Sermon for December 16th, 2012 - Revision history

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Iraneal at 07:40, 14 December 2012

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Iraneal at 07:29, 14 December 2012

2012-12-14T07:29:55Z

Iraneal at 07:22, 14 December 2012

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Iraneal at 07:04, 14 December 2012

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Iraneal at 06:59, 14 December 2012

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 st Corinthians 13:13 famously says that "now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love."  Of these three virtues, hope is the future oriented one, the one that is forever looking forward in anticipation.  Faith is forever looking back to the past--our faith is a story and a heritage which we inherit from our parents, grandparents, and all the saints who have gone before us.  But love--love is the present-oriented virtue, forever looking around for those whose need is right now.  And love--just like the present--is indeed what that holds the other virtues together.
-The past and the future both serve the present, and are meaningless without it.  In the same way, faith and hope serve love.  Our faith means nothing and isn't worth keeping if it doesn't produce love.  If we aren't showing love to everyone around us, then the coming (or second coming) of Christ should be cause for fear and not hope.
+The past and the future both serve the present, and are meaningless without it.  In the same way, faith and hope serve love.  Our faith (our past, our heritage) means nothing and isn't worth keeping if it doesn't produce love.  And if we aren't showing love to everyone around us, then our future (and the second coming of Christ) will be cause for fear and not hope.
-But if we use our faith to teach ourselves and others how to love more, love better;
+I want to end with a story--you may have heard this one before, but I think it perfectly illustrates the point:
-If we let our hope inspire us to love more, to love better;
-If we put each of these things in its appropriate time and place;
-Then I think we--like faith, hope and love--will abide for a long time, and be a blessing to others.
-If we put faith, hope, and love at the center of our preparation for Advent this year;
+A man was praying one day, and asked the Lord to explain to him the difference between heaven and hell. The Lord said to the man, "Come, and I will show you hell." They entered a room where a group of hungry, starving people sat around a huge pot of mouth-watering food. Each person held a spoon with a handle long enough to reach the bottom of the pot. But the spoon handles were also longer than their arms, so they could look at the food, but couldn't reach any of it into their mouths. The suffering was terrible.
-If we can fully dwell in the present moment, looking around, always ready to help those in need;
-Then I think we will truly be  like John the Baptist, pointing others to our savior,
-Not through our words, but through our faith, hope, and love.
+After awhile, the Lord said to the man, "Come, now I will show you heaven." Together, they entered another room. It was very similar to the first - the same pot of food, a similar group of people, and the same long-handled spoons. But here, everyone was happy and well-fed.
-Not just during Advent, but throughout the year and for many Christmases to come.

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 ==Luke 3:7-18==
 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9Even now the ax 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."
 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" 11In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." 12Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" 13He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." 14Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."
 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
-So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
+As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
 ==Prepare the Way: Looking Around==

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:40, 14 December 2012
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	Two weeks ago I mentioned 1st Corinthians 13:13. "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." As I said then, of these three virtues, hope is the future oriented one, the one that is forever looking forward in anticipation. Faith is forever looking back to the past--ours is an ancient faith which we inherit from our parents, grandparents, and all the saints who have gone before. But love is the present-oriented virtue, forever looking around for those whose need is right now. And love--just like the present--is indeed the one that holds the others together.		Two weeks ago I mentioned 1st Corinthians 13:13. "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." As I said then, of these three virtues, hope is the future oriented one, the one that is forever looking forward in anticipation. Faith is forever looking back to the past--ours is an ancient faith which we inherit from our parents, grandparents, and all the saints who have gone before. But love is the present-oriented virtue, forever looking around for those whose need is right now. And love--just like the present--is indeed the one that holds the others together.

−	The past and the future both serve the present, and are meaningless without it. In the same way, faith and hope serve love. Our faith means nothing and isn't worth keeping if it doesn't produce love. If we aren't showing love to everyone around us, then the coming (or second coming) of Christ should be cause for fear and not hope. But if we use our faith to teach ourselves and others how to love more, love better; if we let our hope inspire us to love more, to love better; if we put each of these things in its appropriate time and place~~, then~~ I think we--like faith, hope and love--will abide for a long time, as a blessing to others, and like John the Baptist, pointing ~~the way~~ to ~~the Messiah~~. Not just during Advent, but throughout the year.	+	The past and the future both serve the present, and are meaningless without it. In the same way, faith and hope serve love. Our faith means nothing and isn't worth keeping if it doesn't produce love. If we aren't showing love to everyone around us, then the coming (or second coming) of Christ should be cause for fear and not hope.
		+
		+	But if we use our faith to teach ourselves and others how to love more, love better;
		+	If we let our hope inspire us to love more, to love better;
		+	If we put each of these things in its appropriate time and place;
		+	Then I think we--like faith, hope and love--will abide for a long time, and be a blessing to others.
		+
		+	If we put faith, hope, and love at the center of our preparation for Advent this year;
		+	If we can fully dwell in the present moment, looking around, always ready to help those in need;
		+	Then I think we will truly be like John the Baptist, pointing others to our savior,
		+
		+	Not through our words, but through our faith, hope, and love.
		+	Not just during Advent, but throughout the year and for many Christmases to come.

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 To the crowd he says, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." To the tax collectors, he says, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." To the Roman Soldiers he says, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."  Despite the craziness we label John with, he is being entirely reasonable here.  When people ask Jesus this same question, he usually tells them, "Sell everything, give it to the poor, leave behind your whole family, and follow me."   John just tells them to be content with what you have, don't take more than your fair share, and if you have extra, share it with someone who has less.   What do you do here and now, in the present?  You look around at the people who are sharing space with you in this world.  You look around, and you show a little love.
-Two weeks ago I mentioned 1st Corinthians 13:13.  "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love."  As I said then, of these three virtues, hope is the future oriented one, the one that is forever looking forward in anticipation.  Faith is forever looking back to the past--ours is an ancient faith which we inherit from our parents, grandparents, and all the saints who have gone before.  But love is the present-oriented virtue, forever looking around for those whose need is right now.  And love--just like the present--is indeed the greatest of the three.
+Two weeks ago I mentioned 1st Corinthians 13:13.  "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love."  As I said then, of these three virtues, hope is the future oriented one, the one that is forever looking forward in anticipation.  Faith is forever looking back to the past--ours is an ancient faith which we inherit from our parents, grandparents, and all the saints who have gone before.  But love is the present-oriented virtue, forever looking around for those whose need is right now.  And love--just like the present--is indeed the one that holds the others together.
-The past and the future both serve the present, and are meaningless without it.  In the same way, faith and hope serve love.  Our faith means nothing and isn't worth keeping if it doesn't produce love.  If we aren't showing love to everyone around us, then the coming (or second coming) of Christ should be cause for fear and not hope.  But if we use our faith to teach ourselves and others how to love more, love better; if we let our hope inpsire us to love more, to love better; if we put each of these things in its appropriate time and place, then I think we--like faith, hope and love--will abide for a long time, as a blessing to others during Advent and throughout the year.
+The past and the future both serve the present, and are meaningless without it.  In the same way, faith and hope serve love.  Our faith means nothing and isn't worth keeping if it doesn't produce love.  If we aren't showing love to everyone around us, then the coming (or second coming) of Christ should be cause for fear and not hope.  But if we use our faith to teach ourselves and others how to love more, love better; if we let our hope inspire us to love more, to love better; if we put each of these things in its appropriate time and place, then I think we--like faith, hope and love--will abide for a long time, as a blessing to others, and like John the Baptist, pointing the way to the Messiah. Not just during Advent, but throughout the year.

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 Two weeks ago I mentioned 1st Corinthians 13:13.  "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love."  As I said then, of these three virtues, hope is the future oriented one, the one that is forever looking forward in anticipation.  Faith is forever looking back to the past--ours is an ancient faith which we inherit from our parents, grandparents, and all the saints who have gone before.  But love is the present-oriented virtue, forever looking around for those whose need is right now.  And love--just like the present--is indeed the greatest of the three.
-The past and the future both serve the present, and are meaningless without it.  In the same way, faith and hope serve love.  Our faith means absolutely nothing if it isn't manifested in love.  Our faith isn't worth keeping if love isn't visible in everything we do.
+The past and the future both serve the present, and are meaningless without it.  In the same way, faith and hope serve love.  Our faith means nothing and isn't worth keeping if it doesn't produce love.  If we aren't showing love to everyone around us, then the coming (or second coming) of Christ should be cause for fear and not hope.  But if we use our faith to teach ourselves and others how to love more, love better; if we let our hope inpsire us to love more, to love better; if we put each of these things in its appropriate time and place, then I think we--like faith, hope and love--will abide for a long time, as a blessing to others during Advent and throughout the year.
-−
-Bring it home to Faith, Hope and Love...greatest of these is Love.

← Older revision	Revision as of 01:24, 14 October 2013
(No difference)

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 And that brings us at last to the middle segment, verses 10-14.  Sandwiched between the past and the future, you can probably guess what these verses are about.  It's here that John's audience, having heard his message, ask a very practical, very present-oriented question:  What shall we do?  Not "What did our ancestors do to deserve this in the past?" and not "What will the Messiah do when he comes to save us in the future" but rather "What do we do?  Here and now in the present?"  Three different types of people ask the same question, and I love the simplicity and the consistency of John's answer.
-To the crowd he says, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." To the tax collectors, he says, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." To the Roman Soldiers he says, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."  Despite the craziness we label John with, he is being entirely reasonable here.  When people ask Jesus this same question, he usually tells them, "Sell everything, give it to the poor, leave behind your whole family, and follow me."   John just tells them to be content with what you have, don't take more than your fair share, and if you have extra, share it with someone who has less.   What do you do here and now, in the present?  You look around at the people who are sharing space with you in this world, here and now.  You look around, and you show a little love.
+To the crowd he says, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." To the tax collectors, he says, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." To the Roman Soldiers he says, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."  Despite the craziness we label John with, he is being entirely reasonable here.  When people ask Jesus this same question, he usually tells them, "Sell everything, give it to the poor, leave behind your whole family, and follow me."   John just tells them to be content with what you have, don't take more than your fair share, and if you have extra, share it with someone who has less.   What do you do here and now, in the present?  You look around at the people who are sharing space with you in this world.  You look around, and you show a little love.
 Two weeks ago I mentioned 1st Corinthians 13:13.  "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love."  As I said then, of these three virtues, hope is the future oriented one, the one that is forever looking forward in anticipation.  Faith is forever looking back to the past--ours is an ancient faith which we inherit from our parents, grandparents, and all the saints who have gone before.  But love is the present-oriented virtue, forever looking around for those whose need is right now.  And love--just like the present--is indeed the greatest of the three.

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 By the time John arrives on the scene preaching this message, the Jewish people have been looking to the future, waiting eagerly for a Messiah for well over 400 years.  With the Roman occupation, much of their past has been taken away from them.  Much of their present is based in oppression.  So they dwell in the future, hoping, anticipating, expecting a Savior--is it John the Baptist?  Is he the one?  John says no, but he does something else, too.  On one level he reassures their hope in the future:  Yes, the Messiah is coming.  But before you get too excited about that, know that with the Messiah will come judgment.  He will use his pitchfork to separate the wheat from the chaff.  So your future might be safe in the barn...but it also might be roasting in the fire with the chaff.
-The good news is that judgment is God's alone, and we have no control over it, even those spend a lot of time dwelling there.  You might remember me saying a couple of weeks ago that we can't predict the future, at least not with complete accuracy.  But we can prepare for it.  But here's the funny thing about preparing for the future: You can only do it... in the present.
+The good news is that judgment is God's alone, and we have no control over it, even those spend a lot of time dwelling there.  You might remember me saying a couple of weeks ago that we can't predict the future, at least not with complete accuracy.  But we can prepare for it.  But here's the funny thing about preparing for the future: The only place you can do it... is in the present.
 Bring it home to Faith, Hope and Love...greatest of these is Love.