Good Shepherd Lutheran Church(elca)
Following Christ, Growing in Faith, Sharing God's Love
<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <![endif]--> Sermon: Rejoice December 13, 2009 (8:00 and 9:30 only) Luke 3:7-18 (and other readings) Advent 3 Today is “Rejoice” Sunday. The 3rd Sunday in Advent is a day to focus on joy. That’s why we light the pink or rose-colored candle. As we’ve talked about before, somehow through the history of the church, the rose-colored candle has come to signify joy. And our lessons today point to joy— --2 of the 3 of them quite clearly. The Gospel is a bit more of a challenge. But we’ll get to that, too. Let’s start, though, with the reading from Philippians 4. Would you read verse 4 with me: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” So, what is it telling us to do? Rejoice. Have you ever thought of that? We are being told to rejoice. When I was growing up, we went to church every week. My dad was a pastor, so it was a part of who we were— --and it still is. I was trying to remember, as I was sitting in the pews with my mom and brother beside me and people all around— --did I hear the message— --“Rejoice”? I heard: “Be quiet.” “Be respectful.” But did I hear “Rejoice”? Did you? Do you now? Maybe in the singing. Maybe in the stories we hear and share. But maybe we need to hear it more. Life is hard. But in the midst of whatever life brings, we are reminded to rejoice. And not only rejoice, but “rejoice always”. We rejoice when? Always. Just when we’re healthy? No, always. Just when things are going well? No, always. Always. We’re praying for Doris McHenry today who had bypass surgery on Friday. She’s a member of the congregation, and she’s also my wife Ruth’s aunt—her mom’s sister. Ruth and I visited on Thursday before the surgery. And I saw an example of rejoicing always. Possibility of surgery— --she was still thanking the nurses and doctors and folks helping her. Not sure whether surgery would happen or wait— --patient with the process --understanding the complexities of the scheduling. I left more able to rejoice because I had seen one who could rejoice always— --even in the midst of a tough time. And it’s not only “rejoice always”. It’s “rejoice in the Lord always”. And later it reminds us that we do that because the Lord is near. We don’t rejoice always because we are in control. Because we’re not. We rejoice always because of God— --the one who is near --the one who is with us --the one who is coming and has already come. Rejoice… …in the Lord… always. And again I say, Rejoice. And what will that look like? Well, follow along with me through the rest of verses of that reading. -Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. -Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (and then how will that feel) -And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. And you know where Paul was when he wrote this? He was in prison. And right there, in prison, he says: rejoice be gentle don’t worry pray give thanks And know the peace of God. We don’t understand it. It doesn’t make sense to us. But in the midst of all that life can throw at us— --God gives us those gifts. Rejoice. Okay, let’s look at the first reading from Zephaniah. Did you remember there was a Bible book called Zephaniah? We don’t read from it very often. But here it is. This was during a time when the people of Israel had been taken captive and taken into exile. They had thought they’d always have their promised land. And that was gone. They had thought that they would always have a king who was the descendant of David. And that was gone. They had thought they were chosen, special people. And it sure didn’t feel like it. And then, in the midst of all this, Zephaniah, who had been telling them that judgment was coming, now gives them a word of hope and joy. And the basis of that joy is that the Lord is near. Look at the second half of verse 15: The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. It’s like he’s saying: “You may not have a descendant of David as your king, but you have something better. God is your king. And because God is near—in your midst— you don’t have to be afraid.” And neither do we. Rejoice in the Lord always. The Lord is near. But there’s more. Not only is God in our midst, but look at verse 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 (as on a day of festival). In this verse, who is rejoicing? God. Who is singing? God. That’s not something I think of very often. God rejoicing—and especially singing. Not only does God give us reason to rejoice. God is rejoicing with us. God is laughing with us. God is singing with us. I’ve seen a picture in the last few years— --I wonder if you’ve seen it— --of a laughing Jesus. And I’ve read that some people really struggle with that. They have a hard time thinking of Jesus laughing. But here it is. God rejoicing. God singing. It doesn’t say God laughing, but it makes you think. God rejoices with us. As we rejoice in the Lord always. Now, to the Gospel reading. This is a continuation of last week’s reading about John the Baptist. And he starts out greeting the people by calling them a “brood of vipers”. And we’re reading this on “rejoice” Sunday. Where’s the rejoicing in this lesson? Actually, it’s a little harder to find. Certainly not as obvious. At the end of the reading it says: “So, with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people.” But what he says, at least when you first hear it, doesn’t sound like good news. The people are coming out to listen to John, and, after calling them a brood of vipers, he says: “Even now the axe 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.” He says to the people. It doesn’t matter if Abraham is your ancestor. It matters who you are. How you live. And you bear fruit, we know, when you’re connected to the vine— --when you’re connected to God. He says to them, “You’re not living the way God wants you to live.” And you know the amazing thing— --they don’t argue with him. What do they say? Verse 10. “And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’” And, as one commentator put it, his response sounds kind of like Kindergarten: Share. Be fair. Don’t complain. And when the tax collectors and soldiers come, he doesn’t say: “Quit your job. You’re working with the Romans—the enemy. You can’t have that job and be a Christian.” No, what does he say? He tells them— --don’t extort money from the people. Don’t use your power unfairly. Do unto others as you would have them do to you. And maybe, in the simplicity of what he says, there is good news and joy for us. Following Jesus, for most of us, isn’t about leaving our home and our job and our family and going far away to serve. For most of us, following Jesus is about how we live every day. In the mundane tasks of our work, and school, and home, and family, we have a chance to reflect God’s love for us. As we do whatever it is that we do every day, we can do it in a way that would make John say to us— --you brood of vipers, you’re going to get cut down, because you aren’t bearing fruit. Or, you can do those same things in a way that would lead Jesus to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” And, as we live as servants, as we follow where Jesus leads the way, as we love God by loving our neighbor, we rejoice. Rejoice in the Lord. When? Always. Why? Because the Lord is near. Rejoice. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Sermon: Rejoice
December 13, 2009 (8:00 and 9:30 only)
Luke 3:7-18 (and other readings)
Advent 3
Today is “Rejoice” Sunday.
The 3rd Sunday in Advent is a day to focus on joy.
That’s why we light the pink or rose-colored candle.
As we’ve talked about before,
somehow through the history of the church,
the rose-colored candle has come to signify joy.
And our lessons today point to joy—
--2 of the 3 of them quite clearly.
The Gospel is a bit more of a challenge.
But we’ll get to that, too.
Let’s start, though, with the reading from Philippians 4.
Would you read verse 4 with me:
“Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I will say, Rejoice.”
So, what is it telling us to do?
Rejoice.
Have you ever thought of that?
We are being told to rejoice.
When I was growing up,
we went to church every week.
My dad was a pastor,
so it was a part of who we were—
--and it still is.
I was trying to remember,
as I was sitting in the pews
with my mom and brother beside me
and people all around—
--did I hear the message—
--“Rejoice”?
I heard:
“Be quiet.”
“Be respectful.”
But did I hear “Rejoice”?
Did you?
Do you now?
Maybe in the singing.
Maybe in the stories we hear and share.
But maybe we need to hear it more.
Life is hard.
But in the midst of whatever life brings,
we are reminded to rejoice.
And not only rejoice,
but “rejoice always”.
We rejoice when?
Always.
Just when we’re healthy?
No, always.
Just when things are going well?
We’re praying for Doris McHenry today
who had bypass surgery on Friday.
She’s a member of the congregation,
and she’s also my wife Ruth’s aunt—her mom’s sister.
Ruth and I visited on Thursday before the surgery.
And I saw an example of rejoicing always.
Possibility of surgery—
--she was still thanking the nurses and doctors and folks helping her.
Not sure whether surgery would happen or wait—
--patient with the process
--understanding the complexities of the scheduling.
I left more able to rejoice
because I had seen one
who could rejoice always—
--even in the midst of a tough time.
And it’s not only “rejoice always”.
It’s “rejoice in the Lord always”.
And later it reminds us that we do that
because the Lord is near.
We don’t rejoice always
because we are in control.
Because we’re not.
We rejoice always because of God—
--the one who is near
--the one who is with us
--the one who is coming
and has already come.
Rejoice…
…in the Lord…
always.
And again I say,
And what will that look like?
Well, follow along with me
through the rest of verses of that reading.
-Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
-Do not worry about anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
(and then how will that feel)
-And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
And you know where Paul was when he wrote this?
He was in prison.
And right there, in prison,
he says:
rejoice
be gentle
don’t worry
pray
give thanks
And know the peace of God.
We don’t understand it.
It doesn’t make sense to us.
But in the midst of all that life can throw at us—
--God gives us those gifts.
Okay, let’s look at the first reading from Zephaniah.
Did you remember there was a Bible book called Zephaniah?
We don’t read from it very often.
But here it is.
This was during a time
when the people of Israel
had been taken captive
and taken into exile.
They had thought they’d always have their promised land.
And that was gone.
They had thought that they would always have a king
who was the descendant of David.
They had thought they were chosen, special people.
And it sure didn’t feel like it.
And then, in the midst of all this,
Zephaniah,
who had been telling them that judgment was coming,
now gives them a word of hope and joy.
And the basis of that joy is that the Lord is near.
Look at the second half of verse 15:
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.
It’s like he’s saying:
“You may not have a descendant of David as your king,
but you have something better.
God is your king.
And because God is near—in your midst—
you don’t have to be afraid.”
And neither do we.
Rejoice in the Lord always.
The Lord is near.
But there’s more.
Not only is God in our midst,
but look at verse 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
(as on a day of festival).
In this verse,
who is rejoicing?
God.
Who is singing?
That’s not something I think of very often.
God rejoicing—and especially singing.
Not only does God give us reason to rejoice.
God is rejoicing with us.
God is laughing with us.
God is singing with us.
I’ve seen a picture in the last few years—
--I wonder if you’ve seen it—
--of a laughing Jesus.
And I’ve read that some people
really struggle with that.
They have a hard time thinking of Jesus laughing.
God rejoicing.
God singing.
It doesn’t say God laughing,
but it makes you think.
God rejoices with us.
As we rejoice in the Lord always.
Now, to the Gospel reading.
This is a continuation of last week’s reading
about John the Baptist.
And he starts out greeting the people
by calling them a “brood of vipers”.
And we’re reading this on “rejoice” Sunday.
Where’s the rejoicing in this lesson?
Actually, it’s a little harder to find.
Certainly not as obvious.
At the end of the reading it says:
“So, with many other exhortations
he proclaimed the good news to the people.”
But what he says,
at least when you first hear it,
doesn’t sound like good news.
The people are coming out to listen to John,
and, after calling them a brood of vipers,
“Even now the axe 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.”
He says to the people.
It doesn’t matter if Abraham is your ancestor.
It matters who you are.
How you live.
And you bear fruit, we know,
when you’re connected to the vine—
--when you’re connected to God.
He says to them,
“You’re not living the way God wants you to live.”
And you know the amazing thing—
--they don’t argue with him.
What do they say?
Verse 10.
“And the crowds asked him,
‘What then should we do?’”
And, as one commentator put it,
his response sounds kind of like Kindergarten:
Share.
Be fair.
Don’t complain.
And when the tax collectors and soldiers come,
he doesn’t say:
“Quit your job.
You’re working with the Romans—the enemy.
You can’t have that job and be a Christian.”
No, what does he say?
He tells them—
--don’t extort money from the people.
Don’t use your power unfairly.
Do unto others
as you would have them do to you.
And maybe,
in the simplicity of what he says,
there is good news and joy for us.
Following Jesus, for most of us,
isn’t about leaving our home and our job and our family
and going far away to serve.
For most of us,
following Jesus is about how we live every day.
In the mundane tasks of our work,
and school,
and home,
and family,
we have a chance to reflect God’s love for us.
As we do whatever it is that we do every day,
we can do it in a way that
would make John say to us—
--you brood of vipers,
you’re going to get cut down,
because you aren’t bearing fruit.
Or, you can do those same things in a way
that would lead Jesus to say,
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
And, as we live as servants,
as we follow where Jesus leads the way,
as we love God by loving our neighbor,
we rejoice.
Rejoice in the Lord.
When?
Why?
Because the Lord is near.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
