December 1, 2024
Indianola Presbyterian Church, Columbus “Wonder” Sermon by Rev. Taylor Barner Presbyterian Campus Minister at Jacob's Porch December 1,2024 Based on Luke 21:25–36
My wife and I just got back from our family thanksgiving in Colorado yesterday. If you’ve flown into the Denver airport, before you’ve probably noticed two things. One is that this massive airport is almost in the middle of nowhere and incredibly inconvenient to get to from the actual city. The other is that even though it is far from downtown Denver, you still have a stunning view of the Rocky Mountains way off in the distance. And almost every time we fly out there, either my wife or I find ourselves saying, “Can you imagine being the first people to see this?” There are a ton of places like that in our world; places that fill us with wonder at the majesty of God’s creation and wonder at what those who’ve gone before us (in this case our First Nation siblings) must have felt and experienced.
Wonder is a beautiful combination of a lot of different feelings/emotions: amazement, joy, suspense, even fear. Wonder is what many of us experience around this advent season each year. We look forward to the coming of the Christ child and rejoice in the period of longing and waiting (patiently or impatiently). The joy of the season is coupled with this suspense of Christmas to come. We adorn the Church with signs and symbols of Christ and contemplate how things in this world will change over just a few weeks.
In a similar vein, it is wonder that we experience at these distinct words of Jesus in Luke 21. Jesus’ prophecy of the coming of the Son of Man is quite unlike any other teaching or parable we see in this Gospel. To be honest, it is more fearful wonder than joyful wonder for myself. “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory.” Jesus’ words strike us like a foreboding prophecy from Daniel or Revelation. This is what the coming of the Son of Man will be like?! Can we double it and give it to the next generation?
It’s tempting to hear this scripture and think about our world today (and we will get to that in just a second), but this message was intended for those listening in the temple during those days. They would witness the world turned upside-down. They would witness the upheaval of the cosmos. They would see the Messiah crucified. They would see the problem of sin rectified on the cross. But there is more to this prophecy than what happens in the next few chapters; there is something more eternal woven into these words. Jesus isn’t foretelling just his death; he is foretelling his triumphant return. Death is not what’s in store but rather judgment. The waters and waves are made by the God who has conquered sin and death and now comes to reclaim all of creation. Imagine being in the temple and hearing this. What would you feel? What would you say? What could you say?
It’s hard to say that there aren’t at least some parallels to our modern era. Certainly, we have nations dis tressing here on Earth and many people are scared of what is going on in the world. And don’t forget we had an eclipse last year to check off the heavenly signs. No, for millennia many a misguided preacher has said “These are the end times!” with, so far, a zero percent success rate. I always see these kinds of preachers on the oval and I wonder if they’ve managed to convince anyone that day. Because we are simultaneously prone to worry about the end times and prone to disregard anyone preaching about them. Dr. Troy Troftgruben, professor of New Testament at Wartburg Theological Seminary, argues that “Much of this stems from hearing imagery [of the end times] in scripture wrongly. Its aim is not to predict the future as much as it is to offer a word of hope to encourage faithfulness in the present. Jesus does promise a day when the Son of Man will arrive, a just reckoning will happen, and the faithful will see re demption—and these words of promise will not pass away. But this promise calls not for strategic predicting as much as for realizing that our faith is not in vain.”
Advent rightly focuses neither simply on Jesus’ future return nor on his arrival at Christmas, but also on his arrival today in daily life and faith. It does not take the end of all things or December 25 for someone to en counter Jesus in a profound way. Yes, the world is in distress; our world is riddled with uncertainty, injus tice, conflict, indifference, pain, judgment, and condemnation of anyone who thinks differently. We are a weary world looking to rejoice in something for once but the true parallel from Luke’s Gospel is that we are still called to be steadfast and to encounter God who is in and is coming into the world. However chaotic and uncertain our world is, that encounter is worth looking for and embracing now.
I’m a firm believer in respecting the turkey (that means no Christmas anything until after Thanksgiving), so when I got on the plane yesterday to come home, I was finally free to sing along to my favorite Christmas songs AND my favorite Advent song, which comes from the band Relient K. It’s called “In Like A Lion” and the chorus goes, “It's always winter but never Christmas. It seems this curse just can't be lifted. Yet in the midst of all this ice and snow, our hearts stay warm cause they are filled with hope.”
Here on the cusp of Advent, we are not at the end. No, indeed, we are at the beginning and the end. This is the end of fear, mistrust, injustice, hate, and death, and the beginning of wonder, hope, reconciliation, love, and life. As we enter this season may we not idly sit back and wait for the return of the Son of Man but remain steadfast in yearning and preparing for the One who will turn everything upside down. In the cold of winter, may we wait in wonder of the green spring waiting for us on the other side, trusting in God to carry us through each and every season of this life. Friends, may it be so in your life and in mine. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE
PRELUDE “A Great and Mighty Wonder” arr. Brad Jacobsen
WELCOME Rev. Trip Porch
One: This is the day that the Lord has made
All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
POETIC READING AND CANDLE LIGHTING “Draw Near to Wonder” Rev. Sarah Are
*SUNG RESPONSE to Candle Lighting 103 “Come now, O Prince of Peace” O-SO-SO
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Coming Christ, you may not find us as you hoped. We’ve looked away from signs we do not wish to see. We’ve stopped listening to distress we do not wish to hear. We are numb to inconvenient truths. Keep us alert, O God, to the needs of our neighbors. Revive our hearts laden with compassion fatigue. Sharpen our minds clouded by worries. Sober our lives addicted to privilege. Show us the signs of your coming, that we may stan before you, the Son of Man, in whose name we pray.
CONFESSIONAL RESPONSE 93 “Lift up Your Heads” vs 3 TRURO
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*RESPONSE OF PRAISE 93 “Lift up Your Heads” vs 1 TRURO
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
All: And also with you.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
ANTHEM “Hope Lingers On” Lissa Schneckenburger
arr. Andrea Ramsey
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE Jeremiah 33:14–16 NRSVUE
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Dorothy Kyle
SCRIPTURE Luke 21:25-36 NRSVUE
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Holy Wisdom, Holy Word
Thanks be to God
SEMON Rev. Taylor Barner
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
*HYMN94 “Now the Heavens Start to Whisper” JEFFERSON
TIME OF OFFERING online giving is available at www. indianolapres.org/give
OFFETORY “December” James Michael Stevens
COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
SHARING OF BREAD AND CUP #90 “Wait for the Lord” WAIT FOR THE LORD
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
God of Wonder, you have met our needs in the past. By your presence in this meal you’ve fed and strengthened us once more. In this waiting season, fill us with hopeful expectation as we lift up our heads again and look all around for the signs of your kingdom. May we trust in, and rejoice in your coming salvation and glory. Amen
*HYMN 104 “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You” VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN
TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
BENEDICTION RESPONSE “May the Love of the Lord” Swee Hong Lim
POSTLUDE
Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452