Who is St Nick?: Advent Week 1 – Following Christ – Sermon Outline
by Major Heather Jenkins / 1
How to Use This Outline
Big Ideas:
· Series introduction – Santa Claus was a real person called Nicholas
· Nicholas was a fervent follower of Jesus Christ
· A life of faith and following Christ is something we are all called to
The outline will need to be customised and contextualised by each Corps Officer for the congregation to whom the sermon will be preached:
· Adding appropriate illustrations that will connect with the specific congregation
· Modifying language to be appropriate to the socio-cultural setting of the Corps
· You may also wish to make the application more specific to your context.
PowerPoint slides have been provided for the following:
1. Title Slide – Introducing the Sermon
2. Info Slide – List of facts about St Nick
3. Quote Slide – Kwasniewski Quote
4. Scripture Slide – 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (MSG)
5. Scripture Slide – 1 Corinthians 1:7 (MSG)
Scripture
1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (Message)
3May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours.
4–6Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.
7–9Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.
The Salvation Army: Australia Southern Territory: Mission Resources DepartmentWho is St Nick?: Advent Week 1 – Following Christ – Sermon Outline
by Major Heather Jenkins / 1
Micah 6:8 (TNIV)
8He has shown all you people what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Isaiah 58:6-8 (TNIV)
6“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Matthew 7:20 (TNIV)
20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Matthew 25:40 (TNIV)
40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
John 14:23, 24 (TNIV)
23Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
Luke 10:27 (TNIV)
27He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
The Salvation Army: Australia Southern Territory: Mission Resources DepartmentWho is St Nick?: Advent Week 1 – Following Christ – Sermon Outline
by Major Heather Jenkins / 1
The Salvation Army: Australia Southern Territory: Mission Resources Department
Who is St Nick?: Advent Week 1 – Following Christ – Sermon Outline
by Major Heather Jenkins / 1
Sermon Outline
Series Overview
This series looks at the territorial mission intention of “Reforming Society” through the lens of the historical figure of St Nicholas. This man who has become the mythical figure of Santa Claus was a sincere follower of Christ, and a bishop in his community. He stood up for truth and acted against the false worship of idols. He lobbied government to change oppressive policy and stood up for the innocent. He gave to the poor and provided food for people during famine. He was, in his fourth century Turkish context, a reformer of society. What can we learn from his example today?Introduction
1. Ask congregation to think of five people you most admire (dead or alive) and why. Share with each other….
2. Brief plenary, noting any common themes e.g. people who influenced history, changed societies, impacted lives. Did anyone have Father Christmas or Santa Claus or St Nick on their list (any children present might?) If so, why?
3. Today’s Father Christmas is an all-round good guy who spreads happiness and love, engenders excitement and anticipation, showers food and presents to those on his nice list. But he does have a down side! The anticipation and expectation of good things that surround him can create financial and emotional stress and pressure, promote greed and envy and spread disappointment[1].
4. However, the very first Santa Claus could readily sit on the most admired list!
He was born in the Middle East about 350 miles northwest of Bethlehem in the fourth century.
His parents were wealthy and raised him to be a devout Christian.
His parents died while he was still young and he inherited a considerable sum of money.
He gave all his money to the poor, the sick and the suffering (according to legend).
He dedicated his life to serving God and was madea bishop while he was still a young man.
He became known throughout the land for his generosity tothose in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.
Who was he?
His name was Nicholas, St Nicholas.
1. Yes he was a real person! St Nicholas was a follower of Jesus, a social reformer; a person who cared for others. There are many stories and legends about him. Some of his good works have even been deemed miracles.
2. One author, Peter A. Kwasniewski (‘Tale of Two Wonderworkers St. Nicholas of Myra in the Writings and Life of St. Thomas Aquinas), wrote, “...one miracle was absolutely transparent and could not involve any deception, namely, that of living out the faith in everyday life for an entire lifetime and maintaining charity. People in the fourth century experienced this miracle in the life of Nicholas…”
The miracle of faith lived out…
1. We may not look good in a red suit with a long white beard. We may never get to ride a reindeer or be famous, or sit on a throne like chair and give out gifts, but hopefully, someone might be able to say about us…. “He / she lived out the faith in everyday life for an entire lifetime and maintained charity”. Or as Paul succinctly says it, “The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives”. (1 Corinthians 1:6 The Message)
2. Read 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
3. The people of Corinth had a reputation as an unruly, hard drinking, sexually promiscuous group of people. Paul spent 18 months with them, teaching them the truths of the gospel, showing them how to live out their new found faith in Christ. He’s moved on now and he’s heard some not so good news about them. They have reverted to old behaviours. So he writes to them. Before he addresses the specific behaviours, he thanks God for them, remembering the amazing way that God has worked in them and blessed them.
4. The evidence of Christ had been clearly verified in their lives. It was visible. The evidence of Christ within is revealed without. The Old Testament prophets quite bluntly declared what kind of things evidenced faith:
Micah 6:8
Isaiah 58:6-8
Jesus also had some direct words to say about evidence…
Matthew 7:20
Matthew 25:40
John 14:23, 24
Luke 10:27
5. God is expecting evidence, anticipating fruit. His expectations are high and we might ask who is equal to these? You? Me? Santa? No, not even Santa! It is only by the presence of God within. The evidence of Christ within is revealed without.
6. We may never appear on anyone’s list of the most admired people, but if we are allowing Christ to live in us, if we are living in obedience to Him, we will make a positive impact on others. The love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control of Christ will be evidenced in us in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:22,23,25
7. And not just for a short period of time, but for an entire lifetime. Paul says, ‘You’ve got it all – All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God….’ (1 Corinthians 1:7 The Message)
8. There is an ancient story of a Jewish teacher who asks his students how they can tell when the night has gone and the dawn has arrived. One student suggests it is when you can look out and a person can be distinguished from a dog. Another suggests it is when you can look out and distinguish the difference between a house and a tree. But the theologian’s response was that the night has gone and the dawn has arrived when you can look into the eyes of another and say: ‘You are my brother; you are my sister.’
That’s it! The life of Christ within us made evident without: in us and through us to others.
Conclusion
1. I love Christmas – it can be a beautiful time of celebration: the presents, the food, and the parties. Even the large rotund guy in the red suit! He may not be for everyone, but St Nicholas can help us to celebrate the good news of Jesus Christ and the hope he continues to bring to the world through his disciples.
2. May the evidence of Christ be clearly verified in our lives. May the miracle of a lifetime of living out the faith in everyday life and maintaining charity be seen in me and you.
[1] For more information on how St Nick became the Santa Claus we know today, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus#History