeks -- to separate ourselves from the rush and the hustle and bustle of our American secular Christmas season -- and take time to reflect:
-- time to reflect on the first advent of Christ as a baby born in a manger in Bethlehem-- to reflect on His death and resurrection at Calvary to gain for us salvation and eternal life -- and to reflect on His return to earth as King of King and Lord of Lords
-- Advent is a time on the calendar that marks for us thebeginning of the celebration of Christmas and the holiday season
-- as a Moody AFB employee, I have another way to mark the beginning of the holiday season -- I always know when the holidays are getting close because that's the time of the year when you are required to attend mandatory training on suicide prevention and intervention
-- you see, this is a poignant reminder that we are entering the holiday season -- this is a time that should be filled with happiness and joy and get-togethers with family and friends -- but, for many people, this is a time of sadness and depression
-- there are a lot of people in our midst who have been hurting and lonely for some time -- who are suffering through tragedies and separation from family and friends -- who may have lost loved ones over the past year -- and during the holiday season, when we join together as family and friends to celebrate the birth of Christ, these people may feel left-out and more alone than ever -- and it just points out to them the unhappiness in their life
-- part of this annual condition may be brought about because of our country's unhealthy obsession with happiness -- the search for happiness is a national epidemic, and it is doing more to hurt people and relationships in this country than anything else today
-- we have somehow gotten it into our heads that we are supposed to be happy all the time -- happy in our lives -- happy in our jobs -- happy in our relationships -- happy in everything -- and then, when we find ourselves in a situation that is not happy right now at this moment, we cannot be content and we think there is something dreadfully wrong
-- our Constitution gives us the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," and boy, do we pursue it -- this is the reason that the entertainment industry in the United States is the largest industry in the country -- this is the reason that we have so many commercials promising happiness if we just buy their product -- this is the reason why so many people rush into relationships and marriages that aren't healthy -- it's all because we think we are owed happiness in our life, and so we rush out and try to get it any way we can -- whether that's by going to the latest movie or by owning that new car or by having the perfect spouse
-- John Maxwell once said that Americans suffer from "Destination Disease" -- they look at their lives and they feel unhappy and then they see someone else other than their spouse and they think, "If I could just be with them -- if I could just be over there -- I would be happy" -- so they end their marriage and rush off into another relationship seeking happiness -- or, they look at their lives and they feel unhappy and they see the latest and greatest new vehicle on the market and they think to themselves, "If I could just have that new car, I would be happy" -- and so they rush off and buy and buy and buy, but never find what they are looking for -- they are never satisfied and content with what they have but are always looking for more
-- the problem with living life in this way is that happiness is fleeting -- happiness is not a permanent state of mind -- happiness is dependent on things outside yourself and it comes through your perception of external events -- that's the reason why you can have everything in the world, and still not be happy -- in fact, those people that we sometimes look at and think, "Wow, they have everything in life -- they have everything they could ever want -- they have money and things and a great family" -- turn out to not be as happy as we think
-- one day, right before the turn of the 19th century, a very depressed man went to a London psychiatrist seeking help -- he was very unhappy with his life and with everything about his life -- the doctor tried everything he could think of to cheer the man up -- but nothing worked -- finally, he gave up and suggested to his patient, "Why don't you go see Grimaldi the clown?" -- Grimaldi was the greatest clown in nineteenth-century Europe -- the doctor thought that surely Grimaldi would be able to lift this man's spirit and restore happiness in his life, if only for a moment
-- the patient sighed and remained silent for a long time -- finally he answered, "I am Grimaldi the clown"
-- as Dennis Swanberg writes, "True happiness and contentment cannot come from the things of the world." -- I guess that's why the Bible never promises us happiness in our lives as Christians -- instead, the Bible promises us joy -- rather than blessing us with happiness that is here today and gone tomorrow -- God gives us something more permanent -- joy in our hearts through our Lord Jesus Christ
-- in this familiar Christmas passage from Isaiah, we see a great promise of joy given from God to the Israelites and to the entire world
II. Scripture Lesson
-- before we begin, let me give you a little context on this passage -- in the passages preceding Chapter 9, Isaiah has been prophesying to the nation of Israel that judgement was coming because of their evil deeds -- already the people had suffered because of invasions by other countries and Isaiah had prophesied that more suffering and tribulation was going to come their way -- in fact, he told them, they would be carried off into captivity in Assyria and Babylon
-- in verse 8:22, Isaiah said that in the midst of their trials and tribulations they would look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom and that they would be thrust into utter darkness -- they would be a group of people desperate for happiness but lost in the gloom of their despair with no hope in sight
-- but then we turn to Chapter 9, and Isaiah brings these people a message of hope that would bring light to the darkness -- a promise of joy and restoration in the future -- a promise that things would be better if they would only turn from their evil ways and trust in their Lord and Savior
-- look at verse 1
1. Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan--
2. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
3. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
-- these people from the land of Zebulon and Naphtali -- which we know better as the region of Galilee -- had been, and were going to, experience a time of darkness in their life -- a time of trials and tribulations -- Isaiah says that they were going to walk in darkness and live in the land of the shadow of death
-- this happens to people who go through life living for happiness -- when things don't go their way -- when life brings them tragedy and trials and tribulations -- they find themselves lost in a darkness that seems unending -- and so they try to bring light into the darkness through periods of happiness -- but, like I said, happiness is fleeting -- it's like lighting a match in the dark -- for a moment, there is light and things are bright -- but then, the match burns out and you find yourself plunged back into darkness again
-- but this passage tells us that in the midst of the darkness -- just when all hope seems lost -- something better than fleeting happiness and momentary lightness will come along -- God promises us that a great light will dawn that will bring more than happiness -- it will bring hope and life -- instead of being a match it will stand in our hearts as a lighthouse, and no matter where we go, no matter what darkness we find ourselves in, this light in our life will shine forth permanently -- this light is the joy that comes through Jesus Christ
-- in John 1:4 we read, "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men" -- God is telling us that the way to remove the darkness in our life is not by looking for happiness provided by the world but to look for the joy that comes through Jesus
-- there is a vast difference between happiness and joy -- happiness is externally influenced -- in order to be happy, you have to rely on things and people and places outside of yourself -- that is why happiness is fleeting -- because none of the things of the world is permanent -- all of them will fade away and disappoint in the end
-- but joy, on the other hand -- is eternal -- joy comes from the Lord and shines brightly in your heart even in the midst of the storm -- joy is that feeling of hope and contentment that you have in the midst of trials and tribulations because you know that these are only temporary afflictions and that a better future is promised -- joy is faith-driven and is based on the promises of God given to us through Christ
-- joy tells us that yes, we may be in the midst of a storm, but that the sun is still shining on the other side of the clouds
-- in this passage, Isaiah is telling the people of Galilee to have faith -- to have hope -- and to trust in the joy of the Lord even in the midst of their suffering -- even if they are living in the land of the shadow of death and are walking in darkness -- because God is sending a great light for them that will dispel the darkness and the death and that will never, ever, go out
-- and then he goes through and gives them two reasons for the joy they should have through the Lord
-- verse 4
4. For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
-- here we see the first reason -- Isaiah told them that they were going to rejoice before the Lord, "for" -- because -- the yoke and the rod that had tormented them and held them in bondage would be broken and removed from them forever
-- now, to the Israelites who received this prophesy from Isaiah, this was a promise of restoration from captivity -- a promise that the time of invasion and exile would end and that the cruel yoke of slavery to the Assyrians and the Babylonians would end
-- but, this also was a promise of restoration from the spiritual bondage that held the entire world -- both Jew and Gentile -- in chains
-- in the book of Romans, we read that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and that we are in bondage to sin in our lives -- when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, we were exiled into the land of the shadow of death -- we were sold into slavery -- but Isaiah promises us here that the chains of sin and death would be broken and removed from us through the power of the Lord -- as it says in Romans 6:23, "for the wages of sin are death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"
-- verse 5
5. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
-- this is the second reason why we should have joy in our hearts -- following our release from sin -- following our restoration and return into the kingdom of God -- we will enter into a time of eternal peace -- peace always follows the grace of God -- and it is the joy of the Lord in our hearts that gives us this peace in our lives
-- verse 6
6. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
-- and here we see the source of our joy -- the promise of the Messiah -- a prophesy of the birth and ministry of Christ -- Isaiah tells us in this passage that the baby in the manger will grow up and break the yoke of sin and death and bring peace to the world -- and that He will become the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords -- ruling the entire world with justice and righteousness forever -- something that is attainable only in and through the Messiah -- the child of Mary and Joseph -- the Son of God -- our Savior
III. Conclusion
-- Howard Hughes was one of the richest men in the early part of the 20th century -- yet his life was characterized by profound unhappiness and depression -- no matter how much money he had -- no matter how many women he married -- no matter how much he accomplished -- he never was truly happy -- he went from one emotional high to another -- trying desperately to find the formula that would bring him peace in his life
-- one day someone asked him what it would take to make him happy -- he responded, "just a little more -- just a little more"
-- that is the problem with happiness -- it is never enough -- you can never burn enough matches and make enough light to keep the darkness away -- as it says in Isaiah 8:22, "they look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom" -- this is the state of a person without the hope and joy of the Lord
-- it is only through Christ Jesus that you can have the contentment and peace that comes through hope and joy
-- the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11-12, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
-- this secret of contentment is the peace that comes through the joy of the Lord -- the joy of knowing that your sins have been forgiven and that sin and death hold no power over you
-- the joy of knowing that the trials and tribulations and sufferings of this life are temporary, and will soon give way to the permanence of eternal life with God in Heaven
-- if you don't have this joy in your life, you can have it this morning -- you can have the peace and the joy and the contentment of knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior this Christmas Season
-- all you have to do is confess to the Lord that you are a sinner and that you need forgiveness for your sins -- ask Him to forgive you and trust in His atoning death and resurrection and ask Him to come into your life as Lord and Savior -- and the joy of the Lord will fill your life and you will know peace and contentment as never before
-- may you all be filled with His joy this Christmas season, and may you share it with others everywhere you go
-- let us pray
A GIFT FOR YOUR FAMILY
The other day, our local radio station interviewed Eddie Middleton, one of the founders of the Christian contemporary singing group, NewSong. Eddie left the group several years ago and has become a rather prominent evangelist here in the south Georgia and north Florida area.
During this interview, he mentioned a Christmas gift that everyone could give to their families and to their pastors that would be meaningful for years and years. Eddie mentioned that one of the saddest things in the world is going through life without knowing if a loved one is saved or not. I have seen families struggle through this in my ministry -- wives despairing over whether their husbands were Christians -- families at funerals wondering if their loved one was saved or not.
Eddie suggested that everyone could simply write out their testimony -- their story of salvation or a story of how God worked a miraculous change in their life -- and give it to their spouse, their family, or their pastor. Just having the knowledge that a loved one had received Jesus as Lord and Savior would give an immense peace to those who receive a copy of the testimony.
As far as pastors go, I know several pastor friends who have been looking at their ministry and wondering if they have had an impact or not. Just a simple card from a member sharing with the pastor the story of their salvation or some way God had used the pastor to touch their lives would be the most wonderful gift of encouragement this Christmas season.
I would encourage all of you to consider this simple act as a means of encouraging and spreading peace and love with your family and friends this Christmas season.
During this interview, he mentioned a Christmas gift that everyone could give to their families and to their pastors that would be meaningful for years and years. Eddie mentioned that one of the saddest things in the world is going through life without knowing if a loved one is saved or not. I have seen families struggle through this in my ministry -- wives despairing over whether their husbands were Christians -- families at funerals wondering if their loved one was saved or not.
Eddie suggested that everyone could simply write out their testimony -- their story of salvation or a story of how God worked a miraculous change in their life -- and give it to their spouse, their family, or their pastor. Just having the knowledge that a loved one had received Jesus as Lord and Savior would give an immense peace to those who receive a copy of the testimony.
As far as pastors go, I know several pastor friends who have been looking at their ministry and wondering if they have had an impact or not. Just a simple card from a member sharing with the pastor the story of their salvation or some way God had used the pastor to touch their lives would be the most wonderful gift of encouragement this Christmas season.
I would encourage all of you to consider this simple act as a means of encouraging and spreading peace and love with your family and friends this Christmas season.
NARNIA....FINALLY!
Last Friday night "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe," the first major motion picture based on the book from C.S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia, opened in the theaters. After reading the series, I was really looking forward to seeing the movie.
But, alas, we had a Christmas party to go to on Friday night. I was extremely disappointed. But, the party got over at 9:30 pm. I could still make it to the 10:00 pm showing on opening night! When we got there, however, it was sold out. Our local theater evidently did not anticipate the interest in the movie and only showed it on one screen. Another Christmas party on Saturday, and then a church party on Sunday. But, FINALLY, we made it to see the movie tonight!
My overall impression of the movie was that it was outstanding! The production quality and the acting were a lot better than I hoped or expected. The scenery was outstanding and the characters, both digital and created by WETA (Peter Jackson's crew in New Zealand), were very, very realistic. The whole audience jumped at the initial scene with the wolf. My wife was a little unhappy at the wolves being portrayed as being on the bad side, but I guess that goes along with being a wildlife biologist who wanted to work with wolves for her career. I was especially impressed with the fauns and the way they moved. I had always wondered about that in books I had read, and the director did a good job at adapting them to the big screen.
The actors who played the four Pevensie children were absolutely outstanding. They performed so much better than I expected, and they lived the parts.
The Christian theme that Lewis wove into the story was clearly evident throughout, and the director stayed true to the book in that sense. While I have read a few reviewer's who disliked the line, I found it profound when Aslan stated, "It is finished," following the death of the White Witch.
The only fault I had with the movie was Aslan himself. I expected him to be, well, more. Hard to define. Bigger, more impressive, more powerful, more like Jesus. I guess it's hard to match your image of Aslan (or your understanding of Jesus) to a movie character created by someone else. Still, they did a good job. Although, I think I would have enjoyed a James Earl Jones voice over Liam Neeson.
Bottom-line: Excellent movie, well-acted, well-portrayed, and definitely worth watching.
But, alas, we had a Christmas party to go to on Friday night. I was extremely disappointed. But, the party got over at 9:30 pm. I could still make it to the 10:00 pm showing on opening night! When we got there, however, it was sold out. Our local theater evidently did not anticipate the interest in the movie and only showed it on one screen. Another Christmas party on Saturday, and then a church party on Sunday. But, FINALLY, we made it to see the movie tonight!
My overall impression of the movie was that it was outstanding! The production quality and the acting were a lot better than I hoped or expected. The scenery was outstanding and the characters, both digital and created by WETA (Peter Jackson's crew in New Zealand), were very, very realistic. The whole audience jumped at the initial scene with the wolf. My wife was a little unhappy at the wolves being portrayed as being on the bad side, but I guess that goes along with being a wildlife biologist who wanted to work with wolves for her career. I was especially impressed with the fauns and the way they moved. I had always wondered about that in books I had read, and the director did a good job at adapting them to the big screen.
The actors who played the four Pevensie children were absolutely outstanding. They performed so much better than I expected, and they lived the parts.
The Christian theme that Lewis wove into the story was clearly evident throughout, and the director stayed true to the book in that sense. While I have read a few reviewer's who disliked the line, I found it profound when Aslan stated, "It is finished," following the death of the White Witch.
The only fault I had with the movie was Aslan himself. I expected him to be, well, more. Hard to define. Bigger, more impressive, more powerful, more like Jesus. I guess it's hard to match your image of Aslan (or your understanding of Jesus) to a movie character created by someone else. Still, they did a good job. Although, I think I would have enjoyed a James Earl Jones voice over Liam Neeson.
Bottom-line: Excellent movie, well-acted, well-portrayed, and definitely worth watching.
Friday, December 09, 2005
CHURCHES WITHOUT CHRISTMAS
Should we close our churches on Christmas? Shouldn't the church show respect to families by not making them come on Christmas morning? Those questions are being asked -- and answered -- by churches all around this country. This is one of those rare years when Christmas falls on a Sunday. And, hence, the dilemma.
The question was asked and answered in our congregations earlier this year. The church would remain open, but it would be understood if you felt family priorities were more pressing and chose not to come. Basically, we left it up to the individual. But we felt that it was a day when Christians should be in church and that it might be a day where travelers felt like joining a congregation for worship, so we're keeping our normal schedule for Christmas day.
Several megachurches have made news recently by opting to close their doors on Christmas morning. This has sparked a great controversy in the body of Christ.
Dr. Ben Witherington had the following to say on his blog:
"Our culture does not need any encouragement to be more self-centered and narcissistic or to stay at home on Sunday. It is already that way. Christmas above all else should be a day when we come together as the body of Christ to worship and adore the Lord Jesus. Christmas should be the day above all days where we don't stay home and open all those things we bought for ourselves INSTEAD of going to church. Christmas should be the day when we forget about ourselves for a few hours and go and honor the birthday of the great King, our Savior.
"What we are dealing with here are churches whose priorities are so askew that they somehow think it is more important for the church to serve the wants of the physical family than the other way around. This is a far cry from the pattern of the original disciples of Jesus who were seen leaving homes, relatives, jobs to come and follow Jesus. What kind of message does it send to our culture when churches close on one of its highest holy days? That it is o.k. to stay home and do one's own thing even on Jesus' birthday?
"It is past time that these sorts of churches be called to account. It is time for them to realize that they have simply capitulated to the larger culture's agenda on issue after issue, in this case in supporting the worship of the idol called family in place of the worship of Jesus. The church does not exist to serve the world, but rather to save the world. The church does not exist to serve the physical family but rather to redeem it and make clear that if it is a Christian family it has a larger and more primary obligation to the family of faith and to its Lord. Christmas is one of two days in the year when we should especially make that clear to our culture and our country. "
Well said. May we not forget what Christmas is really about and may we not let secularization and Christmas tradition keep us away from worship this season.
The question was asked and answered in our congregations earlier this year. The church would remain open, but it would be understood if you felt family priorities were more pressing and chose not to come. Basically, we left it up to the individual. But we felt that it was a day when Christians should be in church and that it might be a day where travelers felt like joining a congregation for worship, so we're keeping our normal schedule for Christmas day.
Several megachurches have made news recently by opting to close their doors on Christmas morning. This has sparked a great controversy in the body of Christ.
Dr. Ben Witherington had the following to say on his blog:
"Our culture does not need any encouragement to be more self-centered and narcissistic or to stay at home on Sunday. It is already that way. Christmas above all else should be a day when we come together as the body of Christ to worship and adore the Lord Jesus. Christmas should be the day above all days where we don't stay home and open all those things we bought for ourselves INSTEAD of going to church. Christmas should be the day when we forget about ourselves for a few hours and go and honor the birthday of the great King, our Savior.
"What we are dealing with here are churches whose priorities are so askew that they somehow think it is more important for the church to serve the wants of the physical family than the other way around. This is a far cry from the pattern of the original disciples of Jesus who were seen leaving homes, relatives, jobs to come and follow Jesus. What kind of message does it send to our culture when churches close on one of its highest holy days? That it is o.k. to stay home and do one's own thing even on Jesus' birthday?
"It is past time that these sorts of churches be called to account. It is time for them to realize that they have simply capitulated to the larger culture's agenda on issue after issue, in this case in supporting the worship of the idol called family in place of the worship of Jesus. The church does not exist to serve the world, but rather to save the world. The church does not exist to serve the physical family but rather to redeem it and make clear that if it is a Christian family it has a larger and more primary obligation to the family of faith and to its Lord. Christmas is one of two days in the year when we should especially make that clear to our culture and our country. "
Well said. May we not forget what Christmas is really about and may we not let secularization and Christmas tradition keep us away from worship this season.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
TARGETING JESUS
Preached by Gregory W. Lee
4 December 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Luke 2
1. In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3. And everyone went to his own town to register.
4. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7. and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18. and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
-- there once was this single mother who had two young sons -- she was having a difficult time with them and they were getting in to all kinds of trouble -- one day, after they had been caught taking something that didn't belong to them, the mother went to talk to her pastor -- "Leave it to me," he said. "I'll make sure and put the fear of God in them and make sure they know that they need Jesus in their life"
-- so, on Sunday morning, the preacher started on one of those hellfire and brimstone sermons -- at one point, he turned and pointed his finger right at the oldest boy and shouted, "Do you know where Jesus is? Do you know where Jesus is?" -- the oldest boy jumped up from the pew and took off running for the back of the church with his little brother hot on his heels
-- when they made it outside the church, the older brother turned to his little brother and said, "We're in trouble now." His brother said, "What do you mean?" -- the older brother said, "Jesus is missing and they think we did it."
-- now I know that you might have heard this little joke before, but I wanted to use it to introduce the message for this morning -- if you have been following the media or have been out shopping in the past couple of weeks, you might be thinking to yourself that Jesus is missing from Christmas in America
-- just the other day I was flipping through on the t.v. and stopped on Fox News -- Hannity and Colmes had an evangelical Christian on debating a representative from the ACLU about Lowes -- they were reporting that Lowes was not selling "Christmas" trees this year but were instead selling "holiday" trees
-- we heard the same thing just a few weeks ago about Walmart when the news broke that the employees there had been instructed to wish customers "Happy Holidays" instead of the usual "Merry Christmas"
-- it seems like Lowes and Walmart and a lot of the larger department stores have looked at the religious and ethnic diversity in our country and are going to extremes to not offend anyone of another religion by promoting Christmas in their stores
-- just last year we saw the same thing with Target, when Target refused to allow the Salvation Army kettles and bellringers collect donations outside their stores
-- that leaves a lot of us who go out shopping this time of year asking the same question that the preacher asked those little boys, "Do you know where Jesus is?" -- He seems to be missing and is no where in sight even though this is the time of the year that we celebrate His birth
-- however, this should not really come as a surprise to us -- in the familiar passage that I opened with, we read Luke's account of the first Christmas -- according to Luke, when Mary and Joseph went to the town of Bethlehem to register in Caesar's census, they couldn't find any place to stay -- and so Jesus was born, probably in a stable, and was laid in a manger because there wasn't any room for them in the inn
-- let me ask you a question: Have we reached the point where there's just not room for Jesus in America, either? -- Are we so concerned with multiculturalism and pluralism that we've left Christ out of Christmas?
-- the answer is an emphatic, "No!" -- you can't keep Christ out of Christmas any more than you can keep Christ out of this world -- just because there was no room for Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem that night, it didn't keep God from leaving His throne and being born as a baby in a manger -- God is sovereign and His plans and His purposes and His will will come to pass, whether we choose to recognize it or not
-- in John 1:10-12, we read, "He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, and His own did not receive Him. Yet, to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."
-- in other words, Lowes and Walmart and Target and all the other stores and all the media giants can try to exclude Christ from Christmas -- they can try to change the name and nature of the holiday -- they can take the words, "under God" from our pledge -- but they can't remove the presence of the living God from our midst -- He comes to those who receive Him -- He comes to those who believe in His name -- He comes to those He calls His children
-- we read in this passage that there was no room for Christ's family in the inn in Bethlehem that night -- maybe they were all asleep and didn't recognize the Christ child when He came -- maybe they just wouldn't receive Him as their Lord -- maybe they just wouldn't make room in their hearts for Him
-- and so we read that God went to those who would receive Him and recognize Him -- He sent His angels to the shepherds who were out in the fields that night -- and the angels announced the birth of the Savior to those who would believe and who would act on what they had been told
-- look back at verse 8
8. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
-- here we see a perfect picture of the purpose of the Advent season -- as you know, Advent is a time when we prepare our hearts and get ready for the coming of Christ -- the angels in this passage come and prepare the hearts of the shepherds to receive their Savior by telling them what He will look like and where they will find Him -- they share with them the good news that Christ has been born in Bethlehem
-- and look what the shepherds did -- look at verse 15
15. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18. and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
-- they immediately got up and went to find Christ -- and when they had found Jesus lying in the manger -- they went out and they told others about Him
-- let me ask you a couple of questions: -- "Who is responsible for keeping Christ in Christmas? Who is responsible for telling the world about Jesus and why we are celebrating Christmas in our homes and in our hearts?"
-- since when does the church rely on Lowes and Walmart and Target to share the good news of the birth of Christ? -- in this passage, it is the shepherds who are going out and telling everyone they meet about the birth of the Christ child -- it is the shepherds -- those who have heard and believed in the good news of Christ -- who are going out and telling others about Jesus
-- no where in this passage do we read about the shepherds going on Hannity and Colmes and complaining because the innkeepers wouldn't let Jesus stay in the inn -- no where in this passage do we see the shepherds complaining because the inns aren't telling everyone "Merry Christmas"
-- we have a responsibility, as the body of Christ in this place, to share the good news of Christ with all that we come into contact with
-- 1 Peter 3:15 says, "...in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
-- for some time now, I have noticed a trend in American Christianity -- maybe it has to do with our pride -- maybe it has to do with our heritage of standing up for our individual rights -- but when corporations or the Government or anyone else tries to remove references to Christianity, we get all up in arms over it
-- we're seeing it now with Christmas -- and the church in America, by and large, is spending all its time and effort to fight Lowes and Walmart and Target trying to get them to say "Merry Christmas" rather than "Happy Holidays"
-- we see it when the ACLU and other groups try to remove nativity scenes from Christmas parades and Christmas displays
-- we saw it with the ten commandments issues that have been a hot topic in our country over the past several years -- Christian groups fighting to keep public displays of the ten commandments in courthouses and in schools and in other buildings
-- you know, I don't think it's a bad thing to stand up for what you believe in -- but, it becomes a bad thing when that is all you become concerned about -- there were many Christians in the ten commandments debate that fought to keep the ten commandments displayed publicly while not keeping them in their heart -- and there's a lot of Christians who are protesting Lowes and Walmart for not saying "Merry Christmas" to customers when they've never even shared their faith with another person
-- 1 Peter 3:15 says that we should be prepared to tell people, with gentleness and respect, the reason why we have hope in our hearts -- maybe we should quit worrying so much about what Lowes and Walmart are or are not doing and worry more about sharing the good news of Christ with others this year
-- this controversy reminds me of the story of the son who went off to college -- his father was very concerned that when his son got under the influence of the liberal college professors that he would lose his faith in God and in God's Word -- so he pleaded with his son, "Son, don't let them take your faith away -- don't let them take the Bible from you -- at the very least, don't let them take the Gospel of John from you"
-- so the son went off to college, and after four years, he returned -- his father greeted him and said, "Son, how is your faith? -- do you still trust in God? -- do you still believe in the Gospel of John?" -- the son looked at him and said, "What are you talking about? There is no such thing as the Gospel of John"
-- so his father ran and got his Bible off the shelf and opened it up -- he looked, but the Book of John wasn't in there -- he looked at the table of contents, and it was listed, but when he turned over to it, it was missing -- He looked up at his son in confusion and said, "What happened to John?" -- the son said, "I cut it out of your Bible on the day I left for college four years ago. What is worse: losing John because your faith was challenged or losing it through neglect?"
-- what is worse -- having Lowes sell "holiday" trees and Walmart say "Happy Holidays" or watching a world of sinners go to hell because we are too concerned with being offended to tell them about the hope of Christ in our heart?
-- we cannot blame others for our own disobedience in sharing the message of Christ at Christmas -- it is our responsibility to go forth, just like the shepherds did so many years ago, and spread the word about Jesus to all we meet
-- it is our mission -- it is our purpose -- it is our calling as a church and as individual Christians
-- Christ told us in Matthew 28:19-20 to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you"
-- at Christmas, one of the songs that we like to sing is, "Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born"
-- we need to use this opportunity -- we need to use this season -- as a time to share Jesus with a watching world -- when the world looks at our churches, they need to see our hope and our peace and our love -- not our protests and our complaints
-- take some time this week to share with someone the good news of Christ -- tell them about the Savior who died on the cross to take their sins away -- tell them about the resurrection of Jesus on the third day -- tell them about the promise of eternal life with Christ -- tell them more than just "Merry Christmas" -- tell them the story of Jesus
-- let us pray
4 December 2005
I. Introduction
-- turn in Bibles to Luke 2
1. In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3. And everyone went to his own town to register.
4. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7. and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18. and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
-- there once was this single mother who had two young sons -- she was having a difficult time with them and they were getting in to all kinds of trouble -- one day, after they had been caught taking something that didn't belong to them, the mother went to talk to her pastor -- "Leave it to me," he said. "I'll make sure and put the fear of God in them and make sure they know that they need Jesus in their life"
-- so, on Sunday morning, the preacher started on one of those hellfire and brimstone sermons -- at one point, he turned and pointed his finger right at the oldest boy and shouted, "Do you know where Jesus is? Do you know where Jesus is?" -- the oldest boy jumped up from the pew and took off running for the back of the church with his little brother hot on his heels
-- when they made it outside the church, the older brother turned to his little brother and said, "We're in trouble now." His brother said, "What do you mean?" -- the older brother said, "Jesus is missing and they think we did it."
-- now I know that you might have heard this little joke before, but I wanted to use it to introduce the message for this morning -- if you have been following the media or have been out shopping in the past couple of weeks, you might be thinking to yourself that Jesus is missing from Christmas in America
-- just the other day I was flipping through on the t.v. and stopped on Fox News -- Hannity and Colmes had an evangelical Christian on debating a representative from the ACLU about Lowes -- they were reporting that Lowes was not selling "Christmas" trees this year but were instead selling "holiday" trees
-- we heard the same thing just a few weeks ago about Walmart when the news broke that the employees there had been instructed to wish customers "Happy Holidays" instead of the usual "Merry Christmas"
-- it seems like Lowes and Walmart and a lot of the larger department stores have looked at the religious and ethnic diversity in our country and are going to extremes to not offend anyone of another religion by promoting Christmas in their stores
-- just last year we saw the same thing with Target, when Target refused to allow the Salvation Army kettles and bellringers collect donations outside their stores
-- that leaves a lot of us who go out shopping this time of year asking the same question that the preacher asked those little boys, "Do you know where Jesus is?" -- He seems to be missing and is no where in sight even though this is the time of the year that we celebrate His birth
-- however, this should not really come as a surprise to us -- in the familiar passage that I opened with, we read Luke's account of the first Christmas -- according to Luke, when Mary and Joseph went to the town of Bethlehem to register in Caesar's census, they couldn't find any place to stay -- and so Jesus was born, probably in a stable, and was laid in a manger because there wasn't any room for them in the inn
-- let me ask you a question: Have we reached the point where there's just not room for Jesus in America, either? -- Are we so concerned with multiculturalism and pluralism that we've left Christ out of Christmas?
-- the answer is an emphatic, "No!" -- you can't keep Christ out of Christmas any more than you can keep Christ out of this world -- just because there was no room for Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem that night, it didn't keep God from leaving His throne and being born as a baby in a manger -- God is sovereign and His plans and His purposes and His will will come to pass, whether we choose to recognize it or not
-- in John 1:10-12, we read, "He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, and His own did not receive Him. Yet, to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."
-- in other words, Lowes and Walmart and Target and all the other stores and all the media giants can try to exclude Christ from Christmas -- they can try to change the name and nature of the holiday -- they can take the words, "under God" from our pledge -- but they can't remove the presence of the living God from our midst -- He comes to those who receive Him -- He comes to those who believe in His name -- He comes to those He calls His children
-- we read in this passage that there was no room for Christ's family in the inn in Bethlehem that night -- maybe they were all asleep and didn't recognize the Christ child when He came -- maybe they just wouldn't receive Him as their Lord -- maybe they just wouldn't make room in their hearts for Him
-- and so we read that God went to those who would receive Him and recognize Him -- He sent His angels to the shepherds who were out in the fields that night -- and the angels announced the birth of the Savior to those who would believe and who would act on what they had been told
-- look back at verse 8
8. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
-- here we see a perfect picture of the purpose of the Advent season -- as you know, Advent is a time when we prepare our hearts and get ready for the coming of Christ -- the angels in this passage come and prepare the hearts of the shepherds to receive their Savior by telling them what He will look like and where they will find Him -- they share with them the good news that Christ has been born in Bethlehem
-- and look what the shepherds did -- look at verse 15
15. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18. and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
-- they immediately got up and went to find Christ -- and when they had found Jesus lying in the manger -- they went out and they told others about Him
-- let me ask you a couple of questions: -- "Who is responsible for keeping Christ in Christmas? Who is responsible for telling the world about Jesus and why we are celebrating Christmas in our homes and in our hearts?"
-- since when does the church rely on Lowes and Walmart and Target to share the good news of the birth of Christ? -- in this passage, it is the shepherds who are going out and telling everyone they meet about the birth of the Christ child -- it is the shepherds -- those who have heard and believed in the good news of Christ -- who are going out and telling others about Jesus
-- no where in this passage do we read about the shepherds going on Hannity and Colmes and complaining because the innkeepers wouldn't let Jesus stay in the inn -- no where in this passage do we see the shepherds complaining because the inns aren't telling everyone "Merry Christmas"
-- we have a responsibility, as the body of Christ in this place, to share the good news of Christ with all that we come into contact with
-- 1 Peter 3:15 says, "...in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
-- for some time now, I have noticed a trend in American Christianity -- maybe it has to do with our pride -- maybe it has to do with our heritage of standing up for our individual rights -- but when corporations or the Government or anyone else tries to remove references to Christianity, we get all up in arms over it
-- we're seeing it now with Christmas -- and the church in America, by and large, is spending all its time and effort to fight Lowes and Walmart and Target trying to get them to say "Merry Christmas" rather than "Happy Holidays"
-- we see it when the ACLU and other groups try to remove nativity scenes from Christmas parades and Christmas displays
-- we saw it with the ten commandments issues that have been a hot topic in our country over the past several years -- Christian groups fighting to keep public displays of the ten commandments in courthouses and in schools and in other buildings
-- you know, I don't think it's a bad thing to stand up for what you believe in -- but, it becomes a bad thing when that is all you become concerned about -- there were many Christians in the ten commandments debate that fought to keep the ten commandments displayed publicly while not keeping them in their heart -- and there's a lot of Christians who are protesting Lowes and Walmart for not saying "Merry Christmas" to customers when they've never even shared their faith with another person
-- 1 Peter 3:15 says that we should be prepared to tell people, with gentleness and respect, the reason why we have hope in our hearts -- maybe we should quit worrying so much about what Lowes and Walmart are or are not doing and worry more about sharing the good news of Christ with others this year
-- this controversy reminds me of the story of the son who went off to college -- his father was very concerned that when his son got under the influence of the liberal college professors that he would lose his faith in God and in God's Word -- so he pleaded with his son, "Son, don't let them take your faith away -- don't let them take the Bible from you -- at the very least, don't let them take the Gospel of John from you"
-- so the son went off to college, and after four years, he returned -- his father greeted him and said, "Son, how is your faith? -- do you still trust in God? -- do you still believe in the Gospel of John?" -- the son looked at him and said, "What are you talking about? There is no such thing as the Gospel of John"
-- so his father ran and got his Bible off the shelf and opened it up -- he looked, but the Book of John wasn't in there -- he looked at the table of contents, and it was listed, but when he turned over to it, it was missing -- He looked up at his son in confusion and said, "What happened to John?" -- the son said, "I cut it out of your Bible on the day I left for college four years ago. What is worse: losing John because your faith was challenged or losing it through neglect?"
-- what is worse -- having Lowes sell "holiday" trees and Walmart say "Happy Holidays" or watching a world of sinners go to hell because we are too concerned with being offended to tell them about the hope of Christ in our heart?
-- we cannot blame others for our own disobedience in sharing the message of Christ at Christmas -- it is our responsibility to go forth, just like the shepherds did so many years ago, and spread the word about Jesus to all we meet
-- it is our mission -- it is our purpose -- it is our calling as a church and as individual Christians
-- Christ told us in Matthew 28:19-20 to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you"
-- at Christmas, one of the songs that we like to sing is, "Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born"
-- we need to use this opportunity -- we need to use this season -- as a time to share Jesus with a watching world -- when the world looks at our churches, they need to see our hope and our peace and our love -- not our protests and our complaints
-- take some time this week to share with someone the good news of Christ -- tell them about the Savior who died on the cross to take their sins away -- tell them about the resurrection of Jesus on the third day -- tell them about the promise of eternal life with Christ -- tell them more than just "Merry Christmas" -- tell them the story of Jesus
-- let us pray
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