First Lutheran Church of Little Rock

Text: Romans 6:1–11
Theme: The Reality of Christ
Other Lessons: Genesis 1:1–5; Psalm 29; Mark 1:4–11

(A) In the Name of the Father…Amen.
(B) Romans 6:1-11 serves as our sermon text for this morning, which reads
as follows:
Romans 6:1–11 (NASB95)
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may
increase?
2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ
Jesus have been baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so
that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so
we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death,
certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our
body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves
to sin;
7 for he who has died is freed from sin.
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with
Him,
9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die
again; death no longer is master over Him.
10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life
that He lives, He lives to God.
11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in
Christ Jesus.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
(C) Grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God our heavenly Father through
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
(D) Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:
Psalm 29:1–11 (NASB95)
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the LORD glory and
strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in holy
array.
3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The
LORD is over many waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful, The voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces
the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, And Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD hews out flames of fire.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; The LORD shakes the
wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD makes the deer to calve And strips the forests
bare; And in His temple everything says, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sat as King at the flood; Yes, the LORD sits as King forever.
11 The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His
people with peace. Amen.

Introduction
(A) The Amazing Race. Survivor. Cops. The Deadliest Catch. Nightwatch.
(1) What do each of those things have in common?
(A) They are all “reality shows”.
(1) For example, if you want to get a “feel” for life as one fishing for
crabs off the coast of Alaska, watch the Deadliest Catch.
(B) What about our lives as Christians?
(1) What would a reality show profiling our lives as Christians look like?
(I) The reality is, every one of us is dying . . . and dying to fill holes
in our lives.
(A) So, let’s be real.
(1) Our lives are temporary.
(2) No one knows when they will die.
(3) Everyone is looking for something to fill a void they have in their
lives.
(4) Each one of us has a void that we don’t like to talk about.
(5) This void has various forms:
(a) Loneliness
(b) Insecurity
(c) Fear of the unknown
(d) Unspeakable loss
(e) Need
(6) In this void:
(a) Children are afraid of the future
(b) Widows and widowers who grieve the loss of their spouse.
(c) Women who feel unappreciated
(d) Men who think they have failed their children.
(e) One dealing with guilt, shame, and regret.
(f) Those who have “everything” and that still is not enough.
(g) One has no sense of purpose, so just let them die!
(B) Everyone has holes they want to fill and need someone to do it for them.
(C) Everyone is dying to live!
(D) Is all this real enough for you?
(II) We need something real to fill those holes within us.
(A) Trying to fill that void with things that are fleeting, always changing:
(1) Entertainment
(2) Sports
(3) Technology
(4) Achievements in your life
(5) Money
(6) False spirituality
(7) “Sex, drugs, and rock and roll”
(8) Looking to be noticed by others
(9) And the list goes on…
(B) Your purpose of filling the void?:
(1) Ease the pain of loneliness
(2) To answer our questions
(3) To make the pain go away!
(4) But all this comes back!
(C) We need something real.
(1) Not found in our elected officials.
(2) Not found on your favorite news channel.
(3) Not found in social media
(4) Not found in self-help books.
(D) The real things that fill the void:
(1) Flesh and blood found in bread and wine.
(2) Wood, water, and dirt.
(3) Life and death.
(4) The truth
(a) Not lies
(b) Not half truths
(c) Not one’s interpretation
(E) To hear the real truth:
(1) Listen to the Word of God!
(III) Holy Baptism connects us to Jesus.
(A) Listen again to what Paul says in our text for this morning:
Romans 6:3–4 (NASB95)
3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ
Jesus have been baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so
that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so
we too might walk in newness of life.
(B) Paul reminds us of things we can hold onto:
(1) Washed with real water
(2) Spoken over with real words.
(3) This is a real event with real witnesses.
(4) It happened to you!
(C) What happened when you were baptized?:
(1) The old died.
(2) The new was born.
(3) Real event with real witnesses.
(D) Your future has completely changed:
(1) Connected to Jesus’ death and resurrection.
(a) Jesus died, you died.
(b) Jesus rose from the dead, you rose from the dead.
(E) Everything about you is now different.
(1) Identity
(2) Value
(3) Hope
(F) It Is Hard to Live in This Fallen World, but the Reality of Our Baptism
Gives Us Forgiveness, Identity, Salvation, and Hope we so desperately need.
(IV) God gives us very real things to fill our senses and strengthen our
faith.
(A) Paul gets real practical:
Romans 6:8–11 (NASB95)
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with
Him,
9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die
again; death no longer is master over Him.
10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life
that He lives, He lives to God.
11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in
Christ Jesus.
(B) Paul here connects two historical events:
(1) Christ’s death and resurrection
(2) Your baptism
(a) Connected to the Cross
(b) Jesus’ real flesh and blood nailed to:
1) A real cross
2) Real nails and wood was used.
(c) Jesus died a real death
1) To pay for your real sins
2) To save you from the real place called hell.
(d) Jesus rose again:
1) To give you eternal life in heaven
(C) Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, God knew that things were going to
be too tough for us to go around thinking abstract thoughts about
salvation.
(1) That is why God connects heavenly things to earthly things.
(a) To give you something to hold on to
(b) The worship service:
1) You see
2) You hear
3) You are not alone
4) You’re in a hospital filled with God’s broken but beloved children.
5) Confessing your sins before God and man.
6) Confessing your faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
(c) Where else will you find an altar, a baptismal font, and a pulpit?
1) God bringing His means of salvation to you!
(D) When you confess your sins and I announce God’s forgiveness of sins to
you, it is not a different forgiveness than what you receive in your
bedroom, but God wants you to hear it.
(1) He wants you to hear that you are really forgiven.
(2) In the words of the sermon and the liturgy that we speak together, you
hear that you are a sinner, but that you are also saved by God’s grace
alone.
(E) Long ago, church used to have a smell attached to it as well.
(1) It was not the Roman Catholics or the Eastern Orthodox who originated
the use of incense in worship;
(2) it was God in the Old Testament.
(3) The burning of incense in the tabernacle was commanded by God
(4) and the psalms were prayers rising like incense from the temple to
heaven.
(5) That meant church used to smell different from the world (and it still
does in some places), and that helped to create a different state of mind.
(F) God brings real things together to bring about real change for us.
(1) His real body and blood connected with real bread and wine.
(a) His Real Presence
(b) His forgiveness that is not only heard, but tasted.
(2) What then is this “real” change I speak of?
(a) The Lord gives us real:
1) Life
2) Strength
3) Renewal
(b) Clinging to faith in Christ
(G) The worship service is all about:
(1) Seeing
(2) Hearing
(3) Smelling
(4) Eating
(5) Drinking
(6) These are all real things from a real Savior
(a) Jesus fills the void we can’t
(b) Christ alone is the One who makes us complete.
(V) Jesus Christ is the very practical solution to the way sin has made our
lives unreal.
(A) The Christian life is filled with paradoxes.
(1) Loneliness and fear
(2) Your sin, my sin
(3) Assurance and hope
(B) As you live your lives, remember:
(1) Your Baptism
(a) Real water was applied
(b) God’s real Word spoken to you
(c) You were once dead in your sins, now made alive.
(d) Guilt washed away, regret and shame pardoned.
(2) At the Cross, you find:
(a) Jesus’ mercy
(3) In your Baptism, there you find:
(a) Your identity
(b) Your connection and history to people both past and present
(c) The reality of Christ
Conclusion
(A) Pastors sometimes get attacked for preaching “impractical” sermons.
(1) We’re accused of preaching about things that are too much in the
abstract, or things that’ll happen after we die.
(2) We’re sometimes told that we spend too much time preaching about
doctrine and not enough time preaching about what people “really need.”
(3) We’re told that if we’re to remain relevant to people, we must address
things that people are going through on a day-to-day basis.
(4) We don’t need “old stuff”; we need “new stuff.”
(5) We need to preach something more “real.”
(B) With all that was said during this sermon, who says preaching doctrine
isn’t practical?
(1) In the name of the Father…Amen.
(C) Let us pray:
Thanks and praise be unto You, our God and Lord, for sending us the Gospel
of Your Son, Jesus Christ, in which You teach us the way of salvation and
comfort us with the hope of everlasting life.
Make Your Word in us a power of salvation, and the anchor of our souls in
life and death.
Cause also the voice of Your Word to be sounded abroad, that the nations
that do not know You may come to Your light. Amen.
(D) The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts
and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
(E) In the Name of the Father…Amen.

(A) In the Name of the Father…Amen.
(B) The Old Testament lesson serves as our sermon text for this morning.
(C) Grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God our heavenly Father through
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
(D) Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:
Praise belongs to You, our God, because You have fulfilled Your promises to
Your people Israel in the incarnation of Your Son, and sent the light of
Your truth to our fathers when they were walking in ignorance of You.
Grant us steadfastly to trust Your covenant of grace that we may live
therein.
Make Your works of mercy and truth known to our children, that they may
praise Your name in generations to come. Amen.

Introduction

(A) Seventy years ago, Irish playwright Samuel Beckett wrote a play that is
considered a modern masterpiece by people all over the world.
(1) The play is about two men who are waiting under a tree for a man called
Godot.
(2) The two men are unsure of exactly who Godot is or if he will ever
arrive.
(3) They talk at length:
(a) searching for hope and making meaningless conversation as they wait,
(b) But they are never sure of exactly what they are hoping for or what
will happen when Godot shows up.
(4) As the play comes to an end, night falls on the helpless and
unfulfilled men, and the man they wait for never shows up.
(5) In this play, entitled Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett assumes the
role of mouthpiece for the entire unbelieving world,
(a) He accuses Christians of spending their lives waiting on impotent
promises made by a God that does not exist.
(1) For most of history, mankind has been waiting for God.
(A) A close look at Scripture reveals that Beckett was at least partially
right.
(1) For nearly all of history, mankind has waited for God.
(2) Indeed, we have waited for God to save us.
(3) The Bible has sixty-six books consisting of about twelve hundred pages.
(4) Mankind was sinless and in favor with God for exactly two chapters of
the whole Bible, which equates to roughly a page and a half.
(5) We all know what happened in that third chapter of Genesis.
(6) Our ancestors Adam and Eve rebelled against God, and in doing so, they
plunged themselves and all of God’s creation into a condition of sin.
(7) Ever since, the world and everything in it has been separated from God.
(B) God was angry and cast our first parents out of the garden.
(1) He cursed them with difficulties and tribulation and, finally, death.
(2) We see from the beginning that God despises rebellion against Him, but
we also see that God’s wrath is overshadowed by His shocking grace.
(3) For even as God was expelling His wicked children from paradise, He
promised them that one of Eve’s offspring would crush the head of the
reviled serpent that tempted them into their fatal mistake.
(4) Yes, even in the third chapter of Genesis, God promises a Messiah.
(5) From that point on, mankind has waited for God.
(2) Waiting is not something we do well.
(A) God’s wisdom has always seemed foolish to humans, so we’ve always
sought to have things our own way.
(1) Throughout history, whenever man’s will led him to misery, suffering,
and despair (as was always the case), helpless man cried out to God and
waited for God to save him again.
(2) Without fail, God always did.
(B) The entire Old Testament, in ways both subtle and bold, points to both
the need for and the promise of a Savior.
(1) Whether through events that foreshadowed the salvation that was to
come, or by bold prophetic utterances of those who spoke on God’s behalf,
every book of the Old Testament told of man’s desperate inability to save
himself and of God’s enduring promise to save and restore him.
(2) God promised to send a Messiah, a champion of his people, who would:
(a) crush their oppressors,
(b) lead them to the promised land,
(c) and restore their relationship with Him.
(d) And so, man waited.
(C) God in His mercy did not force His children to linger here on earth
without Him.
(1) Our heavenly Father knew that the burden of enduring without Him was
too much for His children to bear, so God always placed Himself where His
broken children could easily find Him.
(2) He told them to build a tabernacle, which means “dwelling place,” where
they could come and hear God’s Word read to them.
(3) They were to come to Him in repentance and sacrifice the blood of
animals for their sins.
(4) They were to come and receive forgiveness and comfort.
(5) They were to come and be in the real presence of God.
(6) God was always there, just as He said He would be.
(7) What we do in worship now is really no different than what was done
back then, just no animal sacrifices.
(D) Through the generations, God’s people continued to be so sinful and so
rebellious that the blood of beasts could never satisfy God’s wrath.
(1) Despite God’s presence, guidance, and mercy, man still wanted his own
way.
(2) And God gave it to him.
(3) God spoke to the people through prophets, telling them of his fury over
their sin.
(4) Through Isaiah, for example, the Lord God warned his people:
Isaiah 39:6 (NASB95)
‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house and all that
your fathers have laid up in store to this day will be carried to Babylon;
nothing will be left,’ says the LORD.
(a) And, yes, He allowed them to be taken into the bondage of slavery again.
(E) True to His character, however, God still spoke words of promise.
(1) He assured his people that the Messiah would yet come to them at just
the right time.
(2) Even as Isaiah saw the days of captivity, God let him see deliverance,
a new day:
Isaiah 61:10–62:3 (NASB95)
10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He
has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of
righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride
adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, And as a garden causes the
things sown in it to spring up, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness
and praise To spring up before all the nations.
1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will
not keep quiet, Until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, And her
salvation like a torch that is burning.
2 The nations will see your righteousness, And all kings your glory; And
you will be called by a new name Which the mouth of the LORD will
designate.
3 You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, And a royal
diadem in the hand of your God.
(F) “Will do this, will do that”. “Until this happens, until that happens”
(1) Nothing but promises, promises, promises, the “Samuel Becketts” of the
Old Testament world would say.
(2) God’s people lamented, and they cried out for reconciliation.
(3) And . . . they waited.
(3) But just as God promised, the Messiah did come.
(A) The story of Simeon as recorded in the second chapter of Luke may cover
only a few paragraphs, but it has a great and lasting importance to the
life of every Christian.
(1) Simeon, like many of his generation, had waited for God’s Messiah.
(2) But unlike any other of his generation that we know of, he had been
guaranteed by God that he would not die before he had seen the promise come
to pass.
(3) Simeon waited well.
(4) We do not know how long Simeon waited.
(5) Tradition usually portrays Simeon as greatly advanced in age.
(6) But Scripture is silent as to how old he actually was.
(7) All that can be said is that he waited well in faith for his Savior to
arrive.
(8) And just as God promised, the Messiah did come.
(B) God Has Always Made His People Promises and Kept Them.
(C) The Scripture said that the Holy Spirit had come upon Simeon, and it is
clear that this is how he knew that he had seen the Christ.
(1) For only through the eyes of faith that the Holy Spirit can provide
could Simeon have known that this helpless, fragile baby was really the
King of all creation.
(2) As he looked upon the child, born humbly and in a most inglorious
fashion, he knew that he had not waited in vain on an impotent, nonexistent
fantasy.
(3) He had in fact been in the real presence of God.
(4) We no longer wait for God to reconcile us to Him, for Jesus finished
that at the cross.
(A) As Simeon looked at the child, Scripture records that he spoke these
beautiful words that we have come to know as the Nunc Dimittis (the Song of
Simeon):
Luke 2:29–32 (KJV)
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy
word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
(B) The Samuel Becketts of Simeon’s day would have dismissed this as sheer
and utter foolishness, but our God works that way.
(1) His foolishness produces:
(a) abundance from nothingness,
(b) strength from weakness,
(c) life from death.
(d) We see this at the cross.

(2) We see our Lord and Savior Jesus:
(a) battered,
(b) weak,
(c) crucified,
(d) in despair
(e) and in agony.
(3) Through worldly eyes:
(a) we see a gentle Jewish man being executed,
(4) But through eyes of faith provided us by the Holy Spirit, we see God
incarnate, triumphantly destroying the power of death for us.
(5) We can never think about this reality too much.
(a) The danger is not thinking about it enough.
(b) Or only thinking about it when it is convenient to do so.
(6) For at the cross, we learn who we truly are—and who God truly is.
(7) God’s attributes were fully revealed that day, as we beheld God’s
ultimate wrath and fury . . . and his shocking and infinite mercy.
(8) Our sin so infuriated our heavenly Father that there had to be blood
atonement.
(9) Someone had to die!
(10) But He loves you so much that He wouldn’t let it be you.
(11) Instead, in your place, He sent His only Son to be your Savior, just
as He always said He would do.
(C) We no longer wait for God to reconcile us to Him, for that was finished
at the cross.
(1) You are reminded of this at your Baptism, where you were:
(a) washed,
(b) renewed,
(c) and grafted into His family,
(d) forever bonded to the One who conquered death, the devil, and hell on
your behalf.
(e) You are no longer a free agent left to your own devices and your own
feeble plans to save yourself.
(f) Your life has been purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ, and you are
His and He is yours.
(5) Instead, we now wait for God differently.
(A) Yes, we still wait for God.
(1) We wait for His return.
(2) He has promised to come again for us and to take us to the place He has
prepared for us in heaven.
(3) We now wait to see Him face to face, knowing that we have nothing to
fear in the real presence of God.
(4) We now look eagerly forward to the day when our tears are wiped away
and our joy will be without restraint.
(5) We wait for our place at the table at a feast that will have no end.
(B) There is also good news for us in the present.
(1) We do not merely wait for the presence of God in the future, for just
as in the days of old, the Lord knows that life on earth is too much for us
to bear alone.
(2) Just as in the Old Testament, God still puts Himself where we, His
broken children, can easily find Him.
(3) He has promised to meet us:
(a) In the Word: where we hear
First. the Law, showing us the right way to live
Second. and the Gospel, showing us our Savior and Lord who has lived the
right way for us because we cannot and will not on our own.
(b) In the water:
First. Combined with the Word, we are cleansed of our sins.
Second. The old Adam has died, the new man is alive!
Third. We are united with Christ in His death and resurrection.
(c) In the Supper:
First. He gives us the sacrifice He made at the cross so that you may have
comfort from the forgiveness of your sins.
Second. He meets you, gives you His real presence, and assures you of His
love for you.
Third. He will always be there for you, just as He said he would.

Conclusion
(A) As you wait for God now, do not concern yourself as some Christians do
with trying to “show God your résumé” of all you’ve done and not done.
(1) Do not be obsessed with proving yourself to God so that you may impress
Him in the hopes of being saved on the Last Day.
(2) The truth is, you will be sinning when the Lord returns, and so will I.
(3) Rather, wait for God by remaining daily in repentance and remembering
the depth of your sin and the greater depth of God’s grace.
(4) Never forget that there is no sin you have committed that is too great
to be absolved by His mercy.
(5) His death and resurrection are sufficient for you.
(B) The world is full of Becketts who accuse us of waiting on a promise
that is impotent and on a God who doesn’t exist.
(1) But your God has a perfect attendance record.
(2) We don’t know when He’ll return but we have the promise that He WILL
return.
(3) Rest assured, however, that when He’s seen all He needs to see, and all
that He requires has come to pass, He will say to the evil foe, “You will
hurt my children no more.”
(4) Our waiting will end, and He will return, just as He always said He
would.
(5) Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
(C) Let us pray:
Gracious and merciful Lord, we look to You for the remission of our sins in
Jesus, who speaks Your faithful words and performs the mighty work of our
salvation. Hallelujah! Amen.
Various Authors. The Lutheran Study Bible (Kindle Locations 146344-146345).
Concordia Publishing House. Kindle Edition.
(D) The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts
and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
(E) In the Name of the Father…Amen.

Theme: Returned

(A) In the Name of the Father…Amen.
(B) Psalm 126 serves as our sermon text for this evening.
(C) Grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God our heavenly Father through
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
(D) Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:
O my Lord God, you have returned your people to Zion, the city of peace.
The temple is restored, and your people are singing in joy.
O Lord Yahweh, my God and my King, you have done great things for us.
No longer are your people forced to live in Babylon, a land of slavery and
false gods.
We are home in Jerusalem. Home in the blessed city of David. Amen.

Introduction

(A) We have returned to the mercy seat of God.
(1) Our third psalm for Advent, Psalm 126, opens with these words:
Psalm 126:1 (NASB95)
When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion, We were like those who
dream.
(B) The nightmare of exile is over, and the sudden rush of joy is like a
barren desert turning into a flood.
(1) Imagine the flow of living-giving water or the flow of wine into the
cups of joy-filled guests at the best of banquet celebrations, bringing
happiness to the heart as people celebrate freedom.

(4) The nightmare of exile was over, for Judah had returned home.

(A) Captives who have been set free cannot do anything but rejoice and be
glad; every breath of free air is a celebration.
(1) The return from Babylon meant so much to Judah.
(2) The former captives are set free to build their own homes wherever they
wanted.
(3) They could work their own ground and farms and not be forced to hand
any of their crops over to their Babylonian taskmasters.
(4) They were set free to worship Yahweh their God and no longer forced to
bow down and honor the false gods Ishtar or Marduk or any other idol ever
again.
(5) They were free to worship the One who created them, redeemed them, and
called them by name.
(6) Isaiah 43:1 declares:
Isaiah 43:1 (NASB95)
But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you,
O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name;
you are Mine!
(7) Those who returned were like those who had just awakened from a
nightmare and jumped into a river of gladness.
(3) From what nightmare do you need to wake up?

(A) We all have them, you know.
(1) I know that everyone is supposed to be happy this time of year, but
maybe you aren’t.
(2) Maybe life during these joyful, festive days is too much.
(3) Exiled in the Babylon of your own sins and forced to bow down to some
rather worthless idols.
(4) Power, money, sex—name your poison—we’ve all been there.
(5) You know what it’s like to wake up in the morning with regret and
sorrow and shame, with hurt and hopelessness.
(B) Whatever it is, your own sins or the impact of someone else’s sin
against you, it has you shackled like a slave.

(1) It’s just as Jesus says in John 8:34:
John 8:34 (NASB95)
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin
is the slave of sin.
(C) Sin, Satan, and death have us lock, stock, and barrel.
(1) Chained up and ready to march us off into that eternal Babylon we call
hell.
(2) Can the voice like one calling in the wilderness be a wake-up call for
us?

(A) But just when you think all is lost, a voice is heard.
(1) A voice calls you out of death and the valley of the shadow.
(2) Calling to you like a voice in the wilderness, there come words of
promise and deliverance.
(3) Listen to what Jesus says in Luke 4:
Luke 4:18–19 (NASB95)
18 “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE
GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND
RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”
(4) This Scripture, Jesus says, has been fulfilled in your hearing.
(5) The Spirit was, is, and forever shall be upon the incarnate Son, who
was born for us to set us free from the nightmares that haunt our lives.
(B) But after dealing with so much sin and temptation and COVID-19 and all
the weakness of life, how can such promises possibly be true?
(1) Freedom, liberty, sight, good news for the poor, and the year of the
Lord’s favor for everyone.
(a) Seriously?
(b) Is it possible?
(c) There has to be a catch.
(d) How could it really be true?
(e) How could it be that the promises are for me?
(1) Yes, a new blood-bought, baptismal-covered reality is ours in Christ.

(A) Good news!
(1) This is for you indeed.
(2) The Word of God that called in Isaiah is now incarnate in Jesus Christ.
(3) The Word has been made flesh, and He has so much to say and give to you
and to me and to the world.
(4) Your idols have been broken.
(5) Your sins are forgiven.
(6) Your death has been undone, because the baby in the manger has grown
up, died, and risen again.
(7) No longer are you compelled to live in a prison of your own making.
(8) You are brought back home, by the grace of God given to you by faith in
Jesus Christ our Lord.
(B) Home. What a beautiful word!
(1) Back to the altar and the font of your Baptism.
(2) Brought back to the very Word of God made flesh.
(3) You are given new life—redeemed and renewed.
(4) Yes, you can start all over again.
(C) The nightmare is over.
(1) You are not dreaming!
(2) This is far better than any dream we could ever have.
(3) A new reality is yours in Christ our Lord.
(4) A blood-bought and baptismal-water-covered reality.
(5) You have been brought back to God, back to your Creator.
(6) Returned to the Father who loves you more than we could ever ask or
imagine.
(7) Exile broken.
(8) Death defeated.
(9) Freedom granted.
(10) The baby in the manger who grows to be the man on the cross—everything
is His gift.
(D) We Have Returned from a Nightmare to a New Reality in Christ.
Conclusion

(A) How do we declare our advent hope?
(1) The resounding words of Psalm 126 help us:
Psalm 126:1–6 (NASB95)
1 When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion, We were like those
who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful
shouting; Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things
for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us; We are glad.
4 Restore our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South.
5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.
6 He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed
come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
(2) In the name of the Father… Amen.
(B) Let us pray:
(C) The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts
and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
(D) In the Name of the Father…Amen.

(A) In the Name of the Father…Amen.
(B) The Gospel lesson serves as our sermon text for this morning.
(C) Grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God our heavenly Father through
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
(D) Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:
Gracious and Loving God,
As we gather in Your presence, we are reminded of Your promises in Isaiah,
where You sent Your servant to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up
the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the
prisoners.

Lord, let Your Spirit be upon us, as we seek to embody Your grace and
compassion in our world.
We pray for those among us and around us who are burdened, for the
oppressed seeking justice, for the brokenhearted in need of healing, and
for all who yearn for freedom.
May Your comforting presence be their strength.
In the Name of the Father…we pray. Amen.
Introduction

(A) June 19, 2018 is probably not a significant date for most of you.
(1) But it was for me! Never in my life did I ever dream that I would meet
Elvis Presley!
(2) First Care Outreach was that night.
(3) I don’t remember what we had for supper.
(4) But I do remember that Elvis was in the building!
(B) By now, you have probably figured out that it was not really Elvis that
was here that night.
(1) He was an impersonator!
(2) He looked like Elvis.
(3) He sounded like Elvis.
(4) He could pass himself off as the real thing.
(C) Again this week, as also last week on the Second Sunday of Advent, we
see a famous man suddenly appearing on the scene: John the Baptist.
(1) He was a strange man for sure, but he was the real McCoy.
(2) Unlike the Elvis impersonator, John Was Not an Impersonator of Jesus
but a True Witness of Christ!
(1) John refused to impersonate the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet in
order to be the center of attention.
(A) The Jews of Jerusalem wanted to know who that strange man was.
(B) Oh, John was a strange man indeed.
(C) Our Gospel lesson from last week declared:
Mark 1:6 (NASB95)
John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his
waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.
(D) This week’s Gospel declares in verse 23:
John 1:23 (NASB95)
[John] said, “I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT
THE WAY OF THE LORD,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
(A) A strange man on a strange mission.
(B) The Jews had a straightforward question to ask him:
(1) “Who are you?
(2) John’s answer was very plain and clear:
(a) “I’m not the Christ!”
(C) They kept asking more questions:
(1) “Are you Elijah?”
(a) John said, “I am not!”
(2) “Are you the Prophet, then?”
(a) John’s answer was even shorter. “No!” (see verse 21).
(D) John did not want to be the king of the hill;
(1) he did not want to be the center of attention.
(E) If there’s something we human beings are really good at, it’s trying to
be the king of the hill.
(1) We love to be the center of attention.
(2) We like when people pay attention to us, especially when we are doing
something good!
(3) This is a byproduct of the sinful nature.
(a) Be #1 at any cost!
(F) Jesus’ disciples had the same problem.
Mark 9:33–37 (NASB95)
33 They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to
question them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another
which of them was the greatest.
35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to
be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
36 Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He
said to them,
37 “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and
whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”
(1) Jesus’ advice?:
Matthew 20:26–28 (NASB95)
26 “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among
you shall be your servant,
27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give His life a ransom for many.”
(G) That was John. He knew exactly who he was and what he was supposed to
do.
John 1:20 (NASB95)
And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
John 1:27 (NASB95)
“It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to
untie.”
(H) John did not want to be what he was not!
(1) He was not an impersonator!
(2) He was not a pretender!
(2) He was content being what he was—only a witness pointing us to the Lamb
of God who takes away our sin.
(A) If the priests and Levites were on a mission, John had a mission of his
own!
(B) That was determined even before his birth.
(1) His parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, older and Elizabeth was unable to
have children.
(a) They abandoned their hopes of having a child.
(b) They thought their dream of having a child they could call their own
was gone.
(c) However, God had other plans for this couple.
(C) Being a priest, Zechariah was working in the temple when the angel
Gabriel appeared to him, saying:
Luke 1:13–15 (NASB95)
“Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your
wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.
14 “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no
wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his
mother’s womb.
(D) Our Gospel lesson for today tells us that:
John 1:6-8 (NASB95)
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might
believe through him.
8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
(1) John’s mission was sharp and laser focused:
(a) to be a witness
(b) a word that appears three times in our text!.
(2) What does a witness do?
(a) They talk about what they have seen and/or heard.
(b) In this case, John was called to witness about Jesus the Messiah!
(3) John was that voice calling in the desert.
(a) A voice calling people to repentance:
John 1:23 (NASB95)
He said, “I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE
WAY OF THE LORD,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
(4) When Jesus finally made his appearance, John was humble enough to say:
John 3:30 (NASB95)
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
(a) Literal translation: More of Jesus, less of me.
(E) Illustration
(1) Look on the back page of the weekly announcements and you will find a
picture of the Isenheim Altarpiece.
(2) This painting is on display at the Unterlin­den Museum at Colmar,
Alsace, in France.
(3) It’s a beautiful piece of art, painted by Matthias Grünewald, depicting
the crucifixion.
(4) At the center, you see Christ on the cross. Mary, the mother of Jesus,
is shown at Christ’s right, collapsing in agony in the arms of John, the
beloved disciple of Jesus.
(5) Next to Mary is Mary Magdalene, praying on her knees.
(6) However, at Christ’s left, you see someone who, apparently, is out of
place, someone who doesn’t belong to that scene: John the Baptist, with a
lamb at his feet.
(7) John, you probably remember, was beheaded by order of Herod during the
time of Jesus’ ministry; he could not possibly have witnessed the death of
Christ.
(8) But he’s there in the painting, and next to his right shoulder you read
in Latin:
John 3:30 (ESV)
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
(a) One more detail about John: he’s portrayed with a large index finger
pointing to Christ on the cross.
(b) This takes us back to what John said in chapter 1 of the Gospel of John:
John 1:29 (NASB95)
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of
God who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:35–36 (NASB95)
35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,
36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
(9) Historically, John is out of place in that painting, but from a
theological point of view, he’s standing in exactly the right place; his
index finger doesn’t leave any doubts why he should be there.
(10) John came to bear witness about the light, so that all might believe
through him (John 1:7–8).
(11) John had a big index finger pointing to Christ, the one he called the
Lamb of God, because it was all about Jesus!
(12) And this moment, the crucifixion, is really the moment John was
pointing to all along.
(13) It was all about Jesus and Him crucified then, and it’s still all
about Jesus and His cross now!
(F) John was not an impersonator;
(1) he didn’t pretend to be what he was not!
(G) Imagine being there when John said these words.
(1) John asks the crowd:
(a) “Did you come to see me?
(b) Let me tell you whom you need to see: not me, but Christ, the Lamb of
God!
(c) It’s always all about Him!
(d) He’s the one who brings light into your broken lives, darkened by sin.
(e) He not only brings light, but he also brings life and salvation.
(f) He will suffer and die on the cross to forgive your sins.
(g) Behold Jesus, and not me!”
(H) Behold Jesus, and not John!
(1) John the Baptist is an Advent man; he came as a witness; he came to
prepare the way.
(2) But he didn’t want to stay in the way of anybody.
(3) With his testimony, he directs people to Christ, so that by believing
in Him, all may have eternal life and salvation.
(4) This is good news of great joy!
(3) We aren’t being impersonators either when we direct others to Christ;
we are only being what we are—baptized and redeemed children of God.
(A) As we think about John the Baptist and his role—being a witness,
directing people to Jesus—think also about this:
(1) Who was like John in your life?
(2) Who directed you to Christ?
(3) Who pointed to Jesus and said to you, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who
takes away the sin of yours”?
(4) Maybe it was your mother, your father, a family member, your teacher, a
neighbor, a friend, or a coworker.
(5) Someone that didn’t want to be at the center of attention but instead
pointed to the center, directed you to Christ!
(6) If that person is still around, can I ask you a small favor?
(7) Please, send that person a Christmas card and thank him or her for what
he or she did for you!
(8) If they are no longer around, pray a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord
for pointing you to Christ your Savior and Lord!
Conclusion

(A) John the Baptist is an Advent man!
(1) Have you ever thought about becoming an Advent person too?
(2) What about you becoming a John the Baptist to someone else?
(3) No, I’m not asking you to be an impersonator, someone who you are not!
(4) I’m just asking you to be what you are:
(A) a baptized and redeemed child of God, directing others to Christ!
(5) A witness for Jesus!
(B) Be a voice out there in the world, a voice that speaks the Word of
truth, a voice that calls to repentance and trust in the One who is coming.
(1) Stick out your big index finger and point to Christ!
(C) Direct people to Jesus.
(1) Tell someone that He’s coming.
(2) Tell people around you that the One who’s coming is not an impersonator
but the real deal!
(3) He is the Son of God, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world, including yours and mine.
(4) Christ is the Light:
(A) the only Light that shines in the darkness,
(B) the Light that offers life and salvation to all people. Amen.
(D) Let us pray:
Lord, You have called us to be rebuilders of ruins, restorers of streets to
live in.
Guide our hands and hearts as we work towards creating a world that
reflects Your love and righteousness.
We thank You for Your faithfulness, for the promise of salvation and for
clothing us with garments of salvation, a robe of righteousness.
May our souls rejoice in You, as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as
a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up.
In Your loving and powerful name, we pray. Amen.
(E) The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts
and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
(F) In the Name of the Father…Amen.

Other readings: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2;8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a

(A) In the Name of the Father…Amen.
(B) The Gospel lesson serves as our sermon text for this morning.
(C) Grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God our heavenly Father through
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
(D) Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:
Gracious and Loving God, as we come together in Your presence on this
Advent Sunday, our hearts are filled with the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid.”
Lord, in a world where hardship and pain are all too common, we seek the
comfort that only You can provide.
You are our shepherd, the one who gathers the lambs in His arms and carries
them close to His heart.
As we navigate the valleys of life and confront the mountains of
challenges, remind us that You are always with us, gently guiding and
protecting us.
We are grateful for Your promise that every valley shall be lifted up, and
every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
This promise gives us hope and strength.
It reminds us that in You, every obstacle can be overcome, every burden can
be lightened. In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we
pray. Amen.
Introduction

(A) There was a time before there was the Internet when one had to read the
newspaper or listen to the tv or radio the old fashioned way.
(1) You had to go to the street corner where newspapers were sold to get a
copy.
(2) You had to go turn your tv or radio to listen to the news rather than
using the computer or smart phone.
(3) Before the days of newspapers being delivered to your house.
(4) You would hear the person selling the newspapers on the street corner:
(A) Get your papers here!
(B) Read all about it!
(B) John the Baptist served as the one crying out to the people on the
street corner:
(1) The long awaited Messiah is here!
(2) Put your faith and trust in Him now!
(A) A characteristic of the Gospel of Mark is the frequent use of the word
“immeditately” (Greek: εὐθύς, eutheōs,yoo-theh’-oce )
(3) Do not let obstacles or stumbling blocks such as:
(A) Outward appearance
(B) Preconceived ideas
(C) Your unworthiness
(1) Keep you from trusting in the Messiah Jesus!
(C) As the forerunner to Christ the Messiah, what was John’s job?
(1) Herald of Hope (Mark 1:1-4)
Mark 1:1–4 (NASB95)
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER
AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE
LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’ ”
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
(A) Here comes a new voice and he has something to say:
(1) Repent!
(a) Change course.
(2) Be baptized!
(a) More than Jewish custom
(b) A sign of ownership
(c) Coupled with water and Word: Jesus’ death and resurrection
(B) A baptism of repentance in the “wilderness”
(1) Obstacles to the faith
(2) Lives of chaos
(3) Waging war daily with our sinful flesh, the world, and the devil.
(C) What does this mean for us today?
(1) Remember your Baptism into Christ!
(a) You are His, He is yours.
(2) The Lord takes us as we are but does not want us to stay that way.
(a) We are to live lives transformed by Christ:
(1) From living a life of the Law
(2) To a life in the Gospel.
(b) Romans 12:1–2 (NASB95)
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your
bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your
spiritual service of worship.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is
good and acceptable and perfect.
(2) Repentance and Renewal (Mark 1:4-5)
Mark 1:4–5 (NASB95)
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of
Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River,
confessing their sins.
(A) The radical concept of repentance
(1) Quick analogy
(a) The Titanic
(B) A call to do away with the ritual practices in order to save ourselves
and embrace the One who has fulfilled every point of the Law for us.
(1) Christ the Lord!
(C) Repentance is completely turning around and going in the opposite
direction.
(1) Living a life of sin? Turn around and trust Christ!
(2) Living a life filled with worry and strife? Turn around and trust
Christ!
(3) Living a life filled with pain and suffering? Turn around and trust
Christ!
(3) Messenger of the Messiah (Mark 1:6-8)
Mark 1:6–8 (NASB95)
6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his
waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.
7 And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier
than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.
8 “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
(A) The unworthiness of John and us and the greatness of Christ.
(1) We do not deserve Christ to bring us healing and restoration.
Matthew 8:8 (NASB95)
But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my
roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
(2) Unaware we are serving the Lord.
Matthew 25:37 (NASB95)
“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and
feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
(3) Even the greatest of the apostles, Paul, saw himself as being unworthy
to be in the presence of his Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:9 (NASB95)
For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the church of God.
1 Timothy 1:15 (NASB95)
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
(B) The power of Baptism
(1) Not just water–a sign of ritual cleansing
(a) Every time you wash your hands, take a shower/bath, remind yourself of
your Baptism and how important it is to your life.
(2) Baptism saves you!
1 Peter 3:21 (NASB95)
Corresponding to that [water], baptism now saves you—not the removal of
dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ,

(4) Preparation for the Prince of Peace (Mark 1:7-8)
7 And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier
than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.
8 “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
(A) Repentance seems to be extreme.
(1) What is even more shocking?
(a) The Son of God giving up His place in heaven to come to earth, be born
a human, live, suffer, die, rise again, and ascend into heaven again, all
for us!
(b) The Prince of Peace living in each one of us!
(c) The Ruler over all creation ruling in our lives!
(d) To all this we say: Thank you, Lord!
Conclusion

(A) Hope. Repentance. Empowered in the Spirit. Fundamental transformation
of our lives.
(1) The message of John the Baptist.
(2) The themes of Advent.
(B) As we approach the season of Christmas:
(1) Reflect on what Christ’s first Advent means for you.
(2) Look with hopefulness and trust that Jesus will come again as He said.
Amen.
(C) Let us pray:
Dear Lord God, heavenly Father, during this season of Advent, as we prepare
our hearts for the coming of Your Son, Jesus Christ, help us to hear Your
voice crying out in the wilderness of our lives, calling us to make
straight in the desert a highway for our God.
May our hearts be open to receive Your love and grace, and may our lives
reflect the glory of the Lord revealed in Christ.
O Lord God, we pray for those among us who are in need of Your comforting
touch.
For those who are ill, bring healing;
for those who are grieving, bring peace;
for those who are lost, bring guidance.
May Your gentle hand lead them, and Your love surround them.
As we continue in worship,
renew our strength,
lift us up on wings like eagles,
help us to run and not be weary,
to walk and not faint.
May our worship be pleasing to You,
and may our hearts be transformed by Your enduring love.
We offer this prayer to You in Your name, O God our Father, in the name of
Your Son Jesus Christ, our Savior, who is coming again in glory, and in the
name of the Holy Spirit, who keeps us in the one true faith.
Amen.
(D) The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts
and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
(E) In the Name of the Father…Amen.

*Text:* Mark 13:24-37; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

*Theme*: Waiting for Christ

*Other Lessons: *Isaiah 64:1–9; Psalm 80:1–7; Mark 11:1–10

1. *In the Name of the Father…Amen.*

1. *The Epistle and Gospel lessons serves as our sermon text for this
morning.*

1. *Grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God our heavenly Father
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.*

1. *Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:*

*Almighty and Everlasting God, as we enter this sacred season of Advent, we
come before You with hearts open and spirits attuned to the message of
Isaiah 64. *

In these ancient words, we find the echo of our own longing – a cry for
Your presence to break into our world, to rend the heavens and come down,
to make Your name known to those who do not call on Your name.

Lord, in Your great mercy, hear our prayer.

We acknowledge, like clay in the hand of the potter, that we are the work
of Your hand. Shape us and mold us according to Your will. In our
imperfections and frailties, remind us of Your steadfast love and unending
mercy. Forgive us for the times we have turned away from Your ways and
hardened our hearts.

In this season of anticipation and hope, we yearn for the transformative
power of Your love.

We wait for the promised coming of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, who
brings light into our darkness and peace to our turmoil. As we prepare our
hearts for His birth, let us not lose sight of the profound mystery and joy
of Your incarnation. Amen.

*Introduction*

1. *What do the following things have in common?:*

1. In a long line at the grocery store.
2. Stopped at a stop light and late for an appointment.
3. A child on Christmas morning.

1. *The common element?:*

1. Waiting!

1. Waiting in that long line to purchase your groceries for the family.
2. Waiting at the really long red light and about to miss your
appointment.
3. Waiting rather impatiently, an eager child ready to open
their presents that are under the Christmas tree.

1. *The context of Mark 13:24-37: waiting*

1. Mark 13:1-22

1. Christ predicts the destruction of Jerusalem;
2. Desire expressed by the disciples about the signs concerning
the end times and Christ’s return in glory.

1. Mark 14

1. Preparations made for Jesus’ body to be buried.
2. Jesus getting ready to celebrate the Passover one last time.
3. Jesus instituting His holy Supper.
4. Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.
5. Jesus’ betrayal and arrest.
6. Jesus on trial before the chief priests and Sanhedrin.
7. The chapter closes with Peter’s three denials concerning
Christ.

1. Themes of Advent: waiting in anticipation and preparation for the
coming of Christ at His birth and when He comes again in glory.

1. A pregnant woman waits in anticipation for her child to be born.

1. As she waits, she prepares.

1. Getting the nursery ready.
2. Buying ample supply of baby formula, diapers, clothes.
3. Taking her vitamins.
4. Maintaining her health.
5. Keeping her doctors’ appointments.

1. The end times are now!

1. Christ will come again as promised!

1. That promise is as sure as the first promises concerning His birth,
life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension
back into heaven.
2. As we are reminded of Christ’s first Advent and His
second coming in glory, what are we to be about?

*1. Be a proclaimer! (Mark 13:24-27)*

*Mark 13:24–27 (NASB95)*

*24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED
AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, *

*25 AND THE STARS WILL BE FALLING from heaven, and the powers that are in
the heavens will be shaken. *

*26 “Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN CLOUDS with great power
and glory. *

*27 “And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His
elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the
farthest end of heaven.*

1. Jesus uses very vivid imagery:

1. An eclipse that will not end.
2. Meteor shower/storm unlike any that have been seen before.

1. And then, there He is: The Son of Man in all His glory!

1. Coming back to bring home to heaven the elect (those who trusted in
Christ for salvation in this life)
2. Coming again to “judge the living and the dead” (Apostles’ and
Nicene Creed).

1. What Jesus proclaims here is something that has been known for many
years.

1. Daniel proclaims in chapter 7 of his book:

*Daniel 7:13–14 (NASB95)*

*13 “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of
heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of
Days And was presented before Him. *

*14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the
peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is
an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.*

1. *Application for our lives*

1. Option #1: Be fearful to the point of paralysis.

1. Looking over your shoulder in paranoia.
2. Buy all the food and supplies you can.
3. Buy a doomsday shelter or convert your home into one.

1. Option #2: Be fearful with awe and reverence for the Lord.

1. Christ is coming back to take all believers to be with Him in heaven
and finally banish sin, death, and the devil forever!

*2. Be Ready! (Mark 13:28-31)*

*Mark 13:28–31 (NASB95)*

*28 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already
become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. *

*29 “Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that
He is near, right at the door. *

*30 “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these
things take place. *

*31 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.*

1. *The meaning of the fig tree:*

1. Passing of the seasons:

1. winter turns into spring, spring into summer
2. Predictable occurrence.
3. Jesus’ return: unpredictable!
4. Therefore be ready!

1. *What did Jesus mean when He said: “Heaven and earth will pass away,
but My words will not pass away”?*

1. The Word of God, like the Persons who spoke it, lived it, and
inspired it, is eternal.
2. What is true of God’s words is true of Jesus’ words, for Jesus
is God, the Second Person of the Trinity.
3. God is eternal!
4. Therefore, God’s Word is eternal!
5. Therefore, it will outlast all of creation!

1. *Application for our lives*

1. Now is not the time to be “lazy” in regards to one’s faith!

1. Be observant to what is going on in the world, trusting the Lord that
He has EVERYTHING under His control.
2. Stay tuned into the Lord!:

1. Read His Word daily.
2. Spend time in prayer daily.
3. Remember your Baptism daily.
4. Spend time with your fellow brothers and sisters in
Christ, whether by phone, text, email, direct message,
or in person visit

1. Give encouragement as well as receive it!
2. We are all in a battle for our souls and we are not to
do it alone!

1. As soldiers are trained to serve in the military, one of the many
things they learn is this:

1. Be battle ready, whether it is a time of peace or a time of war.

*3. Be Alert! (Mark 13:32-36)*

*Mark 13:32–36 (NASB95)*

*32 “But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven,
nor the Son, but the Father alone. *

*33 “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed
time will come. *

*34 “It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and
putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also
commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. *

*35 “Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the
house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster
crows, or in the morning— *

*36 in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep.*

1. *Now is not the time for “sleeping” when it comes to our faith.*

1. Stay awake!
2. Stay alert!
3. Don’t waste time trying to figure out the exact day or hour of
Christ’s return because you will be like the rest who have
tried the same
thing: wrong!
4. No one knows when Jesus will return, but He will return!
5. Augustine: “Let no one then search out for the last Day, when
it is to be; but let us watch all by our good lives, lest the
last day of
any one of us find us unprepared”

Various Authors. The Lutheran Study Bible (Kindle Locations 266183-266184).
Concordia Publishing House. Kindle Edition.

1. *With being awake and alert, there is a need for vigilance.*

1. Maintaining your concentration for a sustained period of time.

1. Working as a usher/security guard while studying at the seminary.

1. *Application for our lives*

1. Live a lifestyle of:

1. Watchfulness in prayer.

1. Praying for those who don’t yet know the Lord
2. Praying that these people would trust in the Lord for
salvation before it’s too late.

1. Watchfulness in your devotional reading.

1. Encouraging yourself in your walk of faith.
2. Encouraging others in their walk of faith.

1. Watchfulness in service to others.

1. Serving as a watchman.

*4. Be Vigilant! (Mark 13:37)*

*Mark 13:37 (NASB95)*

*“What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’ ”*

1. *Your vigilance is to be constant.*

1. Be alert:

1. Physically.

1. Dressed and ready for action

1. Spiritually.

1. Dressed with the full armor of God.

1. Be actively engaged in the Lord’s work:

1. Reading God’s Word
2. Prayer
3. Worship on Sunday/Wednesday
4. In your daily life
5. Service to others

1. *Application for our lives*:

1. Be proactive in your faith!

1. God has blessed you with this gift.

1. He expects you to exercise it to His glory and the betterment of
others.

1. Be actively engaged in the mission and ministries of the Lord’s
Church here at First Lutheran.

1. Don’t use the excuses of:

1. I’m too old.
2. I’ve already put my time in for God and country.
3. I’m too busy.
4. I don’t know what I can do to help.
5. Let somebody else do it.

1. If you don’t do it, who will?
2. If you don’t do it now, when?

*Conclusion*

1. *Be a proclaimer of the Word, that all may hear and believe! Be
ready! Be alert! Be vigilant!*

1. Advent serves as a call to action:

1. Live a life that anticipates Christ’s return any day and at any time.
2. Live a life of worship and service

1. *At the beginning of every sermon, I usually share these words or a
variation thereof with you, words from 1 Corinthians 1:3:*

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. *Do you know why I do that? *

1. Is it because I seek to share some magic formula with you, in order
for you to have a better life?
2. Perhaps it is what I’m supposed to say and how every sermon is
supposed to start?
3. With these words, I am reminding you that, as you await the
return of Christ, you have the unconditional love, mercy, and
forgiveness
of God found in Jesus Christ that eternally saves you.
4. Right now you have peace with God.
5. Everything is well between you and God because of Jesus
Christ’s saving work, and as your pastor, you need to be
reminded of this
often

.

1. *When God wanted to greet us, He did something that gives this word
of greeting its true value*.

1. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Savior and Lord.
2. It is only through Jesus’ perfect life, death, and resurrection
for us that we have God’s grace.
3. We have His unconditional, unearned, and undeserved love,
mercy, kindness, and forgiveness.
4. We have peace with God knowing that everything is well between
us and Him.
5. As we wait for Christ’s return, we are comforted by that grace
and peace that only God can give.
6. With what the Lord gives us daily, we are then truly ready to
greet Jesus when He visibly appears on the Last Day. Amen.

1. *Let us pray:*

Lord, we pray for our world, longing for Your justice, peace, and healing.

May Your Spirit move among us, bringing renewal and restoration.

Guide us to be bearers of Your hope, love, and light to all those we
encounter.

We lift up to You those among us who are suffering, whether in body, mind,
or spirit.

May they feel Your comforting presence and find strength in Your unending
grace.

God of all ages, as You have been with Your people through generations, be
with us now.

Renew our faith, rekindle our hope, and deepen our love for You and for one
another. Amen.

1. *The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.*
2. *In the Name of the Father…Amen.*