Shake It Up! Clear the Path (2018-1209)
8-9
Dec 2018, Christ Mountain Top, Advent 2
Dec 2018, Christ Mountain Top, Advent 2
Praying
the Psalm, NONE – invitation, confession, pardon
the Psalm, NONE – invitation, confession, pardon
Children/Advent
Wreath, Malachi 3.1-4, cleaning up
Wreath, Malachi 3.1-4, cleaning up
Message,
Luke 3.1-6
Luke 3.1-6
Blessing,
Philippians 1.3-11
Philippians 1.3-11
Mission
Moment,
Moment,
We
all know what it is like to get home in a snow storm by following the plow
truck. And we all know how frustrating it is to get plowed in – the end of our
driveway, the space around the mailbox, or those towns where the only parking
is parallel parking on the street and you suddenly have a five-foot pile of
heavy snow and ice blocking the door to your vehicle.
all know what it is like to get home in a snow storm by following the plow
truck. And we all know how frustrating it is to get plowed in – the end of our
driveway, the space around the mailbox, or those towns where the only parking
is parallel parking on the street and you suddenly have a five-foot pile of
heavy snow and ice blocking the door to your vehicle.
Sometimes
in this season, we’re buried hip deep – or deeper – in the to do list of the
season. Last weekend I was sick. The weekend before, mom was in the hospital.
Next weekend we host the caroling after-party … and the tree isn’t even up yet.
And with the way Zoe removed the decorations from the wreath out front of the
house, we’ve got some education to do. Speaking of education, I still have a
major presentation to give on Wednesday for my doctoral degree, so please pray
for me. I’m buried up to here in stuff to do. And I need someone to show up
with a plow to clear the path.
in this season, we’re buried hip deep – or deeper – in the to do list of the
season. Last weekend I was sick. The weekend before, mom was in the hospital.
Next weekend we host the caroling after-party … and the tree isn’t even up yet.
And with the way Zoe removed the decorations from the wreath out front of the
house, we’ve got some education to do. Speaking of education, I still have a
major presentation to give on Wednesday for my doctoral degree, so please pray
for me. I’m buried up to here in stuff to do. And I need someone to show up
with a plow to clear the path.
Luke
3:4-6 Prepare the way of
the Lord, make his paths straight. 5
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the
salvation of God.
3:4-6 Prepare the way of
the Lord, make his paths straight. 5
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the
salvation of God.
Sometimes,
we’re buried deep in ME. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got one or two
issues. And they get in my way from time to time. And there’s nothing I can do
about it. I obsess over things I can’t control. I avoid doing things that I
need to do. And I take out my frustrations on those closest to me. But it’s not
like I can get rid of myself, right? There are times I have to admit it: I’m
powerless over myself and I’m making my own life unmanageable.
we’re buried deep in ME. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got one or two
issues. And they get in my way from time to time. And there’s nothing I can do
about it. I obsess over things I can’t control. I avoid doing things that I
need to do. And I take out my frustrations on those closest to me. But it’s not
like I can get rid of myself, right? There are times I have to admit it: I’m
powerless over myself and I’m making my own life unmanageable.
Luke
3:4-6 Prepare the way of the
Lord, make his paths straight. 5
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the
salvation of God.
3:4-6 Prepare the way of the
Lord, make his paths straight. 5
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the
salvation of God.
From
the perspective of John, this invitation to clear the path is something in
which we ourselves can participate. We desperately need God to intervene, we
strain for a glimpse of the salvation of God, AND we can do something about it.
One of the best ways to describe our role in clearing the path is with the
Twelve Steps. They begin with the theme of John’s preaching: the baptism of repentance. We submit to God for a life
change. We don’t accomplish the life change on our own. It only happens as we
submit to God.
the perspective of John, this invitation to clear the path is something in
which we ourselves can participate. We desperately need God to intervene, we
strain for a glimpse of the salvation of God, AND we can do something about it.
One of the best ways to describe our role in clearing the path is with the
Twelve Steps. They begin with the theme of John’s preaching: the baptism of repentance. We submit to God for a life
change. We don’t accomplish the life change on our own. It only happens as we
submit to God.
1.
We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2.
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3.
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we
understood Him.
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we
understood Him.
4.
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5.
Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of
our wrongs.
Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of
our wrongs.
Maybe
we’re buried under cancer or under grief. This past week Ted Strunk went in for
cancer treatment, on December 5, the first anniversary of his wife’s death. He
tells his story – because that’s what Ted does – to his nurse.
we’re buried under cancer or under grief. This past week Ted Strunk went in for
cancer treatment, on December 5, the first anniversary of his wife’s death. He
tells his story – because that’s what Ted does – to his nurse.
What was your wife’s name?
Gail.
How did she spell it?
G-A-I-L.
The
nurse extended her nametag to Ted. Her name is Gail, same spelling and
everything.
nurse extended her nametag to Ted. Her name is Gail, same spelling and
everything.
What was her birthday?
November 29.
That’s my birthday too!
Luke
3:4-6 Prepare the way of
the Lord, make his paths straight. 5
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the
salvation of God.
3:4-6 Prepare the way of
the Lord, make his paths straight. 5
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the
salvation of God.
Clear
the path: We can participate in this work, not only for our own lives but also
for others. It is called sharing in the gospel. And sometimes it’s as easy as
following the plow truck all the way home.
the path: We can participate in this work, not only for our own lives but also
for others. It is called sharing in the gospel. And sometimes it’s as easy as
following the plow truck all the way home.
Blessing: Philippians 1:3-11
I
thank my God every time I remember you, 4
constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5 because of your sharing in the
gospel from the first day until now. 6
I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring
it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you,
because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me,
both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I
long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer, that your
love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10 to help you to determine what
is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11 having produced the harvest of
righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
thank my God every time I remember you, 4
constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5 because of your sharing in the
gospel from the first day until now. 6
I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring
it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you,
because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me,
both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I
long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer, that your
love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10 to help you to determine what
is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11 having produced the harvest of
righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.