12-10-2017 Dicken's Bringer of Hope
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Bottomline: Scrooge has the means to make a difference in someone’s life. What does it mean that he doesn’t?
I. Me and We
Dickens' scene Tiny Tim's family. So much joy and hope within the family. Touched Scrooge in a profound way. An opportunity which was missed by Scrooge
II. God ()
A. Mary, in hope, said Yes to God's mission.
Mary’s story is well known. A young girl, engaged, but not quite married, is visited by an angel and told she was going to be the mother to God’s son. While unsure of extactly how this would happen, or what it would be like, she said yes. A testamony of her faith.
Mary said yes to God because she trusted God and her relationship with God brought hope. Even though she didn’t know how things would work out, she knew she could trust God.
Perhaps Mary thought it would be kind of an instantanious thing. She had nothing to go on. Maybe she didn’t think about nine months of pregnancy. God’s mission is often like that. We get a sense of where we are suppose to go, but then when the details hit, we start wondering if we made a wise decision.
B. Elezebth and the baby within her, recognized the hope within Mary.
Being an unwed pregnaut woman in first century Judea was not something you plan on. When you insist that you are a virign and God did this to you, well, life is even harder. Mary decided to head to her ??? Elizabeth’s and who can blame her. Perhaps being out of sight during the pregancy would make things easier.
Elizebeth was pregnant as well. Maybe Mary thought Elizebth would believe her, after all, she shouldn’t be pregnant either. She was barren her whole life and well past child-bearing age. If anyone would understand what Mary was going through, it would be Elizebeht.
As Mary and Elizebeth met, Elizebeth sensed something. The child within her leaped! That’s not all, she was also filled with GOd’s spirit and said:
and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
Put yourself in Mary’s place. How difficult it must have been to face her future. Maybe she left ??? because she heard the whispers. She knew what people were saying. She knew they wouldn’t understand, they just couldn’t. And now shelearns that this miracle within Elizebeth lept for JOY!
Mary responds:
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
Luke 1:46-
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
I’m not sure how Mary felt before she talked to Elizabeth, but the result of their meeting is hope. Elizabeth brought hope to Mary, when Mary needed hope the most. What she was being called to do would not be easy and many wouldn’t understand, but hope sprung in Mary’s heart as she praised God.
Luke 1:48-
And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
B. Mary, in hope, said Yes to God's mission.
Clip: Scrooge watching Cratchet’s family (hope)
III. You and Us
A. Giving Hope (Jesus)
Hope is what Jesus brings. Why did the future Baptist leap with Joy? He was filled with hope!
B. How can you give hope to others this season?
The sad thing about Scrooge was that he could have been a bringer of hope. As he watched the cratchet family, I wonder if the thought ever crossed his mind that he could bring hope to that family.
II.
C. Missed opportunities (Scrooge)
Given all of his resources, Scrooge could have truly made a difference. Perhaps you hear about Bill Gates, one of the richest men in the world. The first part of his life was focused on ambition, building a company, changing computing, and other goals. Then he realized that having resources and not using them wasn’t good.
Now, in his current seasion of life he is focused on changing the world through multiple focuses.
Our Global Development Division works to help the world’s poorest people lift themselves out of hunger and poverty. Our Global Health Division aims to harness advances in science and technology to save lives in developing countries. Our United States Division works to improve U.S. high school and postsecondary education and support vulnerable children and families in Washington State. And our Global Policy & Advocacy Division seeks to build strategic relationships and promote policies that will help advance our work. Our approach to grantmaking in all four areas emphasizes collaboration, innovation, risk-taking, and, most importantly, results.
Not only is Gates using his resources to transform the world, he is bringing hope.
We can choose to be Hope Bringers.
We may not have the resources of Bill Gates, but we all have something to offer. Elizabeth didn’t have much to offer other than her understand, compassion, and presence. Sometimes somone just needs someone to be with them.
Hope is what Jesus brings. Why did the future Baptist leap with Joy? He was filled with hope!
We can choose to be Hope Bringers.
1. Words of thanks
We spent last month focusing on gratitude and how we can respond to God’s generosity. One of the ways we can bring hope to others is to practice responding…a simple thank you…can actually bring hope to others.
2. Words of hope
We can bring hope by sharing words of hope. While people might go through a tough time, we can always remind them that their story isn’t over yet.
3. Acts of kindness
4. Prayers of hope (???)
I may want to focus on this…an issue of discipleship. If we are reluctant to pray for others, who will?
5. Opportunities this Season
Give to others
Spend time with others
