SERMON NOTES FOR CHURCH LEADERS FOR USE DURING ADVENT 2016
SERMON NOTES FOR CHURCH LEADERS FOR USE DURING ADVENT 2016
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ADVENT WONDER: JOURNEYS OF GENEROSITY CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION Page 3 SERMON ONE Page 4 Zechariah and Elizabeth: Journey out of the shadows SERMON TWO Page 8 Mary and Joseph: The long walk SERMON THREE Page 11 Angels and shepherds: The return SERMON FOUR Page 14 Mary and Joseph: following God’s compass
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ADVENT WONDER: JOURNEYS OF GENEROSITY INTRODUCTION
The Advent story is full of journeys.
We all know about the journey of the Magi, but there were
other journeys too: angels and shepherds; the Holy Family;
and a barren older couple, Elizabeth and Zechariah. Each
of these journeys is different in time and purpose, people
and destinations.
But there is a common thread that connects them all: faith.
For some, there is outstanding growth in their faith; some,
like Herod, only have faith in themselves – for him there is
no spiritual growth. Some grow together as a faithful
community (the Magi; the Holy Family) and others grow as
lone individuals (Zechariah).
The great chapter on faith, Hebrews 11, says this in part
about journeys of faith: ‘By faith Abraham obeyed when he
was called to go out to the place he would receive as an
inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was
going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a
foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the
heirs with him of the same promise, for he waited for the
city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is
God’ (vv. 8–10, NKJV).
The verbs in this passage define not just the essence of
Abraham's journey but the steps of all faith journeys. Firstly,
Abraham ’obeyed when he was called to go’. If God calls
us, if he places an opportunity, a heart desire, a word from
a brother or sister or himself moving us to go, we must obey
and go. If we get a green light from God, it’s for us to go,
move, journey.
Secondly, sometimes we go in faith ‘not knowing where we are going’. We don't need clarity for the journey but
what we do need – as Paul tells the Philippians – is contentment: ‘for I have learned to be content whatever the
circumstances’ (Philippians 4:10–12).
And this contentment leads to the last steps of our journey. We ‘dwell’ and we ‘wait’. Abraham lived in tents waiting
for God's city. He never saw this physical city in his lifetime. But he lived in whatever places God called him to.
Abraham was able to wait because he was dwelling with God. He walked with God, he talked with him and he
trusted him.
It is how we live, walk and trust every day that builds a faithful life.
HOW TO USE THESE NOTES
These notes are divided into sections to provide structure to each talk as follows: Introduction: Sets the scene Here, the speaker sets the tone, the expectations of their sermon. Background: Provides context We go behind the scenes, focusing on historical facts to see the scriptures in context. Purpose: Sharpens the focus What are your two, three, four sermon/talk points? How do they integrate with the scripture? The outline suggests points, but these are there as a guide only. Focus: Tunes in with scripture A word, an image, a phrase needs to be stated and unpacked here. Closing connection: Makes connections This is the ‘how to’ part of the sermon. The hardest bit. Now we are in the closing and what should be the most important part - what the listener takes away. It has the potential to feel rushed and incomplete to both the speaker and the listener. The connection points in each sermon outline are generally in question form so that the speaker can leave the questions open, as a challenge, or even answer them within the sermon. The choice is theirs. Challenge/additional resources: Provokes action The focus shifts to the listener with a series of questions; how are they going to act on the message? There are also some suggested additional resources for each talk which are there for you to make use of as appropriate. They are offered simply as ideas and you may prefer to use others or omit them entirely; it’s your choice.
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SERMON ONE Zechariah and Elizabeth: Journey out of the shadows Introduction
We start this sermon series by
looking at a couple who were
seemingly near the end of life’s
journey and yet were about to
embark on such a journey of
faith. Though their destination is
the same, they take quite
different routes to get there.
Reading
Luke 1: 5-25
In the time of Herod king of
Judea there was a priest named
Zechariah, who belonged to the
priestly division of Abijah; his wife
Elizabeth was also a descendant
of Aaron. Both of them were
righteous in the sight of God,
observing all the Lord’s
commands and decrees
blamelessly. But they were
childless because Elizabeth was
not able to conceive, and they
were both very old.
Once when Zechariah’s division
was on duty and he was serving
as priest before God, he was
chosen by lot, according to the
custom of the priesthood, to go
into the temple of the Lord and
burn incense. And when the time
for the burning of incense came,
all the assembled worshipers were
praying outside.
Then an angel of the Lord
appeared to him, standing at the
right side of the altar of incense.
When Zechariah saw him, he was
startled and was gripped with
fear. But the angel said to him:
“Do not be afraid, Zechariah;
your prayer has been heard. Your
wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you are to call him John. He
will be a joy and delight to you,
and many will rejoice because of
his birth, for he will be great in
the sight of the Lord. He is never
to take wine or other fermented
drink, and he will be filled with
the Holy Spirit even before he is
born. He will bring back many of
the people of Israel to the Lord
their God. And he will go on
before the Lord, in the spirit and
power of Elijah, to turn the hearts
of the parents to their children
and the disobedient to the
wisdom of the righteous—to
make ready a people prepared for
the Lord.”
Zechariah asked the angel, “How
can I be sure of this? I am an old
man and my wife is well along in
years.”
The angel said to him, “I am
Gabriel. I stand in the presence of
God, and I have been sent to
speak to you and to tell you this
good news. And now you will be
silent and not able to speak until
the day this happens, because
you did not believe my words,
which will come true at their
appointed time.”
Meanwhile, the people were
waiting for Zechariah and
wondering why he stayed so long
in the temple. When he came
out, he could not speak to them.
They realized he had seen a
vision in the temple, for he kept
making signs to them but
remained unable to speak.
When his time of service was
completed, he returned home.
After this his wife Elizabeth
became pregnant and for five
months remained in seclusion.
“The Lord has done this for me,”
she said. “In these days he has
shown his favour and taken away
my disgrace among the people.”
Background
For people living in Israel
immediately before Jesus’ birth,
especially an older couple with no
living children, increasing age
brought with it the advent of
darkness. Children were security,
offering provision for old age;
without them the future would
hold no hope or promise. For a
couple who had lived honourably
before God, careful in following
the law and with clear
consciences, maybe their love for
each other was enough. This was
Elizabeth and Zechariah’s life.
But as they sat in the shadows of
life’s closing, God entered in an
amazing way.
Elizabeth, despite being ‘well on
in years’ and ‘barren’ (v. 7), is
singled out by God to bear a son
who will be ‘great in the sight of
the Lord’ (v. 15), so she finds
herself not just brought out of the
shadows but thrust into the
limelight. She is destined to bear
the child who will prepare the
people for the Lord’s coming, but
she also provides reassurance to
her young cousin Mary and in her
words to her echoes her own joy:
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’Blessed is she who has believed
that what the Lord has said to her
will be accomplished!’ (v. 45).
Zechariah belonged to the
priestly division of Abijab, whose
name in Hebrew means ‘YHWH
is (my) father’. His name means
‘God remembers.’ Zechariah is
offering incense in the temple
when the angel Gabriel appears
saying, ’Don’t fear, Zechariah.
Your prayer has been heard.
Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a
son by you. You are to name him
John. You’re going to leap like a
gazelle for joy, and not only you –
many will delight in his birth.’ (vv.
13–14, MSG).
As a priestly leader in his
community, as a male member of
the tribe of Aaron, Zechariah was
entitled to offer sacrifices in the
temple in Jerusalem. There were
so many descendants of Aaron
that they were divided into
groups, and each group served in
the temple only two weeks in the
year. Within each group that
served, lots were cast to decide
which priest would be permitted
to officiate and give an offering.
No priest was allowed to do this
more than once in a lifetime, and
even then many never had the
opportunity to participate the way
that Zechariah was privileged to
do on this morning.
So, alone in the temple,
Zechariah placed the incense on
the altar, and he prayed for the
deliverance of Israel and offered
prayers of intercession on behalf
of the people of Israel. When he
prayed, ’a great multitude’ had
gathered outside the temple
(v.10) praying in unity with the
priest Zechariah as he stood
alone in the Holy of Holies. Fifty
weeks of the year he lived in the
hills of Judea. Today he was in
the temple of Jerusalem, praying.
And God answers.
God’s angel appears with not just
an answer to prayer but the
biggest possible miracle: this very
old couple will have a son, a
future. A dramatic turnaround in
terms of Middle Eastern culture;
they would emerge from the
shadows.
Purpose
Despite his position and the
enormous significance of the
moment, Zechariah is worn down
by experience – years of serving
fatherless in a priestly division
called ‘Father’ have left him
hopeless: ’Do you expect me to
believe this? I’m an old man and
my wife is an old woman’ (v. 18,
MSG).
His faith is at a very low ebb.
He cannot accept the angel’s
words because his heart is
darkened with hurt,
disappointments and unanswered
prayers. He can’t believe he will
be a father or Elizabeth a mother.
Despite his faithful service and
daily devotions he can’t believe
the miracle of answered prayer
even when it stares him in the
face. But even in Zechariah’s
unbelief, God in loving generosity
moves.
The angel responds, ’I am
Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent
especially to bring you this glad
news. But because you won’t
believe me, you’ll be unable to
say a word until the day of your
son’s birth. Every word I’ve
spoken to you will come true on
time – God’s time’ (vv. 19–20,
MSG).
And so Zechariah doesn’t utter a
word until he becomes a father.
God allows him to journey from
unbelief to faith during nine
months of silence. All he can do
is watch and wait and say nothing
and during this time his faith
grows day by day.
This is God’s gift to Zechariah: to
grow a priest’s faith in the
unbelievable.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth’s response
is quite clear: ‘The Lord has done
this for me,’ she says. ’In these
days he has show his favour and
taken away my disgrace among
the people‘ (v. 25). Her response
to this blessing is personal – three
times she says ‘me’ or ‘my’. God
has seen her; he has heard her.
He knows her.
She doesn’t need Zechariah to
tell her that this is the Lord’s
work. When the baby is born she
is also quite clear that the usual
convention of giving the boy his
father’s name isn’t to be followed.
She speaks up and says he is to
be called John.
Everyone looks to Zechariah for a
response, expecting him to keep
with convention, but his journey is
complete and, asking for a tablet,
he writes: ’His name is John’ (v.
6
63). The meaning of ‘John’ is
‘God is gracious’.
Zechariah’s voice returns in a
cascade of praises to God and he
celebrates his journey from
unbelief to belief with the
following words:
‘And you, my child, “Prophet of
the Highest,
” will go ahead of the Master
to prepare his ways,
Present the offer of salvation to
his people,
the forgiveness of their sins.
Through the heartfelt mercies of
our God,
God’s Sunrise will break in
upon us,
Shining on those in the darkness,
those sitting in the shadow of
death,
Then showing us the way, one
foot at a time,
down the path of peace.’
(vv. 76–79, MSG)
Zechariah’s song is a prophecy
that shatters not only his silence
and darkness but the world’s
darkness for all time.
Closing connection
Zechariah experiences for himself
the ‘heartfelt mercies of our God’
and so is able to sing his praises
from the heart. God is gracious in
dealing with his unbelief and
allows him time to reflect. While
Elizabeth ‘gets it’ from the start,
Zechariah needs a bit longer, so
God gives him time – nine
months in fact.
Zechariah’s journey gives hope to
those who are hopeless – that
overflowing generosity and joy
can burst out when God enters.
In this instance, God acts
because this is part of his loving
plan, not just for this particular
childless couple but for all people.
What is his plan?
To save; to heal; to provide; to
love; to comfort; to be with us for
all eternity. That is his plan – to
be with us so we can fully enjoy
his presence.
Challenge
What areas of your life does
God need to enter and
transform?
Have you any God-given gifts
that unbelief has caused to be
unused? Maybe you have
ignored, dismissed or
questioned them. Take some
time in self-imposed silence,
pondering what these gifts are
and how God may be calling
you to use them in the year to
come.
Additional resources/worship
ideas
1. Opening prayer
Faithful and generous God, draw
near to us now as we begin our
journey of Advent Wonder.
Enable us to be a welcoming and
ready community, and to be
obedient to you. Join us together
now in one hope and one faith.
Make us confident in your calling
and in the fulfilment of your
promises. Enter us and transform
us, we pray. Amen.
2. Suggested songs
‘From the Breaking of the
Daylight’ (‘Plans’) by Tim
Hughes and Nick Herbert
(Thankyou Music 2015)
youtube.com/watch?v=xloaf5
NIb90
Advent song ‘Waiting in
Silence’ by Carey Landry
youtube.com/watch?v=bg8XC
xUtKec
3. Prayer of confession
In a time of silence, we look back
over the week that has passed.
[pause]
In a time of silence, we consider
where we have not loved God and
our neighbour.
[pause]
In a time of silence, we recognise
where we have not loved with
compassion, acted rightly, or
spoken up for justice.
[pause]
In a time of silence, we know we
have fallen short as your disciples
and as the people you long for us
to be.
[pause]
We acknowledge, too, that at
times we feel overwhelmed by the
needs of those around us and by
our own pressures and troubles.
Loving and compassionate Lord,
forgive us and grant us your
peace. Guide us and grant us
purity of heart that we might keep
you at the forefront of all we say
and do. Amen.
4. Poem
Dear Master, in whose life I see
All that I would, but fail to be,
Let thy clear light for ever shine,
To shame and guide this life of
mine.
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Though what I dream and what I
do
In my weak days are always two,
Help me, oppressed by things
undone,
O thou, whose deeds and dreams
were one!
(John Hunter, 1848–1917)
5. Prayer for today
Most true and trustworthy God,
your servants Elizabeth and
Zechariah continued to be
righteous in your sight and
blamelessly observed all your
commands and decrees despite
years of waiting for their most
heartfelt prayers to be answered.
Like them, may we be patient and
ready to hear your calling
whenever it comes. May your
sunrise break upon us, giving us
light and showing us the way on
your path of peace. Amen.
6. Nature reflection
Imagine a seed in your hand,
lying dormant but with all the
potential for life that it contains
within it. Think of its journey from
seed to plant to flower. Offer up
your gifts and talents to God and
ask him to use you for his good
purposes.
7. Prayer of guidance
Help me to journey beyond the
familiar and into the unknown.
Give me the faith to leave old
ways and break fresh ground with
you.
Christ of the mysteries, I trust you
to be stronger than the storm
within me.
I will trust in the darkness and
know that my times, even now,
are in your hand.
Tune my spirit to the music of
heaven, and somehow, make my
obedience count for you.
Amen.
(Prayer of St Brendan the
Navigator, AD484–577)
8. Suggested video clips
A clip prepared for RE lessons
about life as a journey:
truetube.co.uk/film/life-journey
Musical, photographic and
reflective clip on the value of
waiting in Advent:
youtube.com/watch?v=WcravE
G2ATE
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SERMON TWO Mary and Joseph: The long walk Introduction
All journeys involve a decision
about what to take. Time and
weather and the age and health
of the travellers are factors in
deciding what you carry on the
journey. Also, whether you are
travelling for work, for family or
for pleasure, the reason for the
journey plays a crucial role.
Mary and Joseph’s journey to
Bethlehem was no different in
many senses but it was
significantly different in the most
important way. They were setting
off on a literal journey to
Bethlehem to be part of a census
but that journey was the start of a
much bigger one.
Their journey was about trusting
God in faith as they moved into
the unknown; their journey was
about resting in him no matter
what. They instinctively
understood Romans 8:28 even
though it had yet to be written:
And we know that in all things
God works for the good of those
who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose.
Note that God promises that ‘all’
things work to the good, not
some or most but ‘all’. We just
have to love him with each step,
each moment, each worry of our
journey. We have to journey as
Mary and Joseph did, in faith,
hope, trust and love.
Reading
Luke 2:4–7
So Joseph also went up from the
town of Nazareth in Galilee to
Judea, to Bethlehem the town of
David, because he belonged to
the house and line of David. He
went there to register with Mary,
who was pledged to be married to
him and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time
came for the baby to be born,
and she gave birth to her
firstborn, a son.
Background
Mary and Joseph had by Roman
decree to register in Joseph’s
ancestor David’s home town. The
main reason for this census was
to aid military conscription and
tax collection. As a Jew, Joseph
wouldn’t have been required to
serve in the Roman army but he
could not avoid paying taxes.
The journey from Nazareth to
Bethlehem is about 70 miles.
There are two routes for this
journey, each about the same
length. The last parts of the route
lead from Jericho’s desert (Jericho
is the lowest city on earth) by
means of an uphill hike of about
3500 feet to Bethlehem. Being
’great with child’ (KJV), Mary
probably did not ride a donkey
but walked. This would have been
safer for the baby.
Joseph and Mary’s journey would
have taken at least five days, and
then they would have planned to
bring the child, eight days after
his birth, to the temple in
Jerusalem for dedication (a much
shorter journey of only 6 miles).
Nevertheless, they had to plan
carefully for not one journey but
for two. They also had to think
carefully what to bring with them.
Less would have definitely been
best.
Purpose
Both Mary and Joseph are in
uncharted waters. Each has had a
plan and that plan was to wed.
But when Mary finds herself
pregnant, and Joseph knows he is
not the father, he plans to stop
their passage to a joint life
together (Matthew 1:18–19).
But then God enters in
extraordinary ways and their faith
grows in both him and each
other. So in confidence they walk
into the unknown, and they do so
by faith.
First God increases Mary’s faith
when she is visited by the angel
Gabriel. First she is troubled, then
she questions, then she accepts.
By the time she turns up at her
cousin Elizabeth’s house she is
singing for joy. Meanwhile,
Joseph is ready to do the ‘right
thing’ and call off the marriage
when he is visited by an angel in
a dream and all his doubts are
put aside (Matthew 1:20–24).
Like the wood he works with, he
yields to the hand of the master
and is ready to be put to use for
God’s purposes.
So now both Mary and Joseph are
ready to journey together into the
unknown, carried by their
increased faith. It’s worth taking
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time to consider all the things
they would have carried along
with them on their journey.
Things that would comfort and
sustain them – both physically
and spiritually.
Firstly, the tangible things:
Mary carried water for the
journey.
She carried special swaddling
cloths to wrap and anoint her
son in. The same cloths he
would probably wear for the
temple dedication.
They would have carried warm
bedding for sleep during the
chilly Judean nights.
And they would have carried
the dust of the roads and hills
on their clothes and feet.
And then, many unseen things:
Mary must have carried the
memories of her plans that
were put aside after she
became with child. Her life
had been changed forever by
the angel’s visit. Plans were
altered; people changed; life
was interrupted.
She carried the song she had
sung with her cousin Elizabeth,
’… the Mighty One has done
great things for me – holy is
his name’ (Luke 1:49).
And Joseph carried the angel’s
words of instruction to marry
Mary and the knowledge that
she was carrying the One who
was to save his people from
their sins.
Focus
Above all, Mary carried the
memory of the angel Gabriel’s
words, ’… you have found favour
with God. You will conceive and
give birth to a son, and you are to
call him Jesus. He will be great
and will be called the Son of the
Most High’ (Luke 1:30–32).
For this was a special child. Mary
was carrying God in her body.
She carried Immanuel – God with
us – and she walked this journey
by and in faith. Confident and
assured in her faith, she walked
with Joseph. Joseph is described
as a ‘righteous man’. The word
for righteous in Hebrew is ‘yashar’
and it means ‘straight’. Joseph is
a God-built man and Mary can
rely on him to be with her in this
journey.
Closing connection
That must have been quite a
journey into the unknown for both
Mary and Joseph. From our
perspective it is part of a story we
know so well that it all seems
straightforward. A young couple
pack their bags and make the
journey of a lifetime. On the face
of it to sort out their tax affairs
but fundamentally to fulfil the
prophecy:
’But you, O Bethlehem
Ephrathah, are only a small
village among all the people of
Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will
come from you, one whose
origins are from the distant past.’
(Micah 5:2, NLT)
The ‘distant’ past is with us now,
in our present. Christ Jesus
continues to journey with us. He
carries us; he walks with us; he is
our past, present and eternal
future. All journeys are safe with
him.
Challenge
Into what unknown territory
does God want you to travel
this Advent and beyond?
Are your plans already
mapped out for the future or
are you listening for God’s
voice to give you direction?
Additional resources/worship
ideas
1. Opening prayer
Mighty and eternal God, in this
time of worship, help us to focus
afresh on you and on your Word.
Be our hearts’ desire as we
embark further on our journey of
Advent Wonder. Be our reason,
be at the centre. Assist us to be a
faithful and incarnational
community that takes each new
step with you. Fill us anew, we
pray. Amen.
2. Suggested songs
‘Higher than the Mountains
that I Face’ (’One Thing
Remains’) by Brian Johnson,
Jeremy Riddle and Christa
Black (Bethel Music 2010)
youtube.com/watch?v=MB-
FoOoGu3Y
‘Christ be in my Waking’ by
Stuart Townend and Simon
Brading (Thankyou Music
2011)
youtube.com/watch?v=X4em
GI1gHPA
3. Prayer of confession
Ever-present God, you make
yourself manifest by the Holy
Spirit in and through creation, the
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invisible through the visible. We
confess that we have deliberately
ignored you and your Spirit’s
presence in our lives and in the
world around us. We confess that
we have failed to distinguish the
other idols that we prioritise
above you and not separated the
objects we hold sacred from you
the one true God. Teach us
humility and help us to be
constantly vigilant to what is truly
important. We confess that we
have tried to manage the agenda
through our religious customs and
to control the work of the Spirit by
our own credentials. Teach us
humility and help us to be
constantly vigilant to what is on
your heart. Forgive us and grant
us your peace. Amen.
4. Poem
Two roads diverged in a yellow
wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I
could
To where it bent in the
undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as
fair,
And having perhaps the better
claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted
wear;
Though as for that the passing
there
Had worn them really about the
same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden
black.
Oh, I kept the first for another
day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to
way,
I doubted if I should ever come
back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages
hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I –
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the
difference.
(‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert
Frost, 1874–1963)
5. Prayer for today
Covenant God, through your
precious Son, Jesus Christ, you
promised to be with us to the
ends of the earth. So, like Mary
and Joseph, who kept close to
you through the twists and turns
of their journey to Bethlehem,
may we have confidence to trust
you through changing and
difficult circumstances and to
know, deep in our hearts,
Immanuel ‘God with us’. In
Christ’s name we ask this. Amen.
6. Nature reflection
Imagine a soft fruit such as a
peach or a plum that carries a
stone within it, and which itself
may be carried by an animal or
fall to the ground so that the
stone seed can be deposited and
spring to new life. Its journey may
be long or short. It may simply
even end up in the waste. Know
within your heart that you carry
the good news of Immanuel so
that it can be shared with others,
rather than buried away and
forgotten about.
7. Prayer of blessing
God, bless to me this day,
God, bless to me this night,
Bless, O bless, Thou God of
Grace,
Each day and hour of my life;
Bless, O bless, Thou God of
Grace, Each day and hour of my
life.
God, bless the pathway on which
I go,
God, bless the earth that is
beneath my sole;
Bless, O God, and give to me Thy
love,
O God of gods, bless my rest and
my repose;
Bless, O God, and give to me Thy
love,
And bless, O God of gods, my
repose. Amen.
(The journey prayer from Carmina
Gadelica iii 179)
8. Suggested video clips
Clip from Finding Nemo –
finding our way – problems of
asking for directions from a
school of fish.
youtube.com/watch?v=Le13by
2WM70
Short extracts from this clip
may be useful to introduce
how Advent differs from
stressing about Christmas.
youtube.com/watch?v=S02KO
lw7dlA
11
SERMON THREE Angels and Shepherds: The return
Introduction
So far in this Advent series we
have looked at the faith journeys
of four individuals: Zechariah and
Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph. We
now turn to two groups – the
angels and the shepherds – nd
the events of one particular night:
the night of Christ’s birth.
Reading
Luke 2:8–12, 15–20
And there were shepherds living
out in the fields near by, keeping
watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to
them, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them, and they
were terrified. But the angel said
to them, ’Do not be afraid. I bring
you good news that will cause
great joy for all the people. Today
in the town of David a Saviour
has been born to you; he is the
Messiah, the Lord. This will be a
sign to you: you will find a baby
wrapped in cloths and lying in a
manger.’
…When the angels had left them
and gone into heaven, the
shepherds said to one another,
’Let’s go to Bethlehem and see
this thing that has happened,
which the Lord has told us about.’
So they hurried off and found
Mary and Joseph, and the baby,
who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they
spread the word concerning what
had been told them about this
child, and all who heard it were
amazed at what the shepherds
said to them. But Mary treasured
up all these things and pondered
them in her heart. The shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising
God for all the things they had
heard and seen, which were just
as they had been told.
Background
The history of the world began in
a garden. This garden was pure
and beautiful, but the first man
broke it in disobedience, in sin.
God’s original intention was to
walk with man, to be in full
community with him. After this
breaking, there has to be a
healing. Heaven has to re-join
with earth.
Revelation talks of this re-joining.
Chapter 21 begins:
Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a
new earth,’ for the first heaven
and the first earth had passed
away, and there was no longer
any sea. I saw the Holy City, the
New Jerusalem, coming down out
of heaven from God, prepared as
a bride beautifully dressed for her
husband. And I heard a loud
voice from the throne saying,
’Look! God’s dwelling place is
now among the people, and he
will dwell with them. They will be
his people, and God himself will
be with them and be their God.
‘He will wipe every tear from their
eyes. There will be no more death
or mourning or crying or pain, for
the old order of things has passed
away.’
What began in a garden returns
as a city. This is the meaning of
the good news: the healing of the
broken is in process, it is coming.
Heaven and earth will be
reunited.
On the night of Christ’s birth the
healing begins; heaven begins its
return – this time to a field.
Purpose
The angels travel to this field
outside Bethlehem because they
have a message to share: a
message of hope and
reconciliation, of God come down
to earth. Good news for all
humanity but also compelling for
the angels themselves.
1 Peter 1:12 describes this
intense attraction for angels as
follows:
’It was revealed to them that they
were not serving themselves but
you, when they spoke of the
things that have now been told
you by those who have preached
the gospel to you by the Holy
Spirit sent from heaven. Even
angels long to look into these
things.’
What are angels longing to look
into? The gospel news that the
shepherds hear is spoken by a
sole angel before the angels’
song:
‘Do not be afraid. I bring you
good news that will cause great
joy for all the people. Today in
the town of David a Saviour has
been born to you; he is the
12
Messiah, the Lord’ (Luke 2:10–
11).
The shepherds take their cue
from the angels and set off on the
journey to Bethlehem, and they
are immediately catapulted from
obscurity to the very heart of
things. Arabs in this area of
Bethlehem joke that the Lord God
knew what he was doing when he
sent angels to deliver the
message of the Saviour’s birth to
these particular shepherds.
Why?
Because shepherds in this ancient
field that Boaz owned are known
historically as gossips: they love
spreading news, telling stories,
knowing and speaking about
what is going on.
And this is exactly what the
shepherds do after visiting Mary
and Joseph on the night of Jesus’
birth. But they are not telling just
any story. They are telling the
story, the story of heaven coming
to earth.
Focus
As the angels returned to heaven,
they sang and continued their
song of worship. We know this
because God’s word states this is
what angels do in heaven. Isaiah
6:3 tells us:
And they were calling to one
another:
‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Almighty; the whole earth is full
of his glory.’ NIV
Their journey is one of calling to
one another in one voice. This
calling or singing in community is
their act of worship on earth the
night of Jesus’ birth. And this is
the gift they leave as they return:
the gift of joyful worship, and in
this case, worship in song. They
sing to the shepherds in the field:
‘Glory to God in the highest
heaven,
and on earth peace to those on
whom his favour rests.’ (Luke
2:14)
They worship in community and
now their community has been
expanded to include all humanity.
They are messengers who
worship.
The shepherds journey to
Bethlehem as a group of
worshippers – like the angels, they
long to see the good news – but
on their return they become
messengers:
When they had seen him, they
spread the word concerning what
had been told them about this
child, and all who heard it were
amazed at what the shepherds
said to them. (Luke 2:17–18)
Messengers become worshippers
and worshippers become
messengers
Closing connection
Return journeys can at times be
hard – particularly when it means
leaving behind a high point, a
special moment that we want to
hold on to.
Returns for both the angels to
heaven and the shepherds to their
fields could have been difficult. A
return can be deflating, especially
after an amazing experience. But
it isn’t here.
Why?
Because a special gift has been
given to each: the good news of a
saviour’s birth.
The angels and shepherds of the
Advent narrative have the same
journey: they journey into the
good news, the gospel. This is
what each group sings of, praises
and speaks to others about: a
child is born, a Saviour. They do
this by gazing on, by seeing the
child Jesus. Their message flows
from this joyous experience. The
shepherds cannot stop speaking
to all about it; the angels cannot
stop looking at it. The Lord comes
to rescue his sheep, rescue his
creation. This is the gospel
message and both angels and
shepherds experience it and give
it voice.
Challenge
This Advent season look for
opportunities to speak this gospel
message: that a Saviour has been
born, not just for one small
Palestinian town, but for all the
towns, all creation. Share his
story, your story, this season.
Glorify and praise God for all the
things you have heard or seen.
13
Additional resources/worship
ideas
1. Opening prayer
Creator and Saviour God, you are
the source of all our hope and
you are the hope of salvation for
the whole of creation. As we meet
today to go deeper on the journey
of Advent Wonder, help us to
contemplate the good news of
the Christ child in his coming as
Messiah. Build us up as a
worshipping and witnessing
community who are ready to
speak up for you. Show your
glory, we pray. Amen.
2. Suggested songs
‘Standing on the Mountain
Top’ (‘Never Once’) by Matt
Redman, Jason Ingram and
Tim Wanstall (Thankyou Music
2011)
youtube.com/watch?v=722zP
X1npcA
‘Shout to the North and the
South’
youtube.com/watch?v=ctc3Gq
WaV3U
3. Prayer of confession
For the times in worship when we
have abused your gifts and not
used wise judgement,
For the times in worship when we
have not been open to the growth
of the Spirit’s fruit,
For the times in worship when we
have chosen selfishness over
wholeness,
For the times in worship when we
have over-relied on human input,
Dear Lord, we are sorry. Help us
to be empowered and immersed
in the Holy Spirit.
For the times in our witness when
we have focused on the
peripheral at the expense of truth,
For the times in our witness when
we have been divisive or sectarian
in our own defence of truth,
For the times in our witness when
we have put restrictions on the
offer of salvation held out by you,
Lord Jesus Christ,
For the times in our witness when
have not put you, the living Jesus
Christ, above all things,
Dear Lord, we are sorry. Help us
to live lives that are founded on
the Word of God, and on you the
Living Word of Life. Amen.
4. Poem
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, Love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all the world,
Love for plea and gift and sign.
(Christina Georgina Rossetti,
1830–94)
5. Prayer for today
Glorious and most praiseworthy
Lord, like the prophets, shepherds
and Magi of old who spoke the
good news of your coming as
Messiah, may we draw near to
you, searching intently and with
the greatest care, that we might
be equipped to speak the gospel
truth by the power of your Holy
Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ
we ask this. Amen.
(Based on 1 Peter 1:10–12)
6. Nature reflection
Imagine a bee as it journeys from
flower to flower, carrying pollen in
its baskets and fertilising flowers
as it moves from one to another.
Ask God to help you energise
your journey as a faithful disciple,
spreading the good news day by
day.
7. Prayer of guidance
You are love,
And you are the Maker,
And everything which is made
Endures, and will always endure,
Because you love it;
And thus everything has being
Through your love.
Amen.
(‘You are the Maker’, Julian of
Norwich, 14th century)
8. Suggested video clips
Three very short funny clips on
the value of travelling in
groups – this helps us to
consider our role as church –
the gathered disciples who
help one another on our life
journeys.
youtube.com/watch?v=w9j3-
ghRjBs
Music and words reflection on
Advent peace and the Prince
of Peace.
vimeo.com/2510513
14
SERMON FOUR Mary and Joseph: Following God’s compass
Introduction
Previously we looked at the
journeys that Mary and Joseph
took both in their faith and in
travelling from Nazareth to
Bethlehem, and what they carried
with them.
Following Jesus’ birth, they
undertook a second literal
journey: to the temple in
Jerusalem for his dedication. After
their time in the temple they
returned to Bethlehem only for
Joseph to be told in a dream to
flee Herod.
Herod was a king who liked to
keep a very tight grip on his
power and wanted to eradicate
any threat to it. So, after realising
that the Magi were not returning
to him with news of the location
of Jesus, he formed a new plan:
to kill all the boy babies under
two in the area around
Bethlehem (Matthew 2).
Joseph heeded the warning of the
angel and they prepared their
escape. Another journey. But this
time Mary and Joseph must
journey in secret to avoid
detection. There’s a lot at stake –
the whole world in fact. Mary and
Joseph carry the ‘hopes and fears
of all the years’ in the person of
Jesus as they smuggle him to
safety.
Reading
Matthew 2:13–18 NIV
When they [the Magi] had gone,
an angel of the Lord appeared to
Joseph in a dream. ’Get up,’ he
said, ‘take the child and his
mother and escape to Egypt. Stay
there until I tell you, for Herod is
going to search for the child to kill
him.’
So he got up, took the child and
his mother during the night and
left for Egypt, where he stayed
until the death of Herod. And so
was fulfilled what the Lord had
said through the prophet: ‘Out of
Egypt I called my son.’
When Herod realised that he had
been outwitted by the Magi, he
was furious, and he gave orders
to kill all the boys in Bethlehem
and its vicinity who were two
years old and under, in
accordance with the time he had
learned from the Magi. Then
what was said through the
prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her
children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”
Background
Once again the Lord speaks to
Joseph in a dream. Once again
Joseph listens and acts. In a
moment, Joseph and his family
become refugees. He carries
them into exile in Egypt, which lay
outside the sphere of King
Herod’s influence. Safety would
have been uppermost in Joseph’s
mind, so they would probably
have travelled by the coastal road
which linked Egypt and Israel at a
time when both were part of the
Roman Empire and the family
would blend in with the regular
travellers along the route.
One day the family are showered
with gifts and adoration; the next
they are in flight from the
murderous Herod, who would
certainly have killed the baby. The
‘high’ is immediately followed by
a ‘low’.
Just like the experience of today’s
refugees, exile means isolation,
separation, and emotional and
spiritual hurt. It brings hardship,
uncertainty, and fear and
dangers. This is the Holy Family’s
experience upon fleeing
Bethlehem shortly after Jesus’
birth and the visit of the Magi.
Purpose
But the Holy Family are not only
fleeing from the threat of physical
death; they are fleeing from the
possibility that God’s plan for the
world’s salvation will be ended
just as it begins to come true on
earth. They must flee not just for
their own safety but for the
world’s. They are travelling in
faith for those they cannot and do
not see. They journey on our
behalf, to save Jesus’ life so he
can save ours.
God uses their humility; they hear
the angel’s words and obey. No
questions; no doubts. The world
depends upon their generous
15
obedience to God’s plan. They
are intrinsic to God’s plan, his
best provision for the child’s
protection. Mary and Joseph rise
in the middle of the night and
leave their temporary home and
most of their possessions.
Darkness covers their night flight.
All they have is each other and
their faith and trust in God.
Focus
They travel not knowing where
their exile will lead to, when they
might be able to return or where
God’s compass will direct them.
They cannot fully understand but
in faith they travel to a foreign
land. Refugees, humble in their
resources, they walk in the
footsteps of their ancestor
Abraham, as the writer of
Hebrews describes:
By faith Abraham, when called to
go to a place he would later
receive as his inheritance, obeyed
and went, even though he did not
know where he was going. By
faith he made his home in the
Promised Land like a stranger in
a foreign country; he lived in
tents, as did Isaac and Jacob,
who were heirs with him of the
same promise. For he was looking
forward to the city with
foundations, whose architect and
builder is God. (Hebrews 11:8–10
NIV)
The Holy Family, too, journeyed
by faith; they lived in tents and
caves; they obeyed and protected
our inheritance, the salvation gift
of Jesus. They journeyed for us.
Closing connection
Herod was a master builder of
cities and fortresses. Herod built
things, but destroyed people. The
king as terrorist desires all
journeys to end in complete
darkness, for what can bring
more darkness than the senseless
death of a child?
The purpose of Mary and Joseph's
journey is to protect the life of the
child Jesus, who as the light of
the world brings life.
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. He was with
God in the beginning. Through
him all things were made; without
him nothing was made that has
been made. In him was life, and
that life was the light of all
mankind. The light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness has
not overcome it. (John 1:1–5)
People at times comment that
John’s Gospel contains no
mention of Jesus’ birth. They are
incorrect. He was with God in the
beginning. Jesus is one with God
the Father and God the Holy
Spirit.
There is no birth, no physical
beginning. Jesus just is. He is, as
John points out through the
Gospel, the great ‘I am’. He was
with God from the beginning. His
earthly birth only underscores the
purpose: bringing heavenly light
into our darkness.
This is what they are smuggling
into Egypt – light – the child
Jesus.
Challenge
Advent journeys start in darkness
– some metaphorical, some literal
– Zechariah and Elizabeth in the
shadows of life; the shepherds in
their field at night; Mary and
Joseph fleeing the darkness of
Herod. These journeys are
undertaken by faith in God’s light.
What journey does God want
you to undertake this season?
What steps might he want you
to take to build your faith?
Additional resources/worship
ideas
1. Opening prayer
Gracious and most merciful God,
we acknowledge your presence at
work for good in our broken and
hurting world. We rejoice in your
presence here with us now.
Empower us to be a listening and
responsive community that
reaches out to others in
compassion and love. Hear us, O
Lord, we pray. Amen.
2. Suggested songs
‘King of Love and Grace’
(‘Guardian’) by Ben Cantelon,
Nick Herbert and Stu Garrard
(Thankyou Music 2011)
youtube.com/watch?v=MiRH8
Hc8VQI
‘When Darkness Deepens’
(‘Here with Me’) by Tim
Hughes, Nick Herbert and Phil
Wickham (Thankyou Music
2015)
youtube.com/watch?v=0MkC
XrM7R5c
16
3. Prayer of confession
Holy Father, forgive us your
people
When we have dodged the pain
and suffering of others and
avoided our responsibilities to act
and pray,
When we have been hypocritical
or over-critical of others or even
of ourselves,
When we have acted in ignorance
or devalued the truth,
When we have neglected the
community of faith and sought
instead our personal good at its
expense.
Help us, holy Father, to be a
thoughtful and reflective people,
who live a life of loving attention
to you.
Holy Father, forgive us your
people
When we have not fully
understood or have distorted the
holiness of your name and truth,
When we have shifted the focus
away from your truth and either
trivialised it or been over-
legalistic,
When we have acted arrogantly,
believing we can do things in our
own strength,
When we have striven to meet our
own standards of perfection,
rather than recognising our
weakness and looking towards
you the perfect God.
Help us, holy Father, to be a holy
people, who live a life that
functions well for you and your
purposes here in a suffering and
dysfunctional world.
4. Poem
When will you ever, Peace, wild
wooddove, shy wings shut,
Your round me roaming end, and
under be my boughs?
When, when, Peace, will you,
Peace? I’ll not play hypocrite
To own my heart: I yield you do
come sometimes; but
That piecemeal peace is poor
peace. What pure peace allows
Alarms of wars, the daunting
wars, the death of it?
O surely, reaving Peace, my Lord
should leave in lieu
Some good! And so he does leave
Patience exquisite,
That plumes to Peace thereafter.
And when Peace here does house
He comes with work to do, he
does not come to coo,
He comes to brood and sit.
(‘Peace’ by Gerard Manley
Hopkins, 1844–89)
5. Prayer for today
Compassionate and protector
God, who offered up a salvation
plan for all creation in your Son
Jesus Christ, you know what is in
the hearts of all people and
whether they are seeking good or
evil. May we, like Joseph and
Mary in their flight to Egypt in the
wake of Herod’s fatal threats and
actions, respond to your
promptings with humility and
faith. Be our light in the darkness,
our hope in times of fear, our
peace in times of distress and
uncertainty. We ask this in the
name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
6. Nature reflection
(Small pebbles can be used for
this activity.) Offer everyone a
small stone, or ask them to
imagine holding one in their
hands. Invite them to
place/imagine placing it on a
pathway traced on the floor. At
the same time invite them to offer
up the hard places or details of
their lives at this moment to God
and to seek his infilling of peace.
7. Prayer of guidance
Lord, I want to follow this humble
stirring of love which you put in
my heart.
For you will be my guide in this
life, and bring me to grace in the
next.
Your love in my heart is the
substance of all good living;
without your love no good work
can be begun or ended.
You direct my will to you and you
give me satisfaction and gladness
concerning all that you do.
Amen.
(‘The humble stirring of love’, The
Cloud of Unknowing, 14th
century, ch. 49)
8. Suggested video clips
Music and words reflection on
Advent – Light in the
Darkness.
vimeo.com/80385895
Thanksgiving clip from the
Disney film Frozen about
coping with the unexpected in
our daily journeys.
youtube.com/watch?v=An2Oa
IbPSII