Sermon Tone Analysis

As we enter into the season of Advent excitement builds as the month races on.

We look forward to the telling of the story...

In a distant place, long ago, people await a hero to give the oppressed hope, a leader to bring victory over the powers of darkness and tyranny.

Born in humble circumstance and yet people will gather around this figure expectantly.

The story will tell how those that looked towards this ‘leader’ are filled with anticipation.

This his event has been told by many, over years through stories and visions.

Throughout the galaxy, there have been hints and rumours and now this icon is taking their place, to fight the final fight, the deciding battle where good will triumph.

December the 19th sees the latest episode in the epic story that is Star Wars hit the silver screens.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t just a little excited and yes I have already bought tickets.

It is a strangely familiar story - I wonder where they may have borrowed it from?

It is a story of hope over despair, of triumph over evil, of waiting and deliverance.

A few thousand years ago in a distant place, rumours of the coming of a great leader were whispered throughout the region, mentioned in scriptures and conversations.

These were stories of someone who would change the course of history.

A saviour that would conquer evil and bring hope to generations.

A leader that thousands would follow, that would lead the way in the triumph of good over evil.

Foretold in prophecy such as Isaiah

, :

The story of the advent, is one of waiting for something or some one to come-

We have the luxury of 2000 years of hindsight and history - we know the end of the story but the people then did not they had only one thing to point towards the future foretold in prophecy - Hope.

The practical start of advent.

The practical start of Advent is often taken to be the story of the announcement of a forthcoming baby boy, a baby born in miraculous circumstance.

No not that one - John

Luke 1

The story of John the Baptist mirrors the outline of the human story and foretells that of Jesus

The story of John is a story of dispair and dishonour of shame - tempered with hope.

How Elizabeth and Zachariah must have longed for a child, how disappointment must have reigned in the their lives at time as month after month, year after year of marriage brought no child.

How they must have born the shame that others projected onto them for not being able to concieve.

‘do you see Zack and Betty, they can’t have children, they have clearly done something bad, sinned and him a priest as well’

And yet they were faithful to God.

Because of this God blessed them in their old age.

Everyone around them, even themselves would have considered their barreness to be a bad thing - maybe this was not a bad time but a waiting time and advent - a waiting time for God’s amazing blessing, a child at a perfect time.

Not a convenient time.

Not a conventional time but a time determined by the great I am, a child who’s timing would bring hope to those around him.

I wonder how often we mistake our own personal advents as times of abandonment or dispair.

We are going through a rough patch waiting for a change, a break, a miracle.

We get despondent with waiting, we may feel abandoned - even punished.

but what if this is a waiting period - what if this is a time we a being called to be obedient.

-What if this is our Advent time - the time before a God timed, God determined breakthrough that will not only restore us, bless us but will impact on those around us?

The Birth of John

The birth of John certainly impacted on others.

The age of the couple

The complete turn around from Barren to Bless

The breaking of tradition - not calling him Zach.

This is what an encounter with Jesus does for us. it brings life, transformation and breaks the bonds of our past - this is hope.

John’s birth spoke of this hope, the prophesy of John’s life spoke of the hope for the nation - and John went on speaking repentance and hope.

The life of John.

Lukes gospel tells us of the life of John

and when he appeared in public

This statement about John is a great image for how we as believers are to live.

We are to be strong in spirit.

I’ll get to this in a minute

We are to live in the wilderness.

I don’t mean camp out on Fiskerton Fen.

We are called to live in the world.

John engaged with all people - rich and poor, righteous and righteous.

who ever he spoke to he professed repentance and hope in the place they were.

he never spoke separation or isolation but how to live for God in the context they were in.

He was quizzed by both tax-collectors and soldiers about what they needed to do to be right with God.

Both of these positions required cooperation with the Roman Empire, and they were wondering if they had to quit their jobs.

John tells them no, but to do their jobs in a righteous manner.

This is important for us today as so many are required to cooperate with employers, states, and corporations that are—in part—engaged in immoral actions.

We read:

Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

And he said to them, “Collect no more than is appointed you.”

Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?”

And he said to them, “Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages” [].

Isn’t this great advice on how to live differently?

every tax collector took a little on the side, every soldier used their muscle and influence to extract extra pay.

John teaches us that we are to live in the wilderness - amongst the world but we are to live differently.

Empowered by the spirit and bringing hope to others - we do this by libing authentically aligning our lives and our beliefs oour actions and our words.

- put out money where our mouth is.

We are to live authentically -

John had a bit to say on authentic living

When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: “Brood of snakes!

What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river?

Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God’s judgment?

It’s your life that must change, not your skin.

Challenge - wrong -

“But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done,” (, NIV)

As we

But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire

Us in the wilderness -

Thats an interesting thought - given the things that are going on around us in politics and society and that this was what eventually lead John to Prison and to lose his head

There is a cost, but we are called to be authentic whatever, And we are to speak of our hope.

I said we would get to living strong in the spirit.

Zacharia - was filled with the spirt when he prophosied over John.

John declared the future events that

But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire

The New International Version.

(2011).

().

Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

We live in the age where we are filled with the spirt, where we are baptised by spirit and fire, - empowered, encouraged.

And we are called like John to bring hope.

but do we?

And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

Do we declare good news to others - do we bring hope.

This is the easiest time of year to speak of Jesus the baby but the hardest to speak of Jesus our personal saviour and with all the rush and bustle it is often a time it is hard to demonstrably live differently, authentically and show the good news of Christ.

End

This advent I pray for us all two things.

Firstly that if you are in a time personal time of waiting for God to do something that you will be strengthened and encourages as you remain obedient to Him