Sermon Tone Analysis
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Advent
Recap
Adventus means coming
For Jesus’ first and second coming
Candles for the light of the world
4 centuries (Malachi to Matthew)
Wreath is circular
Points are for thorns, berries for blood
Last week’s candle was the “hope” candle
AKA the “prophets” candle
This week is the “peace” candle
AKA the “Bethlehem” candle
LIGHT CANDLE
Introduction
Performing ”A Christmas Carol” this year
Last week we looked at the story and compared to Christmas now
I told story that Jacob Marley wanted to help Scrooge
Sent him 3 ghosts - Past, Present and Yet to Come
The goal was to show Scrooge his life in order to change his heart
Last week we looked at the Ghost of Christmas Past
He showed Scrooge how his past had good and bad
His dad was a jerk, but his boss and fiance loved him
Yet he chose to become a selfish and greedy person
When Scrooge returns to his bedroom, he meets the second ghost (Present)
This spirit took Scrooge over to his clerks house - Bob Cratchit
Here, he saw Bob walk in with his son, Tiny Tim, leaning on a crutch and very ill
Scrooge asks if the boy will live
The Ghost explains that in the future there will be a vacant seat at the table, and a crutch without an owner
And then the Ghost decides to quote something Scrooge says earlier
When Scrooge is asked to help the poor, he says this line, and the Ghost says it now to apply to Tiny Tim
He says, “If he is to die, then let him die; and decrease the surplus population!”
Of course this stings Scrooge - he said that when he didn’t know who he was talking about
But now that he sees this little boy dying, he doesn’t feel that way
But the Ghost isn’t done, he says this:
“If man you be in heart, not adamant, forbear that wicked cant until you have discovered What the surplus is, and Where it is.
Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die?
It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man’s child.
Oh God! to hear the Insect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much life among his hungry brothers in the dust!”
After this, the Ghost gives Scrooge a warning
He reveals two mangled children: They are the problem with mankind
The two things that cause us to avoid helping other people who need it
The children are named Ignorance and Want
YouVersion: The Ghost of Christmas Present
We’re in Matthew 2:1-23
We’re comparing the Wise Men to Herod
Matthew 2:1–2 (ESV)
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?
For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
These “wise men” are called the Magi
They are not 3 kings, although we sing that
There is no reference to “3” at all except 3 gifts
Early church thought 12
Remember our Daniel series, Judah was captured by Babylon (700 years before Christ)
All the valuable people brought to Babylon - including Daniel
Becomes one of his “wise men”
As Babylon conquered, their collection of “wise men” grew from many places
Physicians, astrologers, scholars and magicians all shared different lessons
This group is referenced multiple times in Scripture
Daniel (and others) likely shared Micah’s prophecy with the group
Then centuries passed
Babylon fell to Medo-Persia
Medo-Persia fell to Greece
Alexander the Great’s empire was scattered
Rome came on the scene
That’s a lot of time for them to be waiting...
1.
The Wise Men were aware of good on Christmas
Here’s a little of what they knew:
Micah 5:2 (ESV)
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
They also knew to follow a star
Some think Balaam’s prophecy was the clue:
Numbers 24:17 (ESV)
17 I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall crush the forehead of Moab
and break down all the sons of Sheth.
This is what we have today in Scripture
But remember these guys had personal conversations with prophets like Daniel
They probably had way more detailed instructions
They’ve been waiting for the Messiah, and they knew the signs to look for
But they made a bit of a mistake… they went to Jerusalem
That’s not where Jesus was, He was either still in Bethlehem or made His way back to Nazareth
Star had stopped shining, so they probably assumed since He was a king He’d end up in Jerusalem
Now they stand before Herod, asking for King
Matthew 2:3–6 (ESV)
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’
”
Why was Herod troubled?
He thought Jesus was a threat!
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