Sermon Notes for 12/9/2012 (Advent 2)
God Is With You (Isaiah 2:1-5)
1) God's suggestion for handling all of life's of troubles and anxieties (11)
"Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights."
2) Our tendency to reject his suggestion (12)
But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test."
3) Trying God's and others' patience (13)
Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also?
4) Let's look to the ultimate sign and change our stance (14)
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us." (Matthew.1:18-23)
Summary
In the Old Testament, there were many prophecies about Jesus' birth. Isaiah's prophecy of Immanuel highlights a truth that has existed since the beginning of time: God is with us. Our self-centered ways and habits of mind tend to numb us to the reality of Immanuel, and so many of our troubles result from this fundamental flaw. We worry about things we don't need to worry about and fight meaningless battles. Change starts with understanding "Immanuel." Jesus came 2000 years ago, changing history and our lives.
For Discussion
1) What is a sign?
2) Why don't we seek God?
God Is With You (Isaiah 2:1-5)
1) God's suggestion for handling all of life's of troubles and anxieties (11)
"Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights."
2) Our tendency to reject his suggestion (12)
But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test."
3) Trying God's and others' patience (13)
Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also?
4) Let's look to the ultimate sign and change our stance (14)
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us." (Matthew.1:18-23)
Summary
In the Old Testament, there were many prophecies about Jesus' birth. Isaiah's prophecy of Immanuel highlights a truth that has existed since the beginning of time: God is with us. Our self-centered ways and habits of mind tend to numb us to the reality of Immanuel, and so many of our troubles result from this fundamental flaw. We worry about things we don't need to worry about and fight meaningless battles. Change starts with understanding "Immanuel." Jesus came 2000 years ago, changing history and our lives.
For Discussion
1) What is a sign?
2) Why don't we seek God?