December 2, First Sunday of Advent

Lessons: Isaiah 2.1-5; Romans 13.11-14

Sermon Title: Armed and Ready

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INTRODUCTION:

  1. How did Jesus come? (1)

    1. "The season of Advent was beginning, and Rev. Dick Dinges wanted to inform the children that, according to the Bible, Jesus is coming twice-once as the baby in the manger, and then as King. He asked the children,

    2. 'How did Jesus come the first time?'

    3. "Little Ryan replied, 'Down the chimney'"

  2. He did?

    1. How much are we like Ryan?

    2. Does this illustration point out our need for Advent.

      1. Advent with is mix of biblical texts.

      2. Advent with it often mournful and longing hymns.

Creator of the stars of night, Anonymous

Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people's everlasting light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear Thy servants when they call.

Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe,
Hast found the medicine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruined race.

Thou cam'st, the Bridegroom of the bride,
As drew the world to evening-tide;
Proceeding from a virgin shrine,
The spotless Victim all divine.

At Whose dread Name, majestic now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
And things celestial Thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.

O Thou Whose coming is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead,
Preserve us, while we dwell below,
From every insult of the foe.

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Laud, honor, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally.

  1. Isn't this better than "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Rock Around the Clock, The Christmas Song, or even Silver Bells?

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MAIN BODY:

  1. What is Advent all about, anyway?

    1. This season of the church year four Sundays before Christmas

    2. Advent is about time.

  2. Advent is about time to reflect.

    1. Reflect on who's there.

During the children's message at the Christmas Eve service at Mantua (NJ) United Methodist Church,

Rev. Karl R. Kraft read a little story from a new book about Mary and Josephs journey to Bethlehem. The pastor would read a page, then show the children the picture illustrating the story,

The story had progressed to where Joseph was approaching the door of the inn. Kraft turned the page and read the first words:

"Knock, knock, knock!" Without missing a beat, a little girl responded: "Who's there?"

      1. Who is there?

      2. Who is in the manger?

      3. Isaiah proclaims:

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
    to the house of the God of Jacob;
 that he may teach us his ways
    and that we may walk in his paths."

        1. This is the one who will judge between right and wrong.

        2. This is the one who will arbitrate between God and humanity

      1. We need to know who is in the manger.

      2. We need to know who has promised to return to gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

    1. Reflect on overcoming indifference

Pulitzer Prize winning author Elie Wiesel spoke at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, where he made this distinction between despair and indifference:

"Why are people indifferent? Don't people understand that indifference is probably the worst plague that exists in life? It is worse than despair. Despair is a beginning. Despair can inspire you to create great works of art, music, literature, philosophy, theology. Despair evokes compassion, but indifference is the end. There is nothing beyond...What is education, what is life, what is friendship, what is love, what is beauty, what is joy if not our own impulse, our own pulsation, our own protest against an indifferent society, against an indifferent world that you now are called upon to conquer, not with violence, but with words; not with cruelty, but with compassion; and surely not with hatred, but with a sense of exultation."

      1. Indifference is a lack of sensibility, feeling, or regard.

      2. Sign that Christmas shopping is getting to you:

        1. You get an anxiety attack when you hear the store Santa say, "Ho, ho, ho!"

        2. You are bored with the songs of the season.

    1. Reflect on what we believe.

      1. Pastor Karl-Heinz relates that a church member was asked what he believed.

"I believe what my church believes," he replied.
"What does your church believe?" he was asked.
"My church believes what I believe," he answered.
"What do you and your church believe?" he was asked.
"We both believe the same thing," he replied.

      1. A grade school class was putting on a Christmas play that included the story of Mary and Joseph coming to the inn.

      2. In that class was one little boy who wanted very much to be Joseph. But when the parts were handed out, his biggest rival was given that part, and he was assigned to be the innkeeper instead. He was really bitter about this. (2)

        1. So during all the rehearsals he kept plotting in his mind what he might do the night of performance to get even with his rival who was Joseph.

        2. Finally, the night of the performance, Mary and Joseph came walking across the stage.

        3. They knocked on the door of the inn, and the innkeeper opened the door and asked them gruffly what they wanted.

        4. Joseph answered, "We'd like to have a room for the night."

        5. Suddenly the innkeeper threw the door open wide and said, "Great, come on in and I'll give you the best room in the house."

        6. For a few seconds poor little Joseph didn't know what to do, and a long silence ensued.

        7. Finally though, thinking quickly on his feet, Joseph looked in past the innkeeper, first to the left and then to the right and said, "No wife of mine is going to stay in a dump like this. Come on, Mary, let's go to the barn."

        8. And once again the play was back on course.

      3. The boy playing Joseph knew what he believed.

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  1. Advent is about time for evaluate.

    1. What kind of person am I?

      1. What are my ethics?

      2. What are my values?

      3. Am I a person of good character?

    2. Do we know the difference between honorable and dishonorable?

    3. Paul give us a list to help check out life.

      1. Adultery: Christians have respect for covenanted relationships. The ethic of love precludes adulterous activity. Paul's Speed Date survey starts with sleeping around. Men and women of good character, not to speak of those who claim to follow Christ, don't do it (13:9). Affairs are bad for relationships, human and divine. We don't cheat on our spouses or on our God. If we do, there'll be trouble to pay.

      2. Murder: Christians have respect for life and for the body. We don't murder people, and we do not physically abuse others (13:9). There's no love connection for the abuser.

      3. Theft: Christians are persons of integrity. They have respect for what belongs to others (13:9). We leave alone what's not ours. It's what our kindergarten teachers taught us. In dating, in marriage, in life in general, you see, those who steal learn to lie. Lying is bad. It undermines trust, and then destroys relationships.

      4. Coveting: Christians are content with what they have (13:9). They are not ruled by materialism, consumerism or avaricious ambition. A lifetime spent craving and coveting turns human hearts into pits of jealousy, anger and bitterness.

      5. Reveling: Christians use their time wisely. They avoid excessive partying that leads to a loss of self-control and embarrassing exhibitions of unflattering behavior. Avoid it in others; avoid it in yourself. Not only is it a waste of time, it's a waste of life. It's likely that the one who loves reveling too much, loves himself too little, and will love you even less.

      6. Licentiousness: Christians have respect for legal, sexual or moral restraints (13:13). In other words a self-centered, self-loathing person is not to be trusted around little children, your fine silver or anywhere in your life.

      7. Quarreling: Christians have respect for the thoughts and feelings of others. We are not interested in bickering or fighting; we look for a peaceful way to resolve disputes. Even in disagreements, we are careful to express love for one another.

      8. Jealousy: Christians deal in the currency of trust, not fear. Jealousy isn't love. Jealousy clings, attaches, threatens, controls and believes it owns.

    4. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light;

      1. John H. Thomas, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ relates one of his favorite places. (3)

One of my favorite places is the Cleveland Museum of Art; its signature room is its armor court, a gleaming, shimmering courtyard filled with polished, brilliant medieval armor. The armor is displayed, as you would expect, as if there are really soldiers inside, or horses underneath. We imagine the enormous weight of it, yet also its safety, particularly when viewing the lances and maces and swords one might have to face in battle. Every visitor, certainly every child, I suspect, longs at some level to try it on. Wouldn't I look grand? Wouldn't I be safe? Yet, in the end, the armor is empty. The battles have long been forgotten. As you gaze through the intricate visors, there is only a vacant space.

      1. Paul challenges us not to encase ourselves in steel but to clothe ourselves in the light of love...

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  1. Advent is about time to prepare.

    1. We prepare for Advent by putting on the Lord Jesus Christ.

      1. To be clothed with a person is a Greek phrase, signifying to assume the interests of another--to enter into his views, to imitate him, and be wholly on his side

      2. Let us put on decent garments

      3. Let us make a different profession, unite with other company, and maintain that profession by a suitable conduct.

    2. Putting on, or being clothed with Jesus Christ, signifies receiving and believing the Gospel;

    3. It means taking its teachings for the governing of life.

    4. It means having the mind that was in Christ.

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CONCLUSION

  1. This mystery of Advent, as poet Elizabeth Jennings puts it, is this:"... (4)

It is a mystery
How God took time and entered history."

    1. If God can enter time and give us this inexpressible gift, may we take the time to employ this gift in our daily lives and relationships.

Amen.

1. Rev Dick Dinges Lynnhaven Colony Congregational Church Virginia Beach, VA

2. PreachingNow [preachingnow@preaching.com]

3. John H. Thomas, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ, "The armor of light: a sermon," September 8, 2002, For the Record Web Site, Ucc.org.

4. Jennings, Times and Seasons (Manchester: Carcanet, 1992), 28.

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