Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Christmas cheer, but not love
I am getting ready to speak this week on the advent topic (theme) of love. I recognize a lot of themes around Christmas, but this one is a bit more vague. It has a milliion different focus points. I just am not sure where to start.
I kind of like what Richard did last Sunday, asking for song with joy in it, but I was thinking perhaps trying to get a wider range of songs. But that was done last week too, so I am not sure about doing the same thing (unless it was my idea) two weeks in a row.
Love, it can be an overwhelming topic for a sermon. Where to start, where to finish. Perhaps it has to start with the most quoted verse of the Bible. John 3:16 then 1 or 2 Peter where it talks about God not wanting anyone to perish. Then the plan - John 1, and the birth narratives. Focus on Immanual - God with us. That leaves application - how to live, what to do about this idea that God came near. I'm still not sure if this is the right outline for a sermon. More thinking required, maybe a clearer head. What to do ...
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I wanted to post a Psalm that I read last night that for some odd reason appealed to me. I just really liked it and wanted to share it.
Psalm 38
A psalm of David. A petition.
1 O LORD , do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 For your arrows have pierced me,
and your hand has come down upon me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;
my bones have no soundness because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed me
like a burden too heavy to bear.
5 My wounds fester and are loathsome
because of my sinful folly.
6 I am bowed down and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.
7 My back is filled with searing pain;
there is no health in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;
I groan in anguish of heart.
9 All my longings lie open before you, O Lord;
my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me;
even the light has gone from my eyes.
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;
my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who seek my life set their traps,
those who would harm me talk of my ruin;
all day long they plot deception.
13 I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear,
like a mute, who cannot open his mouth;
14 I have become like a man who does not hear,
whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 I wait for you, O LORD ;
you will answer, O Lord my God.
16 For I said, "Do not let them gloat
or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips."
17 For I am about to fall,
and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;
I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many are those who are my vigorous enemies;
those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil
slander me when I pursue what is good.
21 O LORD , do not forsake me;
be not far from me, O my God.
22 Come quickly to help me,
O Lord my Savior.
I kind of like what Richard did last Sunday, asking for song with joy in it, but I was thinking perhaps trying to get a wider range of songs. But that was done last week too, so I am not sure about doing the same thing (unless it was my idea) two weeks in a row.
Love, it can be an overwhelming topic for a sermon. Where to start, where to finish. Perhaps it has to start with the most quoted verse of the Bible. John 3:16 then 1 or 2 Peter where it talks about God not wanting anyone to perish. Then the plan - John 1, and the birth narratives. Focus on Immanual - God with us. That leaves application - how to live, what to do about this idea that God came near. I'm still not sure if this is the right outline for a sermon. More thinking required, maybe a clearer head. What to do ...
-----------------------------------
I wanted to post a Psalm that I read last night that for some odd reason appealed to me. I just really liked it and wanted to share it.
Psalm 38
A psalm of David. A petition.
1 O LORD , do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 For your arrows have pierced me,
and your hand has come down upon me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;
my bones have no soundness because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed me
like a burden too heavy to bear.
5 My wounds fester and are loathsome
because of my sinful folly.
6 I am bowed down and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.
7 My back is filled with searing pain;
there is no health in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;
I groan in anguish of heart.
9 All my longings lie open before you, O Lord;
my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me;
even the light has gone from my eyes.
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;
my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who seek my life set their traps,
those who would harm me talk of my ruin;
all day long they plot deception.
13 I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear,
like a mute, who cannot open his mouth;
14 I have become like a man who does not hear,
whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 I wait for you, O LORD ;
you will answer, O Lord my God.
16 For I said, "Do not let them gloat
or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips."
17 For I am about to fall,
and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;
I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many are those who are my vigorous enemies;
those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil
slander me when I pursue what is good.
21 O LORD , do not forsake me;
be not far from me, O my God.
22 Come quickly to help me,
O Lord my Savior.
// posted by Eric @ 9:27 AM 
