- Sermon - Mickey Anders

Text: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

When I was growing up, we played hide and seek, a game which I assume everyone else played as well. Somebody was chosen to close his eyes and count while everyone else found a hiding place. When "IT" was finished counting, he cried, "Ready or not, here I come!"

That's the feeling I always get this time of year. Whether we are ready or not, Christmas is on its way. Ready or not, here Advent comes.

Andy Williams used to sing, "It's the hap-hap-happiest time of the year." I think it's the bus-bus-busiest time of the year!" We have to be masters at time management to get everything done that needs to be done during the next twenty-two days. We have our day planners full, our to-do lists long, and our agendas full. Have you made a list of all the Christmas presents you need to buy? Have you put on your calendar the office party, the choir rehearsals, the Christmas cantata, and the Christmas Eve service? Have you scheduled shopping trips to all the right places? Have you bought your gifts for the Angel Tree for the needy? Have you thought about your end of the year gifts to worthy causes? Have you written an end of the year donation to the church? Have you decided when you will leave for grandma's and when you will go to the in-laws? And the list goes on and on.

Someone described the Christmas rush this way:

"Like a row of hulking linemen on a professional football team, the season is down and set, poised to plow over us with all its demands, distractions, details, dilemmas, delights and duties." (1)

That is why we need the emphasis on Advent in our church. Advent means coming, and it is the time of preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ again at Christmas. Each Sunday we will light another candle giving a visual cue to the approaching of Christmas Day. As with many things, the real importance is in the anticipation of the event.

This year, our Advent readings and our bulletin covers will focus on the themes of hope, peace, joy and love. Those are the kinds of words that we need to think about to really prepare ourselves. So today, rather than an expository sermon, I want to talk briefly about each of these themes of the Christmas season. Our lectionary text for today comes from the little book of 1 Thessalonians. As I re-read this book, I discovered that Paul addresses each one of the Christmas themes in his letter.

First, let's talk about hope. Paul mentions hope four times in 1 Thessalonians. In chapter one, he writes, "…constantly remembering before our God and Father your… steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 1:3). In chapter two, he says, "For what is our hope… or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?" (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

In chapter four, we read what is perhaps Paul's most famous saying about hope, "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Then in chapter five, he mentions, "…for a helmet the hope of salvation" (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

An online encyclopedia says, "Hope is a desire for something to happen, while expecting or being confident that it will come true. Hope also implies a certain amount of perseverance, believing that something is possible even when there is some evidence to the contrary. Hope may be directed toward something minor or towards something extremely significant."

The Christmas carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem" contains this line: "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." The coming of Christ at Christmas represented the hopes of all people everywhere. Jesus represented the hopes of a better relationship with God. He also fulfills all the yearnings of people for salvation.

Hope is that which keeps us looking to the future with optimism. Hope means we are expecting great things to happen. The God who brought the children of Israel out of Egypt is still at work in our world. Hope means that we expect God to continue to bring good things into our lives. Jesus symbolized the hopes and dreams of all people everywhere.

Notice the verse that mentions "no hope." You know what hope is when you think of those with "no hope." That speaks of people in despair, without a warm future, desolate in their dreams of the future.

I think we are uniquely called to provide hope where there is no hope. This Christmas, I challenge you to give a worthy gift to a benevolent cause like the Salvation Army. Make this a Christmas of giving the gift of hope.

But I also want to challenge you to see hope at our church. As I have visited this congregation, I have been amazed at the sense of excitement. As we begin together this new chapter in the grand history of our church, there is a genuine enthusiasm in the air. I sense hope in you. Hope for the future of our church. It seems that you can see a bright future, just waiting for us to claim.

Next, we focus on peace. Paul mentions peace three times in 1 Thessalonians. In chapter one, he starts with his usual introduction saying, "Grace to you and peace" (1 Thessalonians 1:1). In chapter five, he says, "Be at peace among yourselves" (1 Thessalonians 5:13), and "May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely… " (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Jesus brought peace to the world. When the angels appeared before the shepherds on that Galilean hillside, they proclaimed, "Peace on earth, good will toward men." Jesus represents that grand vision of peace where swords are beat into plowshares, and men will know war no more.

But it seems a bit strange to be talking about peace when our country is at war. The War in Iraq determined the November elections. Peace? Peace? There is no peace. Remember the Christmas song, "Do You Know What I Know?" The verse says, "Pray for peace, people everywhere. Listen to what I say, the Child, the Child, sleeping in the night. He will bring us goodness and light. He will bring us goodness and light." Let's be a people who pray for peace.

When I think of peace, I draw a visual image of peaceful water. Somewhere I read a self-help book that said we should strive to have a "mind like water." Stop and picture a calm lake. See that still water, and let your mind become like that. In the midst of all the tumult of this season, I pray that you will have a mind like water. That is the kind of peace that we all seek - peace of mind.

And I want you to give the gift of peace to your church. I have told several people that this church will grow if we don't shoot ourselves in the foot. I think you all know what I mean. As we build this church together, let's build a church at peace.

I was pastor of a church once where everybody knew its history and its reputation. Everybody knew that three or four people had kept that church stirred up for years and years. If it wasn't one thing, it was another. I want you to picture with me a church at peace, a church that handles differences of opinion without it turning into a fight. I pray that we will have a church at peace.

Next comes joy. Paul mentioned joy three times in 1 Thessalonians. In chapter one, he says, "...you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia" (1 Thessalonians 1:6). In chapter two, he adds, "For what is our… joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? Yes, you are our glory and joy!" (1 Thessalonians 2:19). And in chapter three, he says, "How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you?" (1 Thessalonians 3:9).

Did you notice Paul's line to the Thessalonians, "you received the word with joy?" Joy came to his mind when he thought of this church.

Perhaps the favorite Christmas hymn says, "Joy to the world, the Lord is come… Let all their songs employ; while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy." Jesus symbolizes joy coming into the world.

Let joy fill your heart this Christmas. Don't let the business of the season take the joy from your heart. Have fun!

I have been deeply influenced by a little business book entitled, Fish. Perhaps you have read it. The author talks about a fish market called Pike Place Fish in Seattle, Washington. It's just a typical fish market where workers sell large fish to customers. But the workers at this fish market transformed their mundane and boring jobs by making the decision to have fun at it. Now business gurus go there to learn the secrets of an effective organization. And one of the most important characteristics is play. They have fun at their work. (2)

I hope you will have fun at your work, have fun in all the tasks of this Christmas season. I really do think we choose our attitude, and nothing is more important that choosing to have fun. We need to learn from the children how to play again.

But most of all I hope we can have fun at church. Are you aware that a church can be fun? Sure it can. I have been a part of churches that were fun, and I have been a part of churches that were not fun. Which do you prefer? I prefer fun. Being a part of a growing church is like being on a winning football team. It's fun! I want you to envision with me a church that is fun.

Finally, we look at love. Paul mentions love six times in this little book. In chapter one, Paul wrote, "…remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love… in our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 1:3). In chapter three, we read, "But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love" (1 Thessalonians 3:6). And again, "…may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you" (1 Thessalonians 3:12).

In chapter four, we find, "Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia" (1 Thessalonians 4:9).

In chapter five, we read, "… put on the breastplate of faith and love… " (1 Thessalonians 5:8). And then, "But we appeal to you… to respect those who labor among you… esteem them very highly in love because of their work" (1 Thessalonians 5:12).

There is a hymn in our hymnbook entitled "God's Love Made Visible." The first line says, "God's love made visible! Incomprehensible! Christ is invincible! His love shall reign. From love so bountiful, blessings uncountable make death surmountable! His love shall reign!"

First John says, "God is love." Surely Jesus showed us that most important characteristic of God. Love came down at Christmas.

Love is hard to talk about without getting syrupy sweet. But love is consistently listed as the primary one of all the Christian virtues. Paul said, "Now abide faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love."

I hope that your Christmas season will be characterized by love above all else. I pray that you will experience the love of your family, the love of your friends, and the love of God. That is what Christmas is about.

And do I even need to say that we want to build a church characterized by love? This is one aspect of a church that I am not worried about. In talking with so many of you in this first month as your pastor, I have heard you mention again and again the warmth, friendliness and caring of this congregation.

You have the wonderful gift of love for one another. It is a wonderful quality on which to build a church. And if it is not there, it is a very difficult quality to create. Whatever we do we do not want to lose that sense of love for one another.

I read recently about a story about a father who often told his children about the importance of "Love in action." The father took Helen, his eight-year-old daughter, and Brandon, his five-year-old son, to the mall to do a little shopping. When they drove up, they spotted a big sign that said, "Petting Zoo." The kids immediately asked, "Daddy, Daddy. Can we go? Please. Please. Can we go?"

"Sure," he said, flipping them both a quarter before walking into Sears. They bolted away, and he felt free to take his time looking for a scroll saw.

As this father walked down the store aisle he turned around and saw Helen walking along behind him. He asked her why she wasn't in the petting zoo. She looked up at him with giant, brown eyes and said sadly, "Well, Daddy, it cost fifty cents. So, I gave Brandon my quarter." Then she said the most beautiful thing her father ever heard. She repeated the family motto. The family motto was "Love is action!"

She had given Brandon her quarter, even though no one loves cuddly furry creatures more than Helen. Obviously, Helen had watched her parents over the years and heard them say, "Love is action!" Following their example, she had now incorporated that into her little lifestyle. It had become part of her.

As soon as this father finished his errands, he took Helen back to the petting zoo. They stood by the fence and watched Brandon go crazy petting and feeding the animals. Helen stood with her hands and chin resting on the fence and just watched Brandon.

Her father writes, "I had fifty cents burning a hole in my pocket; I never offered it to Helen, and she never asked for it, because she knew the whole family motto. It's not just 'Love is Action.' It's 'Love is SACRIFICIAL Action!' Love always pays a price. Love always costs something. Love is expensive. Love gives; it doesn't grab. Helen gave her quarter to Brandon and wanted to follow through with her lesson. She knew she had to taste the sacrifice. She wanted to experience that total family motto. Love is sacrificial action." (3)

Ready or not, Advent is coming. This year, give yourself a gift. Give Christ a gift. Give the gift of hope, peace, joy and love.

Endnotes:

1) Homiletics Online, 11/30/1997. www.homileticsonline.com

2) Fish! by Stephen Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christensen (Hyperion. New York), 1995

3) Dave Simmons, Dad, The Family Coach, Victor Books, 1991, 123-124, as provided by Dr. Vaughn CroweTipton on the PRCL-List.