Are You Ready for the Angels?
1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, Are You Ready for the Angels?
Third Week of Advent
Sermon Audio
Are You Ready for the Angels?
Sermon Notes:
Advent #3 1 Thess. 4 2017.12.17
Reading for December 18-24
Reading this week: It’s almost Christmas!
With a tip of the cap to Charles Schultz and my favorite character, Linus, here is an opportunity to again encounter “what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” This is the story of “God with us” and the story of our salvation.
Monday: Luke 1:1-26, Zechariah and the Angel
Alluding to the final Messianic prophecy in the Old Testament, Malachi 4, the angel gives the priest some amazing news. God’s salvation plan is still at work, and Zechariah’s son will have a part in that plan! What is God telling you about your part in his salvation plan?
Tuesday: Luke 1:26-38, Mary’s story
Mary comes face to face with the reality that “nothing is impossible with God.” How does Mary’s response to this strangely good news, “I am the Lord’s servant”, inspire you this Christmas season?
Wednesday: Matthew 1:18-24, Joseph’s story
Often underappreciated, Joseph’s difficult trust is at the center of the “God with us” (from Isaiah 7:14) element of the Christmas story. What Joseph moments has God used to grow your faith this year?
Thursday: Luke 1:39-56, Mary and Elizabeth
The meeting in the hill country of these two pregnant cousins is one of the great scenes in the gospels, full of blessing and prayer. In which parts of Elizabeth’s blessing and Mary’s prayer do you most hear the voice of God this Christmas season?
Friday: Luke 1:57-80, Elizabeth and Zechariah
The priest and his wife are beautiful examples of obedience and devotion. I especially appreciate the way Zechariah’s song points us to the mercy of God. To what experience of peace is God guiding you this week?
Saturday: Luke 2:1-20, “In those days . . . .”
This is the part of the story that Linus chooses for his soliloquy. It reminds me that God is working from the palaces in Rome to the mangers in Bethlehem. What part of the story causes you to ponder God’s story this Advent season?