Fourth Sunday in Advent
Notes
Transcript
God Builds His House
God Builds His House
From building to body
In 2 Samuel 7 we have the clear and certain call for a building campaign.
The church is enlisted (Nathan the prophet)
The reason (Look how rich you are - rest from nations)
A twinge of guilt (the ark dwells in a tent)
Mind you this is the tent God described in explicit detail of Ex 35-40
What is intriguing about this encounter is that God never explicitly asks or commands a house or a temple to be built. This is all Davids idea. God turns this on its head and says
from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.
See for God it has never really been about the physical space, it is about the people.
I believe the reason why God is so particular about the tabernacle directions is not because He wants His tent to make Martha Stewart blush but because He wants His people to be concerned about how they meet with Him.
Going home w/ P from the hospital (2 days and then they just send you out the door)
As we think about the church and our way of operating we have a golden opportunity. What should we bring back and what needs to change?
I believe one reason why CLC has weathered this season of stress as well as we have is because at our core we have always known and emphasized that Church is Word and Sacrament.
Easter Egg Hunts, Candy Cane Hunts, Even Sunday School - these are all events that are in SERVICE to worship
It is all to easy to confuse Leisure activities with Worship activities.
It’s interesting in that as we teach the Christian Faith in Lutheranism we reduce it to doctrine
Watch YouTube videos on architecture and furniture building. $35k door. Impenetrable - glass window
Very rarely do we ever spend time on how we pray or how we assemble.
It is assumed you become a Christian and automatically know how to do these things
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
What does it look like to ‘strengthen’ the house of God?
The temple is easy, engineering is tough but at least it is reproducible. You know the tensile strength and flexural strength of materials and try not to exceed those.
How do you strengthen a soul?
According to Paul and the angel Gabriel, you give them mystery. (show last slide again)
And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
No, He’s REALLY with you. Mary’s response? Questioning. (Again give her mystery), Singing, (Magnificat)
Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.
These are profound mysteries but they are worth clinging too and investigating.
Each week I know I have harped on you to spend time in Advent devotions. It is because it matters what we do with our bodies. (Jack Picture) Jack and Paul both lost their minds the next night - NOOOO CANDLES!
If we dont teach our youngest bodies how to be still, how to rest from the day how can we expect them to fight against temptation?
If we don’t teach our bodies how to kneel, to submit to Christ, how can we expect them to rise on the last day when Christ arrives and says arise and all our bodies rise?
See it’s never been about buildings, it’s always been about the body.
In Leviticus, after 26 chapters of regulations and code about cleanliness and how we can meet with God, including this gem
“If a man’s hair falls out from his head, he is bald; he is clean.
We discover that all of this talk of clean and unclean is really about how we interact with God and one another. How we operate as a complete body:
“If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely. I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land.
I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.
God’s plan has always been to dwell with His people. Not as a building but as a person -Jesus.
Christ came into our flesh that as our world is wrapped in anxiety this season we may be wrapped in His glory and know His peace.
Right now- church, describe one way that you will prepare God’s house- Your body for the King that is coming. I’d love to hear what you come up with. If you need help call me. Write a note in your phone or on your coffee table napkin.
Christ took on our flesh that we too may rest, as we are encased in God’s love to enter into His heavenly Courts as His people. Amen.