"Saints in Circulation"

A sermon preached on the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, January 28, 2007 at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on Isaiah 58:1-12.

We live in a world today that claims that religion has no place in society. We have become a nation that is polarized - we have become polarized politically and socially, economically and religiously. In fact, we oftentimes classify a person’s faith in terms of politics or party affiliation. But James reminds us that the true character of a person’s faith is measured, not by politics, or whether he or she is a democrat, or a republican or even an independent; but rather by the way their faith is lived out. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the argument that those who oppose our faith - those who are anti-Christian, if you will, have taken God out of the schools and the government. But sadly, that isn’t completely true. God has been removed from these settings, not solely by those who oppose our faith; but by those who are also a part of our faith, by you and me! We as Christian are to embody Christ. Wherever we go Christ is to go with us. But sadly, we are not taking him with us everywhere we go!
Now, while it is true, that we are a nation founded on the wonderful concept of "Freedom of Religion". However, we have neglected our responsibility to be a people of faith, just as the Israelites in our Scripture Lesson. "Freedom of Religion," doesn’t mean "Freedom from Religion" for the Christian - our faith should be lived out not just within the confines of the church, but more importantly "out there" - in the world, in the society in which we live. Many Christians leave their faith behind when they walk out the doors of the church, only to pick it up when they come back next week. Rather, Christ should go with us! This is what has separated us from other religions - for them; their faith is a way of life. It is lived and expressed in their daily living. It is something that goes with them, and it is reflected in their lifestyle. It accompanies them to work, to school, to social gatherings and events. But sadly, for many Christians, our religion and beliefs have become an object!
Sinclair Lewis wrote; "When exploiting political agenda it is often wrapped in the flag and accompanied with the cross." And, oftentimes, that is true! But that isn’t what Isaiah was talking about. Isaiah wasn’t talking about wearing our faith on our sleeves; but rather, having our faith imbedded and rooted deep in our hearts. You see, when we wear our faith on our sleeves, it can be taken off - but when our faith is imbedded deep in our hearts then it remains with us, it becomes who we are, it is a part of daily life and living. Isaiah was talking about returning to the true essence worship that strengthens us and make us like a spring that never runs dry - a spring that quenches the world with the Living Water of Christ.
I think Charles Kimball, a Baptist Minister said it best; "Whatever religious people may say about their love of God or the mandates of their religion, when their behavior toward others is violent and destructive, when it causes suffering among their neighbors, when it is deceiving or only exploited for personal gain, you can be sure that religion has been corrupted and reform is desperately needed." You see, friends, many have masqueraded religion to the pointed that he has become corrupted. And, just as in Isaiah’s day, reform is desperately needed today.
The prophet Isaiah gets to the heart of the matter, if you will. Isaiah gives us the remedy for having a positive influence on a secular world. He shares with us how to be religious in a secular world - and it all boils down to worship!
I want you to think for a moment; what is your concept of worship? What does it mean to worship the Lord? For some, it may simply mean attending church where you sing, hear God’s word read and preached, pray, and partake Holy Communion. And certainly, without a doubt, all of these practices can lead to true worship; but we see that Isaiah shows us that true worship goes beyond these things. Worship is a way of life! In fact, Isaiah says in verses 6 and 7; "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"
Keep in mind, in Isaiah’s day, like today, there were apparently plenty of religious people, but not many responsive people. Not many people willing to stand up! As we see in our Scripture Lesson this morning, they "afflicted their souls" with fasting, they "delighted" to know God’s ways, they inquired about "the ordinances of justice," and enjoyed their worship services. In fact, we read in verse 2; "For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for [me] to come near them." But we see that little, if any, of there piety translated into action. For them, worship had become an object verses a way of life. Yet, they expected God to answer their prayers and they expected God to bless them. Through Isaiah, God said that true worship is not a weekly ritual, but a daily lifestyle. It may begin in the house of prayer, but ends up in the public square. But what does that mean? What would it mean for believers if they responded to the hungry, the homeless, the prisoner, the wage earner, the debtor, the poor and the hopeless? Obviously, there is no easy answer; but one fact is clear: as Isaiah told the people of his day, in our Scripture Lesson, God cannot be expected to shower good things on his people as long as they withhold good things from others. God blesses us so that we might be a blessing to others. The Christian faith is about influencing and impacting the lives of others. The gospel - the good news isn’t something we must hoard to ourselves, but it is a message that we must share.
So, what starts with worship ends in service, Isaiah reminds us. Today that means that the church gathered for worship on Sunday becomes the church scattered for service Monday through Saturday. Building believers leads to believers rebuilding their communities and having an impact on the world. Worship and service form the seamless robe, that is to say the "robe of Christ" which covers the world and brings healing and peace, justice and love.
There’s an old Hebrew tale where the rabbi asks his students; "How can we determine the hour of dawn - when the night ends and the day begins?" One student raised his hand and said; "When from a distance you can distinguish between a dog and a sheep?" The rabbi shook his head and said; "No!" Another student raised his hand and said; "It’s when one person can distinguish between a fig tree and a grape vine?" "No," said the rabbi. "Well, tell us the answer," another student said. And the old wise rabbi said; "You can determine when night ends and day begins when you look into the face of human beings and you have enough light [in you] to recognize them as your brothers and sisters."
The story is told that when the government began to run low on silver coins during the seventeenth-century in England, Oliver Cromwell sent his troops to investigate a local cathedral to see if they could find any of the precious metal there. They made their investigation, returned to the great man and reported; "The only silver we can find is in the statues of the saints standing in the corners." To which Cromwell replied; "Great! We will melt down the saints and put them in circulation." And, you know friends that should be true of our lives! We are called to be saints in circulation - we’re not to remain in the church, as if we are on display in some museum - we are called to go forth to live as God’s faithful saints!
We have to do more that just pray; "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…" we have to live that prayer.
We have to live that hymn! And so, as Isaiah challenges us, let us not just be religious people; but, more importantly, let’s be responsive people – a people who live the faith and who embody Christ in our daily living. That’s what it means to be saints in circulation! That is the heart of worship - it begins here, on Sunday morning, but it is carried out there!

"Decisions, Decisions, Decisions"

A sermon preached on The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, January 14, 2007 at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on Deuteronomy 1:1-8.

Few of us can deny the fact that life is full of decisions. In fact, Albert Camus wrote; "Life is the sum of our choices." Decisions are inevitable - everything we do requires decision. Some of our decisions are insignificant, while others are considerably life-changing and life-altering. As Edwin Markam reminds us, some of our "choices are the hinges of [our] destiny."
One of my favorite poets, Robert Frost has written a poem that quickly became a favorite of mine when I read it many years ago. The poem is titled; "The Road Not Taken." Most literary scholars believe that this poem speaks of Frost’s decision to take the path of being a poet rather than following the well-worn path of being a farmer. While I do believe that synopsis is true; still, this poem offers a greater message - one with a spiritual implication. By taking "the road less traveled," Robert Frost reveals his decision to step out on faith, to be different, to take a risk.. And certainly, that is "the road less traveled." But isn’t this what we are all faced with from time to time.
In our Scripture Lesson this morning we see that God’s people found themselves in a situation where they really had no choice. They had to make some changes. They had to move ahead, no matter how uncertain or frightening those change were. Call it an intervention, if you will.
Let’s review for just a moment the situation in which the people of God found themselves. Keep in mind, the book of Deuteronomy consists of Moses’ explanation of God’s Law and his exhortation to follow it. This book records Moses’ sermons, if you will. Moses’ most significant contribution as the leader of God’s people at one of the most, if not the most, indisputably crucial time in their history was primarily, preacher - the communicator of the Word of God for the people of God. In verses 2 and 3 we have a stark reminder of the necessity for a preacher like Moses. God’s Word is a vital ingredient in life because men and women are, by nature, stubborn and willful. God, like a parent has to repeatedly teach and discipline his children.
We, by nature, are like the Israelites. We are as every bit of stubborn and hardheaded as they were. In fact, we are reminded of their stubbornness in verse 2 - a journey that would have taken Israel less than 2 weeks to complete lasted 40 years because of unbelief and disobedience.
As we see in our Scripture Lesson this morning, it is easy for the people of God to become stuck, if you will, and to make little or no discernable progress on their journey. It certainly happened to the Israelites. They had become idle, stagnate, stuck in park. And so, Moses stood before them, and he spoke the Word of the Lord. "You’ve been here long enough. Break camp and get on with the journey. The Promised Land isn’t going to come to you. You’ve got to go and claim it!" Certainly, if there is a message for the church today, this would be it!
The word "law" we find in verse 5 is the renown Hebrew word torah, which literally means, "instruction." But this word also implies action. It involves applying what is taught through example and deed. As I denoted on Thursday evening at our Bible Study, we are called not to solely be disciples - students, but also apostles - those who apply the message in word and example. We, as Christians are to take what we have learned as disciples and apply it.
The second thing I want us to notice about Moses’ challenge to the people of God is found in verses 6 and 7, and that is the resolve to get on with it! Stop procrastinating and move forward, as Moses’ message. Take yourself out of park and put yourself in gear! The price for staying where they were was simply too high, and the same is true for us. Perhaps some of you have seen the recent movie "Little Miss Sunshine." The movie is about a family that drives 800 miles to enter their daughter into a "Little Miss Sunshine" pageant. And on this trip the family encounters problem, after problem. One of the problems they are faced with is the clutch in their Volks Wagon bus goes out. When they take it to a garage the mechanic informs them that it will take several days to get the parts and fix it. Realizing they were pressed for time, the mechanic tells them that if they can push the bus and getting it rolling about 15 mph they could start it right up and would have no trouble. So, for the remainder of the movie, every time this family stops they have to get out and push the vehicle in order for it to start back up. The same should apply to the church. We should all be behind the church pushing it forward!
Now, friends, I know there are times for caution and there are times for patience. In everything we do we must make sure we discern that it is God’s will. But patience, isn’t an excuse for idleness or inactivity. Patience wouldn’t be much help to a man who plants an orange grove in Alaska, now would it? And certainly, the "let’s wait and see" attitude is not much help when you’re trying to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ and change their lives by its power.
We read in verses 6 through 18 of God’s promises and the need for leadership. Keep in mind, back in Genesis chapter 15, God had promised Abraham that his people would be living in the land and receive his blessing. This was now about to happen - the promised was about to be fulfilled. But as Israel had increased in numbers, so had the need for vital and effective leadership! Leadership is essential when it comes to the Church - we need effective leaders - those who are willing to stand up, take responsibility and lead people in example. Without leadership there is no organization.
Finally, we read in verse 8 of Moses’ challenge to the people: he called them to learn how to rely upon God, how to depend on his ability to keep his Word, and how to trust him for the outcome. It’s a matter of faith and trust in God’s promises. I read an interesting quote the other day; "Faith isn’t just hoping God will do what he says he will do; it’s believing God will do what God says he will do." That is, in essence, what Moses was telling to the people; "God told you that the land is yours. He has given it to you. What are you waiting for? Why are you still standing here? Go claim what is yours!"
Here in verse 8 we read; "...go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore he would give your fathers..." The Hebrew word for "swore" here is shaba. The verb is related to the number seven. The verb means, in effect, "to bind oneself," that is "seven times." You’re probably thinking what does "seven" have to do with an oath or with binding oneself? Keep in mind, "seven," is the symbolic number of perfection or completion; thus, this oath involves binding oneself completely, perfectly, and fully, in this case, it is God making the oath. It is a perfect oath - a perfect promise and, what’s more, it means that God will come through on his promise, which he did! God keeps his promises! As I said a couple of weeks ago, God sees his promises through! And, my friends, God has promised us great and wonderful things when we follow him!
I love the story of the woman driving through the mountains west of Denver when she ran into a snowstorm. She was completely lost, but just then she saw a snowplow. She decided to follow it in hopes it would lead her safely through the snow. At times the blowing snow almost cut off her view, but her faithful guide kept on leading the way, removing the snow from the read ahead of her. After some time, the plow stopped, and its driver got out and walked over to her car. "Lady, where are you going?" he asked. "I’m on my way to Denver," she replied. "Well, you’ll never get there following me! I’m plowing a parking lot!"
Sadly, this is way many of us go through life. This perhaps could describe the Israelites wandering aimlessly through the wilderness for 40 years. But it also describes many of us! In our Scripture Lesson this morning, we see that Moses gives the people a choice – stay where you are or move ahead to the Promised Land. And, you know, friends, God gives us this same choice. We can choose to stay where we are or we can move in the direction God would have us go! Sure, it can be risky at times, uncertain, difficult – but God will lead us and God will go with us!
It’s our decision, though! Thus, let us not procrastinate any long; let us proclaim along with the old hymn;

"I have decided to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus.
No turning back, no turning back!"

"A Lesson From the Magi"

A sermon preached on Epiphany Sunday, January 7, 2007 at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on Matthew 2:1-12.

It almost seems impossible that thirteen days ago we celebrated the birth of Christ. By now, most of the visible signs of Christmas have been taken down and packed away. We have gotten on with our lives - vowing to lose the weight we put on during the holidays with our New Year’s Resolutions. Christmas, as I pointed out in my newsletter article, is just a memory! And sadly, for many people, including many Christians, that’s it - Christmas is just a memory! But the celebration of Christmas isn’t fully complete until we celebrate Epiphany.

Now for those of you who want to get technical, the Feast of Epiphany actually occurred yesterday. It is celebrated on the fixed date of January the 6th, or the Twelfth Day; but today we celebrate Epiphany Sunday. And this is the day for us to commemorate the arrival of the Magi to the Christ-Child. This is the day we set aside to honor them as they teach us the true meaning of worship.

I love the story that is told of a mother and father, along with their 6 year-old son who were riding through town on the day of Epiphany in route to the mall. On their way they passed by the local Methodist Church, who had not taken down their nativity scene yet. This simple scene consisted of Mary and Joseph, along with the Baby Jesus. The little boy couldn’t help but notice the scene, and observed it while they were waiting for the light to change to green. Shortly after they passed the Methodist Church they approached the local Episcopal Church which was getting ready for their Feast of Epiphany celebration, and on the front lawn were the Three Wise Men. The boy, studying the characters very careful, yelled to his mom in the front seat; "Mom, who are those guys on the front lawn of that church?" "Oh, those are the Three Wise Men, honey!" she responded. To which he replied; "And what are they doing?" His mom said; "Well, they are searching for the baby Jesus." The boy thought for a moment and said; "Well, maybe someone should tell them that they can find him at the Methodist Church down the street!"

The fact is, no manger scene is complete without the presence of the Three Wise Men, or the Magi, bearing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. However, the only problem is, the Magi were not there the night of Christ’s birth. In fact, most scholars agree that it could have taken as much as two years before they arrival.

It seems that more than any other characters in the Christmas story, the Wise Men or the Magi have been the subject of much good humor. Someone once said that it would have been the Three Wise Women, rather than the Three Wise Men who came seeking the newborn King, they would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought practical gifts.

But certainly, the Magi’s gifts were practical and appropriate. And I think sometimes we fail to realize the significance of their gifts. Perhaps, you’ve heard the story of the three 6-year old boys who were playing the wise men in their church’s annual Christmas play. As they came up to Mary and Joseph at the stable, the first one handed over his gift and said, "Behold, I bring you gold!" The second boy presented his gift and said; "Behold, I bring you myrrh!" And finally, the third child presented his treasure and said; "And Frank sent this!"

The Magi's gifts were indeed practical and they were certainly appropriate. Keep in mind, in the ancient world no one could even approach a king without a genuine gift and gold was the gift of a king. What better gift could the Magi bring then the gift of gold for Jesus who is King of kings? Frankincense is an aromatic gum distilled from a tree which was a gift for priests. And, of course, Jesus is our Great High Priest. And finally, myrrh was a gift for one facing death. It was used in the ancient world for embalming. Jesus Christ was born to die that we might live. How beautiful! How appropriate! The Magi’s gifts symbolize Christ our King, our Priest and our Savior.

Each gospel writer offers an interesting perspective on the life of Christ. Each gospel is unique, yet not contradicting, despite what some modern scholars believe. For Luke, his perspective shows that Jesus is the Savior of everyone - Jew or Gentile, male or female, rich or poor. Therefore, Luke focuses a great deal on the lowly shepherds who came to worship the Christ child. Matthew, on the other hand, wants to present Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. Because the Messiah was to be a descendant of David, that great king of Israel, Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ royal origins by recounting the story of the Magi, who are royal astrologers who followed a "star" that heralded the birth of a king, and what’s more, they presented him with royal gifts.

But the fact still remains; there is very little information when it comes to the Magi. We really don’t know a great deal about them. In fact, all that we do know has been handed down to us through tradition. But the only problem is most of these traditions are inaccurate. First of all, the Magi were not kings, despite the fact that we sing; "We Three Kings..." rather, they were professional scholars, schooled in the science of astrology and very educated in religion and philosophy. Secondly, we do not know if there were three of them or thirty of them, we only know that they came bearing three gifts. In fact, our western tradition says that there were only three, but this is based on the fact that they brought those three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Christ child. The Eastern Church, on the other hand, teaches that there were actually 12 Magi, to symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles. I think it is interesting that the Church, in the 5th century even went so far as to name these characters, giving them the names; Balthsar, Melchior and Gaspar, which were given to represent the three "races" - African, Asian and European, and to further symbolize God’s love reaching out to all people. And then finally, there’s no mention of the manger in the story of the Magi. In fact, the story states that they entered into the house where Jesus and his family were. Now, of course, all the traditional nativity scenes feature the Magi because they are a part of the Christmas story and we don’t want to leave them out.

Another interesting symbol of the Christmas story is the Star of Bethlehem. Now despite its brief mention in the Gospel of Matthew, the Star of Bethlehem has been a source of fascination for Christians throughout the centuries. It has so captured our hearts and imaginations that it has become a strong symbol of Christmas, appearing on countless holiday cards and atop trees. The Gospel writer Matthew, however, was not the first to have mentioned this star. In fact, it was prophesied by Balaam who proclaimed in the book of Numbers that the Messiah would be revealed by a royal and majestic star.

Scientist and scholars tell us that this "star" or in actuality, planet was probably the result of Jupiter, Mars and Saturn converging in the constellation Pisces, which occurred in 6 B.C. - the same year it is believed our Lord was born. And, what’s more, this isn’t just recorded biblically, but also historically. Record of it appears not only in the Bible, but also in many ancient clay tablets and manuscripts, including an ancient Chinese chronicle.

But why did God choose to use this astrological event, this "star," if you will, to announce the birth of Christ to these Magi? Well friends, keep in mind, Magi were held in high esteem and universally recognized as healers, miracle workers, dream interpreters and astrologers. They were very educated and schooled. And of all people, the Magi would have been the first to look for and interpret signs in the sky. In fact, they would have been taught that there would arise a king who could raise the dead and who would transform the world into a kingdom of great peace and security, and the tradition held that this king would be the descendant of Abraham and that a star would identify this divine child - this divine king.

Thus, the Magi knew that the star they were following was no ordinary star - that it was something significant! They had apparently been searching the heavens for years for signs of something unique and significant occurring in their world. They were open to new wisdom and truth, more than this, they searched for it, they longed for it, and they yearned for it. And so, when they saw that astrological event, they sensed in their hearts that this was a sign from God. And you know, friends, in much the same way, this is the definition of faith - a journey that doesn’t always know what is ahead, but one that trust in God’s guidance and direction, leadership and counsel. Such is the attitude we must have as we enter this new year. You and I do not know what lies ahead of us in 2007; but we, like the Magi, must put our faith and trust in God.

More than anything else, the Magi teach us the true meaning of worship. Pastor and Teacher, Robert Vogel writes; "The worship of the Magi - an unlikely cast of characters - is instructive for us. Our worship, like theirs, is enabled by divine grace. It is to be offered in sincerity of heart rather than in vain or in deceit. It is expressed in humble and sacrificial giving to our matchless Lord." This is the worship that is appropriate not just on this Epiphany Sunday, but every Sunday and every day.

The Christian artist, Matt Redman has captured well the priority of worship in the lyrics of a song, The Heart of Worship. The lyrics read:

"When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring something that’s of worth
That will bless your heart.
I’ll bring you more than a song for a song in itself
Is not what you have required. You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear. You’re longing into my heart.
I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about you; all about you, Jesus.
I’m sorry, Lord, for the things I’ve made it
When it’s all about you; all about you, Jesus."

This is what the Magi teach us - worship is all about Jesus. Is this true of your life? I hope so!

"Just a Memory"

The only negative aspect of Christmas is how quickly it’s over. Come December 26th, it’s all just a memory. But I can say that this Advent and Christmas season has been another meaningful journey for us here at Edgemont. We kicked off the Advent season with our Hanging of the Greens service, which was held on the First Sunday of Advent and involved our children, youth and adults. Our mid-week Advent services of Lessons, Carols and Communion started off a little rocky, but once we were all on the same page with the time of our service they were well attended. We had 20 carolers go along with us this year and we had the privilege of going to Pulaski to sing to Mike Williams and his family, as well as to our homebound. I was really pleased with the wonderful attendance we had at both of our Christmas Eve services and thoroughly enjoyed Mike William’s annual "Little Drummer Boy" at our morning service and Sara Slone’s wonderful solo of "O Holy Night" at our evening service. This year at our Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion service we had luminaries placed on our sidewalks and along Edgemont Road to illuminate the darkness of the night. They were quite the eye-catcher. In fact, we had several people stop and ask what we were doing, which gave us the opportunity to invite them to church and I was glad to see that a couple who I had invited actually came to the service. I appreciate Sharon Young for playing at our Christmas Day service, along with those who took the time to share in this worship experience.

Yes, while Christmas may just be a memory for us - it is a pleasant one that I will cherish along with all the other Christmas memories that we have shared together over these past 6 years. Not only is Christmas a memory, but soon 2006 will be also. We stand on the threshold of another New Year. Perhaps, you have already pondered what 2007 might hold in store for you. It is with this thought in mind that I want us to consider what God has in store for us here at Edgemont.

For most of us, 2006 was probably a balance of both good and bad, joys and sorrows. We never know what each day will bring us, but we do know that God is with us in all of life - holding our hands and seeing us through the disappointments, trials and obstacles. As I look back over the year I recall the joy and sorrows of 2006; but rejoice that God is giving us another year filled with possibilities, hopes and dreams. While, none of us are exempt from the difficulties of life, we can celebrate the message of Christmas - Emmanuel (God with us)! That is not a memory; rather, it is a reality! God did not just come to visit and redeem our world - he came to live with us in the person of Jesus Christ and in the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is this Spirit that encourages and enables us to live our lives to their fullest.

It has been said that there are three types of people:

• Those who make things happen
• Those who watch what happens
• Those who wonder what happened.

As you look toward the New Year, you must ponder which type of person will you be this coming year. As we enter this New Year may we draw on the Spirit’s strength and power to live 2007 to the fullest, that we might be the people "who make things happen." One thing I love about a new year is the opportunity for new beginnings, goals, dreams, hopes and possibilities for spiritual growth. Some call these, "New Year’s resolutions," but we call this "discipleship" in the church. Through the church, you and I have the opportunity to experience growth through worship, Sunday school and fellowship. Through the church, we have the opportunity to witness our faith and the opportunity to serve, by utilizing out gifts and talents that God has given us. My intention in this coming year is to lay the groundwork and to challenge you to become people "who make things happen," with the expectation that God will do wonderful and marvelous things in you and through you in 2007! Happy New Year!

"Have We Outgrown Christmas?"

A sermon preached on Christmas Day, December 25, 2006 at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on Luke 2:40.

Perhaps you’ve heard the story of the proud parents who brought their firstborn home from the hospital and placed him in a beautiful wooden cradle. Over the months and years as he grew, the cradle that had once swallowed him could no longer contain him. He began to look like a giant in a baby bed. His parents, though, kept the cradle as a symbol of their son’s birth; but the boy could not stay in the cradle forever. He outgrew it!

The same is true of Christmas. Certainly, we cannot have Christmas - or the story of Christ’s life without the cradle; but the fact remains, Jesus did not stay in the manger long - he outgrew the cradle and eventually became a man who would become the ultimate Sacrifice for the sins of the world!

The fact is, we spend most of our lives outside the cradle. Jesus, who was both divine and human, experienced life as any of us. He experienced the stages of life and growth that all of us experience and go through. His growth was natural and normal. As a child, he grew in wisdom and stature, Luke tells us. The Bible does not indicate that Jesus had any adult capacities as an infant or as a child. He could have, but we have no such biblical authentication. Apparently, he went through the natural growth stages of child development.

Outside of Jesus’ visit to the temple with his family at the age of 12 there is no information pertaining to Jesus’ childhood years. In fact, scholars refer to them as "The Lost Years" of Jesus’ life. And, of course, as you might imagine, there have been many traditions handed down through the centuries pertaining to "The Lost Years" of Jesus’ life. Some traditions have stated that Jesus, as a teenager would have made trips with Joseph of Arimathea to such places as England. Others claim that Jesus traveled to India and the Orient.

There is one rather interesting Gnostic writing attributed to the Apostle Thomas, titled; The Infancy Gospel of Thomas, which relays additional stories about Jesus’ youth. In these stories, Jesus comes across as a wonderworking Dennis the Menace, if you will. In fact, one story even has Jesus, as a young boy, striking dead a neighborhood boy for annoying him; but, don’t worry, Jesus brings the boy back to life when his father complains. This writing, of course, is considered forgery and there is no reason to believe it as being accurate or authentic; but it does offer an interesting perspective on "The Lost Years" of Jesus’ life.

However, we do know from historical and biblical records that Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a town with a population of about 2,000 people. Keep in mind, Nazareth was about 3 ½ miles from Sepphoris. In fact, recent archeology has discovered that the city of Sepphoris was a large metropolitan city, which dispels the notion that Jesus grew up in a rural area. Many scholars believe that Jesus’ childhood would not have been much different from most Palestinian children. Living in Nazareth, Jesus would have been exposed to intellectual diversity. He would have attended synagogue school and learned the Torah, along with the history of the Jewish people and, perhaps even learned the Hellenistic and Greek cultures. He would have learned Hebrew, Aramaic and, probably, some Greek. He grew up using his hands as a carpenter. He and his father were renown for making wooden tools – some of which existed even in the 2nd century. But, Jesus’ childhood would have been a common one in regards to his lifestyle and education.

This should say something to us about our own lives and faith! Like Jesus, we too must be willing to grow! We should allow the church to nurture us. The Bible serves as the voice of God for us – a voice of discipline and nurture. And certainly, the purpose of Christ’s coming was that we might have an intimate and personal relationship with God. Yes, one spends most of life outside the cradle.

When Luke recorded that Jesus became strong, he indicated that such strength was given to him. In the same way, we must receive faith and courage, strength and discipline from God. Look at the strength demonstrated by Christ. Jesus is our model and example! Jesus exercised the power of his will and self-restraint. He measured the strength of a man by the power of his feelings he subdued, not by the power of those who subdued him. Jesus’ strength was not unbridled. It was directed and controlled by the will of God. And, in the same way, our lives must be controlled by God’s hand and Spirit! We must achieve a balance! This is what those who study martial arts describe as ki – a balance between the spiritual and the physical. And certainly, our ki – our strength, our balance comes from God!

The same that applied to Christ must also be true of our own lives. Luke tells us, that, "Jesus grew in wisdom." The Bible teaches us that Christ was fully God and fully man – the theological term used to describe this duel nature is kenosis. Jesus grew in wisdom as a man. He did not simply acquire facts or obtain information. You may recall that Paul warned young Timothy not to substitute mere facts for wisdom. He wrote to Timothy saying; "ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (II Timothy 3:7). You see, friends, the disciple or student who studies the night before an exam may pass the exam but does not learn. In a world where random data passes for wisdom, we must learn that Jesus came to apply knowledge. The writer of Proverbs wrote; "To get wisdom is better than gold; to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver" (Proverbs 16:16).

God’s gift came to Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago; but friends, it is the gift that keeps on giving! God did not just visit our world – he came to live with us as Emmanuel – God with us! He came to reside with us and, as I pointed out last night - to build his home in our hearts and lives.

In the novel by John Grisham; Skipping Christmas, which was made into a movie, we are told of Luther and Nora Krank who were fed up with all of the crowded malls, the corny office parties, fruit cakes and the unwanted presents of Christmas, that they decided, simply, to skip Christmas. Only, to discover that by skipping Christmas they were missing more than those mere nuisances of Christmas – they were missing a great message – the true message and meaning of Christmas. Yes, sometimes, we may want to simply skip Christmas. But, we must not! Because if we do, we miss out on so much!

Have you outgrown Christmas? I certainly hope not! You see, oftentimes, when we have outgrown something – we abandon it! Perhaps, even give it away! But, we must not abandon Christmas! Now, I don’t think it is possible for me to outgrow Christmas. For me, my inner child always seems to surface around this time of the year! I find myself on an emotional high! But we cannot and we must not outgrow Christmas – for this is one event in a series of events that brought about our salvation. But, at the same time, we cannot remain at Bethlehem’s manager. We have to move beyond the manger – beyond the cradle to the cross and ultimately to the empty tomb. You see, salvation cannot exist without the manger – without the cradle, but neither does the cradle mean anything unless there is a cross and an empty tomb. So, while we do not abandon, or outgrow Christmas, we must move through the life of Christ that ultimately spelled out the story of God’s redemptive plan of salvation.

On this Christmas morning, let us give God thanks and praise for the cradle; but also, for the cross on which this tiny babe would die, and the empty tomb that could not hold his body! Merry Christmas!

"There's No Place Like Home!"

A sermon preached on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2006 at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on Luke 2:1-20.

Few of us can forget those memorable words spoken by Dorothy in the beloved movie The Wizard of Oz; "There’s no place like home." And perhaps the reason why so few of us can forget that scene and those memorable words is because it is so true - "there is no place like home."

John Howard Payne has written a beautiful poem that captures his feelings and emotions of home, titled; "Home, Sweet, Home." He writes:

"Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home;

A charm from the sky seems to hallow us there,

Which, seek through the world, is ne'er met elsewhere.

Home, Home, sweet, sweet Home!

There's no place like Home! There's no place like Home!"

Perhaps, we don’t fully appreciate home until we have been away from it. Over the course of Israel’s history, one of exile, they longed and yearned for a place to call home. They longed for the day when they would no longer feel as strangers in their own land. Sadly, there will be hundreds of thousands who will not be able to be home for the Holidays this year. And our thoughts and prayers need to be with them and their families.

One of my favorite psalms is Psalm 84. Here, the Psalmist, like John Howard Payne and Dorothy, captures his feelings and emotions of home. The psalmist had been away from the house of God for too long, and upon his return he celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, which was that great annual autumn harvest and feast that was rich in symbolism. Keep in mind, for the Jews this was a time to remember their ancestors wandering in the wilderness - a time in which they had no place to call "home" - a time in which they longed for the land God would give them as their own, a place to call home. The Jews would recall this significant time in the life of their people by literally camping out throughout the Festival or Feast of Tabernacles.

In Psalm 84 we capture the psalmist’s yearning to be a worshiper in the temple or house of the Lord. He is, as a pilgrim in life - as a prodigal having been away from home.

You see, for the Jews the Temple provided an elaborate setting for worship. It was the place where the presence of God dwelt and was experienced. And the Jews made their pilgrimage to the temple during the annual feasts and festivals. They were, as strangers, returning home - returning to the house of God.

David cried in Psalm 27:4; "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple."

A story is told of a wealthy English aristocrat who possessed fourteen houses in his life, but sadly he could call none of them home. And sadly, this true for many today! But can this be said of our relationship with God? Do we, like David, long to be in the house of the Lord - the very presence of God?

The psalmist affirmed that it is better to be at home with God for one day than to live a thousand days without him. Mary McCullough’s poem "Presence" reminds us of the nearness of God, she writes:

"God is very near to me
In the whispering of a tree;
And His voice I have often heard
In the singing of the birds.
I have often walked with Him
In the twilight warm and dim;
Sure and tender, He is there
In the clover-scented air.
God is near, for He is found
In all lovely things around,
Hill, or cloud, or leaf, or star -
He is never very far."

Bing Crosby made the sentimental Christmas song, "I’ll Be Home for Christmas" popular. All of us know about crowded bus stations and train depots, airports and highways during the Christmas season. It seems that everyone is trying to get home for the holidays. Now, while there were no bus stations or train depots, airports or major highways in biblical times - there were still frantic people trying to return to their home, their ancestral home on that first Christmas some 2,000 years ago. And so, Joseph and Mary had to return to the town of Bethlehem because they were both descendants of David. Now, keep in mind, Mary is 9 months pregnant when they made this trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem - a 90 mile trip, which would have taken at least 3 days - a fact that I reminded Amber of when we set out on our 35 mile trip from Roanoke to Radford’s, New River Valley Medical Center the night her water broke. And, of course, our transportation was a car – Mary’s was a donkey!

C. William Nichols reminds us, that; "Luke’s account of the birth of Christ is, without a doubt, one of the most beloved writings in the English language. The words fall from our lips as gracefully and as easily as if they were written to be choreographed and not just read. On the tapestry of stable straw and starlight, the Divine Artist painted the masterpiece that gave humanity a new picture of itself" and a new image of God. And while these words from Luke’s perspective are indeed poetic, some claim that there are errors in Luke’s historical record of this event and thus, his account is fallible. Keep in mind, Caesar Augustus was the emperor of Rome from 31 B.C. to 14 A.D., and we are told according to Luke that Quirinius, the governor of Syria was the administrator of this major census organized to facilitate the payment of taxes. But the problem is the only known census tied to Quirinius in other historical records dates to around 6 A.D., and this would clearly place the birth of Christ too late. Also, historical records show that Varus would have been governor of Syria at the time of Christ’s birth rather than Quirinius. And so, as a result many have regarded Luke’s gospel account of the birth of Christ to be fallible; but many historians and scholars claim that it is possible that Quirinius could have served as governor twice in his political career since there is a gap in the governorship records between 4 B.C. and 1 A.D., and that a census could have been ordered at that time. While others claim that the census could have started with Verus, the governor of Syria prior to Quirinius, and ended with Quirinius thus explaining why Luke would have tied it to Quirinius, which is very probable.
Someone once said; "There are only two guarantees in life - death and taxes" and, you can be assured, that the Holy Family was not excluded from either of these.

But of course, all of this was done to fulfill the prophecies of the Old Testament, which spoke of the Messiah being born in Bethlehem.

Through the Christmas story, we are reminded that God has made a home with us! Rather than just appear on earth one day, or "beam down" to use Trek-talk, Jesus is said to have entered this world in the most orthodox of ways: childbirth. Jesus’ appearance on earth is known as the Incarnation, or what John calls "[God] becoming flesh."

In ancient times the coming of a king required special preparation. A representative of the king was sent ahead to prepare the road on which the king would be traveling. Holes would be filled in, rough places made smooth and the crooked sections straightened. The same thing happened in recent times when Queen Elizabeth II visited the Bahamas. In preparation for her coming, the roads she would be traveling on were completely resurfaced. God has come to us! And in the same way, we must make ready our hearts and lives. The message of Christmas is that our God isn’t a impersonal, distant and absent God; God does not reside in temples made by hands. God is Emmanuel and God has now made his home in our hearts and lives.

The great Saint prayed; "O God, come into my heart; for my heart is restless without thee." We cannot know the true sense or meaning of home, until God resides in us. But only then, it is a foretaste of our home, which is to come. That’s the message of Christmas, God has invaded our lives to reside with us, that we might know what it means to have a home with God.

And so, may we pray along with the hymn writer;

"Be near me, Lord Jesus,

I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever

And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children

In Thy tender care

And take us to heavenTo live with Thee there..."

...To live with thee in our eternal home! Thanks be to God for Christmas - God’s coming to us that we might have home with God in our hearts and lives now, a foretaste of our home to come, Amen.

"Crowded Lives, Empty Hearts!"

A sermon preached at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 24, 2006 by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on Luke 2:1-7.

I read the other day of a minister in San Francisco who arrived at Church one morning after Christmas and discovered that baby Jesus had been taken from the outside Nativity scene on the church lawn. Immediately, the pastor headed toward the church to call the police, but as he did he noticed little Timmy with a red wagon, and in the wagon was the missing baby Jesus. The pastor approached little Timmy and asked; "Timmy, where did you get that baby Jesus?" Timmy replied; "I got him from over there on the church lawn." "And why did you take him?" asked the pastor. With a sheepish smile on his face, Timmy said; "Well, pastor, it’s like this, the week before Christmas I prayed to baby Jesus and told him that if he would have Santa bring me a red wagon for Christmas, I would give him a ride around the block in it!"

Sadly, for some, Christ has been removed from their celebration! I think it is rather ironic that the most familiar and recognized words of the Christmas story are those that read; "And she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7). These resounding words have echoed throughout the course of time and, what’s more, they challenge us to ask ourselves is there any room for the Christ of Christmas in our celebration – in our lives? Sadly, many have answered, "NO!" Perhaps, not deliberately; but unintentionally! Perhaps, they have allowed all of the commotion and confusion, all of the hype and excitement, all of the hustle and bustle that this season brings, to crowd Christ out. Perhaps, these words are so familiar to us because they ring true not only in our society and world today, but also in our own lives. Oftentimes, our lives become so busy that our hearts become empty!
Perhaps, you’ve heard the story of the woman who was shopping and happen to notice a nativity scene in a window of a department store. In disgust, she said; "Would you look at this, dragging religion into Christmas!"
History records for us an interesting footnote. It was during the dark winter of 1864, at Petersburg, Virginia, that the Confederate army of Robert E. Lee faced the Union divisions of General Ulysses S. Grant. The war was now three and half years old, and the glorious charge had long since given way to the muck and mud of trench warfare. Late one evening one of Lee’s generals, Major General George Pickett, received word that his wife had given birth to a beautiful baby boy. Up and down the line the Southerners began building huge bonfires in celebration of the event. As you might imagine, these fires did not go unnoticed in the Northern camps and soon Grant sent out a group of soldiers to investigate. The soldiers returned with the message that Pickett’s wife had, had a son and these were fires built to mark the celebration. It so happen that Grant and Pickett were acquaintances at West Point, so to honor the occasion Grant, too, ordered that bonfires be built. What a sight! For miles on both sides of the lines fires burned. No shots were fired! No yelling back and forth! No war fought! Only light, celebrating the birth of a child. But, sadly, it didn’t last forever. Soon, the fires burned down and the fighting resumed.
The good news of Christmas is that in the midst of a great darkness there came a light, and the darkness was not able to overcome it, as the Apostle John reminds us. It wasn’t a temporary flicker – it was an eternal flame. However, there are times when this light gets snuffed out by the busyness of life – especially the busyness of this season! At times, the light of Christ is a faint flicker, or completely removed from our lives. And sadly, that is the way many celebrate Christmas. It all began in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago. There, Luke tells us, "was found no room in the inn." The light was not welcomed!
Now friends, it is true that Jesus wasn’t actually born on December the 25th. In fact, most of the evidence gathered points to a time other than that date. In fact, we are told in Luke’s account of the Christmas story that the shepherds were "out in the fields" when they received the angel’s announcement. And so, this would place Jesus’ birth sometime between March and September, since sheep graze only during the spring and summer months in that part of the country. Some scholars determined that Jesus’ birth probably took place in the latter part of September, and probably occurred around 4 B.C. But, of course, we observe December the 25th as the birthday of our Lord because of what has been passed on to us by the traditions of the 3rd century church, to at least the time of Constantine. As I reminded you several weeks ago, this was traditionally the pagan festival of Saturnalia, which honored the sun – it was, in a sense, the birthday of the sun. But the Church, seeking to put an end to such pagan festivals replaced it with honoring a different "son" – the Son of God! What’s more, they adapted many of the pagan customs and traditions, giving them all Christian influence and meaning.

But, sadly, we are told that once Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem they found no lodging. One would assume, given Joseph’s ancestral connections to Bethlehem, he would have been able to obtain lodging. Yet, Luke tells us that "there was no place for them in the inn." The Greek word kataluma, translated "inn" can also mean the guest room of a house. Thus, this was probably a reference to a guest room in a private home, perhaps the home of one of Joseph or Mary’s relatives. And so, there only shelter was in a room on the bottom floor of the home, or connected to the house that was used to house and fed the family’s livestock.

Now, friends, I think it is important to realize that that scene in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago would have looked much different then that familiar scene we are accustomed too. For starters, it would not have been constructed of wood. You see, keep in mind, in biblical times stables or stalls were usually connected to the house, rather than being a separate building, and mangers in biblical times were made of clay mixed with straw or from stones cemented with mud. Mangers were, a lot of times, just carved in natural rock. And so the holy family’s only shelter was the room where animals were kept, and our Lord’s bed was a manger, or better yet, a feeding trough. Later in Jesus’ ministry he told his disciples; "Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, was born in humility. Jesus, leaving the riches and glories of heaven, was born as a tiny babe in poverty in a cold and dark, lonely and unwelcoming world.
Jesus’ birth emulated his life. We are also told that when Jesus was born Mary wrapped him in swaddling clothes, which is significant, and mirrors his death. The swaddling clothes Mary would have used were the same clothes or cloths used in wrapping the bodies of the dead. The fact that Jesus was born to die is apparent, even in his birth and especially evident in the later gifs of the Magi, who would have visited the Christ-child as much as 2 years later.

The Apostle Paul, speaking of Christ, writes in his letter to the Philippians; "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name…" Now friends, that’s the message of Christmas. God became one of us. He was born and died in humility and in poverty, that we might be spiritually exalted and wealthy.
As we consider the many service men and women who will not be home this Christmas, we can somewhat relate to the story that is told of a little girl whose father was overseas fighting. This little girl's Christmas wasn’t complete without her father! She didn’t feel much like celebrating. In hopes of cheering her daughter up, her mother took her to the mall to see Santa Claus. When Santa asked the little girl what she wanted most for Christmas, she took a picture she was carrying out of her pocket of her father in his military uniform and said; "I wish my daddy could step out of this picture and be with me." That is what God has done for us in and through Christ. God stepped out of the portrait of the eternal and invisible realm and has come to us. A great theologian put it this way; "In Jesus, the reality of God entered the reality of this world."

We can rejoice this day, because once God was beyond our reach - untouchable, unreachable, unapproachable; but now, God has come to us and he invites us to come unto him. Let us prepare well the room in our hearts, making sure there is plenty of room for him to live in us. And so, may we pray:

"O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!"