the birth of a child Immanuel God with us a life of rebirth Sermon

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1 THE BIRTH OF A CHILD The Nativity of Our Lord; Christmas Eve December 24, 2013 Lessons Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96 Titus 2:11-14 St. Luke 2:1-14 [15-20] Pastor David J. Risendal drisendal@stplc.org facebook Saint Peter Lutheran Church Saint Peter Lutheran Church 9300 East Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village, Colorado voice: 303/ fax: 303/ Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of his glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. the birth of a child Immanuel God with us a life of rebirth Prayer of the Day Sermon From all of us here at Saint Peter, to each and every one of you: we wish you a very merry Christmas We are so glad that you decided to celebrate the birth of Christ with us, and we hope God touches your hearts during our time together. Our prayer, as we celebrate Christ s birth into the world, is for this also to be the celebration of a new beginning that God is making in your hearts and homes. With that in mind, I d like to share with you the greeting that begins almost every sermon I preach; a greeting that the Apostle Paul used to begin many of his letters: Grace to you and peace, from God our 1 Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Tonight we have gathered, as we do every year, to remember the birth of a baby boy. We ve all got birth stories, don't we? For those of us who were born back in the days of black-andwhite baby pictures, our birth stories may include the memory of mom being wheeled into a sterile 1 Romans 1:7, 1 st Corinthians 1:3, 2 nd Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1 st Thessalonians 1:1, 2 nd Thessalonians 1:2, Philemon 3; New Revised Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).

2 The Nativity of Our Lord; Christmas Eve (December 24, 2013) 2 room, where a doctor or a nurse awaited her, and dad out in the waiting room, a box of cigars in hand, nervously tapping his feet and waiting for the news that a healthy baby has come into the world. For those of us with rural backgrounds, birth stories may tell of a doctor s visit, and a newborn child taking that first breath of air in the family s farm house. My relatives like to remember when my grandparents were born in a log cabin that was once located in the woods of Redwood County in Minnesota, and which, interestingly enough, still stands in a city park today as a testament to our pioneering ancestors. For those of us born in recent years, birth may have taken place in a modern birthing room, surrounded by a team of medical professionals, and announced by color photos of a baby just minutes old posted on facebook, or tweeted out within seconds to curious followers. The circumstances that surround a birth are as varied as the settings in which they take place. In some cases the birth of a child is overshadowed by a larger narrative of pain and difficulty; in other cases birth is the realization of months of joy and eager anticipation. Some children are born amidst a crowd of adoring relatives and friends; others are welcomed only by immediate family members. Some are born in the finest hospitals; others amidst signs of deep poverty. Some are born in loud, bustling cities; others in more remote locations. In any case, the experience of birth can be almost as transforming for the parents as for the child. We can all recall examples of friends or family members who have shared with wide eyes or hushed tones how their entire world seems to have changed the moment this little one arrived. New birth can be a major transition in living, from a time of waiting and watching and hoping, perhaps combined with a certain amount of worry and concern to a time of caring and fussing and delighting in the day-today rhythm of life. As many new parents will testify: the birth of a child can also bring about a major transition in living: from a focus on self and personal fulfillment, to a focus on these little ones who are entrusted to us. Birth stories shape us in profound ways. And so we gather here this evening to remember one of the most well-known birth stories of all. It begins, strangely enough, in Rome, where the Emperor decides that all of the world all of the Roman Empire will participate in a census. So from tiny villages like Nazareth to teeming cities like Jerusalem, people are on the move, traveling from their current homes to their ancestral homes. Joseph is a descendent of King David, so he travels with Mary to Bethlehem, where King David had been born a thousand years earlier. Joseph and Mary are not alone: the city of Bethlehem is busy and crowded, as travelers have come from all around. The Scriptures don t tell us what hopes and dreams Joseph and Mary may have had as they awaited the birth of their son. We can guess, though, that the circumstances surrounding his birth were somewhat different than what they imagined. The exact details can t be determined, but what we know is this: there is no room for them inside with the others, so when Jesus is born, Mary lays him in a feed trough. It is to this humble setting that shepherds come, with an amazing story about an announcement from an angel, and a sky filled with angels, singing praises about the birth of a child in Bethlehem. It is a beautiful story: filled with wonder and amazement. A story that never seems to lose its appeal, even when told year after year after year. But know this: if the story of this child s birth was only about an event that took place thousands of years ago, it soon would have been forgotten by all but the most nostalgic of observers; it would long ago have ceased to be a compelling reason to gather on a night like this. You see, we are not here tonight only because of what happened way, way back then. We are also here tonight because it is a birth that continues to take place whenever Christ finds a place at the center of our hearts and our lives. The pastor of a prestigious downtown New York City congregation tells the story of what happened in his church one Christmas Eve. They were getting ready for their 11:00 p.m. candlelight service. As the people were gathering, a man named Jim came in. Jim was a recovering alcoholic, sober just six

3 The Nativity of Our Lord; Christmas Eve (December 24, 2013) 3 months, but his disease had cost him his family, his job, just about everything. He went into the sanctuary for the first Christmas Eve since his divorce, and who should sit in front of him but a happy, cheerful family of four dad, mom, two precious kids anticipating the joy of Christmas morning. It was more than Jim could take. He got up and walked out of the church. The pastor saw him in the foyer and said, Jim, where are you going? Jim replied, I'm going out for a Scotch. The pastor said, Wait a minute Is your A. A. sponsor available? Jim said, It's Christmas Eve. My sponsor is in Minnesota. There's nobody that can help me. I just came in for a word of hope, and I ended up sitting behind this family. If I had my life together, I'd be here with my wife and kids, too. Thinking quickly, the pastor said, Wait right here. He didn't know exactly what he was going to do, but it was time to start the service. As he walked down to the front of the church, he prayed for a word of hope to give Jim. He welcomed everyone, then he said, I have an announcement. If anyone here tonight is a friend of Bill Wilson and if you are, you know what I mean could you step out for a moment and meet with me in the back of the church? Bill Wilson is the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. All over the sanctuary, men, women, college students got up and made their way to the back of the church; they understood the announcement. The pastor went back and put Jim in the hands of people who cared. Then, while he led a service proclaiming that God had come to us in the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, Jesus was being born into Jim s life, through the caring ministry of some of Bill Wilson s friends. Christ is born in us whenever we remember that God, who created us, cares enough about us to become one of us not born into the luxury of palaces and mansions, but born in the humble setting of a Bethlehem manger truly one of us. Christ is born in us whenever we place our trust in the message that God loves us enough, even to die for us. Christ is born in us whenever God, who is made visible in Jesus of Nazareth, demonstrates what it means to live with love for even the lowliest of our neighbors. Christ is born in us whenever you and I demonstrate the same kind of sacrificial love for others that Christ has for us. We gather this evening to celebrate the birth of Christ; in Bethlehem two thousand years ago, for sure. We also gather this evening to celebrate, with gratitude, the ways Christ is born in our lives today. We ve all got birth stories to tell. We remember them because each one is a new beginning in our lives. Many of us can tell stories about how the birth of our own children has shaped us. This evening, we meet the newborn King in the word we proclaim, in the meal we share, in the community that is gathered here, and we pray for this to be a new beginning in our lives as well. Let us invite the story of this birth to shape us today. Let us discover how the presence of Christ in our lives can lead us forward in faith, in hope and in joy. That, perhaps, is the richest way we can celebrate this story together. Amen. David J. Risendal, Pastor Gospel Lesson; English Text In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the 2 A list of Bible lessons for the coming weeks is available at

4 The Nativity of Our Lord; Christmas Eve (December 24, 2013) 4 fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors [ 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us. 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.] 3 Gospel Lesson; Greek Text 2.1 Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ται ς ἡµέραις ἐκείναις ἐξη λθεν δόγµα παρὰ Καίσαρος Αὐγούστου ἀπογράφεσθαι πα σαν τὴν οἰκουµένην. 2 αὕτη ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεµονεύοντος τη ς Συρίας Κυρηνίου. 3 καὶ ἐπορεύοντο πάντες ἀπογράφεσθαι, ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν ἑαυτου πόλιν. 4 Ἀνέβη δὲ καὶ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τη ς Γαλιλαίας ἐκ πόλεως Ναζαρὲθ εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν εἰς πόλιν Δαυὶδ ἥτις καλει ται Βηθλέεµ, διὰ τὸ εἰ ναι αὐτὸν ἐξ οἴκου καὶ πατρια ς Δαυίδ, 5 ἀπογράψασθαι σὺν Μαριὰµ τῃ ἐµνηστευµένῃ αὐτῳ, οὔσῃ ἐγκύῳ. 6 Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῳ εἰ ναι αὐτοὺς ἐκει ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡµέραι του τεκει ν αὐτήν, 7 καὶ ἔτεκεν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτη ς τὸν πρωτότοκον, καὶ ἐσπαργάνωσεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀνέκλινεν αὐτὸν ἐν φάτνῃ, διότι οὐκ ἠ ν αὐτοι ς τόπος ἐν τῳ καταλύµατι. 8 Καὶ ποιµένες ἠ σαν ἐν τῃ χώρᾳ τῃ αὐτῃ ἀγραυλου ντες καὶ φυλάσσοντες φυλακὰς τη ς νυκτὸς ἐπὶ τὴν ποίµνην αὐτω ν. 9 καὶ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐπέστη αὐτοι ς καὶ δόξα κυρίου περιέλαµψεν αὐτούς, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον µέγαν. 10 καὶ εἰ πεν αὐτοι ς ὁ ἄγγελος µὴ φοβει σθε, ἰδοὺ γὰρ εὐαγγελίζοµαι ὑµι ν χαρὰν µεγάλην ἥτις ἔσται παντὶ τῳ λαῳ, 11 ὅτι ἐτέχθη ὑµι ν σήµερον σωτὴρ ὅς ἐστιν χριστὸς κύριος ἐν πόλει Δαυίδ. 12 καὶ του το ὑµι ν τὸ σηµει ον, εὑρήσετε βρέφος ἐσπαργανωµένον καὶ κείµενον ἐν φάτνῃ. 13 καὶ ἐξαίφνης ἐγένετο σὺν τῳ ἀγγέλῳ πλη θος στρατια ς οὐρανίου αἰνούντων τὸν θεὸν καὶ λεγόντων 14 δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῳ καὶ ἐπὶ γη ς εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας. [ 15 Καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἀπη λθον ἀπ αὐτω ν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν οἱ ἄγγελοι, οἱ ποιµένες ἐλάλουν πρὸς ἀλλήλους διέλθωµεν δὴ ἕως Βηθλέεµ καὶ ἴδωµεν τὸ ῥη µα του το τὸ γεγονὸς ὃ ὁ κύριος ἐγνώρισεν ἡµι ν. 16 καὶ ἠ λθαν σπεύσαντες καὶ ἀνευ ραν τήν τε Μαριὰµ καὶ τὸν Ἰωσὴφ καὶ τὸ βρέφος κείµενον ἐν τῃ φάτνῃ 17 ἰδόντες δὲ ἐγνώρισαν περὶ του ῥήµατος του λαληθέντος αὐτοι ς περὶ του παιδίου τούτου. 18 καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀκούσαντες ἐθαύµασαν περὶ τω ν λαληθέντων ὑπὸ τω ν ποιµένων πρὸς αὐτούς 19 ἡ δὲ Μαριὰµ πάντα συνετήρει τὰ ῥήµατα ταυ τα συµβάλλουσα ἐν τῃ καρδίᾳ αὐτη ς. 20 καὶ ὑπέστρεψαν οἱ ποιµένες δοξάζοντες καὶ αἰνου ντες τὸν θεὸν ἐπὶ πα σιν οἱ ς ἤκουσαν καὶ εἰ δον καθὼς ἐλαλήθη πρὸς αὐτούς.] 4 First Lesson; English Text 9.2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4 For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to 3 St. Luke 2:1-14 [15-20], New Revised Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America). St. Luke 2:1-14 [15-20], The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., 4 and Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart).

5 The Nativity of Our Lord; Christmas Eve (December 24, 2013) 5 us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. 5 Second Lesson; English Text 2.11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. 6 Second Lesson; Greek Text 2.11 Ἐπεφάνη γὰρ ἡ χάρις τοῦ θεοῦ σωτήριος πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις 12 παιδεύουσα ἡµᾶς, ἵνα ἀρνησάµενοι τὴν ἀσέβειαν καὶ τὰς κοσµικὰς ἐπιθυµίας σωφρόνως καὶ δικαίως καὶ εὐσεβῶς ζήσωµεν ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι, 13 προσδεχόµενοι τὴν µακαρίαν ἐλπίδα καὶ ἐπιφάνειαν τῆς δόξης τοῦ µεγάλου θεοῦ καὶ σωτῆρος ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, 14 ὃς ἔδωκεν ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡµῶν, ἵνα λυτρώσηται ἡµᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἀνοµίας καὶ καθαρίσῃ ἑαυτῷ λαὸν περιούσιον, ζηλωτὴν καλῶν ἔργων. 7 5 Isaiah 9:2-7, New Revised Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America). 6 Titus 2:11-14, New Revised Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America). Titus 2:11-14, The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and Wikgren, 7 Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart).