Learning From A Child

Learning From A Child!

Sermon Notes for the Second Sunday of Advent, Long Version

December 6, 2009

Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248 - (480) 895-8766

Luke 2:1-20 NRSV

¹In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. ⁵He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

⁸In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

A. Introduction

1. Baby on Airplane

a. The Reverend Doctor Bryant Kirkland was traveling from New York to California. He was to be the key speaker at a Church seminar. He planned to use the long plane flight to study and prepare a sermon. However, a woman with an infant sat down next to him. The little boy fidgeted and fussed, and his mother had trouble settling him down. The boy kept looking over at Dr. Kirkland holding out his chubby little arms, and saying, “Man, man.” Dr. Kirkland put his papers away and asked if he could hold the baby. The child smiled, babbled, spoke the few words he knew, and then fell asleep against the pastor’s shoulder. When they landed in Los Angeles the mother said, “Thank you for doing that. He lost his father not long ago, and has had no man to fuss over or love him. Thank you so very much.”

b. As Dr. Kirkland got off the plane and walked through the crowd he realized just how much joy and peace that little boy had brought into his own heart, when he least expected it to happen!

2. Baby Jesus

a. Christmas is the story of a child who came to bring us joy, peace, and a lot more blessings. Jesus came to bring us true meaning, abundant life, hope, salvation, and eternal life. And even though the prophets had told of His coming, humankind was taken by surprise. His time of arrival was a surprise, and He came in a way differently than what people expected.

b. However, receptive souls who welcome Him are blessed, and from the story of the birth of baby Jesus we learn these three things:

B. God often speaks to us through unlikely people and places.

1. The Christmas Story from the Holy Bible (See: Matthew 1 & 2, Luke 1 & 2 & John 1)

a. Think about the Christmas story. It is filled with unlikely people and places. Zechariah was a doubt filled and crabby old priest, who argued with one of God’s angels. His wife Elizabeth was barren and old, and certainly not a likely prospect for motherhood! Hardly the people you would pick to give birth to the man to announce the arrival of the Messiah. And their son John the Baptist what a character! He lived in the wilderness. He wore a camel coat, leather belt, and ate locusts and wild honey. Then there is the angel Gabriel who pops in and out like a ghost or science fiction creature scaring folks half to death! Mary was probably still a teenager when she became pregnant, and claims it is an act of God! Joseph was just a poor carpenter, and probably a far cry from the person most people would pick to be the earthly father of the Messiah. The shepherds were just poor, smelly field workers who tended stinky animals. They don’t seem very important to us. And then there is the part about God coming to us in the form of baby Jesus. What can a baby tell us adults about God? And then think of where it all happened. Israel was a small insignificant Roman province in the east. Bethlehem was and still is a small town. And a barn as the place for the Savior of the world to be born! There is nothing majestic about an old barn.

b. This is how God chooses to approach us. God speaks to us in ways that we deem unlikely. God has reasons for this: It is to get our attention. It keeps us from being haughty. It shows how God places value in all people. It, also, keeps the focus on Him and not the human messenger. And God still speaks to us in unexpected ways.
2. Children’s Sermon

a. The Reverend Doctor Jim Caton was the guest preacher at a Church in Kingman, Kansas. He was told that it was the custom in this church for the preacher to, also, give the Children’s Sermon. Jim is a retired Seminary professor and Dean. He finds it difficult to communicate at an age appropriate level for children. Nevertheless he had agreed to preach to the adults, and so he would also talk to the kids. He called the kids up front and they sat on the steps next to him. He held up a shoe and said, ”Today we will look at a shoe. A shoe has three things we all have.” He pointed to the eyes and asked, “Who can tell me what these little holes are called where we put the laces?” A little girl replied, “Holes.” An older girl said, “They are called eyes.” Doctor Jim spoke about using our eyes to see good in others and to look for God’s good in the world. The second part was the tongue and finally some child knew what that was, and Pastor Jim spoke about speaking kind words. Then he pointed to the sole, and said, “What is the third thing a shoe and people both have?” A boy named Troy blurted out, “Preacher, we all got bottoms!” The laughter was immediate and lengthy. Then Reverend Caton said, “Troy, you are right! And if all of us in the Church would just get off our bottoms the Church would move forward!”

b. And people in that Church look back to this event as the beginning of a revival in their Church. That day nine people signed up to teach Sunday School, three volunteered to work with the youth, and the offering nearly doubled. Every committee in the Church grew and people started inviting friends and relatives to Church. Two years later they went from 300 members to over 700! All this happened because a child gave an unexpected answer! God speaks to us through unlikely people and places.

C. God is with us!

1. Matthew 1:20-23

a. In Matthew’s Gospel we read: “An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ — which means, ‘God with us.’” (Matthew 1:20b-23 NIV)

b. Jesus is God with us: God in the flesh.

2. Dad’s lap

a. A father was quietly sitting in his study trying to read the evening newspaper. His teenage son came in and wanted the car keys. Dad dug them out of his pocket and handed them over. Then his younger son came in asking for money for an ice cream cone. Dad reached into his pocket and handed over the needed coins. Then his older daughter came in and asked dad to help her with a math problem. Dad put the paper down and helped her. It took awhile for father to figure out the problems, but at last they were done, and he again picked up his newspaper. Finally the youngest came bursting into the room and stood right next to dad. A frustrated father said, “And now what do you want?” And his little daughter said, “Oh, daddy, I don‘t want anything. I just want to sit on your lap.” She just wanted to be close. She just wanted some love from her daddy.

b. Until Jesus, God was far away. The Almighty was this distant divine being who ruled the earth from that remote and unknown place called Heaven. God was thought to be a stern judge watching over us, and eager to quickly punish us for our sins. Then Jesus, who is God in the flesh, came to us, and we see that “God is love.” (1 John 4:8b NRSV & 1John 4:16b NRSV) Jesus blessed the children, healed the sick, fellowshipped with outcasts, forgave sinners and welcomed all who would come to Him. Filled with divine compassion He came to reclaim all people and that includes you as one of God’s beloved children. You are so special that Jesus willingly gave His life to redeem you back to God. In Jesus, God has come for you. He comes out of love, and He wants to be in a close relationship with you to bless you, to help you and to give you a life that truly matters. And Jesus gives you the same promise God gave Joshua: “I will always be with you; I will never abandon you.” (Joshua 1:5b TEV) In His own words, the Lord put it this way: “Lo, I am with you always!” (Matthew 28:20 RSV)

D. The joy of Christmas is for all year long!

1. Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:16-18 & 20

a. The angel of the Lord spoke to the shepherds and told them the good news that the Savior had been born! This is what happened after that: ^“So they [the shepherds] 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. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:16-18 & 20 NIV)

b. The shepherds could have simply come to Bethlehem, witnessed the event, and gone home happy that evening. Instead, they lingered around Bethlehem telling others the good news. And when they finally went home they were still glorifying God! They understood that this event was special, and indeed something never to be forgotten. The joy of the arrival of the Savior is something to continually remember in our hearts, and to celebrate all year long!

2. Peanuts Comic Strip

a. One year around Christmas in the Peanuts Comic Strip, Charlie Brown and Lucy have this exchange: Lucy says, “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown. Since it’s this time of the season, I think we ought to bury past differences and try to be kind.” Charlie Brown responds, “Why does it just have to be at ‘this time of the season?’ Why can’t it be all year long?” Lucy’s brow furrows and she says, “What are you some kind of a fanatic?”

b. Charlie Brown is right. Christmas is for all year long. The love and kindness associated with this season is something that believers are called to put into practice all the time. Christmas is not just a one time event. It is the arrival of the Savior, who came to live each and every day in our hearts. We are called to not only celebrate His birthday, but to serve and worship Him each and every day.

E. Conclusion: Recap. From Jesus the child we have come to adore in the manger, and from the events of His birth we learn:

1. God often speaks to us through unlikely people and places.

2. God is with us! 3. The joy of Christmas is for all year long!

Luke 2:1-20 NRSV

Learning From A Child!

1. God often speaks to us through

unlikely people and places.

2. God is with us!

3. The joy of Christmas is for all year long!