SPECIAL DAY: Third Sunday of Advent

December 14, 1997 - LESSON: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Luke 3:7-18, NRSV

SERMON TITLE: Metamorphosis

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INTRODUCTION:

  1. He stood on a box in Boston, attracting the attention of the people, proclaiming the good news of the gospel
  2. A young man cleans an old school house in the hill country of Tennessee, encouraging the people to transform their lives through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  3. A young woman stand in the pulpit attempting to arouse the congregation to their need.
  4. They are examples of a long line of sincere, devout Christian men and women who are preaching the need of revival.
    1. George Whitfield, 1739
    2. Jonathon Edwards, 1741
    3. Charles Finney, 1824
    4. Dwight L. Moody, 1871
    5. Billy Graham, present
      1. Billy Graham writes in the December 8 issue of Christianity Today concerning Recovering the Primacy of Evangelism,"
      2. We stand only a few years away from the end of one millennium and the start of a new. Never has the Christian church faced so many challenges on so many fronts--political, social, demographic, economic, philosophical.
      3. In response to these challenges, the church today often seems paralyzed and confused, torn by division and uncertainty. Instead of becoming salt and light in the world, we have been content to withdraw into our separate ecclesiastical ghettos, preoccupied with our own internal affairs and unconcerned about the deepest needs of those around us. In the eyes of many, religion has lost its relevance and is little more than a quaint relic from another time. (1)
        1. Instead of becoming salt and light we have become content to withdraw into our separate ecclesiastical ghettos.
        2. He is speaking of Evangelical Christianity to whom the magazine is addressed.
        3. He is speaking of all God's people

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MAIN BODY:

  1. The Christian Church is in need of a revival.

Cartoon I dare not use, but the saption reads:

"First Church. Open 51 Sundays a year. Closed on Super Bowl Sunday."

    1. I am always concerned with the challenges that face us and how we will meet and resolve them.
    2. In recent months I have heard people say:
      1. We need more members; what are you going to do about it?
      2. We need to meet our budget; what are you going to do about it?
      3. We ought to have more people in worship, what are you going to do about it?
    3. I am troubled with the implications that have been emphasized.
    4. I tried to offer information and was interrupted by a person who said, "All you do is talk! Talk! Talk!"
      1. I can Evaluate
      2. I can persuade
      3. I can encourage
      4. I can suggest
      5. I can exhort
      6. I can set an example

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    5. I do more than talk.
      1. A number of different ways that I let our presence be known in the community
      2. Worship and Bible study
      3. Clergy Association
      4. National Association
      5. Phantom Lake YMCA
      6. School Board Sub-committees
      7. Working with the Boy Scouts
      8. Not to mention the activities which take place here in our facility.
    6. I would suggest that "What are you ging to do about it?" is not the appropriate question.
  1. Jesus was in the middle of the last year of his earthly ministry.
    1. In Matthew 11:12-19, Jesus said: From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. [13] For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; [14] and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. [15] Let anyone with ears listen! [16] "But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, [17] 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.' [18] For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; [19] the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."
      1. We played, but you did not dance
      2. We wailed but you did not mourn.
      3. The emphasis is on the "you" of Jesus.
    2. Jesus responded with "Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."
    3. He refers to John the Baptist.

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  2. Here is wisdom.
    1. John came to his people to alert them to their condition.
    2. John came to his people to prepare them for the Messiah.
    3. His message was a startling one that got the people's attention and response.
    4. We ought to listen carefully to what he had to say in Luke 3:7-18
      1. John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
      2. [8] Bear fruits worthy of repentance.
      3. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
        1. They would argue the fatherhood of God in John 8.
      4. [9] Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
      5. Then you get to the heart of the matter and the purpose of John's ministry.
    5. [10] And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?"
      1. [11] In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise."
      2. Generous, unconditional love.
      3. Fulfillment of covenant relationship estabished in the days of Moses.
    6. [12] Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?"
      1. [13] He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you."
        1. Integrity and honesty.
        2. Respect for one another.
        3. Not taking advantage for one's personal gain.
    7. [14] Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?"
      1. He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."
      2. Do not use your power for your advantage.
      3. Consider the needs of others who depend on you for their protection.

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    8. [15] As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,
      1. [16] John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [17] His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
      2. [18] So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
    9. This may not appear to be good news, but it is.
      1. The good news is that you can escape the fire.
      2. But only if you are united with the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
  3. We do have some questions about our collective church life and our needs.
    1. The question is not what are you going to do about it, meaning the pastor, no matter who he or she may be, but what are we going to do about it.
    2. The questioners of John the Baptist asked the right questions.

CONCLUSION:

  1. What should we do; what should I do?
    1. When we are able t ask that question, then we can begin to formulate an answer that will meet our needs.
    2. Harry Stubbs wrote about fellowship, fellowship between churches in our National Association.
      1. You have a beautiful car. It has a great finish. You have acquired the best looking wheel covers. The interior is everything you could wish for. You have a great stereo system with 12 speakers and a compact disk player.
      2. You look under the hood and there is no engine.
      3. What good is a beautiful car with no power.

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  2. John the Baptist point us to the means to power
    1. It is to be found in the person, the teachings and the presence of Jesus Christ.
    2. In the words of Zephaniah

(Zephaniah 3:14-20 NRSV) Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! [15] The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. [16] On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. [17] The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing [18] as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. [19] I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. [20] At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.

    1. Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.
    2. What ought we to do?
      1. Encourage one another to do his or her's own part.
      2. Set a good example
      3. Participate
    3. We know what needs to be done.
    4. Let us arise and do it.

      1. Billy Graham, "Recovering the Primacy of Evangelism," Christianity Today, vol 41, no 14, December 8, 1997, pp 27-28.

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