Sermon: "Afraid of Answered Prayer" by Randy Roberts 
Part 1 – Christmas . . . F.E.A.R.*
(*For Every Anxious Reason)

Prayer: Shirley Ponder

Pastoral Welcome: Joelle Reuer

Children’s Feature: Jackie Bishop

Meditation:

Prayer is the key to the morning and the bolt of the evening. – Anonymous

The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying.  He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion.  He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray. – Samuel Chadwick

Prayer is not a substitute for work, thinking, watching, suffering, or giving; prayer is a support for all other efforts. – George Buttrick

Prayer does not equip us for greater works … prayer is the greater work. – Oswald Chambers

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:5-14, TNIV - Hanna Gillespie - 1st service
Aaron and Abel Massey - 2nd service

INTRODUCTION TO THE SERMON

 Two realities hover in the air as we begin Advent 2010.  First, Christmas.  Christmas is just around the corner!  Ask any child – and that child will tell you just how many days are left till Christmas, maybe even how many hours!  And there’s no denying the fact, either.  The music on the radio, the lights in the neighborhood, the sales at the mall, all testify to the fact that Christmas is near.  So, like it or not, ready or not, here it comes!

 The second reality that hangs over our heads is fear.  Or, if fear is too strong a word, maybe you would prefer a word like anxiety or uncertainty or worry or nervousness.  Why are we afraid?  Just turn on the evening news or click on a news website.  The headlines will answer.  Terrorism.  War.  Crime.  Joblessness. Foreclosures.  And the list goes on and on.  And on.  There are many reasons for fear.

 But there may be a few reasons for fear that you hadn’t thought of.  Such as answered prayer.  Or divine epiphanies.  Or heaven coming down to earth.  But who would be afraid of those things?  Well, people were, once upon a time.

 The first two chapters of the gospel of Luke – the two chapters that record for us the narrative of the birth of Christ – record the words, “Do not be afraid,” three times.  It is those three incidents that we examine in our Christmas series this year.  The series title is, Christmas … F.E.A.R.* (*For Every Anxious Reason).

 Here is an outline of our series:

 December 4           Afraid of Answered Prayer     Luke 1:5–25

December 11         Afraid of the Divine Epiphany      Luke 1:26–38

December 18         Afraid When Heaven Comes Dow       Luke 2:1–12

 Join me as we go back once again to the old, old story and seek fresh and new insights.  It just may be that by the time we’re done, you may decide that Christmas isfor fear – for the healing of fear!

 One word about December 25.  A special program on that day will make our worship service memorable.  We will not have Sabbath School; rather, first service will begin at 10 a.m. and second service at 11:45.  So spend some special time with your family earlier that day and then join us for worship.

 God bless you.  And Merry Christmas!

 Randy Roberts
         Senior Pastor

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