Sermon Tone Analysis

Once I read about a very peculiar quote that appeared on a church bulletin board: “IF GOD IS FAR AWAY, WHO HAS LEFT?”

We often live our lives with little awareness of how close God really is to us.

Yet, there are time in life when certain things happen that sensitizes us to the reality that God truly is physically close to us: maybe something happens in the worship service that this fact becomes a reality, or then again, maybe a tragedy in our lives moves our awareness of His nearness, or to the need for Him to be near.

I remember a time, not that long ago — maybe 15 years ago — on a Sunday morning, Tanya and I were in the worship service.

The congregation was following the usual order of service.

We just receive assurance that our sin are forgiven in Christ and in response, instead of we the congregation praying the Kyrie — Lord, have mercy — along with the varied petitions, that Sunday the choir sang a version.

I was honestly overcome!

I literally began to weep in the full knowledge that God is truly with us.

In today’s Gospel reading, the miracle of Jesus’ birth is important; but there is something more important.

You see, in this birth God is “with us.”

HE IS WITH US AS THE GOD-MAN

He who is with us is true God.

He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in a virgin (vv.

18, 20b)

He is without sin ()

He is not merely godly but actually and fully God (; ).

He was, is, and remains God ()

He who is with us is true Man

He was born of a woman ()

He has a human body, with wants and feelings.

He lived in the real world, experiencing joy and sorrow, acceptance and rejection.

Jesus, the God-Man, is with us still — “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” ().

Since He assumed our human nature, He will never cease being a man.

HE IS WITH US WITH HIS SALVATION

He came to save us from our sin ()

Sin is a terrible reality.

It corrupts

It separates from God

It condemns

Only God and Mary’s Son could save us ()

As man He kept the Law and died in our stead.

As God He was able to bear the suffering and to rise from the dead.

Let Him be your Savior

Not other things: Prayer, Faith, or Piety.

Jesus alone saves from the guilt, punishment, and power of sin.

His salvation is a daily reality (; )

The overarching theme of Advent is this:

God has come to be with us as the God-Man with His salvation.

In fact He has promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

How close God is to us!

Prayer of the Church

Fourth Sunday in Advent

22 December 2019

Lord, You have taught us to pray and encouraged us to open our hearts to You on behalf of ourselves and all those in need.

Hear us now as we come to You in Jesus’ name.

Brief silence

You established the earth and the heavens, O Lord, and created us to exercise dominion over all that You made.

Grant to us wisdom to know and rejoice in the orders You have established on earth, so that we may be restored to this purpose in Christ and fulfill all the responsibilities that You have assigned us to do in Your name.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

You have set in place the times and the seasons, O Lord, and reveal in them the salvation promised to us in Your Son.

Give us faith that we may ask for no sign except Christ, whose death and resurrection fulfill all the promises of Your Word and vindicate the prophets who spoke that Word by Your command.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

You have kept Your Word and delivered to us Your own Son by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin.

Guide us so that we may rejoice in the Word made flesh and in the redemption He has won by His holy life, life-giving death and resurrection.

Bless all pastors, that they may faithfully preach and teach this Gospel.

Open the hearts of young men to hear and heed Your call to the ministry.

Bless all church workers in their various vocations, that they may serve us well in Your name.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

You have granted many gifts and skills to Your people, O Lord, that they may serve us when we are most weak and vulnerable.

Be with the police who protect us, the firefighters who serve us, those who employ all medical arts to relieve suffering and aid healing, and the counselors who assist those troubled in mind or heart.

Bless every effort on behalf of those who endure man-made or natural disasters.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, You have granted to civil officials and governments the authority to promote order, execute justice, encourage virtue and protect the weak.

Bless our president; our governor; our state legislators; our county and city leaders; and all judges and magistrates.

Help them to hear and heed the wisdom of Your Word and to act with integrity as they fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to them.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

You are the giver of every good gift, O Lord, and You care for us in all our needs of body, mind and spirit.

Give healing to the sick, relief to the suffering, peace to the dying and comfort to those who mourn.

This holy season we especially pray for those dealing with various illnesses and diseases: Karen Prenzlow-Schaal; Matt Young; Linda Bateman; Holly Weiland; Darsie Hartzell; Barb Lynch.

We also pray for Jeff Warhol as he recovers from surgery, and we pray for those whom we name aloud at this time _______________.

According to Your gracious will, sustain them all by Your grace, and give them patience and courage as they await the unfolding of Your healing grace.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

You have provided us many and rich resources to support this daily life and to use in the care of those in need, O Lord.

Grant to us a generous heart, that we may give generously and cheerfully for the sake of Your work, Your Church and the poor.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

You know our weakness and how we struggle with temptation, O Lord.

Give us discerning minds and steadfast hearts, that we may rejoice in the annual celebration of Your Son’s birth.

Keep us from being distracted from the gift of Your Son, and teach us to highly treasure the mystery of His incarnation and the fruits of His redemptive work.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy to provide us all things as we have need; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord.

Amen.

Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy to provide us all things as we have need; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord.

Amen.