"Five Things To Do Before Christmas"

Sermon by David Layman

December 9, 2007

Hebrews 10:19-25

Many of us make lists at this time of year: lists of things we want for Christmas, lists of things we want to get done before that day. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews also makes a list. As we work our way through this list, we will truly prepare ourselves for Christmas!

The first thing we need to do is to approach the presence of God! For much of Israel's history, the distance between God and humankind was emphasized. As a hymn expresses it, "Immortal, invisible, God only wise. In light, inaccessible, hid from our eyes". The old religion of the Hebrew people used to be one of distance and fear. There was always the fear of breaking a rule. The Jerusalem Temple was a huge structure that provoked awe. But Jesus was a welcoming presence that freely shared grace and kindness. A Hebrew BC would be hesitant to approach the symbolic presence of God, fearing he or she wasn't ritually clean. But Hebrews assures us that Christ's sacrifice enables us to approach God with a "true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean."

William Barclay notes that, if sight seeing in London, many residents might be able to tell a tourist how to find Buckingham Palace. But if you wanted to do more than gaze at Buckingham Palace from outside the gate, only someone very important could have the authority to take you through the gate and into the Palace. That is what Jesus has done for us! What a dramatic, whole scale change in the practice of religion Jesus brought. Greater than the transformation in communication through the internet and cell phones in our day was the change in religion between the sacrificial system of sacrificing animals, the outward, rule oriented faith of ancient Judaism, and the new heart-oriented faith made possible by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross! 2,000 years ago, in the Jerusalem Temple, there was a place behind a curtain called the "Holy of Holies" where the high priest could only enter once a year to approach the symbolic presence of God. Hebrews tells us that "by the blood of Jesus", he opened to us "the new and living way" through the curtain, which Hebrews tells us, was Jesus' flesh. We now have a new high priest in Jesus, who doesn't have to stand around the temple all day offering sacrifice after sacrifice, because HE is the once and for all perfect sacrifice! Because of this, Hebrews 10:22 shares "Let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean..."

When I served the Presbyterian Church of Greenville, there was a sewing circle that met during the day. Women with children preschool age brought their children with them. One of these children, Wendell, was about 4 years old, and a character. Wendell knew that I kept some peppermints in my office. Each time the sewing circle met, Wendell would come in, engage in some small talk, and then ask for a piece of candy. One day, Wendell had a friend with him. Wendell came in as usual, but his friend was shy and stood outside the door. Wendell began to talk with me, and called out to his friend. "Come on in, don't be afraid. He's nice. You might get something good!" The author of Hebrews is saying something similar. Don't hesitate to approach the throne of God's grace! Jesus has shown us the very face of God! Approach the throne with a heart washed clean by what Jesus has done for you! You'll get the greatest gift of life! Forgiveness and the fellowship of Christ!

The second thing Hebrews urges us to do is to "hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful." There are times we grasp the great hope of our faith. We realize in amazement that God desires to forgive us our sin, and Christ promises to be with us forever. But then we waver. We get discouraged with ourselves and begin to wonder. We convince ourselves that our sinful human limitations are too much. We're weak, we'll always mess up, there's no use. An old hymn reminds us "My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus Christ and righteousness." If we were to hope in our ability to morally reform our lives and do a perfect job from here on out, that is sinking sand! But when we place our hope in Christ, and remember He will be faithful, even when we are not, then we stand on solid ground!

3. "Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds." As human beings, we're pretty good at provoking one another, but not to love and good deeds! We provoke one another to frustration and aggravation. Aren't there some folks that, when you see them coming, you say "oh, no!" And you say a quick prayer: "Don't let this person get me going!" God calls upon us to be the kind of people that provoke people to bring out their best, not their worst! Aren't there some folks that bring out the best in you? When you're around them, you find yourself trying to live up to their high estimation of you! Let us consider how we can bring out the very best in others about us!

4. "Let us not neglect to meet together." Fellowship and worship are important. Some seem to think they can be Christians in isolation, but the New Testament is not written for "Lone Rangers". The image of the church is that of a body, with every individual important to the functioning of the whole. John Calvin wrote "Everyone sets himself above others... individuals would gladly make churches for themselves if they could; for the find it so difficult to accommodate themselves to the ways and habits of others." Calvin noted that in the 16th century the rich envy one another, and ignore their poorer brothers. He urged believers to "embrace with brotherly kindness all those who are united to us in faith."

Everyone who comes through a door to worship may be an encouragement to everyone else. It's more encouraging to be in the presence of a growing group than to be able to shoot a cannon and not hit anyone! This is not only true of worship, but also service! I spent a year in Guatemala, serving as youth director of the Union Church there. A number of American families in the church were financially well off and had servants. We had a work day at the church to do cleaning and small repair jobs. Work days can be fun, as you grow closer to others by working side by side. But on this particular day, a number of the church families chose to not come to join in the fellowship and service. Instead, they sent their servants! Granted, the servants could wash walls and clean up clutter. But the message these families sent to the rest of the church was "I'm too busy for the church; I've got better things to do." What message do we communicate to others by our level of participation in the life of our church? God wants more than our gifts. Something is missing if we hold back from fellowship and participation with others.

5. This passage from Hebrews concludes by pointing to the importance of encouraging one another. The activities of this season: shopping, baking and getting together, caroling, are all important because they each can be ways we seek to encourage one another. This is an especially difficult season for those who have lost loved ones, for those facing health problems, for those experiencing tension in their families, for those facing financial challenges. May we not just go through the motions this Advent season, but live out our faith by drawing near to God, holding fast to our hope in Christ, provoking one another to good deeds, coming together, and encouraging one another!

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