Fourth Sunday Of Advent
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Cycle A, THIRD EDITION
THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Isaiah 7:10--16 (C); Isaiah 7:10--14 (RC); Isaiah 7:10--17 (E)
Yahweh gave King Ahaz the sign of a child as deliverance. The historical situation behind this Lesson needs to be known for an understanding of the passage. It was the time of the Syro--Ephramite war (736--734 B.C.). Israel and Syria joined in an attack on Judah and King Ahaz. He planned to get help from Assyria, but Yahweh through Isaiah urged him not to do it, but to rely on Yahweh for deliverance. With a practical and pietistic mind, Ahaz preferred to get help from Assyria. To prove that Yahweh would save his country, Yahweh asks Ahaz to ask for a sign as proof of his promise. Ahaz refuses to ask for a sign. Yahweh declares he will give a sign anyway: a woman will bear a child with the name Emmanuel and by the time he reaches the age of reason, Ahaz's enemies will be gone. This passage is used by Matthew in today's Gospel as support for the virgin birth. However, the word for "woman" (almah) in 7:14 is "woman," "girl," or "maiden" who may or may not be a virgin. The Septuagint uses parthenos which means "virgin." Matthew chose to use LXX to prooftext the virgin birth. Originally the pericope had no connection with the prophecy of the virgin birth of Jesus. How then can it be used for preaching on Advent 4? A preacher can use the passage in terms of the sign of a child, the child Jesus, as a sign of God's favor and providence. Significance can be seen in the name, "Emmanuel." Yahweh was telling Ahaz that God was with him. For Christians, the name, applied to Jesus, means that in Jesus, God is with us.
Lesson 2: Romans 1:1--7 (C, RC, E)
Paul identifies Jesus as both human and divine. These opening verses of Romans constitute one of the most important Christological statements in the New Testament. Having never been to Rome, Paul feels the need to identify himself as a slave of Christ and set apart for the gospel. Then he explains what he understands as the gospel: Jesus is both human and divine. Physically he descended from David. Also, he was "designated" Son of God because of his resurrection. It is through this human--divine Jesus that he was set apart to bring to all people obedience of the faith. In "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," Charles Wesley expressed this dual nature: "Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail, incarnate deity!"
Gospel: Matthew 1:18--25 (C, E); Matthew 1:18--24 (RC)
Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and named Jesus. The Gospels for Advent 4 and Christmas give back to back Matthew's and Luke's narratives of Jesus' birth. Matthew gives the story from Joseph's viewpoint. The emphasis is upon the virgin birth and the naming of Jesus by an angel. Finding his fianc e pregnant, Joseph, being a righteous man, planned to divorce Mary quietly. However, in a dream an angel explained to Joseph that Mary's child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was told to name the child "Jesus." Matthew sees this as a fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 by interpreting "woman" as "virgin." This pericope is appropriately used on Advent 4 because the emphasis is not on the birth but on the conception by the Holy Spirit and the annunciation that a holy child is to be born.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 80:1--7, 17--19 (C) - "Bring us back, O God! Show us your mercy, and we will be saved" (v. 3).
Psalm 23:1--6 (RC) - "Let the Lord enter."
Psalm 24 (E) - "Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; and the king of glory shall come in" (v. 7).
Prayer Of The Day
"Stir up your power and come to us, bringing light into the darkness of our hearts; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever."
Hymn Of The Day
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"
Theme Of The Day: The Day Of The Lord
Gospel - Human - born of Mary; divine - conceived by the Spirit - Matthew 1:18--25
Lesson 1 - Human - born of a woman; divine - Emmanuel (God with us) - Isaiah 7:10--16
Lesson 2 - Human - son of David; divine - Son of God - Romans 1:1--7
On this Sunday prior to Christmas when we celebrate the Incarnation, the Lessons deal with the twofold nature of the coming Christ--child. The Lessons, Prayer, and Psalm of the Day witness to the dual nature of Jesus: human and divine. The Gospel gives us the virgin birth account: human because born of a woman but divine by virtue of the conception by the Spirit. Lesson 1 deals with the promise of a child to be born as a sign of God's coming deliverance of his people. This child is human and divine because his name means "God with us." Paul in Lesson 2 speaks of Jesus as son of David (human) and Son of God (divine). The Prayer of the Day includes the dual nature as "one with the Father and the Spirit." This theme helps us to understand the coming event of Christmas: the God--man Jesus, the Word in flesh. Knowing the child is both human and divine helps us to prepare for the big celebration on Christmas.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Matthew 1:18--25
1. Found (v. 18). "Found" - that is putting it mildly for those times! Before marriage Mary was "found" to be with child. Today the news of an unwed prospective mother would hardly raise eyebrows. Teenage premarital sex is so common that many take pregnancy in their stride. But, in Mary's day, it was a bomb! It meant a divorce by the betrothed resulting in public shame and disgrace. The family of the girl would lose face in the community. The adulteress could be stoned to death. It took an angel's visit to get Joseph to accept a pregnant bride. In light of this, we must appreciate and admire the courage and devotion of Mary in consenting to be the mother of Christ.
2. Did (v. 24). Joseph was an obedient young man. He "did" what the angel commanded him to do. As far as we know, he made no protest, and gave no hesitation to do what he was commanded. Jesus had a godly "father" in Joseph, a good man. Not only was he obedient but he was compassionate. Out of compassion he had planned to put Mary away quietly and privately to avoid humiliation for her. Joseph made an ideal husband. In our Christmas story, we must be careful that we do not make Joseph a forgotten man.
3. Knew (v. 25). Joseph "knew" not Mary until Jesus was born. This infers that he did "know" her after the birth. If so, that ends the Roman church's teaching that Mary was a perpetual virgin. "Knew" is the Bible's way of saying a couple had marital relations in terms of copulation. It is a most intimate term denoting the closest possible relationship. Since Joseph did not "know" Mary prior to Jesus' birth, it means that it was a virgin birth by the Spirit. This does not imply that marital sex is dirty or sinful, but that Jesus was unique, the sole product of God the Father.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 7:10--16
1. Sign (v. 11). In most cases a human asks God for a sign. Gideon asked for a sign of the fleece. Moses wanted a sign of a rod that turned into a snake. Here it is different! Yahweh asks King Ahaz if he would like a "sign" of his power and trustworthiness. God was more anxious to help than Ahaz was to be helped.
2. Test (v. 12). Ahaz explains his refusal to see a sign by saying he did not want to "test" Yahweh. In one way he was justified. Jesus told the devil, "You shall not tempt (test) the Lord thy God." With Ahaz it was a lack of faith and trust in his God. He was a practical man. He saw two armies surrounding his capitol. He felt he needed more than a pious promise. He needed military aid that only Assyria could give. In this situation Ahaz was more interested in trusting man than God. On our coins we say, "In God we trust." Would we trust him if he told us to scrap our defense budget and let him defeat terrorism for us? You see, we are in the same boat with Ahaz.
3. Emmanuel (v. 14). The child to be born was to have the name, "Emmanuel." It means "God with us." This is what Isaiah was trying to get across to Ahaz: God is with us in this national crisis. He will fight our battles for us. Trust him and do not seek foreign military aid. It is the sign of a child. Give the name of Jesus, for he was truly God with us in the flesh. This is the mystery and majesty of Christmas.
Lesson 2: Romans 1:1--7
1. Servant (v. 1). In Greek the word for "servant" is doulos, meaning "slave." A follower of Christ is more than a servant who may work for wages and who is free to quit at any time. A slave has no such freedom. A slave is not his own person but is owned by the master's purchase. A Christian is a slave bought by the precious blood of Christ. A slave gets no wages except the reward of the master's "well done." As a slave, a Christian is obedient to the Master's will. In this slavery a Christian finds perfect freedom.
2. Gospel (v. 3). Paul plans to come to Rome to preach the Gospel. But, what is his understanding of the Gospel? He sums it up in one person, Jesus Christ. He is the Good News. Why? Because of who Jesus is. Paul sees the humanity of Jesus, a real human being, totally human in every respect, as a descendant of a human David. But, Paul claims Jesus is more than human. He is at the same time the Son of God who was so designated by his victory over sin and death. Through the ministry of this Jesus, the world has been freed from the bondage of sin.
3. To be (v. 7). Paul tells who he is and what or whom he preaches. Who are the people in the church
at Rome? Paul identifies them as God's beloved and as people called "to be" saints. A saint is a believer in Christ and is one who by faith is clothed with Christ's righteousness. In one sense a Christian is a saint, but salvation is a process. We are saints and are yet to be saints. We are to become what we are. We are saints by justification; we are "to be" saints by sanctification.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Problems Of Preaching On Advent 4
1. Dual nature of Jesus. The Lessons deal with the human--divine nature of Christ. The preacher faces the question: which of these should be emphasized? With Christmas but a few days off, will the Christmas message deal with the human or with the divine side of the Christ--child? In the light of the Gospel's account of the virgin birth, Lesson 2's mention of Jesus as Son of God and the twofold use of "Emmanuel," it would seem that the divine nature of Jesus would be considered in the sermon on Advent 4.
2. The name of Jesus. A possible theme for this day could be the name. In Lesson 1 the promised child is to be named "Emmanuel." Lesson 2 refers to "for the sake of his name." The Gospel tells of an angel who instructs Joseph to name the child "Jesus." Since the "Name of Jesus" day falls on January 1, this theme would be considered at this time. To avoid duplication, the preacher on Advent 4 would steer away from the name theme.
3. The virgin birth. This may be a controversial subject in a congregation. To preach on it may not be wise or appropriate for the Christmas season about to begin. Fundamentalists (literalists) in the congregation demand the acceptance of the virgin birth. Others are offended by the doctrine. Still others do not think it is important.
4. Two Christmas stories. In the lectionary for Cycle A, we have two consecutive Sundays with two Christmas stories: Advent 4 - Matthew's account; Christmas - Luke's story. Since Christmas can be no longer than a week from Advent 4, how can the preacher avoid duplication of themes? Shall he surrender Advent 4 and begin the Christmas celebration?
5. Prophecy and fulfillment. In Advent 4, we face a problem with the exegesis of Lesson 1 and Gospel. Scholars are agreed that Isaiah 7:14 is not a prophecy of the Messiah's birth. Matthew tears this passage out of context and uses it as a fulfillment of the virgin birth. The preacher will be true to the text as revealed through the historical--critical method of exegesis.
Three Lessons: Isaiah 7:10--16; Romans 1:1--7; Matthew 1:18--25
What Child Is This?
Need: On this Fourth Sunday Of Advent the congregation stands on the threshold of Christmas. It is time to consider the meaning of Christmas. Why do we exchange gifts, get merry, attend parties, decorate a tree, sing carols, and go to special church services? Who started all this? Who was born on Christmas? Why do we make so much ado about a baby? A Christmas hymn asks, "What child is this?" The three lessons answer -
Outline: What child is this?
a. A sign of deliverance - Lesson 1 (vv. 11, 14).
b. A son of David and God - Lesson 2 (vv. 3--4).
c. A Savior - Gospel (v. 21).
Gospel: Matthew 1:18--25
1. Who Is The Father Of This Child? 1:20
Need: The virgin birth can be a problem for some. Fundamentalists (literalists) accept the virgin birth without question because the Bible says so. Liberals may not believe in it. Others may not know what to believe, or do not consider it essential to faith. The people may be in the position of Joseph in the Gospel - who is the father of this coming child? Joseph or God? This sermon should help to clarify the situation. It should answer such questions as, "Can I be a Christian without believing in the virgin birth?" or "Is it necessary to believe in the virgin birth to be saved?" In the Gospel, Joseph faced the problem of Mary's pregnancy just as we do.
Outline: What the virgin birth says to the modern person.
a. What it does not say.
1. Sex is evil; normal birth is inferior to virgin birth.
2. The virgin birth made Jesus sinless.
3. The virgin birth caused Jesus to be divine.
4. Belief in the virgin birth is necessary to salvation.
b. What it does say.
1. Jesus is unique among human beings.
2. Jesus is altogether God's work, God's initiative.
3. All things are possible with God.
2. A Blender For Christmas. 1:20--23
Need: At Christmas a good blender is a popular gift. Various foods and liquids can be put in a blender and in a minute or two the items are blended into one substance. The various items cannot be distinguished one from the other. At Christmas, God sent the world a blender - Jesus. In him God and man, divinity and humanity, were so perfectly blended that no one can separate the human and divine natures in him. He is all human and all God, perfectly blended into one integrated personality, a God--man.
Outline: Consider the divine blender from God.
a. The human nature of God - vv. 20, 21. Born of a woman - born as a human.
b. The divine nature of Jesus - vv. 20--23. Conceived by the Holy Spirit - a God--given name.
3. The High Cost Of Christmas. 1:18--25
Need: Christmas is a costly event for more Americans. To buy gifts, they go in debt which is not paid off for months. Though Christmas may be costly to us, think of the cost to God. Jesus was a precious gift. It cost God his all while it cost us only money.
Outline: Consider the high cost of Christmas to God.
a. Cost himself - "Emmanuel, God with us" - v. 23.
b. Cost humility - born of a virgin - v. 18.
c. Cost the cross - "he will save his people from their sins" - v. 21.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 7:10--14
1. A Baby Barges In! Isaiah 7:10--14; Matthew 1:18--25
Need: Every child has a right to be wanted. In these passages two men did not want a baby, Ahaz, king of Judah, was offered a baby as a sign of God's deliverance of the nation from the two nations besieging Jerusalem. Joseph did not want Mary's unborn baby, for he was about to divorce her. At this Christmas, a baby boy barges into our lives. Do we want this Christ--child?
Outline: The baby Jesus barges into our lives.
a. We may reject the child - Isaiah 7:10--14. Like Ahaz, we don't want divine help. We say, "I want to do it myself." We will take care of ourselves. We have come of age to handle our own problems.
b. We may accept the child - Matthew 1:18--25.
1. God explains who the child is - v. 20.
2. God explains what the child will do - v. 20.
3. God commands Joseph to accept the child - v. 24.
2. Do You Really Want Christmas? 7:10--14
Need: Do we really want Christmas to come? Are we tired of bills, parties, and busyness? Maybe we want Christmas if it means only gifts, friends, and days off from work or school. What about the real meaning of Christmas - "Emmanuel: God with us?" To have a real Christmas means to have God in Jesus come into our lives.
Outline: Like Ahaz, we may not want God to be with us because:
a. God would make us feel guilty for our sins.
b. God would want us to repent and mend our ways.
c. God would ask us to trust him for deliverance.
Lesson 2: Romans 1:1--7
Life With A Double Dimension. 1:3, 4
Need: Like Jesus, we have a double dimension to our lives. We are body and soul, creature and child of God, carnal and spiritual, mortal and immortal. Most folks think of themselves only in one dimension - being human, flesh, and blood, material creatures. This results in the neglect of the spiritual dimension of life. On the other hand, we cannot be so spiritual that we cease to be human.
Outline: Like Jesus, each of us has a double dimension.
a. Descended - v. 3. Jesus descends to man to be man through the royal lineage of David. He honors our humanity by becoming one of us. As humans we have descended from Adam. We are creatures of God.
b. Designated - v. 4. By his resurrection Jesus is designated as Son of God. By grace, we are also designated sons of God by faith in Christ. We are children of God by grace.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 7:10--16 (C); Isaiah 7:10--14 (RC); Isaiah 7:10--17 (E)
Yahweh gave King Ahaz the sign of a child as deliverance. The historical situation behind this Lesson needs to be known for an understanding of the passage. It was the time of the Syro--Ephramite war (736--734 B.C.). Israel and Syria joined in an attack on Judah and King Ahaz. He planned to get help from Assyria, but Yahweh through Isaiah urged him not to do it, but to rely on Yahweh for deliverance. With a practical and pietistic mind, Ahaz preferred to get help from Assyria. To prove that Yahweh would save his country, Yahweh asks Ahaz to ask for a sign as proof of his promise. Ahaz refuses to ask for a sign. Yahweh declares he will give a sign anyway: a woman will bear a child with the name Emmanuel and by the time he reaches the age of reason, Ahaz's enemies will be gone. This passage is used by Matthew in today's Gospel as support for the virgin birth. However, the word for "woman" (almah) in 7:14 is "woman," "girl," or "maiden" who may or may not be a virgin. The Septuagint uses parthenos which means "virgin." Matthew chose to use LXX to prooftext the virgin birth. Originally the pericope had no connection with the prophecy of the virgin birth of Jesus. How then can it be used for preaching on Advent 4? A preacher can use the passage in terms of the sign of a child, the child Jesus, as a sign of God's favor and providence. Significance can be seen in the name, "Emmanuel." Yahweh was telling Ahaz that God was with him. For Christians, the name, applied to Jesus, means that in Jesus, God is with us.
Lesson 2: Romans 1:1--7 (C, RC, E)
Paul identifies Jesus as both human and divine. These opening verses of Romans constitute one of the most important Christological statements in the New Testament. Having never been to Rome, Paul feels the need to identify himself as a slave of Christ and set apart for the gospel. Then he explains what he understands as the gospel: Jesus is both human and divine. Physically he descended from David. Also, he was "designated" Son of God because of his resurrection. It is through this human--divine Jesus that he was set apart to bring to all people obedience of the faith. In "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," Charles Wesley expressed this dual nature: "Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail, incarnate deity!"
Gospel: Matthew 1:18--25 (C, E); Matthew 1:18--24 (RC)
Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and named Jesus. The Gospels for Advent 4 and Christmas give back to back Matthew's and Luke's narratives of Jesus' birth. Matthew gives the story from Joseph's viewpoint. The emphasis is upon the virgin birth and the naming of Jesus by an angel. Finding his fianc e pregnant, Joseph, being a righteous man, planned to divorce Mary quietly. However, in a dream an angel explained to Joseph that Mary's child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was told to name the child "Jesus." Matthew sees this as a fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 by interpreting "woman" as "virgin." This pericope is appropriately used on Advent 4 because the emphasis is not on the birth but on the conception by the Holy Spirit and the annunciation that a holy child is to be born.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 80:1--7, 17--19 (C) - "Bring us back, O God! Show us your mercy, and we will be saved" (v. 3).
Psalm 23:1--6 (RC) - "Let the Lord enter."
Psalm 24 (E) - "Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; and the king of glory shall come in" (v. 7).
Prayer Of The Day
"Stir up your power and come to us, bringing light into the darkness of our hearts; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever."
Hymn Of The Day
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"
Theme Of The Day: The Day Of The Lord
Gospel - Human - born of Mary; divine - conceived by the Spirit - Matthew 1:18--25
Lesson 1 - Human - born of a woman; divine - Emmanuel (God with us) - Isaiah 7:10--16
Lesson 2 - Human - son of David; divine - Son of God - Romans 1:1--7
On this Sunday prior to Christmas when we celebrate the Incarnation, the Lessons deal with the twofold nature of the coming Christ--child. The Lessons, Prayer, and Psalm of the Day witness to the dual nature of Jesus: human and divine. The Gospel gives us the virgin birth account: human because born of a woman but divine by virtue of the conception by the Spirit. Lesson 1 deals with the promise of a child to be born as a sign of God's coming deliverance of his people. This child is human and divine because his name means "God with us." Paul in Lesson 2 speaks of Jesus as son of David (human) and Son of God (divine). The Prayer of the Day includes the dual nature as "one with the Father and the Spirit." This theme helps us to understand the coming event of Christmas: the God--man Jesus, the Word in flesh. Knowing the child is both human and divine helps us to prepare for the big celebration on Christmas.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Matthew 1:18--25
1. Found (v. 18). "Found" - that is putting it mildly for those times! Before marriage Mary was "found" to be with child. Today the news of an unwed prospective mother would hardly raise eyebrows. Teenage premarital sex is so common that many take pregnancy in their stride. But, in Mary's day, it was a bomb! It meant a divorce by the betrothed resulting in public shame and disgrace. The family of the girl would lose face in the community. The adulteress could be stoned to death. It took an angel's visit to get Joseph to accept a pregnant bride. In light of this, we must appreciate and admire the courage and devotion of Mary in consenting to be the mother of Christ.
2. Did (v. 24). Joseph was an obedient young man. He "did" what the angel commanded him to do. As far as we know, he made no protest, and gave no hesitation to do what he was commanded. Jesus had a godly "father" in Joseph, a good man. Not only was he obedient but he was compassionate. Out of compassion he had planned to put Mary away quietly and privately to avoid humiliation for her. Joseph made an ideal husband. In our Christmas story, we must be careful that we do not make Joseph a forgotten man.
3. Knew (v. 25). Joseph "knew" not Mary until Jesus was born. This infers that he did "know" her after the birth. If so, that ends the Roman church's teaching that Mary was a perpetual virgin. "Knew" is the Bible's way of saying a couple had marital relations in terms of copulation. It is a most intimate term denoting the closest possible relationship. Since Joseph did not "know" Mary prior to Jesus' birth, it means that it was a virgin birth by the Spirit. This does not imply that marital sex is dirty or sinful, but that Jesus was unique, the sole product of God the Father.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 7:10--16
1. Sign (v. 11). In most cases a human asks God for a sign. Gideon asked for a sign of the fleece. Moses wanted a sign of a rod that turned into a snake. Here it is different! Yahweh asks King Ahaz if he would like a "sign" of his power and trustworthiness. God was more anxious to help than Ahaz was to be helped.
2. Test (v. 12). Ahaz explains his refusal to see a sign by saying he did not want to "test" Yahweh. In one way he was justified. Jesus told the devil, "You shall not tempt (test) the Lord thy God." With Ahaz it was a lack of faith and trust in his God. He was a practical man. He saw two armies surrounding his capitol. He felt he needed more than a pious promise. He needed military aid that only Assyria could give. In this situation Ahaz was more interested in trusting man than God. On our coins we say, "In God we trust." Would we trust him if he told us to scrap our defense budget and let him defeat terrorism for us? You see, we are in the same boat with Ahaz.
3. Emmanuel (v. 14). The child to be born was to have the name, "Emmanuel." It means "God with us." This is what Isaiah was trying to get across to Ahaz: God is with us in this national crisis. He will fight our battles for us. Trust him and do not seek foreign military aid. It is the sign of a child. Give the name of Jesus, for he was truly God with us in the flesh. This is the mystery and majesty of Christmas.
Lesson 2: Romans 1:1--7
1. Servant (v. 1). In Greek the word for "servant" is doulos, meaning "slave." A follower of Christ is more than a servant who may work for wages and who is free to quit at any time. A slave has no such freedom. A slave is not his own person but is owned by the master's purchase. A Christian is a slave bought by the precious blood of Christ. A slave gets no wages except the reward of the master's "well done." As a slave, a Christian is obedient to the Master's will. In this slavery a Christian finds perfect freedom.
2. Gospel (v. 3). Paul plans to come to Rome to preach the Gospel. But, what is his understanding of the Gospel? He sums it up in one person, Jesus Christ. He is the Good News. Why? Because of who Jesus is. Paul sees the humanity of Jesus, a real human being, totally human in every respect, as a descendant of a human David. But, Paul claims Jesus is more than human. He is at the same time the Son of God who was so designated by his victory over sin and death. Through the ministry of this Jesus, the world has been freed from the bondage of sin.
3. To be (v. 7). Paul tells who he is and what or whom he preaches. Who are the people in the church
at Rome? Paul identifies them as God's beloved and as people called "to be" saints. A saint is a believer in Christ and is one who by faith is clothed with Christ's righteousness. In one sense a Christian is a saint, but salvation is a process. We are saints and are yet to be saints. We are to become what we are. We are saints by justification; we are "to be" saints by sanctification.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Problems Of Preaching On Advent 4
1. Dual nature of Jesus. The Lessons deal with the human--divine nature of Christ. The preacher faces the question: which of these should be emphasized? With Christmas but a few days off, will the Christmas message deal with the human or with the divine side of the Christ--child? In the light of the Gospel's account of the virgin birth, Lesson 2's mention of Jesus as Son of God and the twofold use of "Emmanuel," it would seem that the divine nature of Jesus would be considered in the sermon on Advent 4.
2. The name of Jesus. A possible theme for this day could be the name. In Lesson 1 the promised child is to be named "Emmanuel." Lesson 2 refers to "for the sake of his name." The Gospel tells of an angel who instructs Joseph to name the child "Jesus." Since the "Name of Jesus" day falls on January 1, this theme would be considered at this time. To avoid duplication, the preacher on Advent 4 would steer away from the name theme.
3. The virgin birth. This may be a controversial subject in a congregation. To preach on it may not be wise or appropriate for the Christmas season about to begin. Fundamentalists (literalists) in the congregation demand the acceptance of the virgin birth. Others are offended by the doctrine. Still others do not think it is important.
4. Two Christmas stories. In the lectionary for Cycle A, we have two consecutive Sundays with two Christmas stories: Advent 4 - Matthew's account; Christmas - Luke's story. Since Christmas can be no longer than a week from Advent 4, how can the preacher avoid duplication of themes? Shall he surrender Advent 4 and begin the Christmas celebration?
5. Prophecy and fulfillment. In Advent 4, we face a problem with the exegesis of Lesson 1 and Gospel. Scholars are agreed that Isaiah 7:14 is not a prophecy of the Messiah's birth. Matthew tears this passage out of context and uses it as a fulfillment of the virgin birth. The preacher will be true to the text as revealed through the historical--critical method of exegesis.
Three Lessons: Isaiah 7:10--16; Romans 1:1--7; Matthew 1:18--25
What Child Is This?
Need: On this Fourth Sunday Of Advent the congregation stands on the threshold of Christmas. It is time to consider the meaning of Christmas. Why do we exchange gifts, get merry, attend parties, decorate a tree, sing carols, and go to special church services? Who started all this? Who was born on Christmas? Why do we make so much ado about a baby? A Christmas hymn asks, "What child is this?" The three lessons answer -
Outline: What child is this?
a. A sign of deliverance - Lesson 1 (vv. 11, 14).
b. A son of David and God - Lesson 2 (vv. 3--4).
c. A Savior - Gospel (v. 21).
Gospel: Matthew 1:18--25
1. Who Is The Father Of This Child? 1:20
Need: The virgin birth can be a problem for some. Fundamentalists (literalists) accept the virgin birth without question because the Bible says so. Liberals may not believe in it. Others may not know what to believe, or do not consider it essential to faith. The people may be in the position of Joseph in the Gospel - who is the father of this coming child? Joseph or God? This sermon should help to clarify the situation. It should answer such questions as, "Can I be a Christian without believing in the virgin birth?" or "Is it necessary to believe in the virgin birth to be saved?" In the Gospel, Joseph faced the problem of Mary's pregnancy just as we do.
Outline: What the virgin birth says to the modern person.
a. What it does not say.
1. Sex is evil; normal birth is inferior to virgin birth.
2. The virgin birth made Jesus sinless.
3. The virgin birth caused Jesus to be divine.
4. Belief in the virgin birth is necessary to salvation.
b. What it does say.
1. Jesus is unique among human beings.
2. Jesus is altogether God's work, God's initiative.
3. All things are possible with God.
2. A Blender For Christmas. 1:20--23
Need: At Christmas a good blender is a popular gift. Various foods and liquids can be put in a blender and in a minute or two the items are blended into one substance. The various items cannot be distinguished one from the other. At Christmas, God sent the world a blender - Jesus. In him God and man, divinity and humanity, were so perfectly blended that no one can separate the human and divine natures in him. He is all human and all God, perfectly blended into one integrated personality, a God--man.
Outline: Consider the divine blender from God.
a. The human nature of God - vv. 20, 21. Born of a woman - born as a human.
b. The divine nature of Jesus - vv. 20--23. Conceived by the Holy Spirit - a God--given name.
3. The High Cost Of Christmas. 1:18--25
Need: Christmas is a costly event for more Americans. To buy gifts, they go in debt which is not paid off for months. Though Christmas may be costly to us, think of the cost to God. Jesus was a precious gift. It cost God his all while it cost us only money.
Outline: Consider the high cost of Christmas to God.
a. Cost himself - "Emmanuel, God with us" - v. 23.
b. Cost humility - born of a virgin - v. 18.
c. Cost the cross - "he will save his people from their sins" - v. 21.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 7:10--14
1. A Baby Barges In! Isaiah 7:10--14; Matthew 1:18--25
Need: Every child has a right to be wanted. In these passages two men did not want a baby, Ahaz, king of Judah, was offered a baby as a sign of God's deliverance of the nation from the two nations besieging Jerusalem. Joseph did not want Mary's unborn baby, for he was about to divorce her. At this Christmas, a baby boy barges into our lives. Do we want this Christ--child?
Outline: The baby Jesus barges into our lives.
a. We may reject the child - Isaiah 7:10--14. Like Ahaz, we don't want divine help. We say, "I want to do it myself." We will take care of ourselves. We have come of age to handle our own problems.
b. We may accept the child - Matthew 1:18--25.
1. God explains who the child is - v. 20.
2. God explains what the child will do - v. 20.
3. God commands Joseph to accept the child - v. 24.
2. Do You Really Want Christmas? 7:10--14
Need: Do we really want Christmas to come? Are we tired of bills, parties, and busyness? Maybe we want Christmas if it means only gifts, friends, and days off from work or school. What about the real meaning of Christmas - "Emmanuel: God with us?" To have a real Christmas means to have God in Jesus come into our lives.
Outline: Like Ahaz, we may not want God to be with us because:
a. God would make us feel guilty for our sins.
b. God would want us to repent and mend our ways.
c. God would ask us to trust him for deliverance.
Lesson 2: Romans 1:1--7
Life With A Double Dimension. 1:3, 4
Need: Like Jesus, we have a double dimension to our lives. We are body and soul, creature and child of God, carnal and spiritual, mortal and immortal. Most folks think of themselves only in one dimension - being human, flesh, and blood, material creatures. This results in the neglect of the spiritual dimension of life. On the other hand, we cannot be so spiritual that we cease to be human.
Outline: Like Jesus, each of us has a double dimension.
a. Descended - v. 3. Jesus descends to man to be man through the royal lineage of David. He honors our humanity by becoming one of us. As humans we have descended from Adam. We are creatures of God.
b. Designated - v. 4. By his resurrection Jesus is designated as Son of God. By grace, we are also designated sons of God by faith in Christ. We are children of God by grace.
