December 16, 2017 - Church at Worship

Sermon: "When God’s Call Brings Good News" Mary Moments: God’s Unexpected Calls (part 3 of 4) by Randy Roberts with Joel Chapen

Pastoral Welcome: Jonathan Osorio 

Advent Candle-lighting: Becker Family: Ryan, Emily, Olivia, Robbie and Guptill Family: Scott, Mindi, Alex, Jilly, Abby

Baptism: Emily Negri and Andrea Elizabeth Negri

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8-14, TNIV read by Morgan Walls and William Abel

Sermon Notes:

Often, in Scripture, darkness in the physical world symbolizes darkness in the spiritual world. You can find many examples of that. In the story of Egypt, the children of Israel, Moses, and the Exodus, physical darkness was a pervasive symbol of the spiritual darkness present in Egypt. In the book of Job, darkness is a symbol of the world’s chaos and separation from God. In the Psalms, again, darkness speaks of humanity’s alienation from God and God’s ways. And then, in the New Testament, the theme continues. Jesus, for example, in speaking of Himself as “the light of the world,” tells His listeners that if they follow Him, they will never walk in darkness. (See John 8:12). And John, in speaking of Judas, illustrates that to walk away from Jesus is to walk into darkness, when he says—on the night Judas left the Upper Room to betray Jesus—that “it was night” (John 13:30). And yet, it is when people are lost in darkness that God specializes in finding them, shedding light on their pathway, and bringing them into a saving relationship with Himself. That story, too, is told over and over again the pages of Holy Writ. Another way to say it would be to say that, many times, Mary Moments come while we’re in darkness. Such was the story of the shepherds. As they tended their sheep at night, suddenly, light blazed from heaven, blinding them, frightening them, illuminating the darkness with its brilliance. And, gloriously! from the angel chorus that shone that light on them, they heard the greatest of all good news: A Savior is born! Many around us and some among us live in darkness. Soul darkness. Numbing darkness. Deadening darkness. What they need is light. What they need is good news. What they need is a Mary Moment. Such is our focus today—not only from the pages of Scripture—but also from the life of a member of our community. Thank you, Joel Chapen, for being willing to share your story with us. May the light of Jesus shine on us today! Randy Roberts Senior pastor