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NOVEMBER 29th First Sunday in Advent Year B
LUKE 21: 25-36
I don't know about you but when I saw the first Gospel passage for the new lectionary year I winced! No star struck wise men, awe struck shepherds with fluffy lambs here - just promise of trials and tribulation. Strong meat indeed. However this passage does serve to remind us that Advent is much more than preparing for December 25th (Children's Advent Calendars not withstanding). Advent is as much about preparing for the final triumph of Christ as it is about an annual celebration of the Incarnation.
But how do we begin to understand this passage and then preach from it? People of a 'certain age' may remember, in their childhood, their mother appearing with a skein of knotted wool. Sometimes she would unwind it onto the arms of a dining room chair, but sometimes, with a steely glint in her eye she would say, 'Now, hold your arms up' - and then proceed to use us as the two posts to unwind her wool over - even when our arms really began to ache. Like a ball of mixed fibres, this passage needs to be unwound in order to seperate the strands, before we can begin to preach from it.
Can we identify these three themes in this apocalyptic passage?
STRAND ONE Things that happened shortly after Jesus predicted them, in late Bible times. The fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple happened about forty years after Jesus was crucified. The Jerusalem strand (v20)
STRAND TWO Things that are always happening - (I write this the day after the massacres in Paris). 'Wars and rumours of wars, earthquakes, people's hearts failing them for fear' are part of life in every age. The persecution strand
STRAND THREE Looking ahead to a future that, however we interpret it, would not happen for long after Jesus spoke these words. The final triumph strand.
It's that final strand which we might want to focus on because it speaks to every time and place. Verses 27-28
You don't necessarily need to believe that the Son of Man will literally appear on a cloud, but, as a Christian you can hold on to the faith that in the end, God's willwill be done, and then, as v 28 says, 'Hold your head up,' through all the trials and difficulties of life
There is potential for an encouraging sermon on Christian hope here, especially if the congregation includes those who need encouragement because they are among Luke's target audience of the least, the last and the lowest.
DECEMBER 6th Advent two
LUKE 3: 1-6
Luke wishes to write a Gospel grounded in history and focused in a particular time. As a loyal member of the Roman Empire, and writing a Gospel for Gentile readers, he grounds the events he describes in real places, times, and during the lives of real historical figures. (vs 1-2)
Then he introduces John the Baptist. John is sometimes seen as the forerunner or announcer of Jesus, but he should also be understood as the announcer of the Kingdom - the Kingdom of God.
At its best the Church points to the Kingdom. At itsvery best it models and exemplifies it. Jesus and the Kingdom, not the Church, is what we proclaim.
POSSIBLE PREACHING THEMES.
Where today do we see small 'Signs of the Kingdom' Stories of personal sacrifice? Examples of human compassion and love from news bulletins? Food Banks and Night Shelters (in which churches often play a leading part).
Are we calling people to prepare the way for God's will to be done on earth? Are we pointing to the Kingdom?
If (see introduction to Luke's Gospel on this site), Luke's is a gospel of Reversal, Good News for the least, lost, last, and lowest, how far are we and our church living by true Kingdom values?
DECEMBER 13th Advent three
LUKE 3: 7-18
The challenge of these Advent passages continues with Luke's account of John's preaching, and the demands he made on people for a generous, caring life style. Contentment and honesty are among the virtues he expected of people.
SOME IDEAS FOR A PREACHING THEME.
How much contentment and honesty is there in our society, and indeed in us? How much greed? (v10-14)
On what are we relying (v7-9), our church heritage or our own vital up to date walk with the Lord?
Where in the turmoil and pain of life for many today might we see something of judgement - what is our response to it? (v8b-9)
DECEMBER 20th Advent four
LUKE 1: 39-55
The Magnificat.
Many people believe these words fit better on the lips of Elizabeth than Mary. This poem echoes the prayer of Hannah as she presents her longed for son to the service of God at the sanctuary of Shiloh (1 Samuel 2: 1-10) The Magnificat expresses the longings of a down trodden, occupied nation. Some might see its inclusion here by Luke as an example of an early Theology of Hope or Liberation. Pope Francis is very clear that the church should indeed proclaim and exemplify Good News to the poor. It certainly underlines that the third Gospel is a gospel of 'Reversal' (Richardon).
Challenge opportunities for Preachers.
The Magnificat celebrates Reversal.
What does it say to MY church, is it Good News or is it a warning of judgement?
What does it say to our own land? How far do we live by its values and try to build our society upon them?
Where today may we see the mighty brought low and the lowly raised up?
Have we personally a testimony of being raised up by God, or being spiritually rich even if materially poor?
DECEMBER 27th Christmas One
LUKE 2: 41-52
Years ago we went shopping just a day or two after Christmas Day (Oh dear how sad!) Crowds of people were turning to the Sales as a cure for the Cabin Fever of being indoors for days, and trying to escape the boredom many feel in the later Christmas season. Amongst them, the shop staff were alreadt busy removing the Christmas decorations and advertisements and replacing them with notices of the January Sales. Commercial Christmas seems to start in late October, and end on Christmas Day. But not for Christians! For them, now is the time to linger over the themes of the Incarnation and Salvation.
Jesus is between childhood and adolescence. From the age of 13 Jewish children were required to strictly observe the requirements of their religion (Leaney) But here is Jesus, still a child, showing remarkable understanding and seriouseness in the things of God. Luke alone of the four evangelists offers stories of Christ's childhood. Is there a challenge to us all about how seriously we take our faith?
JANUARY 3rd Christmas Two
JOHN 1 1-18
How much does our 21st western society depend on words? The new course for Worship Leaders and Preachers in the Methodist Church is a computerised course rather a than book based one. Students are asked to submit material which may well include music and video clips. Many Block Buster Movies rely on Special Effects, and Wrap Around sound more than dialogue. In this Digital age, University Libraries may have few books because knowledge may be assessed On Line. 'Text Speak' has its own minimalist language. The Bee Gees song 'Only Words' describes twenty first century western life.
Added to this is the Post Modern suspicion of any Plan in life, and 'Big Picture' or overall meaning or significance. BUT......John presents a very different World View. 'In the beginning was the Word'. This means that before recorded time God's Wisdom and creative energy had a plan for life. Around 1950 years ago that creative energy, that Plan was seen in human form.
Preaching Possibility The idea that there IS a plan and purpose to life is good news. This passage offers material for an evangelistic sermon offering people purpose and meaning in life through Chrost.
JANUARY 10th First in Ordinary Time
LUKE 3: 15-22
Luke returns to the ministry of John the Baptist (see Advent Three). But here Luke moves from John's own distinctive message to his pointing away from himself and to Christ. Then comes the arrest.
A disciple might do many things for his master, but only a slave need take off his master's shoes. John is making it clear how much superior the one who is to come is to him.
John's life is ended with a prison execution.
SERMON IDEAS.
Remembering the many modern martyrs for the truth.
Are we always as realistic in our evaluation of our status and work for the Kingdom as John was? (v16)
John, the great crowd drawing preacher of his day comes to a sad end hidden away in Herod's dungeon. Thinking of Luke's Gospel theme of Reversal are we prepared to move from centre stage when the time is right?
Barrie Morley
November 2015
