Isaac's Press

It’s been almost a year, I believe, since I preached my last sermon. I recall there was a snowstorm that Sunday that cut way down on attendance (or did it have something to do with my name appearing in the weekly newspaper ad as a warning?). But even in a large congregation blessed with more than a hundred priesthood members, I guess I can’t totally escape “my turn” at the pulpit. And so this Sunday I’ll be speaking in my home Community of Christ congregation, Colonial Hills. (As a bonus, these sermons typically are videotaped and put up on the congregation’s Web site by late Sunday night; updated note: my sermon is no longer available online.)

This week marks the third Sunday in Advent (the Sunday of Joy), and not surprisingly the theme is “Proclaim the Good News.” Now comes the fascinating/weird part: the Gospel lection is Luke 3:7–18. Its connection to either joy or good news is not, however, immediately apparent. You may wish to go find a Bible right now to read the entire passage.

Unlike the unofficial season of “Christmastime,” which is filled with carols and angels and a swaddling-clothed infant (or secularly, decorated trees, Santa, and “Jingle Bell Rock”), with Advent we get John the Baptist. In this passage he starts by calling the crowd seeking baptism a “brood of vipers.” It’s not just that they are all snakes―they are the children of snakes, as well! Furthermore, they don’t even get credit for being descendants of Abraham. Put in contemporary terms, I suppose, that means you don’t get a free pass just because your mom and dad went to church faithfully every Sunday. It’s what you do―not just what you intend to do but your actual behavior. Ouch.

There’s a nice little segue into specific suggestions for tax collectors and soldiers, then he’s back to being “wild man John”: Seems he just baptizes with water but there’s somebody greater coming who will baptize with spirit and fire. He will crush the wheat and the chaff, causing the latter to burn with a fire like nobody’s ever seen before (guess who he’s talking about folks). And all of this is John’s way to proclaim the good news.

Here’s my conundrum as a preacher. No doubt many if not most of the people who will show up for church on Sunday will be expecting a lovely, uplifting Christmas-related sermon to go with all the beautiful hymns (I’ve seen the bulletin, and the emphasis is on angels singing to the high heavens). The worship area, of course, has been decorated for the season, with lots of garlands and candles and banners. There will be a special children’s moment, and the offering (aka “Disciples Generous Response”) most likely will include a story about how mission tithes are being used wisely and generously. There will also be a guest soloist.

And then after this wonderful stage has been set, I get to stand up and, like John the baptizer, preach repentance to a brood of vipers and explain why unfruitful trees and worthless chaff will be consumed by the fires of hell. Perhaps not exactly seeker-friendly.

Good news! Joy! The kingdom of God is coming!

Or I suppose I could take the easy way out and just preach from Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say, Rejoice!”

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