Who is St Nick?: Advent Week 4 – Practical Care for the Poor – Sermon Outline
by Major Marion Weymouth / 1
How to Use This Outline
Big Ideas:
· We are chosen to receive God’s mercy and prepare the way for others to receive it also
· Examples from the life of St Nicholas – Care for the poor
· Example of Community Change from PNG
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. Scripture Slides – Luke 2:26-38
Scripture
Luke 1 (NRSV)
1 Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.
5In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.
8Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. 10Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 14You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. 16He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” 19The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”
21Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. 22When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. 23When his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
24After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, 25“This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favourably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.”
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.” 29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
39In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
46And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
56And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. 60But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” 61They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” 62Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. 66All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a mighty saviour for us in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us 74that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.
78 By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.
The Salvation Army: Australia Southern Territory: Mission Resources DepartmentWho is St Nick?: Advent Week 4 – Practical Care for the Poor – Sermon Outline
by Major Marion Weymouth / 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. As we draw closer to Christmas Day, the anticipation of that day holds different meanings for people across society. Excitement builds for children, who love the mystery of surprise and who love to celebrate. The pressure builds for adults who need to find time and energy for preparation. We are part of that society. We are privileged however, to be able to gather to worship today, for this gives us a chance to draw aside, to reflect on the season of Advent and somehow go away ‘different’.
2. Advent comes from the Latin ‘to come’ and we can think of the Christ who comes – in the past at his birth, in the present in our daily lives and who will come again in a wonderful way to make his home among us forever (Revelation 21-22). We can experience a deep ‘anticipation’, for this Christ whom we celebrate is the Prince of true Peace. Our hearts may be stilled in the midst of the distractions of human life, as the story is told again of his coming all over the world
3. His daily coming, his presence with us and within us (Matt. 1:23 -Immanuel), means that our everyday lives can be ready to mediate his love and message. The Christmas season offers one of the clearest ‘entry points’ for others to embrace the truth of the Christ. Isn’t it true that some people in society often long for something which they cannot name, and are ‘softened’ by expressions of celebration, of giving, of something different going on at Christmas?
4. This is especially true for the poor, the crushed, the exploited, the victims of greed and power, who can only see Christmas with eyes of sorrow or struggle or oppression. It is for such people that Christ also comes (if time, read Luke 4:18-19), and therefore our role as a messenger is heightened - to be ‘good news to the other’, in their need or longing for release. Christ comes, not just for our peace and transformation as individuals, but as a God of Justice, calling us (both poor and rich) to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly in his ways (Micah 6:8). Therefore we are called to be ready at this time of Christmas – to use the ‘entry points’ that God is preparing through activities in the community and in our nation.
5. We can count it a privilege to be a follower and partner with Christ at this time. The series on Reforming Society has reminded us of the example of St Nicholas, who was a follower of Christ, who stood for truth, who defended the innocent in speaking against injustice and who lobbied government to change oppressive policy.
6. Today we look at a focus on the poor in society- how to partner with God and provide for their support, and also work toward alternate systems to address an issue that can lead to long-term changes in society. Stories about St Nicholas talk about caring for the poor in particular ways and can help to open our eyes to opportunities.
The Stages of Luke 1
1. Before we look at his stories, let’s turn to Scripture to examine the connection of our topic “Practical care for the Poor” – in the context of the overarching Plan of God. The stages in the story of Luke Chapter 1 reveal how he began his plan of salvation, of justice and hope for all peoples, and give us guidance and inspiration in our own discipleship. Notice how he particularly chooses and uses humble people, those dependent on God, expecting that he will show up sometime!
Stage 1 - Chosen to receive his mercy and prepare the way..
Our passage in Luke Chapter 1, from verse 26 follows the story of an earlier historical breakthrough. God visited the family of Zechariah and Elizabeth (without children & now both very old – verse 7), promising a son John, to precede the coming of Jesus. We may know the story and see the joy of this faithful Jewish couple, seeing Elizabeth’s response in verse 25: “How kind the Lord is, to take away the disgrace of having no children!” This was a major event in a society where having no children was considered to be something of a curse, where the care of those in old age was threatened. This event sets the stage- John is to precede the coming of the Messiah, preparing the people for his arrival, softening their hearts to turn and obey (verse 17).