Christmas in Fearful Times

Fourth Sunday of Advent

SCRIPTURE:  Luke 2:8-11; Acts 18:7-10

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

Acts 18:7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God; his house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the official of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord, together with all his household; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul became believers and were baptized. 9 One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you, for there are many in this city who are my people.

QUESTIONS by Pastor Jerry Tankersley

1. Have you ever been afraid of God?  What caused the fear? 
2. Why might the advent of the Son of God frighten some?
3. Consider the reassuring messages of the angels to Zachariah, Mary, and the Shepherds.  What was the message?
4. How was Paul reassured in Corinth?  What was the content of the message?
5. Does it trouble you that Christians are leaving the Middle East?  Why would they leave?
6. What is there about western culture that threatens the way of Christ?  What do the attitudes of George Carlin and Christopher Hitchens contribute to a hardening to the faith?
7. Jim Wallis of Sojourner’s Magazine writes about the Real War on Christmas. What is the real war?  How does this inform the mission of Christ? 

PRAYER

Generous God,
set us free us
from today’s captivities:
from the need to have more;
from having our identity and self-worth
defined by what we possess;
from the need to be
satisfied without waiting;
from anxiety when
material longings are deferred;
from paralysis and confusion,
in the face of so many needs.

Savior Christ, set us free:
from captivity to anger,
bitterness, and disappointment;
from captivities we cannot speak about, or name.

Savior Christ, Emmanuel,
we meet you now,
in human flesh and bone,
the Word and Wisdom of God
as power in weakness shown.
Savior Christ, come set us free.

The Speechless One Speaks

The Third Sunday of Advent

Read:  Luke 1:5-25, 76-80

The Angel Appearing to Zacharias.  William Blake, 1800.

Questions by Pastor Jerry Tankersley 

(Preaching Pastor on Sunday, December 11, 2011)

A.  Discovering your voice is a life task.  We may be filled with words without connection or meaning.  Our pop culture feeds all kinds of bits of information into us. 

1. Have you ever had a life experience that left you speechless, without adequate words to interpret or to integrate?  
2. Can you think of a book, a novel, a poem, a song that has helped interpret you to yourself?

B.  Maya Angelou told her story in, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.  

1. What caused her to stop speaking when she was 7 ½? 
2. Trauma in a child’s life may shape the rest of a lifetime.  What helped her speak again?  Listen to Maya reading her poem at President Clinton’s 1993 inauguration.  Maya Angelou, 1993 Bill Clinton's Inauguration

C.  Zachariah was encountered by the Angel Gabriel.

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit 

and spoke this prophecy: 

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, 

for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.

He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, 

as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

that we would be saved from our enemies 

and from the hand of all who hate us.

Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,

and has remembered his holy covenant,

the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,

to grant us that we, 

being rescued from the hands of our enemies, 

might serve him without fear, 

in holiness and righteousness

before him all our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

to give knowledge of salvation to his people

by the forgiveness of their sins.

By the tender mercy of our God,

the dawn from on high will break upon us,

to give light to those who sit in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

The child grew and became strong in spirit,

and he was in the wilderness

until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.

1. What did Zachariah make of the angel’s message to him?  Did he believe?
2. What was the difference in his response to the angel and Mary’s response to Gabriel?
3. He was mute for nine months, but then his voice was restored. What did he say? The poem he proclaimed is called the Benedictus, "The Blessing." Who was blessed? Why God? Why John?
4. Do you need to be blessed?  
5. Who do you need to bless today?

THE LORD BLESS YOU!  BENEDICTUS!

   

What Moves You to Sing?

Read:  1 Samuel 1, 2 (Hannah's Song) and Luke 1:46-56 (Mary's Song)

And Mary said, 
    “My soul magnifies the Lord,
        and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
    for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
        Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
    for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
        and holy is his name.
    His mercy is for those who fear him
        from generation to generation.
    He has shown strength with his arm;
        he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
    He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
        and lifted up the lowly;
    he has filled the hungry with good things,
        and sent the rich away empty.
    He has helped his servant Israel,
        in remembrance of his mercy,
    according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
        to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” 

Questions by Pastor Steve Sweet (Preaching Pastor on Sunday, December 4, 2011)

1. Who was a musician that you connected with in your youth? What do you think it was about their music?
2. What is it about music that has the ability to reach us deep within? What kind of music causes you to sing along?
3. Like Hannah in I Samuel 1 & 2, what is a recent prayer request that you have earnestly brought before the Lord? 
4. Steve said, “No issue too small, no problem too big, to bring before the Lord in worship.” Can you relate to that in your life right now?
5. Reading Luke 1:46-56, what was Mary’s response to the news that she would give birth to the Messiah?
6. What are the similarities in Hannah and Mary’s songs?
7. How would it be for you right now to hear the Lord say your name?

Prayer

O God, rejoicing, we remember the promise of your Son. As the light from these two Advent candles, may the blessing of Christ come upon us, brightening our way and guiding us by his truth. May Christ our Savior bring life into the darkness of our world, and to us, as we wait for his coming. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Pain of Transition

1st Sunday of Advent

READ:  1 Kings 1-2 (The story of King David's death), Psalm 22

Psalm 22:1-2

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from helping me,

from the words of my groaning?

O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; 

and by night, but find no rest.

Psa. 22:14-15

I am poured out like water, 

and all my bones are out of joint; 

my heart is like wax; 

it is melted within my breast; 

my mouth is dried up like a potsherd, 

and my tongue sticks to my jaws; 

you lay me in the dust of death.

SERMON:  THE PAIN OF TRANSITION

Questions from Pastor Sizer

This week we completed our sermon series on the life of King David–seeing him in his greatness and in his weakness.  The transition between him and Solomon (his son) was painful.

1. If you could go back to a certain age, or era, what would you choose and why?
2. Does change come easily for you?
3. How high is your threshold for change?  Has it been higher and lower at different times or periods in your life?  Why?
4. Is there something about David's life that encourages you? Disillusions you?
5. Peterson writes, "Death brings out the worst in many people: we'll be treated as a problem to fixed, or as an opportunity to be seized, or as a responsibility to be carried out and put right. Like David. The David story doesn't trade in illusion and doesn't sentimentalize" (224). How does our culture deal with death and dying?  How important is it for the Christian to be a witness to the dignity of death?
6. During Advent we wait for the coming King, the Christ, Jesus. Has this time spent in David's story helped prepare you to live as a Christ follower with more anticipation, joy and integrity?

I Called, God Heard

READ: 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18

I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, so I shall be saved from my enemies. - Psalm 18:1-2, NRSV

SERMON:  I CALLED; GOD HEARD

Questions from Pastor Tankersley

1. The conditions within which the kingdom of God grows are not always supportive.  There are enemies both within and without that are resistant  to the good news. C. S. Lewis in MERE CHRISTIANITY, wrote that we live in "enemy occupied territory."  How would you describe the condition of your own heart? Is your life receptive soil for the seed of God’s Word?

2. David was surrounded by his enemies and knew he needed help.  Therefore, he called out to God for help.  Do you remember a time in which you needed help and cried out?  Did the heavens hear?  How did God answer?  Are you still waiting for the answer?

3. Could you write a paragraph personal story of salvation, of how God saved you, rescued you and brought you into a new place?  If you have never done that, give it a try, begin a journal and keep track of your prayers and dialogue with God.

4. Read Laura Hillenbrand’s book, Unbroken.  It's Louis Zamperini’s salvation story.  How did God answer his prayer, “If you will save me, I will serve you forever.”

5. King David could remember many times in which he was delivered from his enemies.  Read Psalm 18, how would you summarize David’s story?

6. Is there a Grand Story, a Meta-Narrative of Salvation, to which the Bible bears witness?  Let me suggest three movements in this Grand Story:  Paradise Created; Paradise Lost; Paradise Restored.  Interpret this movement!

For Prayer 

Make a gratitude list of all God's blessings of your life. 

Take some time to give thanks for God’s blessings in your life.

DAVID IN RECOVERY

READ: 2 Samuel 13-18 (The story of David and his son, Absalom); Psalm 3

Psalm 3   A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom. 

O LORD, how many are my foes!

Many are rising against me; many are saying to me, 

“There is no help for you in God.”   Selah

But you, O LORD, are a shield around me, 

my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. 

I cry aloud to the LORD, 

and he answers me from his holy hill.  Selah

I lie down and sleep; 

I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.

I am not afraid of ten thousands of people

who have set themselves against me all around.

Rise up, O LORD!

Deliver me, O my God!

For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;

you break the teeth of the wicked.

Deliverance belongs to the LORD; 

may your blessing be on your people!  Selah

SERMON:  DAVID IN RECOVERY

by March Chagall.  Driven from Jerusalem by rebelled again Absalom
David barefoot climbed to the hill of olives, 1956

1) The story tells of King David being driven from Jerusalem by his son Absalom in a Civil War.   After reading the Samuel chapters, what interests you?  Who was responsible for this family conflict that irrupted into Israel’s life?

2) Eugene Peterson suggested that David’s fleeing into the wilderness was the beginning of his spiritual recovery.  Have you ever been in a spiritual wilderness?  What did you learn during that time?  Was God present with you?

3) David learned humility; he learned to pray again; he learned to love out of his suffering.  Could it be that God allows us to go into the wilderness for the sake of transforming us to become more like Christ?  Did Jesus ever have a wilderness experience?  See Matthew 4

4) Could it be that the church of the 21^st century is in its own wilderness by the will of God?  What do we need to learn?

5) Read the NY Times link entitled, The Devil and Joe Paterno. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/opinion/sunday/douthat-the-devil-and-joe-paterno.html Is it relevant to the church?  Could it be that the whole world is in some spiritual wilderness by the will of God and for our own good?  What does the world need to learn?

6) If you have not read C.S. Lewis’s, Mere Christianity, do so.  Read it again, especially Book 4, Chapters 7 to 11.  How would he answer  the question, “Why the Church?”  Do we have any idea what God wants to make of us?

Recovering an Awareness of God

READ:  2 Samuel 11-12; Psalm 51

Psa. 51:0   To the leader. 

A Psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him, 

after he had gone in to Bathsheba. 

Have mercy on me, O God, 

according to your steadfast love; 

according to your abundant mercy 

blot out my transgressions. 

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, 

and cleanse me from my sin.

  

For I know my transgressions, 

and my sin is ever before me. 

Against you, you alone, have I sinned, 

and done what is evil in your sight, 

so that you are justified in your sentence 

and blameless when you pass judgment. 

Indeed, I was born guilty, 

a sinner when my mother conceived me.

  

You desire truth in the inward being; 

therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. 

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; 

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 

Let me hear joy and gladness; 

let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. 

Hide your face from my sins, 

and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, 

and put a new and right spirit within me. 

Do not cast me away from your presence, 

and do not take your holy spirit from me. 

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, 

and sustain in me a willing spirit.

SERMON:  RECOVERING AN AWARENESS OF GOD

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

1. Can you think of a time when someone was telling you a story, and in the telling they were able to change your point of view?

2. As Nathan told the parable, how do you think David felt when he found out the story was actually about him?

3. How is David’s story, your story?

4. Why do you think David decided not to go out to battle “in the Spring”?

5. Is there some temptation that you are seriously struggling with in your life right now?  

    Do you feel that you can take it to God in prayer?  

    What kept David from taking it to God in prayer, earlier on?

6. Do you have any “Nathan” in your life who you can go to, to seek counsel from, pray with?

7. In the sermon, Steve said, “David deserved death, but he received mercy from God, who for some incredible reason, keeps calling us back into relationship with himself.  This God loved David, he loves you and he loves me”.  How does this inform your perception of God?

 INVITATION & PRAYER

Was there an invitation from God to you that you discerned as you listened to the sermon, or took time to be still in God's presence and mediate on these verses?  Take some time to pray that God may enable you to respond to this invitation.

WHO WILL BUILD THE HOUSE?

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, "Who am I, O Lord God?"

READ 2 Samuel 7; Matthew 16; Ephesians 2

2Sam. 7:4   But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan:  5 Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in?  6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle.  7 Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”  8 Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel;  9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.  10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly,  11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.  

2Sam. 7:18   Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?  19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD; you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come. May this be instruction for the people, O Lord GOD!  

A.  WHAT DO YOU THINK?

We are all builders.  We build houses, careers, families, communities, nations, and churches.  

1. What are you building now?  

(In what are you investing your time, your money, and your faith?) 

2. How is the building going? 

3. What are some of the challenges we face as we seek to build God a house in Laguna Beach? 

4. What is the connection between our church sanctuary and the temple of God?

5. Have we lost the entrepreneurial spirit?

B.  DIGGING INTO THE SCRIPTURE

1.  King David was a builder.  He wanted to build God a house in which to dwell.  What was God's response to David's vision?

2.  In what sense is God a builder?  What did God promise to build for David?  

3.  How did David respond to God's promise?  When David sat in the presence of the Lord what was he doing?  Can you outline the central elements of David's prayer?

4.  Jesus promised to build his church upon Simon Peter's confession of faith.  After reading Matthew 16, what was Peter's confession?  What authority was given to Peter?

5.  The Apostle Paul spoke of himself as a skilled master builder.  What was he building?  Who was the foundation of the building?  See 1 Corinthians 3.  On the basis of Ephesians 2 who is being built into the church as a spiritual temple?

6.  In Revelation 21, John wrote of his vision of the New Heavens and Earth, with the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven.  On the basis of John's Revelation, will there be a Temple in the New Jerusalem?  If so, who will build a dwelling place for God?  What will life be like in the New Creation? 

INVITATION & PRAYER

Was there an invitation from God to you that you discerned as you listened to the sermon, or took time to be still in God's presence and mediate on these verses?  Take some time to pray that God may enable you to respond to this invitation.

DANCING ON THE DANGEROUS WAVE

READ 2 Samuel 6; Luke 18; Rev 15:2-4

DANCING ON THE DANGEROUS WAVE

And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire,and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name,standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God,and the song of the Lamb:  “Great and amazing are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, King of the nations! Lord, who will not fear and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your judgments have been revealed.” 

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

1. David had caught the wave of the kingdom of God.  It had been coming toward him for years.  But now the perfect wave arrived as he celebrated and rejoiced with the kingdom coming together around him in Jerusalem.  He brought the Ark of the Covenant into his city.  What was this ark?  What was in the ark? What did it symbolize in the history of Israel?

MODEL of the Ark of the Covenant

2. David danced before the ark.  Was it appropriate to dance before God?  How did Michal respond?

3.  David discovered that the ark could not easily be managed.  Poor Uzzah. What was his mistake?  What sort of warning did his death imply for David.  Eugene Peterson suggested that Uzzah’s death was a warning sign for David.  “Beware The God”.  Have you ever thought about the ways we trivialize the holy God, domesticate, and seek to manage God? In what ways does religion seek to control God?

4. Consider the Annie Dillard quote in the sermon.  She suggested that the ushers in  churches ought to hand out crash helmets, life vests, and signal flares, and then lash people in their pews.  We are playing with TNT and it could kill a Sunday morning.  What if the Holy One awakened and was offended?  What if the awakened One led us to a place we had not expected? The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  What does this mean?

5. Is Jesus safe?  He’s not safe, the little girl in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe learned, but he is good.  Read Luke 18 and ask yourself how the rich ruler was dancing on the dangerous wave of his religion. How can the Lord be both un-safe and good?