By The Rev. Dr. Paul A. Leggett
Sunday, December 14, 2008 · Third Sunday of Advent
Sermon Text: Romans 8:28-30
Sermon Theme
Paul has been speaking about the various trials in the Christian life. These have included the recurring power of sin and the flesh as well as the “groaning” that we experience as we await the birth of God’s new creation both in ourselves and in the world. Paul affirms that “all things” work together for good for God’s chosen ones. We have a preordained destiny to be conformed to the image of God’s own Son. This is a certainty. In the Christmas story, the shepherds were on the lowest level of the empire. Like Jesus, there was “no place” for them. Yet they were given the “good news of great joy” about the birth of the true Savior of the world. This involved enormous changes not only in their lives, but in the whole world. Their first reaction is fear. We are often afraid of change, yet we, like the shepherds, have the confident hope that we are destined for the “glory of the Lord,” no matter what.
Sermon Outline
- Certain. Paul affirms that “we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” However, he never says that all things are good. It would be easy to become disheartened with all the trials he has mentioned up to this point. Mary and Joseph could have become disheartened with all of their trials. Yet all those struggles worked for good in bringing about the birth of the Savior of the world.
- Change. The birth of the Savior signifies enormous changes in the world. The announcement of the Angels is an intentional mockery of the decree of Caesar Augustus. Caesar’s changes pale in comparison with the changes that Christ brings. The shepherds, like others in the Christmas story, are afraid. Change is often frightening. Not all change is good nor is it bad. We see changes in the world all around us. We even see changes in church. Change is inevitable if we are to be conformed to the image of Christ.
- Confident. To shepherds who had essentially “no place” in the Roman Empire, the message of the angels had to be startling. The angels’ message uses many of the terms associated with Caesar Augustus such as “savior,” “Lord,” “peace” and “good news” (“gospel”). The shepherds could have thought this was all a dream or a delusion. However, they are confident that the message is genuine. They begin their walk of faith by going to Jerusalem. This is the beginning of the gospel. The gospel ultimately is the announcement of God’s foreordained plan to conform us to the image of his Son. The shepherds’ walk of faith leads them to glorify and praise God. The glory which comes upon them is what God plans for all of us in Christ. This is our confidence. This is our joy.
Questions for Us
- What lessons can we take from the Christmas story that God sent Christ to people like Mary and Joseph and the shepherds who had “no place” in their world?
- How does it affect us to really believe that all things work together for good for us in Christ? What hope can we take from that assurance in all the conflict and uncertainty of our world?
- Why do you think the shepherds are initially frightened by the angels? Why do you think we often find change frightening? What are some of the changes we have to be prepared to face to be conformed to Christ’s image?
