Sermon by: Robert Austell; January 28, 2018 - 1 Timothy 1:12-17 :: Sermon Audio (link) :: Click link to open and play in browser; right-click to save. Sermon audio is also accessible as a free podcast in iTunes. Search for "Good Shepherd Sermons" or "Robert Austell."  Your browser does not support the audio element. ::: Scripture and Music :: Come Ye Sinners (Indelible Grace, Matthew Smith) Merciful God (Getty/Townend) Choir: Amazing Grace (arr. Courtney) Fiddle Tune Medley (feat. Chris Orr) Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (ST. DENIO) :: Sermon Manuscript (pdf) :: This "manuscript" represents an early draft of the sermon. Some weeks the spoken version varies more than others from the early manuscript. Nevertheless, if you'd prefer to read than to listen, this is provided  for that purpose. Last week we started a series on God’s grace. We looked at a passage from 2 Corinthians 12 that says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for [my] power is perfected in weakness.” I’ve been pondering that all week; have you? It’s one of those almost weekly examples of my preaching to myself first. I so much want to fix things, fix situations, be perfect and smart and strong. And here I am in the midst of flu season, sadness over Kathy leaving, and overall just kind of running low, being told that God showing up in human weakness isn’t the back-up plan, but THE plan. And I picked that passage two months ago. God must have known we needed to hear that. As part of looking at that passage last week I touched on today’s topic, noting that not only did God show up in Paul’s weakness with grace, but God also chose Paul in grace. Paul had not only not been a believer in Jesus, he had been the enemy of Jesus. And yet God pursued him, called him, forgave him, and used him. And Paul recounts the wonder of that in today’s text from 1 Timothy. Formerly (v.13) Paul was a bad man. He was sincere and believed in his cause, but he was a bad man. In his own words, he was formerly a “blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.” (v. 13) He hunted Christians, rounded them up, and allowed and arranged for them to be killed. Do you know that about him? One of the accounts of that is in the book of Acts, at the end of chapter 7 and going on into chapter 8. As Stephen, one of the first followers of Christ to be put to death, was stoned to death, witnesses of the stoning laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. (7:58) Chapter 8 goes on to tell Saul’s story, beginning with “Saul was in hearty agreement with putting [Stephen] to death.” (8:1) Saul would later take the name Paul after meeting the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. And Saul/Paul is not a one-off story in scripture. He is not the token redemption story in a room full of saints and righteous. Moses, whom God used to speak God’s message to the King of Egypt, had grown up in that Egyptian household but fled the country because of attacking and killing an Egyptian man. David, who became the greatest king of God’s people until Christ returned, was an adulterer and murderer whom God reclaimed and redeemed. And the stories go on and on of God sometimes reaching those furthest from Him and using them in the greatest service to him. There is a word for that – actually two words: mercy and grace. Mercy and Grace (vv.13-14,16) I heard a definition for mercy and grace long ago from my pastor when I lived in Nashville and those definitions have continued to be helpful for me. Mercy is when God does not give us what we do deserve. Grace is when God gives us what we do not deserve. Paul received both from God. He was shown mercy because God did not give him the judgment he deserved for persecuting and executing Christians. In other words, God let him live and forgave him. But God’s mercy leads to grace. The grace for Paul – God giving him what he didn’t deserve – was a place in God’s work and Kingdom. And it was precisely into the area of disobedience he had formerly engaged.

Sermon by: Robert Austell; January 21, 2018 - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 :: Sermon Audio (link) :: Click link to open and play in browser; right-click to save. Sermon audio is also accessible as a free podcast in iTunes. Search for "Good Shepherd Sermons" or "Robert Austell."  Your browser does not support the audio element. ::: Scripture and Music :: It is Well (Bethel Music: DiMarco, Spafford/Bliss) All in All (Jernigan) CHOIR: Sing to the Lord a New Song (Haydn/Hopson) My Faith Looks Up to Thee (OLIVET) CHOIR: God Go Before You (Hopp) :: Sermon Manuscript (pdf) :: This "manuscript" represents an early draft of the sermon. Some weeks the spoken version varies more than others from the early manuscript. Nevertheless, if you'd prefer to read than to listen, this is provided  for that purpose. Today we are starting a new series on grace. And let me tell you what steered me towards that topic. This past Fall our theme was the Body (of Christ) and we looked at how each of us fits in and to one another as followers of Christ and as the Church. There was a lot of focus on obedience, stewardship of ourselves, and following Christ. Then in Advent we looked at Jesus’ relatives and how they listened and paid attention to what God was doing, and they responded with obedience and faith. And I had folks express two things: appreciation for the call to pay attention to God and put God’s will and Word first in life. The other thing was a mixture of intimidation, sense of unworthiness or failure, and guilt. And I know that is not God’s intent for you, His beloved children. Just as a good parent wants the best for their children, a parent is full of understanding, forgiveness, and second and third chances when those loved little ones mess up or fall short. It’s a both/and kind of thing, with parenting as well as with God. I think it is no accident that Jesus gave us the name ‘Abba’ for God, to evoke that parenting imagery, to help us understand both the high calling and the deep and wide embrace of grace. So, grace. I think it will be a good and encouraging follow up to the true messages from this past Fall. See over on the wall of the sanctuary? (the “truth and grace” banner) We always need to hear and hold those together. So over the next few weeks I want to look at some different passages that I hope will help us understand and accept God’s loving grace towards us as we continue trying to listen, obey, and follow. Weakness (vv.9-10) I’m going to start at the end today. There the Apostle Paul mentions ‘weaknesses.’ In general, weakness is not seen as a good thing. Whether it is little boys (or grown ones) being told to “man up” or women recognizing their many strengths despite multiple centuries and cultures calling them the “weaker sex” there seems to be a consensus that being weak isn’t good. I’ve also heard the critique of Christianity or religion, in general, as being a crutch for the emotionally or intellectually weak. And yet Paul overturns that thinking altogether in this passage, not only ending with saying he will “boast about his weakness” because of what Christ is doing with it, but also saying that he is “well content with weaknesses” (plural!), concluding that “when I am weak, then I am strong.” (v.10) Even MORE radical than those conclusions is his starting place, which sees a particular weakness that he calls his “thorn in the flesh” as a kind of gift from God that kept him from exalting himself. It all cuts against what we’ve been taught, but it is such a hopeful and healing message for us to hear and receive. A Thorn in the Flesh (v.7) So what is this “thorn in the flesh” in verse 7? Well, we don’t know. Paul doesn’t say, though he has plenty to say about it. He sees this particular thing as given to him to keep him from exalting himself. He acknowledged that he was at high risk for self-aggrandizement because of the “surpassing greatness of the revelations” – the message given to him about Christ and his encounter wit

Sermon by: Robert Austell; January 14, 2018 - 1 John 4:7-21 :: Sermon Audio (link) :: Click link to open and play in browser; right-click to save. Sermon audio is also accessible as a free podcast in iTunes. Search for "Good Shepherd Sermons" or "Robert Austell."  Your browser does not support the audio element. ::: Scripture and Music :: Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service (from the Sacred Harp) Here is Love (Lowry/Rees) O Church Arise (Getty/Townend) :: Sermon Manuscript (pdf) :: This "manuscript" represents an early draft of the sermon. Some weeks the spoken version varies more than others from the early manuscript. Nevertheless, if you'd prefer to read than to listen, this is provided  for that purpose. Typically, I would recommend the audio over the written version, but I think I'd recommend the written manuscript this week.  :) Today we are starting a new series on grace. And let me tell you what steered me towards that topic. This past Fall our theme was the Body (of Christ) and we looked at how each of us fits in and to one another as followers of Christ and as the Church. There was a lot of focus on obedience, stewardship of ourselves, and following Christ. Then in Advent we looked at Jesus’ relatives and how they listened and paid attention to what God was doing, and they responded with obedience and faith. And I had folks express two things: appreciation for the call to pay attention to God and put God’s will and Word first in life. The other thing was a mixture of intimidation, sense of unworthiness or failure, and guilt. And I know that is not God’s intent for you, His beloved children. Just as a good parent wants the best for their children, a parent is full of understanding, forgiveness, and second and third chances when those loved little ones mess up or fall short. It’s a both/and kind of thing, with parenting as well as with God. I think it is no accident that Jesus gave us the name ‘Abba’ for God, to evoke that parenting imagery, to help us understand both the high calling and the deep and wide embrace of grace. So, grace. I think it will be a good and encouraging follow up to the true messages of the Fall. See over on the wall of the sanctuary? (the “truth and grace” banner) We always need to hear and hold those together. So over the next few weeks I want to look at some different passages that I hope will help us understand and accept God’s loving grace towards us as we continue trying to listen, obey, and follow. Today we are looking at a particular kind of grace – that is the mirroring kind of grace found in blessing one another. In the old covenant with Abraham, God tells Abraham he is blessing him so he will be a blessing to the nations. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray, “forgive as we forgive others.” Blessing others is extending the grace God has shown us towards others, extending the love God has shown us towards others. And that sharing of love as a blessing is what 1 John is talking about in our text this morning. Saying and Doing We all know what it feels like to be told what to do. And right here off the bat is one of those sayings. You may have even heard a parent (or preacher) say it to you: “Love each other.” And because parents and preachers and all of us are human, it’s easy to fill in the second part of the saying, “Do as I say… (but not as you do).” But God is not like us. What God SAYS and DOES lines up. And that’s exactly what John unfolds for us in this passage. He starts with this commandment – love each other – but he grounds it not in power and duty, but in the DOINGS of God. There are a lot of verses in our text today, but there is a relatively straightforward logic to the verses that I want to walk you through. I’d like to do that and then end with a tangible experience and expression of this teaching that I think will bless you. Here’s the basic sequence of what John is saying: Let us love one another. (v.7) Here’s why and how that works. (vv.7-10) So

Sermon by: Jason Hinton; January 7, 2018 - Hebrews 12:7-15 :: Sermon Audio (link) :: Click link to open and play in browser; right-click to save. Sermon audio is also accessible as a free podcast in iTunes. Search for "Good Shepherd Sermons" or "Robert Austell."  Your browser does not support the audio element. ::: Scripture and Music :: Light the Fire Again (Doerksen) Jesus, All for Jesus (Robin Mark) Take Time to be Holy (HOLINESS) **Special Guest Musician: Mark Kroos** Video from Mark's YouTube page

Sermon by: Robert Austell; December 31, 2017 - Matthew 2:1-12 :: Sermon Audio (link) :: Click link to open and play in browser; right-click to save. Sermon audio is also accessible as a free podcast in iTunes. Search for "Good Shepherd Sermons" or "Robert Austell."  Your browser does not support the audio element. ::: Scripture and Music :: We Three Kings (KINGS OF ORIENT) Revelation Song (Jenny Riddle) Go Tell It on the Mountain (GO TELL IT) :: Sermon Manuscript (pdf) :: This "manuscript" represents an early draft of the sermon. Some weeks the spoken version varies more than others from the early manuscript. Nevertheless, if you'd prefer to read than to listen, this is provided  for that purpose. It’s the last day of 2017 and we have a new year ahead of us. While I didn’t go into this passage looking for a connection with previous sermons, I saw a number of connections with what we talked about during December: Is God trying to get your attention and what is God trying to say to you? What does God desire to do in your life for His glory?   What is God doing in the world in and around you and how can you participate in that? What we see in these Magi are people who diligently asked those kinds of questions. We see what happens when we listen carefully for God’s voice and look for what God is doing in and around us. The Magi provide for us a wonderful example of what it looks like to listen and attend to God. While there are many New Year’s resolutions we might make, I can think of no better commitment to renew and revisit than our commitment to make God a priority – THE priority – in our lives. So as we look at this passage, note the connection to previous weeks; but also consider the place of God in your life as we look ahead to a new year. Paying Attention I believe God is ALWAYS trying to get our attention and ALWAYS having something to say to us. The underlying question or issue is really whether we are willing to pay attention to God – to hear what He has to say. Now the interesting thing about the Magi – one interesting thing – is that as far as I can tell they were not particularly people of faith in the one God. They were likely court advisors to Mesopotamian kings, certainly wise and educated men who advised their ruler in all kinds of matters. So they were also foreign; meaning, they weren’t Jewish. They did take note of the world around them and particularly the sky above them, and they attributed meaning to things like the appearance and location of stars and constellations. To call them astrologers would be a little misleading because today’s horoscopes are a far cry from their studies. Nonetheless, they attributed meaning to what they saw and studied, and were particularly interested, as court advisors, to what they took to be the sign of a new king’s birth. So they set off, bearing gifts, to greet the new king. The Magi set an inspiring example of people who were interested in the world they lived in and even in what God might be doing around them. Even without the explicit truth of Scripture they were inquisitive and observant enough that that they found answers to those same three questions: What is God saying? What is God doing? How can I be a part of that? Ironically enough, the fact that they were looking for a “King of the Jews” led to both trouble and help. They raised the dangerous interest of King Herod, who didn’t want any competition to the throne. But they also encountered the Scriptures and the promise of a Messiah to the Jewish people. There is no better combination to find God than one who seeks Him who encounters the Scriptures which speak so explicitly of who God is and what God is doing in the world. Unfortunately and tragically, the world is full of seekers who do not turn to the Scripture and the church is full of the Scripture and those who no longer seek God or pay attention to this treasure they have! Worshiping God The middle verses are taken up with Herod’s plot to use th

Sermon by: Robert Austell; December 24 (am), 2017 - Luke 1:57-80 :: Sermon Audio (link) ::Click link to open and play in browser; right-click to save. Sermon audio is also accessible as a free podcast in iTunes. Search for "Good Shepherd Sermons" or "Robert Austell."  Your browser does not support the audio element. ::: Scripture and Music :: Prepare the Way (Evans, Nuzum) Of the Father's Love/Love Shines (arr. Austell) CHOIR: People, Look East (arr. Helvey) Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (MENDELSSOHN) :: Sermon Manuscript (pdf) :: This "manuscript" represents an early draft of the sermon. Some weeks the spoken version varies more than others from the early manuscript. Nevertheless, if you'd prefer to read than to listen, this is provided  for that purpose. This advent we have been looking at the stories of Jesus’ relatives leading up to his birth. We first looked at his aunt and uncle, Zacharias and Elizabeth, at their silence and solitude in preparation for their own miracle baby. Then we looked at Elizabeth’s joyful amazement at seeing Mary, also pregnant with a promised child. Then last week we looked at Mary, the mother of Jesus, at her joy and worship of God at this miraculous news and reality. Her response was no easy happy thing, but a deep and mature response of faithful obedience toward God who had set her apart to bear the anointed Messiah into the world. In application we have been challenged to open our eyes, ears, and hearts to what God is doing around US. We’ve been challenged to be still in this busy season in order to become more aware of God at work. We’ve been challenged to submit our own plans and wills to God. Today we hear more about the family of Zacharias and Elizabeth and the child God gave to them. He would be Jesus’ cousin and would be named John. He would grow up to be the last of the great Hebrew prophets in the mold of Elijah. And he would call his people back to God, to receive the Messiah and believe God’s salvation. I’m going to divide today’s text into three sections relative to the action in it: past, present, and future. Past (vv. 57-66) As the text picks up in v. 57, it is time for Elizabeth to give birth. The baby is born healthy and parents, neighbors, and relatives are overjoyed at the gift of life to this couple who had not been able to have children. As was the custom, they took the child to be circumcised on the eighth day. It was at that time they would name the child. Zacharias was still unable to speak, still muted from his encounter with the angel when he first got the news that they would have a child. So Elizabeth answers and says, “He will be called John.” And they questioned her. It was not a family name; it was out of the ordinary. And they questioned dad, “Is she right?” And Zacharias didn’t just nod or give a thumbs up; he asked for a tablet and wrote it out: “His name is John.” And we read: “they were all astonished.” (v. 63) There was something really unusual going on. Actually, there was a whole pile of unusual. That this couple had become pregnant and had a baby was miraculous to begin with. But then there was Zacharias, suddenly unable to speak since the news broke. And Elizabeth had been holed up in her own solitude. But now… “John.” That’s so human, right; we see and hear amazing stuff, but then it’s something relatively ordinary that pushes us over the edge of what we can take in. God has been so good to you, Zach and Liz – what a gift to have this child. We’re sorry about whatever has happened to Zach, but what’s that, what do you want to name the baby? Belvedere Buloxi Wifi Jones? What in the world? Hey dad, has your wife gone crazy? No… what? You, too? Here’s what I see going on here: Zacharias and Elizabeth were being obedient to the Lord and the message and sign they received from the angel. God had spoken and acted, and they had heard. And their obedience led them out of the ordinary; it was going to stand out a bit. But after tuning in to God these n

Christmas Eve Candlelighting Service Sermon by: Robert Austell; December 24 (pm), 2017 - John 18:37, 1:14, 3:16 :: Sermon Audio (link) ::Click link to open and play in browser; right-click to save. Sermon audio is also accessible as a free podcast in iTunes. Search for "Good Shepherd Sermons" or "Robert Austell."  Your browser does not support the audio element. ::: Scripture and Music :: What Child is This (arr. Austell, Hutton) O Come, All Ye Faithful (ADESTE FIDELIS) Love Has Come (BRING A TORCH) While Shepherds Watched (Peterson) Welcome to Our World (Rice) Silent Night (STILLE NACHT) Joy to the World (ANTIOCH, arr. Austell) :: Sermon Manuscript (pdf) :: This "manuscript" represents an early draft of the sermon. Some weeks the spoken version varies more than others from the early manuscript. Nevertheless, if you'd prefer to read than to listen, this is provided  for that purpose. You have heard the Christmas story this evening, through Word and music.  I’d like to offer a brief meditation on WHY Jesus was born, using his own explanation, given as a grown man.  The setting for that explanation is a little strange, given our focus on the birth of a baby to Mary and Joseph, but I hope you’ll see the connections. Born to Die (John 18:37) I want to use three verses, all found in the Gospel of John.  The first is John 18:37, and the setting is Jesus standing on trial for his life before Pontius Pilate.  It is the night of his arrest and he will be crucified in the morning.  Jesus’ accusers have brought him to Pilate, saying that he was claiming to be “King of the Jews” – surely, an offense to the representative of Rome in the area.  Why do I choose this verse?  Listen… Therefore Pilate said to [Jesus], “So you are a king?”  Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king.  For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.” Did you hear that?  On the eve of his death, Jesus very explicitly said, “This is why I was born… this is why I came into the world.”  It was for THIS moment as well as all that led up to it.  Jesus was born to die, born for the testimony his death would provide and crucified for the truth he proclaimed throughout his earthly ministry. Back in the beginning of John’s Gospel, this same word – TRUTH – is used to describe Jesus.  It would characterize his time on earth, from birth to death to life. Born to Testify (John 1:14) Look at John 1:14.  This is back among the birth narratives, though John’s explanation is more on the theological than the narrative end of things.  Listen… And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. That word – TRUTH – shows up many times (26x) in John’s Gospel.  Later, Jesus says he is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).  But right here at the beginning, we are told that this one who is God with skin on, God come to live with and be with us, is full of truth.  So no wonder that he says at the end of his earthly ministry that he was born to testify to the truth; he has lived it, spoken it, acted it, and sung it with the very fabric of his being.  Not only that, he was born to manifest God’s glory, grace, and truth – to show us God the Father living in and among the stuff of this world. Though we don’t tend to do this at Christmastime, it is easy to make Jesus all about his death.  We leave off his life and we leave off his resurrection.  And it is true that he was born to die.  But he was also born to testify, and not just through words, but through his very life.  That’s what it means that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  And his testimony, his witness, his story was all about the glory, grace, and truth of God, to show us God the Father. Born that We Might H

Sermon by: Robert Austell; December 17, 2017 - Luke 1:46-56 :: Sermon Audio (link) ::Click link to open and play in browser; right-click to save. Sermon audio is also accessible as a free podcast in iTunes. Search for "Good Shepherd Sermons" or "Robert Austell."  Your browser does not support the audio element. ::: Scripture and Music :: What Child is This? (GREENSLEEVES) Choir Cantata - "A Candlelight Christmas" (Harlan, Purifoy) O Come, O Come Emmanuel (VENI EMMANUEL) Simeon's Song (Rick Bean) :: Sermon Manuscript (pdf) :: This "manuscript" represents an early draft of the sermon. Some weeks the spoken version varies more than others from the early manuscript. Nevertheless, if you'd prefer to read than to listen, this is provided  for that purpose. Today we are looking at another well-known passage in the first chapter of Luke. It is called the Magnificat, from the first word in the Latin version which means “it praises.” This song or prayer of Mary’s took place in response to seeing her pregnant relative, Elizabeth. Having trusted the angel, whose message we considered the past two weeks, Mary believes God’s Word to her and Elizabeth declares her blessed for doing so. We see Mary’s faith manifest as worship and as joy. Worship and Joy Mary’s song begins with worship and joy: “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” Exalt is a worship word meaning praise or lift up as worthy. Mary’s faith and obedience didn’t result in insecurity and doubt, but in soul-worship or heart-felt praise of God. This isn’t just going through the motions as a religious exercise, but a spontaneous and authentic expression of love for God. And it’s not just worship – lifting God up as worthy; it is also joy-filled, as Mary rejoices in her spirit over God’s salvation. In past weeks I’ve asked whether God is trying to get your attention, speak to you, or do something in your life. My goal is not to get you to do something for me or the church, but to grow in knowledge and love of God… to tune in to God in your life. Not only is that one good definition of worship, it also results in deep joy and real satisfaction, the kind we find ourselves pursuing without knowing it and the kind Mary demonstrates in her song. It is worth noting that Mary does not focus for long on what God has done for her, but is drawn to the way God is faithful in all generations. This is the difference between thinking about or praying to a Santa Claus Jesus and tuning in to a saving God who is at work in the world. God isn’t about me; I need to be about God! Highs and Lows Most of Mary’s song is spent describing what God has done. What jumps out at me are the “highs and lows” – that is, the language of exaltation and humility. I counted as many as twelve words or phrases that speak to position or perspective. God “has regard for the humble”; God has “scattered the proud”; and so on. What emerges is this picture: God is high and exalted and worthy of our respect and worship. That’s who God is! Mary sets an example for us of how God is to be honored and adored. And not only does Mary lift God up in worship, she declares God’s mighty deeds. She sings of what God has done and will do. God’s justice and salvation will accomplish two things: exaltation of the humble and humbling of the exalted. God will raise up those who are humble and turn to him in need. Mary begins by describing how God “had regard” for her own situation – the “humble state of His bondslave” (v. 48). She is marveling that God would choose someone so young and lowly as herself to give birth to the Messiah. But she moves past this “great thing” God has done for her to praise God for His faithfulness over the generations. God’s mighty deeds include mercy and compassion for “those who fear Him (v. 50)… those who were humble (v. 52)… the hungry (v. 53)… Israel His servant (v. 54).” And yet God has justice for those who put themselves in His place to take advantage of others – the

Sermon by: Robert Austell; December 10, 2017 - Luke 1:39-45; Psalm 139:13-16 :: Sermon Audio (link) ::Click link to open and play in browser; right-click to save. Sermon audio is also accessible as a free podcast in iTunes. Search for "Good Shepherd Sermons" or "Robert Austell."  Your browser does not support the audio element. ::: Scripture and Music :: My Soul Cries Out (aka Canticle of the Turning) (Cooney) Holy Spirit (Townend/Gettys) Go Tell it On the Mountain [children's choir] (arr. Austell) Canon in D [Maddie Buchmann, piano] (Pachelbel) Joy to the World [arr. Austell] :: Sermon Manuscript (pdf) :: This "manuscript" represents an early draft of the sermon. Some weeks the spoken version varies more than others from the early manuscript. Nevertheless, if you'd prefer to read than to listen, this is provided  for that purpose. Today is the second Sunday of Advent, this “season” in church life when we prepare for and anticipate the celebration of Christ’s coming. We are spending this Advent season with the relatives of Jesus, who themselves were anticipating his birth. Last week we looked at Zacharias and Elizabeth, Jesus’ uncle and aunt. Zacharias received a message from God through the angel-messenger Gabriel. He and Elizabeth, old and unable to have children, were going to have a baby who would be a great and Spirit-anointed prophet like Elijah, raised up to call God’s people back to Himself. As a sign that God was at work, Zacharias was caused to be mute, unable to speak until the baby was born. We looked last week at how he spent the time of waiting for the birth in silence and Elizabeth spent it (by choice) in solitude. And we talked about the spiritual benefits to us of setting aside time to be silent and alone before God. In fact, this past Wednesday night at our twice-a-month dinner church, we re-read part of that passage and some at the tables took a vow of silence during our dinner to experience some of the benefits of silence and listening. Several reported that when they knew they wouldn’t be speaking or about to speak, it freed up their minds to listen more attentively to those around them, and perhaps to God as well. This week we jump forward in Luke 1 to a visit between Mary, who would be the mother of Jesus, and the same Elizabeth. Both are now pregnant with miracle babies and we will look at the story of them seeing each other, each pregnant for the first time. What I’d like to focus on is what happens when the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit shows up. Moved by the Spirit (vv.39-41) The passage picks up with Mary going “in a hurry” to visit Elizabeth in the hill country. She had received her own news of a miraculous birth (we’ll revisit that on Christmas Eve) and went to visit her older relative. The part I want to highlight here is what happened when Elizabeth heard her voice. The baby kicked inside Elizabeth’s womb (literally “leaped”) and we read that “Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” (v. 41) Now babies will kick in response to voices or noises, but the implication here is that something more was going on. I think it is no accident of storytelling or in what happened that the two things happen together. The baby kicks and the Holy Spirit fills Elizabeth. In more modern terms we might say that she (and her baby) were “moved by the Spirit.” That God would already be involved with the forming of his future prophet John in utero is so vividly spoken to by Psalm 139: “For you formed my inward parts; you wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Indeed as the Psalm says that “in your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them” (v. 16), the angel-messenger had already told Zacharias and Elizabeth that their baby would become a great and anointed prophet of Israel. And he would, indeed, grow up as John the Baptist to prepare God’s people for the coming of the Messiah, who would be Mary’s

Sermon by: Robert Austell; December 3, 2017 - Luke 1:5-25 :: Testimony :: Gwen Ingram Your browser does not support the audio element. :: Sermon Audio (link) :: Click link to open and play in browser; right-click to save. Sermon audio is also accessible as a free podcast in iTunes. Search for "Good Shepherd Sermons" or "Robert Austell."  Your browser does not support the audio element. ::: Scripture and Music :: Prepare the Way (Evans/Nuzum) He Knows Just How Much We Can Bear (arr. Phyllis Hall) - Gwen Ingram and Bobby White Prepare the Way (Harlan) - CHOIR Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (STUTTGART) :: Sermon Manuscript (pdf) :: This "manuscript" represents an early draft of the sermon. Some weeks the spoken version varies more than others from the early manuscript. Nevertheless, if you'd prefer to read than to listen, this is provided  for that purpose. Today is the first Sunday in Advent and the first sermon in a series called “Advent with Jesus’ Relatives.” Advent is meant to be a time in which we prepare both for Christmas and for Jesus’ return. Today I’d like to start on a very practical note and talk about the importance of silence and solitude to having a meaningful Christmas. I think for many or most of us, this can be one of the most hectic times of the year. Kids are in special programs at school and at church. There are Christmas parties of all kinds – with the office, neighbors, friends and family. There is shopping to be done and many folks travel. Even here at church we have some of our biggest services, programs, and missions of the year. We are trying to focus on the birth of Christ and on helping those in need, but it’s also more to do, go to, and be a part of. All of that has its place and certainly focusing on Jesus’ birth and the real meaning of Christmas is a vital part of a meaningful Christmas. But today, I want to look at a very special biblical text that may challenge us to try something a little different this year. Today’s text is the story of a miracle pregnancy – not Mary’s, but that of her cousin, Elizabeth. There are several points we could focus on, but I’m going to focus on just two that are kind of tucked away in the details. Miraculous News (vv.5-17) Zacharias and Elizabeth were in a busy time of year. Zacharias was a priest and, as was the custom, rotated through various duties at the Temple. At this particular time, he was schedule to offer the incense offering inside the Temple. This high honor typically only happened to a particular priest once or twice in a lifetime. It was the closest an ordinary priest (i.e., not High Priest) would come to the presence of the Lord in the Holy of Holies. The people would have been at worship in the Temple courtyards while this offering was going on. It was there that Zacharias had a vision of an angel, who came with news from the Lord. This wasn’t the first time such a thing had happened, but I guess you never think God’s going to send you a hotline. Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth, were going to have a baby. Like Sarah and Abraham before them, Zacharias and Elizabeth were past child-bearing age and Elizabeth had been unable to conceive when they were younger. She was barren, an emotional and challenging thing in any place and time, but particularly so in a culture where children and family were so very important. In fact, having many children was part of the covenant with Abraham and his descendants and to be barren was especially difficult for a couple who were heirs of that promise. And like Abraham and Sarah before him, Zacharias fearfully recognized the angel for who he was, but found the message laughable. And this was no hazy promise of one day having a child. This was a full-on vision and promise, with details including the baby’s name, calling, and future. He was to be called John, be raised under strict guidelines, and promised to be a prophet like Elijah. And Zacharias asked the question any of us probably would have asked, “How