Sermon for Christmas Eve 2006

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Sermon for Christmas Eve 2006
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CHRISTMAS EVE: Disturbing the Ordinary
With Extraordinary Love

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, AMEN

Main Theme: Was the 1^st Christmas a huge Hollywood production? Hardly! It was an ordinary night, and circled around ordinary people. Yet, every year we try to make Christmas into something extraordinary! Bigger, better, new and improved! But Christ came quietly, no different than we came into the world – a baby was born, to simple parents, witnessed by simple shepherds. But what is extraordinary about Christmas was not the event, but the love behind it! Let us not distort the Christmas event, let us focus on the fact that Christ comes to us in the ordinary – we need that for the other 364 days of the year. For God comes to us in the commonness of life! If His love and life can be found in a stable – it can be found in our ordinary lives! For God disturbs the ordinary with His extraordinary love!

1) MORE POWER! It may sound strange, but my favorite comedy show on TV is now only found in reruns: It’s Home Improvement! The story revolves around a middle aged guy named Tim, who has a local TV tool-show called “Tool Time.” Now Tim is obsessed with the concept of “More Power” – always modifying ordinary contraptions so as to have more horsepower, or more speed – that is, to become extraordinary! And He takes that philosophy right into Christmas. Whereas most people have a few lights up around the house, Tim has millions of lights! Tim just doesn’t have a snowman in his yard, he has GIANT snowmen in His yard! He has Reindeer on the roof, Santa, elves, Christmas trees, manger scenes… and every year He is trying to outdo the neighbor down the street. I’ll never forget when Tim added a two story plastic snowman, with lights inside it that were so bright the family had to wear welding goggles to look at it! It eventually got so hot that by the end of the show it melted the plastic snowman’s head. The humor of the show is based on getting us to laugh at ourselves, and in this case; the extremes we go to, to turn Christmas into a major production. To give it “more power!”

2) MAJOR PRODUCTION? How’s it been for you this season? Have you been caught up in the frantic circle of shopping, and wrapping presents, and writing Christmas cards, and baking cookies, and planning parties, and decorating trees, and so on? We often have to back up and laugh at ourselves don’t we? …every year promising ourselves that we won’t get caught up in making Christmas into a major production, …but never quite succeeding. There’s a little “Tim Taylor” in all of us, isn’t there?Always wanting to soop-up Christmas and make it extraordinary!

3) ORDINARY! Why is that? Is it so we can match the huge production that God put on that very first Christmas? I hope not – because… there wasn’t any! What happened in that little humble stable was… well, it was very ordinary. Quite ordinary! A baby was born. And let’s face it, millions of babies had been born before that night, and millions of babies have been born since. Now I suspect some of you are thinking, “But Pastor, this is no ordinary baby! This was the Son of God!” Very true! And yet, …God, for some mysterious reason, chose to bring His Son into our world through an ordinary birth. In a simple manger. And to simple ordinary parents. Look at the witnesses; the event was noticed only by some barnyard animals, a few shepherds, and later, three out-of-state magi. Oh sure, the angels knew, but overall God chose to bring the Messiah into the world very simply, and gently, …in the quiet of an ordinary night.

4) Hollywood! Can you imagine how Tim “The Tool-man” Taylor would have done it? …had God asked the host of Home Improvement to produce and direct the Christmas event? It boggles the imagination! Or what if God had asked ANYONE from Hollywood for some advice on HOW to bring Jesus into the world? Ha! We start with earthquakes, and huge billowing clouds, and then… everything goes quiet. Suddenly earth-shattering trumpets begin to blare, cymbals clash, and the voice of a million piece choir pierce the night as blinding light suddenly shatters the darkness! And from the heavens above… golden stairs appear, embedded with emeralds, and rubies, and diamonds! And out of the light at the top of the stairs walks Jesus! Twelve feet tall, and glowing! A silver and gold crown adorns His head, and royal silk robes flow in the wind! Fireworks are exploding all over the sky as He descends to the platinum and gold palace that awaits Him, and the jewel incrusted throne from which He will rule the earth! Hollywood loves it’s special effects!

5) SIMPLE MANGER SCENE! Now as silly as that sounds, it’s no sillier than the manger scenes that are found in some store windows today. The manger looks more like a fancy five star hotel, and EVERYONE… not just the three wise men, are dressed in royal looking clothes, including Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds! Even the animals have gold bridles and ropes! Why must we insist on distorting the simplicity and commonness of that first Christmas manger scene? God WANTED it simple. God CHOSE to come quietly! God ELECTED to come in the “ordinariness” of everyday life! If you’re in doubt, then ask yourself: “Why wasn’t Jesus born in King Herod’s palace or in the Halls of Caesar?” “Why wasn’t Mary lying in a huge silken bed attended by dozens of royal doctors and midwives?” Fact is, nothing of the sort occurred! There were NO polished floors, just straw and dirt floors. Mary wrapped the baby in swaddling clothes herself – unattended! It was but a simple manger scene! And God chose to come quietly and simply into the ordinariness of everyday life!

6) WHY? Oh sure, that thing with the angels was a bit unusual. Their announcement was hardly ordinary. But on the other hand, look at the people they chose to announce the Good News to. Were they kings, and royalty? Were they learned Pharisees and Sadducees? Hardly! It was ordinary shepherds! Lowly shepherds! Uneducated shepherds! These were NOT the privileged, they were the outcasts of society! Why? Why didn’t God give us the full impact of divine spectacularism?! Why didn’t He soup-up the event with “MORE POWER?” And why… considering the simple, quiet, and ordinary way He broke into our world, …why does it hold such a dear place in our hearts?

7) GOD KNEW! Well, think about it. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never lived in a castle, or a palace. I don’t live a life of pomp and power! And while, admittedly, my life is definitely better off than most, I still tend to think of my life as being rather ordinary. Anyone else in the same boat? I mean we go to work or school everyday, and accomplish nothing particularly earth shattering. We deal with wonderful but ordinary people, who seem to have common struggles and habitual routines. Perhaps… just perhaps it’s safe to say that God knew you and I would not be able to relate to Hollywood’s version of a twelve foot, all-divine, glowing super hero, bursting into the world with such an impact that it would trip every circuit breaker in our finite brains! Naw, God purposely chose to leave that kind of imagery to Hollywood movies and big time wrestling! God KNEW where you and I are! And God KNEW what you and I needed!

8) ALWAYS GENTLE! Let me ask you, “Are you in anyway astounded every year at the remarkable gentleness on God’s part in the way He revealed Himself to you and me?” Because it is true – I can relate to that ordinary event! Can you? It blows me away to think of all the possible, countless ways that God could have entered this world, but He chose to invade History again through an ordinary event. I say “again”, because God has always been involved in His creation. He is always in control. He is always revealing Himself… in gentle ways… in the commonness of everyday life.

9) EXTRAORDINARY LOVE! What IS “extraordinary” about Christmas is not the simple event of a child being born, but the amazing love behind it! What IS “extraordinary” is that God “so loved the world” that He chose to empty Himself and enter history NOT as a spectacular king unable to relate to us… but as a tiny, vulnerable, powerless child! A child who would be raised by ordinary parents, eating plain food, being raised in a common carpenter’s shop! He will grow into a boy who will learn to use basic tools, earning standard wages, wearing simple clothes. He will know exactly what it is like to cry and laugh, to suffer and rejoice, to be hungry and to be filled, to be alone and among friends! The love that would voluntarily leave heaven to live as we do – that love, is extraordinary!

10) HE KNOWS! This child, now lying in the manger, will eventually teach ordinary people about the extraordinary love of God using parables about common people: a woman kneading bread, a farmer sowing seeds, a shepherd guarding his flock. This is a Savior who can relate to you and me! This is a Savior who knows EXACTLY what it means to walk in our shoes! This is a Savior who knows PRECISELY what we feel, and need! And this is a Messiah that came ONLY because God thought you and I were worthy enough, (despite all our weaknesses and faults)! This child was born for humankind! …to love ordinary people like you and me! Think on it: Had God NOT loved us, would there be a need for Christ? Had God NOT loved us, would there be a need for the cross? Had God NOT loved us, would there have been a resurrection? Fact is, He DOES love us, and there WAS a cross and resurrection! And so it is not the simple birth of “a child” that is so amazing – it is the love that knows how to reach us through this Christmas event that is so amazing!

11) EXTRAORDINARY LOVE IN ORDINARY LIFE! So, it’s fair to say that what happened this “Silent Night, Holy Night” was very ordinary, but the love behind it was extraordinary! And the consequences of the act were extraordinary! What began this night, (and was finished on Easter), freed us from the power of sin, Satan, and death. It created a gracious and sacred way to bring the children of God back into a loving and growing relationship with our heavenly Father! This child, then boy, then man… knows us, can relate to us, and brings us what we need but cannot provide for ourselves; the power and love of God! We can know God every time we come face to face with Jesus in prayer, commune with Him through the bread and wine, and listen to His voice as we read scripture! This extraordinary love is available to us in ordinary life!

12) EXTRAORDINARY LOVE! I look out and see familiar faces, and are glad that so many of you have learned this, and come to this ordinary church every Sunday because you know that God’s extraordinary love can be found here; in the Word, the Sacraments, and in prayer. Together, imperfect and ordinary people walk a spiritual journey where we are met by perfect love and an extraordinary God! I am also thankful for those of you who were drawn here tonight by the Holy Spirit and this extraordinary act of love – even though you may not presently be connected to a church home. It is a privilege to worship with you tonight! But remember, this extraordinary love is meant for you and I every ordinary day! And if God’s extraordinary love comes to you in scripture – should we not come regularly to a place where His word is read, studied, and applied to life? If God’s extraordinary love comes to us in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, should we not partake of it regularly? And if God’s extraordinary love comes to us in prayer, (and where ever two or more are gathered), should we not place ourselves in the company of those who can teach us to pray, who pray for us, and can witness to the power of prayer? So, in God’s name, I invite you to join us (imperfect and ordinary people) in our year long search, discussion, and reception of God’s blessings and love! This extraordinary love of God is not meant to be experienced just on Christmas or Easter – it is designed for every ordinary person – every ordinary day!

13) CHRIST/GOD! For tonight, it is enough to reflect upon this simple manger scene, and wonder at what lies behind it; extraordinary love! God chooses this night to reveal His heart to us in a remarkable gentleness, through the ordinary birth of a child. No matter how bizarrely we try to distort this Christmas event, the person of Christ comes through. For Christ is not found the red, green, silver, or gold of the season, …He isn’t found in bigger and better Christmas presents or parties, He isn’t found in the millions of lights and decorations often souped-up with “more power”, …He’s found in the ordinariness of every day. And so the shepherds eventually leave the manger, the great experience over, and they begin the long walk home. In the same way, Christmas day will come and go, the presents will get unwrapped, meals eaten, and another 25^th of December will become history. But the shepherds took something with them that would bless them in the ordinary days to come… first 1) the fact that their highest happiness has it’s source in God. 2) That God chose to enter this world through an ordinary human family, and came as a little child. And three, 3) that the love and life-giving power of God can be found even in a stable!

14) FOUND IN OUR ORDINARY LIVES! Friends, if God can be found in a common stable, then He can be found in our ordinary lives! Do you believe that? How can we expect to find God in the other 364 days of the year, if He cannot be found tonight, in these common moments of life, in the familiar blessings of family, or friendship, and affection? How can we find God on the day we take our last breathe if He cannot be found in daily prayer and devotion, or in the simple spiritual songs we sing, or in the ordinary ways we worship today? If God can be found in a common stable – then He can be found in our ordinary lives!

15) DISTURB THE ORDINARY WITH THE EXTRAORDINARY LOVE! Tonight, it is the purpose of Christ’s birth to help you and I see God’s presence in the common, humble, normal, ordinary, everyday humdrum events and people in our lives! Oh sure, there is always the temptation to imitate Tim “The Tool-man Taylor” and blow this night up out of proportion, try to give it “more power!”, until it becomes something that can only be grasped once a year. Even pastors are tempted to do something extraordinary in our preaching because, after all “it’s Christmas!” But God did not make this expression of love into a “big glitzy production” for a reason: the humble birth of God’s Son occurred so that you and I might see that Christ chooses to come to us everyday in the very same way. Gently, …quietly, …into the ordinary. He is here among us now… to disturb the ordinary with the extraordinary love of God!

PRAISE GOD!

AMEN!

Sermon/Confessional Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we confess that we often have a hard time recognizing you in the common ordinary routines of daily life, even though you are there, desiring to touch our hearts, minds, and souls with your extraordinary love. And we tend to take the quiet, humble event of Christ’s birth – and try to make it bigger, larger, and busier than necessary. Forgive us and help us to see how you went out of your way to show us that you can relate to us in our everyday and humble lives.

Lord, it is hard in the midst of this busy Christmas season to find what is truly important – and what will give us true meaning and joy! Forgive us for looking to parties, decorations, and presents to fill the void in our heart! As we look for the heart and soul of you, our Creator, help us discover it once again in the face of the Christ child! Help us to see that everything we need is lying there asleep in the manger. And when the time comes to leave this place, like the shepherds who also began their journey home on this night; help us to treasure this sacred but ordinary event in our hearts, that we may praise you and worship you for your unconditional and extraordinary love!

And now Lord, although you know us better than we know ourselves, listen as we share in a moment of silence, those other parts of our lives that need to be forgiven, washed clean, healed, and recommitted to you! (made anew.)

(Silence)

Lord, we thank you for ‘so loving us’ that you would do such an amazing thing; emptying yourself and coming to us in the flesh, that we might see your true and loving heart in the face of the precious Christ child. In this Silent Night, this Holy Night, let your love shine in our hearts as bright as the star above Bethlehem. And may it continue to shine brightly in all the ordinary days of our lives! It is in Jesus Name We Pray. AMEN

Assurance of Forgiveness:

Friends, listen to the good news: The Lord, who on this night disturbed the ordinary with extraordinary love, …that Lord has mercifully heard your confession and eagerly forgives you all your sins. Go now, and remember: when you look into the face of the baby Jesus, you have looked into the heart of God! Everything you have ever needed lies now in the manger. May our humble response be praise, worship, and faithful obedience… forever! Praise God! AMEN

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