Sunday, January 03, 2010

2nd Sunday Christmas

Today's Saying
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
John 1:14



This Sunday is celebrated as the second Sunday of Christmas in the liturgical churches. The gospel is John 1:10-18. This wonderful text is assigned for Christmas Day worship and the second Sunday following Christmas for all three years of the lectionary .It contains another version of the Christmas story.. Here the Christmas event is seen from the other side. We do not see the little baby, or the manger, shepherds, or kings. Instead we see the Word. The all powerful Word that was with God and was God. The Word of creative power through wom the universe is created. Not a single planet, not a blazing sun exists that the Word didn’t share in its creation.
But now this all powerful Word puts aside his power and chooses to become one of us.
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
That’s the Christmas story. God choosing to be a human being in order to save us.
God entering time and our history in an unbelievable act of love.
John says “ From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.”
But the text is not all joy. It tells us clearly some will see the Word in Jesus some won’t. Some will instead reject Him. He will make them angry. In their arrogance they will have Him put to death and they will persecute his followers.
It is still the same today.
Some see in this Jesus , God. But others still reject Him.
They claim superior knowledge. They claim science. They claim reality.
In their arrogance they make fun of Christians. They insult. They persecute.
But then and now those who believe become the children of God. We receive grace upon grace.
I have lived a life of grace upon grace.
God invites you, if you haven’t, to step over the line and believe as well.
Come join the children of grace.
The Word has become flesh and dwells among us.
Hallelujah!

Pastor Joan has finished her sermon for this Sunday. Here is an excerpt:
“ At this point in time we are very much caught up in the question of power. We need power to light our homes, keep them warm, run our cars, keep our factories going, clear the snow off our streets, punish our evil enemies, and in more ways than I can begin to list.
So we fight over the power.
We don’t want it to cost too much.
We don’t want to be dependant on foreign governments for our supply.
We don’t want the evil nations to have the kind that blows away cities.
Power is a problem.
The good news this morning is that the greatest power in the universe is available to you.
This is power so great it creates stars and universes.
This is the power of the Word which is God.
That power has entered into our history and become a man.
That power is available to you this morning.
It is life changing power.
It is life renewing power.
It is free.
It is power to start over, forgiven.
It frees us from the sin that enslaves us.
When we believe in Jesus, the Word become flesh, we tap into that power.
It flows through us.
It cleans but it doesn’t destroy.
It pours grace upon grace into our life.
This morning is a good time to renew that power.
Put your faith, your life into the hands of Christ.
Come walk with Him.
Let Him power you.
For us the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Please ! Don’t be counted among those who knew Him not.
Come be the Child of God you were meant to be.

10 Comments:

Blogger Sue said...

Two powerful sermons in one stop. That's the way to start the new year.

3:34 AM  
Blogger Lou said...

What beautiful words. They lifted my spirit.

4:25 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very nice sermons my friend. I enjoyed reading these. :) Have a wonderful Sunday :)

4:42 AM  
Blogger Melli said...

Hallelujah indeed!

What a great start to my morning Pastor! Thank you!

6:33 AM  
Anonymous quilly said...

John 1:1 is one of my favorite scriptures. How very much Jesus loves us!

1:44 PM  
Blogger Dulçe ♥ said...

Hallelujah!

3:00 PM  
Blogger G-Man said...

Happy New Year Doc....

Just makin sure that You and the Dragons are OK....G

5:09 PM  
Blogger Maude Lynn said...

Some of my favorite scripture. Thank you, Dr. John.

6:52 PM  
Blogger Elizabeth Mahlou said...

Thanks for the one-stop shopping opportunity for your sermon and Pastor Joan's.

Wishing you a blessed new year in 2010!

9:01 PM  
Blogger Jim said...

Amen for Pastor Joan's sermon! Yours too!
..
All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.

O that with yonder sacred throng
we at his feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song,
and crown him Lord of all.
We'll join the everlasting song,
and crown him Lord of all.
..

10:09 PM  

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