December 15, 2024
Indianola Presbyterian Church, Columbus
“Draw Near to Truth”
Sermon by Rev. Trip Porch
December 15, 2024 Based on Luke 1:57-63; 67-73; 76-80
Back when I was a youth pastor, I was in charge of our churches confirmation program, which is all about investigating the questions of our faith and having teens consider — maybe for the first time —- why we believe what we believe. One of my favorite things to do in confirmation was to read the creation stories in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 and ask the question, is this story factual, or is this story true?
For almost all of the confirmands it was the first they ever considered the question that the Bible is something more than a history book, that the books and stories of the Bible may be doing something more than just trying to give us facts to memorize. I would talk with the confirmands about how there are two
creation stories and about how they differ. I’d talk to them about the Hebrew and how the name Adam in Hebrew is A-dam and derives from the word Adamah, or dirt or soil, which is what Adam made out of. We’d talk about allegory and metaphor and how stories can be used to convey something more than history or fact. Then I’d ask them… okay, so whether or not this story is factual, whether or not we know for sure if Adam and Eve existed, does that change the truth of the story, how is fact different from truth, and what do you think the truth of this story is?
There is of course a difference between facts and truth, and to me, the art of reading scripture is trying to hone in on what is true about it.
We struggle, I think, these days with the difference between facts and truth. These are words we use
almost interchangeably. Truth gets thrown around a lot—sometimes as if it’s the same as a “fact.” But these words mean different things.
Facts, after all, are things we can verify. Facts are clear-cut, right? It’s a fact that 2+2 equals 4. It’s a fact that gravity keeps our feet on the ground. Facts are simple, tidy, and measurable. But “truth”? Truth runs deeper. Truth isn’t always tidy. Sometimes it’s wild and surprising, beyond what we can measure or
calculate. It’s less about data and more about meaning. Facts tell us what is happening, but truth shows us why it matters.
And here’s the thing: facts can tell us how the world is, but truth dares to tell us how the world ought to be. Facts describe reality, but truth—especially God’s truth—transforms it.
This Advent season, we are waiting. We are watching. We are longing for the truth of God to be made known, for the truth of God to draw near—not just so we can know it in our minds, but so we can see it, feel it, live it, be transformed by it. And today, as we sit with Zechariah’s story, we see what it looks like to encounter God’s truth breaking into the world.
Let’s start by looking at Zechariah. He’s had quite the year in this story, hasn’t he? Earlier in Luke’s Gospel, we meet him as a priest doing his job in the temple. An ordinary day turns extraordinary when the angel Gabriel appears to him and announces that he and his wife Elizabeth who are long past the age of having children—are going to have a son. And not just any son. This boy will grow up to prepare the way for the Lord.
But Zechariah can’t quite believe it. He looks at the facts of his life: “I’m old. Elizabeth is old. We have tried to have kids our whole life and we can’t. This doesn’t make sense.” And because of his doubt, Gabriel strikes him mute. For nine months, Zechariah cannot speak.
Can you imagine? Nine months of silence. Nine months of sitting with the angel’s words. Nine months of watching Elizabeth’s belly grow, feeling hope stir in his chest, wrestling with what this all means. I like to think that in that silence, God was teaching Zechariah something about the difference between fact and truth. The facts of Zechariah’s life said that this birth was impossible. But the truth? The truth was that God was doing something new—breaking through the limits of what Zechariah thought was possible. The facts said Zechariah and Elizabeth were just an aging couple. The truth was that they were part of God’s story of salvation.
And when the time came, Zechariah saw the truth with his own eyes. His son was born, and in the moment when they named him, when they named him John, as the angel told him, his mouth was opened. Words poured out of him—not just words, but a song.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,” he says, “for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.” Zechariah’s song isn’t about his own joy as a new father. It’s about what God has done and is doing for the world. It’s a song of liberation, of mercy, of hope.
But it doesn’t stop there. Zechariah looks at this tiny baby in his arms and sees the truth of who he is. “And you, child,” he says, “will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.”
Zechariah sees God’s truth in his child John. He sees not just who his son is, but who God is calling him to become. It’s as though Zechariah is recognizing who God was in history, who God is now for him, and who God will be into the future. Truth. This enduring eternal divine thing that has been true, is now, and ever shall be.
So, what does this mean for us? I think it means that when we draw near to God’s truth, we start to see the world differently. Like Zechariah, we start to see beyond what the facts tell us. The facts of our world might say that things are bleak. That poverty is inevitable. That hatred is too entrenched. That change is too slow.
But God’s truth tells a different story. God’s truth says that love is always more powerful than hatred, that justice will roll down like waters, that the poor and the brokenhearted are at the center of God’s kingdom. God’s truth says that we are not stuck in the way things are—because God is always doing a new thing, even now.
That same truth empowers us to hope, just as it did for Zechariah. When Zechariah sang, he wasn’t just singing about what God had already done. He was singing about what God was going to do. His faith in God’s promises gave him the boldness to proclaim a future where salvation, mercy, and peace would reign.
We, too, are called to look to the future with that kind of hope. To see the truth of what God is doing and to name it boldly, even in a world that often prefers facts over truth. And here’s the good news: the truth of who God is hasn’t changed. The same God who looked with favor on the people of God throughout history, who brought hope to Zechariah and Elizabeth, who raised up John the Baptist to prepare the way—that same God is at work today.
So as we wait in this Advent season, let’s open our eyes to the truth. Let’s look for signs of God’s love breaking into the world—unexpected and surprising as they might be. And let’s be bold enough to proclaim what we see: that God is moving, that love is winning, and that the story isn’t over yet.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE
PRELUDE “Advent Meditation” Douglas E. Wagner
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 Robin & Mackenzie Murray
“Draw Near to Truth” by Rev. Sarah Are Speed
*HYMN 103 “Come now, O Prince of Peace” O-SO-SO
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Peter Maurath
Merciful God, we confess that we do not always see your love at work in the world. We grow weary in the waiting, we let fear overshadow hope, and we cling to our own ways instead of seeking yours. Forgive us, Lord, for the ways we have fallen short—in thought, word, and deed…
Individual confessions are offered in the silence
God of Love, help us to draw near to your truth, to see and believe that you are at work even now, so that we may live as people of light, boldly proclaiming your peace and preparing the way for your love. Amen.
*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 “Advent Message” Martin How
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE Luke 1:57-63; 67-73; 76-80 CEB
When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a boy. Her neighbors and relatives celebrated with her because they had heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy. On the eighth day, it came time to circumcise the child. They wanted to name him Zechariah because that was his father’s name. But his mother replied, “No, his name will be John.” They said to her, “None of your relatives have that name.” Then they began gesturing to his father to see what he wanted to call him.
After asking for a tablet, he surprised everyone by writing, “His name is John.” At that moment, Zechariah was able to speak again, and he began praising God.
John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
“Bless the Lord God of Israel because he has come to help and has delivered his people.
He has raised up a mighty savior for us in his servant David’s house, just as he said through the mouths of his holy prophets long ago. He has brought salvation from our enemies and from the power of all those who hate us. He has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and remembered his holy covenant, the solemn pledge he made to our ancestor Abraham...
You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way. You will tell his people how to be saved through the forgiveness of their sins.
Because of our God’s deep compassion, the dawn from heaven will break upon us, to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us on the path of peace.”
The child grew up, becoming strong in character. He was in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.
Holy Wisdom, Holy Word
Thanks be to God
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Mary Rebekah Fortman
SERMON Rev. Trip Porch
*HYMN 109 “Blest Be the God of Israel” MERLE’S TUNE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE followed by the Lord’s Prayer as printed on screen
TIME OF OFFERING online giving is available at www. indianolapres.org/give
OFFERTORY "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" arr. Martin Dicke
*OFFERTORY RESPONSE 79 “Light Dawns On a Weary World” vs 2 TEMPLE OF PEACE
*PRAYER of DEDICATION
Generous God, You have shown us the truth of your love again and again. As those who have seen it, we offer these gifts as signs of our gratitude and trust in your abundant love. Use them and use us to prepare the way for your kingdom on earth, until your peace shines in every corner of creation. Amen.
*HYMN 107 “Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn” REJOICE, REJOICE
TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING
CHARGE & BENEDICTION
CHORAL RESPONSE “May the Love of the Lord” Swee Hong Lim
POSTLUDE "A Christmas Fantasy" Timothy Brown
Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452