ADVENT CONSPIRACY
FOUR WORDS THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR CHRISTMAS: WORSHIP*
Luke 2:22-38
Big Idea: Week #1 of Advent Conspiracy, Worship Fully
Supporting Scripture: Leviticus 23; Psalm 19:1; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Ephesians 1:12
INTRO:
So we begin our Advent journey today. You know by now that we are taking our cues from The Advent Conspiracy (www.adventconspiracy.org). We are passionately looking at how we can do Christmas differently this year. We are seeking to instill the season with the meaning we know it should have. We are asking proactive questions that will help us get to the end of the season without an ache of emptiness; without a sense of exasperation and disappointment.
So, to help you with that, I am going to offer you “Four Words That Can Change Your Christmas.” We will focus on one word each week of Advent.
For a hint at today’s word let’s read from Luke 2.
LUKE 2:22-38
22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
This story from Jesus’ life takes place a few weeks after his birth. Joseph and Mary are headed to the temple to offer the sacrifices required. As far as they knew, they were initiating this overture -- but we know that God has gone before them don’t we? Even though they have to offer the sacrifice of the poor (pigeons and doves as opposed to a Lamb) they show they will honor God with their livelihood. This sacrifice will not be business as usual. They will not simply go through the rituals and routines as had been done myriad of times before. This event was to be different.
Simeon and Anna also had a “something other” experience that day.
I would encourage you this week to look at this story again. Ask questions (and find answers like:
• How many sacrifices do you suppose were offered at the temple each day?
• If you served at the temple like Anna and Simeon, could it become easy for that service to become mundane and lose its impact?
• Are there principles in the story that might have helped those who served at the temple prevent it from losing its impact?
• What rituals do we have that surround the birth of Jesus?
• Can they (have they) lost some of their impact and significance?
• What has happened to allow them to lose some of their value?
• Are there principles in this story that might help us maintain (or regain) that meaning?
In fact, as you now know, we have set up an interactive blog called “Advent @ the Naz!” where each week during Advent we will post the story and some questions and encourage you to meditate and then engage in the conversation around the posted questions; and any that others may post as well.
Back to the story.
There was an old man in the story named Simeon. He was a priest and he was seeking / longing for the Messiah to come. God’s Spirit visited Simeon while he was going about his regular business and responsibilities and he sensed he was to make his way into the court yard. Not knowing exactly what he is looking for Simeon obeys and as he’s meandering through the court yard of the temple waiting on God’s further direction … a poor man and his poor wife and their baby come into view. As I said, we know they were poor because they were offering the poor person’s sacrifice (doves or pigeons) where as Leviticus tells those who could afford it to offer a lamb at their baby’s dedication. Actually, Joseph and Mary were offering a lamb, they just didn’t fully recognize the symbolism that Jesus incarnate was.
Anyhow, Simeon stumbles upon Joseph and immediately senses God telling him – “I am keeping my promise. Here’s your messiah.” This old man get’s it. Then this old man breaks out into worship and celebrates God’s faithfulness and God’s provision for humanity. He knows God is going to make things right through this little poverty stricken baby!
It gets a bit contagious doesn’t it? Joseph and Mary begin to ponder and wonder. And then another prophetess named Anna comes upon the scene and joins the celebration.
The word I want to leave you with today is hinted at in verse 34 when Simeon “praised” God. It’s the word “Eulogia.” It’s where we get the word “eulogy” and it means “to bless or to celebrate with praises.”
The first word you need to give serious attention to if you want Christmas to be all it can this year is … Worship.
Worship shows the condition of the soul
Worship is a word that talks to you about your soul.
• Ecclesiastes 3 tells us God has put “eternity in our hearts.”
• Paul says, that we live “for the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:12)
You see, we were made for worship. Chris Tomlin wrote a song that expresses this sentiment “You and I Were Made to Worship”
Before the day
Before the light
Before the world revolved around the sun
God on high
Stepped down into time
And wrote the story of His love for everyone
He has filled our hearts with wonder
So that we always remember
You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free
You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see who we were meant to be
All we are
And all we have
Is all a gift from God that we receive
Brought to life
We open up our eyes
To see the majesty and glory of the King
He has filled our hearts with wonder
So that we always remember
You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free
You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see who we were meant to be
And even the rocks cry out
And even the Heavens shout
At the sound of His holy name
So let every voice sing out
And let every knee bow down
He is worthy of all our praise
You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free, yeah
You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see, you and I will see
You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free, yeah
You and I embrace surrender
You and I choose to believe
You and I will see who we were meant to be
We were made to worship and I think some of the frustration that reaches its apex in the Christmas season each year is because, of all the things the season does, it fails to do the one thing it ought to do … lead us into worship.
So, by beginning with worship, we can address the ache and make a different Christmas possible.
Worship and the Christmas season should (and can) go hand in hand. Even the “civic” side of Christmas can offer you the opportunity to worship.
Have you ever taken much note of God’s festivals as he outlines them in Leviticus 23? In that chapter he gives Israel a series of festivals that they are supposed to celebrate each year as a means of remembering God. These festivals have a very clear “religious” overtone but you know what else they have? They have a very clear “civic” overtone too. They are parties! They are “family get-togethers.” In God’s economy, worshipping him brings his people together and they are not all solemn – some are anything but!
John Wesley understood that worship was social (my word not his) more than private and that when we are together in God’s name it is worship and pleasing to Him.
Can you make your Christmas gatherings occasions to meet and celebrate in Jesus’ name? I think you can.
• Can you laugh together in Jesus’ name?
• Can you give together in Jesus’ name?
I think you can.
Hear me. Christmas and worship should be about gathering together and they should be about relationships. Relationships with God and each other.
One way to really worship God and gather in Jesus’ name might be for you to include some into your fellowships that have no one else – that are lonely or alone. Does not that, itself, express a deep love for God and neighbor? Does not that, itself, bless God?
Worship is a choice we make
Sometimes it is easy to worship. The Psalms are full of occasions when David was filled with euphoric emotion and could not help but burst out in praise.
But at other times worship does not come easily. It becomes a choice based upon the character of God and not our feelings. Again the Psalms are full of occasions when David did not “feel” like worshipping and yet he chose to praise, and live and love.
• It is in times like this that worship takes on new, deeper dimensions.
• It is in times like this that worship stretches and enriches the soul.
• THESE ARE THE TIMES WHEN WE ARE DECLARING THAT GOD IS BIGGER THAN OUR TROUBLES AND WHEN WE REFUSE TO ALLOW OUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND FEELING TO DICTATE OUR LOVE FOR GOD.
Worshipping in the midst of pain transforms life.
WRAP-UP
Worship changes us and changes our perspective of our environment
Sometimes it is just helpful to have good words on our lips.
And today – we are worshipping God by having good words on our lips.
Sonoluminescence
Did you know that recent science research suggests that the world was created through sound waves? This is studied in a discipline called “sonoluminescence.” Without ever intending to point to God some of this research does. One science journal says this: “The early universe rang with the sound of countless cosmic bells. Those sound waves moved like ripples on the surface of a pond and that is how the planets and stars were formed. We can still hear the echoes of those sounds today.”
David Derbyshire says, “The universe began not with a bang but with a whistle.”
Arnold Sommerfeld
A German physicist and pianist named Arnold Sommerfeld states that the hydrogen atom emits 100 frequencies. That is more, according to Sommerfeld, than a grand piano which only emits 88 frequencies.
What if … what if … the universe is not really about quarks and quasars? What if it is really about … a song? “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1)
• The Scriptures says the worlds were formed with a word.
• The Jewish ancients said the worlds were formed by God with a song.
What if we choose to join the cosmic choir today and throughout the Advent season?
• Might that make this Christmas different?
• Might that soften our hearts?
• Might that help us rearrange our schedule to be with people and do good deeds in Jesus’ name?
Let’s start this morning! Let’s worship like the old man in the courtyard of the temple who just found the savior!
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• The sermon idea (and much of the content) is provided by www.adventconspiracy.org and Rev. Greg Holder of Windsor Crossing Community Church.
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
