The 4th Sunday of Advent...sermon post...about a month later

 



At Weymouth Community Church we are preparing for the lighting of the Christ Candle on Christmas Eve.  The songs have been selected; the individual candles are ready for distribution; and the logistics of conducting another service and one being with very limited lighting are being ironed out.  I think of Christians all over the world gathering to sing about the One who has come and is coming again!

Our sermon this week covered baby announcement and reveal #2.  The angel Gabriel first met Zechariah the priest and now he meets Mary the virgin.  It warranted another chart as these are side by side in the Scriptures.

Also, we added to the gospel explanation through the definitions of the names of the characters of the Advent of Jesus.

  • “God remembers” - Zechariah
  • “God is faithful” - Elizabeth
  • “God brings grace” - John
  • “God will add” - Joseph
  • “A rebellion” - Mary
  • “God saves” - Jesus
The God who remembers (Zechariah) after 400 years of silence is faithful (Elizabeth) to His words and covenants about a coming Messiah who will bring grace (John).  God will do this by adding (Joseph) a rebellion (Mary) that pierces our hearts so that we might be saved (Jesus).  

It should be challenging to see the response of Mary in light of what could have come.  She would have been seen as committing adultery.  She would have been up for a stoning.  She would have her baby to be considered an illegitimate child.  She was not sure of her betrothed's response, i.e. Joseph.  She could be facing this all alone and yet she says yes to God.  Would we do the same?

If you are around Medina, Ohio this Christmas Eve, join us at 8 p.m. and sing of the One who has come and is coming again.

Adam



A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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