Sermon Christmas Day 2024 – When Creation began again

 Sermon Christmas Day 2024 – When Creation began again

As we gather together on this glorious Christmas Day, our hearts are filled with joy and gratitude. We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the greatest gift ever given. Life changed that day when history began again as we recognise everything before that moment in time as BC – before Christ. Before Christ our world was separated from God. In the Garden of Eden: a world in which humanity lives in perfect harmony with God, Adam and Eve are deceived: They have been told that there is one tree in the Garden of which they cannot eat, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, for if they eat of it, death will enter the world. But then… along comes the serpent.

God knows the reality of evil, and soon, so too will the world. On the day that Adam and Eve ate the fruit, their eyes were opened. At that moment, Adam and Eve began the rebellion against God as evil, from which God had sought to protect them, now enters. At that moment, Adam and Eve rejected God and turned away from him. But on Christmas Day God reversed that by turning to us in his Son. Death, sickness, and evil entered into our world in the fall of Adam and Eve.

But at the birth of Jesus, God revealed that this cosmic battle would come to an end. John 3:16, one of the most beloved verses in the Bible, reveals the essence of God's love for humanity: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  

While we still encounter the effects of the Fall of Adam and Eve in this life, we are assured that it will not be forever. And that’s why we mark human history as “Before Christ” and “In the year of our Lord” as time begins again. Christmas is the assurance of the immeasurable love that God has for us. He did not simply send a gift, but He gave His most precious possession - His Son. Jesus, the embodiment of love, who came to earth to live among us, to teach us, to heal us, and ultimately, to sacrifice His life for our salvation.  

The gift of God's love is not limited to a single day.  It is an eternal gift that continues to flow into our lives every day. Through Jesus Christ, we have access to God's grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Through Jesus we experience true peace, joy, and hope. As we reflect on the gift of God's love, let us also consider how we can share that love with others. We can do this by our words, our actions, and our attitudes. Let us be kind and compassionate, forgiving and understanding in a world that is growingly rejecting those qualities and replacing them with anger, resentment and intolerance. Let us be the source of light and hope in a world that seems dark and troubled.

In the spirit of Christmas, let us extend love and kindness to all, especially those who are struggling or alone.  It is the perfect opportunity to reach out to our neighbors, our friends, and our family members, offering a listening ear, a helping hand, or simply a warm embrace. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, let us renew our commitment to following His example as Jesus once said.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

Let us strive to live a life that is characterized by love, peace, hope and joy.  The candles we lit in Advent as we prepared for Christ’s birth as we now wait for Christ’s return. May the true meaning of Christmas fill our hearts and guide our steps throughout the coming year and always. 

A blessed Christmas to you all and may the love of God shine brightly in your lives.

Sermon - Christmas Eve 2024 When time began again

 Sermon - Christmas Eve 2024 

When time began again

As we gather here tonight, on the eve of Christmas, our hearts are filled with anticipation and joy even if we are well beyond our childhood years.  We come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, a momentous event that forever changed the course of human history even if our history books have removed BC and AD to Common Era and before Common Era. There is nothing common about the birth of Jesus Christ. 

In the midst of a world often shrouded in darkness, the Christmas story shines like a beacon of hope.  In the quiet town of Bethlehem, a humble birth took place. It would be an event that would shake the foundations of the world. A child, born to a young virgin named Mary, sent to become the Savior of humankind. The Christmas event paints a vivid picture of this extraordinary event. Shepherds, tending their flocks by night, were visited by a heavenly host, heralding the birth of the Messiah. The angelic choir sings with full gusto, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will." 

This message of peace and goodwill is a timeless reminder of God's love for humanity in a time where there is so much anger – so much hatred – so much violence and mistrust.

The birth of Jesus Christ is a promise of God's unwavering and unconditional love for us. As Paul says in Romans - God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. In sending His Son, God demonstrated His desire to heal the brokenness between Himself and humanity. Jesus, the "Light of the world," came to break the darkness of sin and despair and to offer us hope, forgiveness, and eternal life. As we celebrate Christmas, let us reflect on the true meaning of this holy season. It is not merely about exchanging gifts and indulging in festive cheer. It is about remembering the birth of our Savior who came to redeem us from sin and death. It is about embracing the message of peace, love, and compassion that Jesus taught.

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, let us not lose sight of the true reason for the season. Let us take time to pause and reflect and connect with the deeper meaning of Christmas. Let us strive to live out the teachings of Jesus Christ in our daily lives. As we light the candles of our Advent wreaths – love, joy, hope and peace, let us remember that Jesus is the true Light of the world who embodies all those qualities and more. May His light shine brightly in our hearts, guiding us on our journey of faith. May we be a source of light and hope to others, sharing the love and peace of Christ with all we encounter.

In the words of the loved Christmas carol, "Silent Night, Holy Night," “Christ the saviour is born” - let us cherish the sacred moment of Christ's birth. 

May the peace and joy of Christmas fill our hearts and homes, and may we carry this spirit of love and hope throughout the coming year with all its challenges and uncertainties. A blessed Christmas to you all.

Sermon 22nd December 2024 – 4th Sunday in Advent Text: The Song of Mary Magnificat Luke 1:46-55

 Sermon 22nd December 2024 – 4th Sunday in Advent

Text: The Song of Mary Magnificat Luke 1:46-55

Something you might not know about me is that I don’t like musicals. If I’m watching a movie and they break into song I will fast forward through it. However, having said that, it seems that the natural response in the Bible – Old and New Testament was to break into song. Last week we had the song of Zechariah In recent times we’ve had the song of Hannah at the birth of Samuel and the song of Miriam when Israel escaped from Egypt. King David began the Levitical choir and wrote Psalms many of which are headed with instructions to the director of music. So I don’t know why I don’t like musicals – but I must admit that if I’m driving alone I do like singing along to songs. The bible even encourages us to in Psalm 96 to - Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Today we have the Song of Mary or what is commonly known as The Magnificat. This Song of Mary, is a song of praise and thanksgiving that Mary, the mother of Jesus, sang after learning that she would give birth to the Savior of the world. In this prayer, Mary exclaims, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" – which was what St Paul urged last week – rejoice in the Lord always. Mary's words share her faith and trust in God, despite the challenges and trials she faced.  An unwed young girl – betrothed to a devout man, Joseph, from the line of David, could have been stoned to death for bringing dishonour. But instead she acknowledges that she is a humble servant of the Lord, and she marvels at the greatness of God's mercy and power.

The Magnificat is a powerful reminder of the importance of humility, faith, and trust in God when God might ask of us something that squeezes our shoes or puts us outside of our comfort box.  Mary's words show us that God looks favorably upon the lowly and humble – the ones that sometimes we might cross the street to avoid. She reminds us that God will lift up those who trust in him.  The Magnificat is more than a personal expression of gratitude. It's a prophetic proclamation of God's kingdom breaking into our world. 

Mary sings of a God who exalts the humble, fills the hungry, and scatters the proud.  It's a world turned upside down, where the last shall be first, and the meek shall inherit the earth. It is a promise birthed in the womb of Mary.  Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, is coming to bring about God's justice and love in humble surroundings – born in a manger – revealed to lowly shepherds.  He will be a light to the nations in darkness, hope for the oppressed, and a saviour for the lost. Through the Magnificat, Mary proclaims the greatness of God's love, mercy, and faithfulness, and she acknowledges that God's promises will be fulfilled even when they seem extreme or impossible.

Mary was greatly troubled at the words of the angel Gabriel –  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end. Not surprisingly Mary asks - How will this be since I am a virgin? To which Gabriel replied - nothing will be impossible with God.”  And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.

So as we reflect on the Magnificat, let us take inspiration from Mary's example of trust and obedience when things seem impossible.  Mary recognizes that she, a lowly servant, has been chosen for a task beyond her comprehension. Her response is not fear or doubt, but a joyful acceptance of God's will. Let us remember that God's promises are true and that he is faithful to fulfill them and, as St Paul said to the Philippians - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Let us have faith in God's plan for our lives, knowing that he is always with us, guiding and protecting us. Let us follow Mary's example of humility, faith, and trust in God even when it seems that the entire world is against us. Let us remember that God is faithful and that he will always fulfill his promises to us and that all things are possible with God, as Jesus once told the disciples: With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

So, let us lift up our voices in praise and sing a new song unto the Lord, as Mary did, magnifying the Lord and rejoicing in his goodness. Like Mary, let us respond to God's grace to us with gratitude and hope and be instruments of God's kingdom, to bring light into the darkness, and to love our neighbours as ourselves. 

Amen.

Sermon15th December 2024 – 3rd Sunday in Advent Text: Philippians 4:4-7 – The Lord is near

 Sermon15th December 2024 – 3rd Sunday in Advent

Text: Philippians 4:4-7 – The Lord is near

Well, here we are, 10 days away from Christmas and no doubt there is panic starting to set in. If you’re hosting Christmas this year you need to have all the food and drinks organized, getting the house tidy – it’s certainly not something you want to be doing in the days leading up to Christmas. Already Wantirna Road is at a standstill with cars banked up trying to get into the carpark at Eastland. I’m sure Knox or whatever shopping centre you use is the same.

Then there are all the cards, presents, breakups and who knows what else you have to keep on top of – and don’t even think about the cost or the cleanup until after Christmas.  And here Paul is telling us to rejoice about the birth of Jesus. And just in case you didn’t hear him – AGAIN I say rejoice.

Paul says that our reason for rejoicing is because “The Lord is near” – and yet this is the very reason many are stressed and can’t wait for Christmas to be over. But there is a difference between Christmas is near and the Lord is near. The Lord is near is what gives us hope. Paul also had stress in his life coping with the persecutions and hardships he was undergoing because of his faith. And it wasn’t because he was hosting Christmas or trying to find a car park:

He said: I’ve been in prison, been flogged, exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

But it was his last hardship that probably caused more stress than anything else: Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

How did Paul deal with all these stresses? First by remembering that in all these matters – “The Lord is near”. The Lord is near – both in a present sense and in a future sense. The present sense – our Baptismal promise made by Jesus – I am with you always. So Christmas, Christ coming, is not just a one day celebration but a lifetime celebration. So as you pack up Christmas – don’t pack up Jesus. As you clean up the mess – remember, Jesus cleans up the mess in our lives. 

The future sense – the promise that Jesus is returning to bring us home where there will be no more suffering or death. Hence Paul’s encouragement in Romans – I consider that our PRESENT sufferings are not worth comparing to the FUTURE glory that awaits. And how Paul dealt with these stressful situations was through prayer – as he says – and encourages us: The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Prayer is often relegated to the thing we do when everything else has been tried. We tend to bottle up our stress – we bury it deep inside – but it doesn’t go away. Or sometimes prayer is a gesture we make but forget to follow up on – I’ll keep you in my prayers – or “our thoughts and prayers are with you”.

But here Paul brings prayer to the forefront of the Christian life: In EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And Paul assures us that when we understand this and stop worrying about things and let God into our stresses we will experience something extraordinary: The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Keep a listen for this when people quote this text;You’ll often hear them saying – the peace of God that surpasses all “human” understanding’. No!

God’s peace surpasses ALL understanding – not just human. It surpasses even the heavenly realm who must wonder at times why does God persist with us when we constantly rejects and disobeys him. As Psalm 8 asks and is repeated in Hebrews chapter 2 - what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? And that’s why Jesus says in John chapter 14:  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. That’s why Paul rejoices and urges us to rejoice – and again I will say rejoice.

The birth of Jesus as we celebrate Christmas is the most incredible act of love by God for humankind. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him will not perish but receive eternal life. Do not let the commercialism, busyness and earthliness of Christmas remove the joy that Jesus brings to us. As we sing in the Christmas Carol – Joy to the World – the Lord is come. Christmas is the most joyous time of the year and along with Paul I say: Rejoice in the Lord always – again I will say rejoice. And as you do and as you bring all your cares to God you have the assurance that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

Sermon 8th December 2024 – 2nd Sunday in Advent Text Luke 3:1-6 – preparing the way for Jesus

 Sermon 8th December 2024 – 2nd Sunday in Advent

Text Luke 3:1-6 – preparing the way for Jesus

John the Baptist was a unique and powerful figure in the history of salvation through Jesus Christ. He was chosen by God before he was born to be the forerunner of Jesus. John was chosen by God to prepare the hearts of the people for the coming of the Messiah. John knew the significance of Jesus as he even leapt for joy in his mother’s womb when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, came to visit. John's ministry was a call to repentance and baptism while proclaiming the coming kingdom of God. John is the last of the great prophets who pointed to the Messiah of God who has now come in Jesus.

Prophets weren’t liked very much in the Old Testament because they told it as it is. And that’s because their message was from God and not themselves which made it confronting. There’s an interesting exchange in 1 Kings where the King of Israel is asked by the King of Judah whether there is a prophet they can consult about going to war against Aram. The King of Israel says – there is Micaiah but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad.

Messages from prophets weren’t their opinion but God’s message. And so, many of the Kings would reject their messages because they were messages to discipline them and call them back to God. And therefore many prophets were imprisoned and persecuted as Jesus says: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone to death those who are sent to you. Many times I wanted to gather your people as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me.

People seem to resist a corrective word from God today. “That’s your opinion”! John would suffer the same fate. John was a man of great courage and conviction fearlessly confronting the religious leaders of his time as they too needed to repent like the Kings of old. He spoke out against injustice and immorality, and he was not afraid to stand up for what was right even though it would ultimately lead to his death. John's message was simple yet profound:  "Repent, for the kingdom of God is near."  Aren’t we told by Mission minded people – you can’t say that!  You’ll turn people away from the church. John was even stronger calling religious leaders – “you brood of vipers” He called people to turn away from sin and turn towards God, to make a conscious decision to change their ways and live a life in accordance with God's will. Aren’t we discouraged from doing that? We’ll lose our young ones if they hear that.

And that is still the message to us today. It was the message Jesus continued – repent – the kingdom of Heaven is near. So how can we say it’s not our message today? To prepare the way of the Lord and make his paths straight. And John will reveal that the way for Jesus to find a straight path into our lives would be through Baptism and repentance to ready us to receive the message of salvation through God’s forgiveness.  So John's ministry was one of pointing people to Jesus and preparing them to receive him. He knew that he was not the Messiah, but rather a servant of the one who was to come and was not even worthy to untie Jesus' sandals. John will point people to Jesus by proclaiming, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!"  He recognized that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah who would bring salvation to all who believe in him.

John's message was not one of comfort or complacency.  He called on people to examine their lives, to confront their sins, and to turn away from their wicked ways. His words were a sharp rebuke to the religious leaders of his time, who had become complacent and self-righteous. He challenged them to live up to their calling and to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. As the body of Christ we too are to continue the Ministry of John the Baptist and his example of courage, conviction, and humility pointing people to Jesus. And sometimes our words do need to point out where we believe people or the church are in error. Where they have wandered off the path. To challenge them to look in their lives and where we can all make straight paths for Jesus to enter. But we also need to look inside ourselves because often we might be the one stopping a clear path for Jesus into people’s lives. Perhaps a word of grace or a word of forgiveness is needed from us.

And that can be challenging to us to recognise that we may in fact be the cause of Jesus not reaching people’s hearts. We might find that word hard as did the Old Testament Kings hearing a corrective word from the prophets.

John's life was marked by humility and selflessness.  He recognized his own limitations and pointed others away from himself and to the One who was greater than himself even admitting “I must decrease so he may increase”. But John also found the life of being Jesus’ disciple difficult when persecuted for his faith as we might. In prison he sent a delegation to Jesus ask – are you the one to come or should we expect someone else. Are people today expecting someone else?

Jesus warned that following his path wouldn’t be easy. It would be symbolised as carrying a cross. He warned You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And his subtle reminder - “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. And that’s because a corrective word is not always an easy word to hear whether it’s by us or to us. But John the Baptist was a humble servant, willing to lay down his life for the sake of the truth. His martyrdom serves as a powerful reminder of the cost of discipleship and the importance of remaining faithful to God's call, even in the face of adversity. But also remember that the word we bring is also a word of hope.

There are so many burdens that people are carrying these days that we can point them to the one who says – come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Let us, like John, strive to point others to Jesus, the Lamb of God who offers forgiveness, grace, and eternal life. Like John the Baptist, let us faithfully proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God and prepare the way for the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.