an unusual advent
gravity and gladness
Quite a few months ago, in counsel with my elders, I decided that it was time to preach Paul’s magisterial letter to the Romans. And even as I entered it into our preaching calendar, I didn’t pay very close attention to the fact that it would start just a few weeks before the Advent season would begin. And since we didn’t think it wise or helpful to take a break from the series after only a few sermons, we find ourselves at Grace Church in the midst of Romans 1:18 - 3:20 as the Christmas season begins.
If you’re familiar at all with Romans, you know that this section of the letter is Paul’s extended argument and proof that the whole of humanity suffers from godlessness and unrighteousness, and thus deserves the “gift” of God’s righteous wrath.
Merry Christmas, indeed.
May I be frank with you for a moment? After this last Sunday, my preaching plan had me a little concerned. As a pastor, my heart’s desire is to serve our people well as we make our way through life’s seasons. And just as importantly, I have an eye towards those who would show up on a Sunday morning, far from God, with an expectation in this season to hear about Jesus, and Mary, and Joseph, and wise men, and mangers — and that they might be quite shocked to hear instead a case being brought against us as sinners facing wrath in need of God’s grace.
Again, Merry Christmas, indeed.
So I asked myself, “Should I just break from Romans, and preach a traditional Christmas sermon series?”
But as I’ve pondered this preaching planning providence, and all the prayers that were prayed in preparation for it, it has struck me that maybe this timing is actually OK. Because as a church — members, regular attenders, and unbelieving guests alike — we will see the depth of our problem as a fallen race, and thus be freshly moved to be humbled together under the grace of God. We’ll understand, I pray, in new ways, how marvelous it is that the Son of God would take on flesh, as a babe in a manger, to rescue desperate sinners like us.
Merry Christmas, indeed!
But while that is true, and settles my pastors heart, I’ve been thinking today how we might create a balance of gravity and gladness in our gatherings in this important season. So as I spent time planning with one of our worship leaders this morning, we discussed that balance.
In the preaching, we will hear from the Apostle of the deep sinfulness of man, a problem that cannot be fixed by one’s own strength. This will bring a great gravity to our gatherings.
Which means it will be necessary and helpful to sing songs together that are filled with joy, hope, peace, grace, and expectation, supplemented with the public reading of traditional Advent texts that speak to the first Advent of our Messiah. This will create an atmosphere of great gladness to our hearts as we gather.
What will that look like this coming Sunday?
Our gravity will come from Paul’s explanation of God’s righteous judgment towards those who self-righteously respond with condemnation towards sinners. But it’s not all gloom in this text. There is a sharp glimmer of hope, when we hear of God’s kindness providing time for repentance. You can read all about it in Romans 2:1-11, and you can hear more about it in the sermon at Grace on Sunday.
And our gladness? Well, I can’t give all the songs away; you’ll have to join us on Sunday for that. But I can tell you we’ll be opening our service with a rousing rendition of “Joy to the World,” and we’ll be reading part of the “Christmas Story” together, responding with another Advent-themed song.
I’ve included those last two bits for you below.
If you’re in the Arkansas River Valley, I hope you’ll join us for one of our services at 9am or 10:30am. If not, I trust you’ll be headed to a church family near you, to experience the gravity and gladness found in the story of God’s rescue in the sending of his Son to earth.
Merry Christmas!
THE BIRTH OF JESUS
Luke 2:1-20 (CSB) 1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. 2 This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.
4 Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
THE SHEPHERDS AND THE ANGELS
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 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, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14 Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people he favors!,,
15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.
Glory in the Highest
(If you don’t see the video below, click here.)
