Glorifying and Praising God

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Mercy Gibson
5 years ago
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1 Glorifying and Praising God Advent Midweek Service (15 December 2010) The Christian Family: Everyone Saint Luke 2:15-20 Dearly beloved, the demise of the Christian faith in our culture is accelerating at an astounding rate. Not because Christians are being forced to compromise their confession, but because many who profess to be Christians are willingly and voluntarily laying it aside so that they can pursue worldly things. Moses once warned, Take care lest you forget the LORD your God (Deut 8:11). Sadly, too many Christians in our day and age have no idea what it means to be a Christian, to confess Christ, to receive from the Lord that which He desires to give, and to live from every word that proceeds from God s mouth. Thus, they are missing out on the only true and lasting peace and joy there is. A recent Barna Group research report, released just two days ago, finds that Christians are becoming more and more theologically illiterate. It states: What used to be basic, universally-known truths about Christianity are now unknown mysteries to a large and growing number of Americans especially young adults. Few adults believe that their faith is meant to be the focal point of their life or to be integrated into every aspect of their existence. As the two younger generations ascend to numerical and positional supremacy in churches across the nation, the data suggest that biblical literacy is likely to decline significantly. The theological free-for-all that is encroaching in Protestant churches nationwide suggests the coming decade will be a time of unparalleled theological diversity and inconsistency. 1 Theological literacy happens when God s people do what God has called them to do. Worship regularly. Study regularly. Pray regularly. It s that simple. And yet, most Christians want little to do with regular worship, study, and prayer. Tonight we turn our attention to the Bethlehem shepherds and therein discover what it means to be a Christian in an otherwise godless world. I m always amazed and delighted and edified to hear again the story of the shepherds who were out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Shepherds were such common people. No special standing. Just ordinary people

2 working hard to provide a living for themselves and their loved ones. When God decided to send out the very first birth announcement for His Son, He didn t send it to the high and mighty or the rich and powerful. He sent it to common, ordinary, everyday shepherds. And what an announcement it was. Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this night in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. Then they were treated to a heavenly Hallelujah Chorus, the likes of which the world has never since heard! After the angels returned to heaven, what did these shepherds do? They went to Bethlehem with haste to see this thing which the Lord made known to them. And sure enough, they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. Like the faithful Bethlehem shepherds, you as Christians are the lowly in our society. You are looked down upon, mocked, and ridiculed from government, Hollywood, the media, and many of your friends and neighbors. The reward you receive for the dirty job of believing in Christ and loving your neighbor is the same reward the shepherds received. You get very little respect. In short, you are seen as simple-minded, old-fashioned, intolerant people. How sad for them. Because the smell in this stable is not bad. It is good, very good. Even though we carry into God s house the stench of our sin, it is overpowered by that wonderful baby smell the smell of freshness and newness found only in Christ. For unto you has born a Savior your Savior from your sin. Christ the Lord is here, wrapped in the swaddling clothes of absolution, Scripture, sermon, Supper, liturgy, hymns, and benediction. Emmanuel God with us is here to bring you new birth through the forgiveness of sins. Jesus, whose name literally means Savior, is here to save His people, to save you, to save me. The Word Made Flesh is here dwelling among us to speak His Word and bring to remembrance your baptism, through which He mangers Himself within you, that you will carry Him with you wherever you go. So what s next? The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. They returned, as you will return, back to their God-given vocations. As dependable shepherds. As caring parents to their children and as caring children to their parents. As devoted husbands to their wives. As beloved neighbors to both friend and stranger alike. And even though the shepherds returned to ordinary life, life was no longer ordinary. They couldn t help but glorify and praise God in all they said and did.

3 They couldn t help but make known the things that had been told them concerning this child. How about you? The same Christ who changed the lives of the shepherds has claimed you as His own. He has washed you clean in Holy Baptism. He has given you His resurrected life to live. He has conquered your sinful flesh, grafted you into Himself, feeds and nourishes you in Word and Sacrament, and causes you to bear fruit in His name. So, will you joyfully live the life He gives you to live, or will you forsake His claim on you and live for yourself? Will you lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, or will you seek after that which moth and rust destroy and thieves steal? Will you live from every word that proceeds from His mouth, or will you fashion a god out of your own image and likeness? Friends, the Christian faith graciously given to you in Holy Baptism is the most precious gift you will ever receive. It clothes you in Christ s perfect righteousness, makes you the Father s beloved child, and causes you to be the Spirit s temple. Thus, Christ is now the focal point of your entire life. His forgiveness and righteousness are now integrated into every aspect of your existence. And so, like the Bethlehem shepherds, you can spend your days glorying and praising God for all that He has done for you in this Child born of the virgin. Now the specifics: As sinners, glorify and praise God by confessing what is true of you and then living in the baptismal grace poured over you, bearing the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. As Christians, glorify and praise God by loving Him with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, by calling upon Him in every trouble, by praying, praising, and giving thanks, and by holding His Word sacred and gladly hearing and learning it. As members of this congregation, glorify and praise God by supporting the Office of the Ministry in our midst, by praying for your pastor, and by fostering love, unity, peace, and joy among your brothers and sisters in Christ here. As citizens, glorify and praise God by being subject to your leaders, praying for them, and reminding them of God s will for all people. As workers, glorify and praise God by faithfully doing the work you have been called to do, from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man.

4 As husbands and wives, glorify and praise God by submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Love, honor, and cherish each other, placing the needs of your spouse above your own. As parents, glorify and praise God by training your children in the way they should go. Do not provoke them to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. As children, glorify and praise God by honoring your father and mother. Serve and obey them. Love and cherish them. And don t forget to care and provide for them as they grow old. As single, divorced, or widowed adults, glorify and praise God by exercising selfcontrol in your thoughts and desires, eagerly pursuing the things of the Lord, and being holy in body and spirit. Whoever you are, glorify and praise God by leading the life to which God has called you. Love your neighbor as yourself. Make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving for all. Visit the orphans and widows in their affliction. Adorn your words and deeds with the love and forgiveness of Christ. Be content with what God has given you. Devote yourself to the Christian family and fostering the love of Christ in every relationship. And last, but not least, live your life glorifying and praising God for the new life He has given you in this Christ-child. Sad but true, many who profess to be Christians are becoming more and more theologically illiterate. But not you. For you have come to know and believe that Christ is the focal point of your entire life. Thus, His forgiveness and righteousness are integrated into every aspect of your existence. Both here in Church and out there in the real world. In your home, at work, and at play. That is what the Bethlehem shepherds teach us, for that is what God Himself teaches us. By God s grace, may it always be so! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through faith in Jesus Christ unto life everlasting.

5 Rev. Paul G. Mumme Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church Bolingbrook, Illinois Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 1 Source:

To Us a Child Is Born

To Us a Child Is Born December 23 rd, 2018 Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod 2001 Jackson Street Pastor Luke John Willitz Mosinee, WI 54455 ilcmosinee@gmail.com