Jesus Comes to a World of Trouble

Getting to hear my son Ben preach the day after Christmas was like putting the angel on the tree after all the decorations were complete.  It's always a joy when my children come home and we can spend a few days together.  It is especially joyful at Christmas time.  Ben's sermon this morning was a welcome reminder that in spite of the happiness and good cheer that many of us experience this time of year we still live in a world of trouble. 

I couldn't help but think about those whose holidays were not so jolly because of death, disease, financial reversal, or other problems.  Matthew's gospel is a wake up call that even though the kingdom of God has come with the arrival of Christ, the kingdom will not be here in it's fullness until he comes again.  And so we live with hope in the midst of trouble. 

The twin accounts of the birth of Jesus serve as a wonderful contrast to what we experience in life.  Through Jesus we can sing hallelujahs with the angels as Luke's account compels us to do.  At the same time we can live in the midst of trouble without being overwhelmed because God is with us as Matthew's text reminds us. 

Thank you Ben, for bring us the word this morning.  My prayer is that no matter what situation those in attendance found themselves when they walked in the sanctuary, they went home with the hope of the Christ in their hearts.  “'The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' (which means 'God with us')." (Matthew 1:22)

Celebrate Jesus' Birth

The sermon this morning was first preached in December, 1999 shortly after we had moved to Houston to begin working with the church.  Much has changed since that first Christmas message.  After many of us in the Church of Christ had grown up (myself included) keeping Christmas and Jesus' birth separate, the purpose of the 1999 sermon was to communicate that it really is a good thing to keep the two united and celebrate God sending his son into the world. 

 Our church building is now decorated with beautiful trees, ribbons, and ornaments.  Our annual candlelight service is our best attended event of the year.  As always tonight we will have a great amount of singing: congregational, choir performances, a soloist, and even two of our teenagers singing a special song for us.  Our children will be dressed in nativity costumes with "Mary" bringing in the candle from which all others will be lit.  I will preach a message in keeping with our theme, "Seeking the King" and three of our members will give video taped testimonies of what they found when they found Jesus. 

The purpose of the sermon this morning was slightly different than when I preached it 11 years ago.  This morning I wasn't so much trying to convince people it was o.k. to celebrate; I wanted to encourage us to do so!  May we join with the Apostle Paul in proclaiming, "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Joseph's 15 Minutes

Of all the highlighted characters in the Bible, one would think that the legal father of Jesus would get a little more press than his "fifteen minutes of fame!"  There is so much that I want to know about this man.  How did he develop such strong, obedient faith?  Who influenced him in the forming of his understanding of God?  What other stories from his life involved trusting God?  Alas, we must be content to know only what is contained in the 18 verses where he plays the dominant role. 

I mentioned in the sermon a foreign student who, without my knowing it, watched my actions for some time to determine if my faith was for real or if I was just acting.  It was simple things he was watching.  As I sat in chapel every day he would watch me to see if was singing or sleeping, praying or playing, being attentive or being oblivious.  He was watching others as well.  As a non-believer he was watching those who claimed to be believers to see if it made any difference in their lives. 

Even though that was almost 30 years ago I think about it from time to time.  I want to be the kind of person who lives the same whether anyone is watching or not.  I want to be a person of character and integrity who makes decisions based on principles.  That way, if the spotlights ever turn on and the whole world becomes interested in me for a brief period of time, people will see Christ living in me.  And when the world quits watching, I'd still be the same and God would continue to be glorified in my life. 

The Mary We Never Knew

Where did I develop my ideas about Mary being a quiet, meek, gentle soul?  For years now I've believed the myth that she we a frightened little teenager who bravely and quietly, endured shame, ridicule and embarrassment for  conceiving a child out of wedlock.  This morning's sermon presented a very different view of Jesus' mother. 
June Cleaver may have been a wonderful t.v. wife and mother of the 50's, but she is a far cry from the outspoken, determined voice of Mary as recorded by Luke in his Gospel. 

I think my former image of Mary came from looking at her through the eyes of a comfortable, suburban Christian.   How terrible it must have been, so this line of thinking goes, to be a chaste, godly women and be required by God to forever more be the subject of rumors and whispers.  Looking at Mary though the story of the prophet Deborah gives a far different image.  Mary never says a word about how terrible her situation is; rather, she is full of joy that God has chosen her to deliver his people from their oppression.

My prayer this morning was that the sermon on Mary might inspire our young ladies to be women of conviction, courage, and determination.  Women who would, not simply be willing to endure suffering for the sake of Christ, but would actually rejoice to "be counted as worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name" as later followers of Jesus were described (Acts 5:41); and as Mary voiced in her song:

 “My soul glorifies the Lord
 ⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
   of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
 ⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
   holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
   from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
   he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
   but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
   but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
   remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
   just as he promised our ancestors.”  (Luke 1:46-55)

Walk This Way

It's interesting what people talk about after a sermon.  Donna told me the teenagers all perked up when I said something about the "swagger" James and John were walking with when they asked Jesus about sitting at his right and left hand.  Evidently, "swagger"  (or is it "swag"?) is a new buzz word among our teens. 

Someone else mentioned the quote from the movie Million Dollar Baby by Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris, played by Morgan Freeman, "Boxing is an unnatural act. Cos everything in it is backwards. You wanna move to the left, you don't step left, you push on the right toe. To move right, you use your left toe. Instead of running from the pain - like a sane person would do, you step into it."  It seemed to be the perfect illustration of Jesus' teaching on the kingdom: it is backwards to how one naturally thinks and what one naturally values.

For me the prayer I used at the end was the perfect summation of the "backward" style servant-life that Jesus modeled for us to imitate.  I have used it on several occasions in some small group meetings and feel it is the perfect prayer for one who truly desires to follow Jesus "on the way."  My source credited it to Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930).  Other than that, I don't know anything else about it's origin or development.  

O Jesus!  Meek and humble of heart,
Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected,
Deliver me, Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should.
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
Amen.

Expressions of Thanksviging

I had a few requests for the final prayer that we read as a congregation to conclude our service today.  It was a prayer I found on the internet credited to "Book of Common Prayer/Book of Divine Worship."  I plan to use it again at our Thanksgiving meal this year. 

Accept, O Lord,
our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us.
We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation,
For the beauty of this world,
For the wonder of life,
and for the mystery of love.

We thank you for the blessing of family and friends,
and for the loving care
which surrounds us on every side.

We thank you for setting us at tasks
which demand our best efforts,
and for leading us to accomplishments
which satisfy and delight us.

We thank you also
for those disappointements and failures
that lead us to acknoweledge
our dependence on you alone.

Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ;
for the truth of his Word
and the example of his life;
for his steadfast obedience,
by which he overcame temptation;
for his dying,
through which he overcame death;
and for his rising to life again,
in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.

Grant us the gift of your Spirit,
that we may know him and make him known;
and through him, at all times and in all places,
may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.

Entering the Kingdom

I've actually heard it said that if the rich man had agreed to sell all his possessions and give to the poor, Jesus would have responded, "Now that I know you will, you don't have too."  Or in other words, "Just kidding."  Kind of like Abraham offering his son Issac.  Just before Abraham actually sacrificed Issac God stopped him and told him to offer the ram nearby instead.  One of the problems with historical narratives is that you never know what MIGHT have happened; you only know what happened.  My personal opinion, however, is that Jesus meant exactly what he said.  When he looked at the man and loved him, Jesus knew that there was no way he could be a follower because the true love of his life was money.

I preached this text several years ago and used the title of the then popular t.v. show, "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?"  While that may be the goal for a lost world who worships Mammon, a disciple of Jesus must have higher priorities.  That was why I began the sermon today with the prayer of Proverbs 30.  Pray this, if you dare:

"...give me neither poverty nor riches,
   but give me only my daily bread.
 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
   and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
   and so dishonor the name of my God." 
(Proverbs 30:8-9)