Sermons

FILTER BY:

← back to list

Dec 24, 2017

Enter Into the Demands of Love

Enter Into the Demands of Love

Speaker: Patrick Lafferty

Series: Christmas

Welcome to Grace Mills River! We are glad you are here to worship with us on Christmas Eve! We are concluding our Advent series today in the book of Jonah. Jonah may have seemed a curious choice for an Advent series. How Jonah’s story abruptly ends--without resolution--may only add to the bewilderment. What Jonah manifests in his final chapter is something with which every person struggles--and which will not be overcome apart from what we see God manifesting in the same moment. Jonah embodies our humanity. Today we celebrate the birth of our Savior!

Welcome to Grace Mills River! We are glad you are here to worship with us on Christmas Eve! We are concluding our Advent series today in the book of Jonah. Jonah may have seemed a curious choice for an Advent series. How Jonah’s story abruptly ends--without resolution--may only add to the bewilderment. What Jonah manifests in his final chapter is something with which every person struggles--and which will not be overcome apart from what we see God manifesting in the same moment. Jonah embodies our humanity. Today we celebrate the birth of our Savior!

Christmas Eve Readings:

John 1:4 ESV
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Advent Reading
The Prophecy candle remembers those who first spoke the promise of the coming Christ child.

The Bethlehem candle is a symbol of the preparations being made to receive and cradle the Christ child.

The Shepherds’ candle, remembering the first in a long line of people who joyfully shared the good news of the Savior’s birth.

The Angels’ candle reminds us of the hope fulfilled in the first coming of our Savior and of our continuing hope as we anticipate his coming again.

Isaiah 7:10-14
10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Today the Advent season ends. We wait no longer. That great event for which we waited has happened. God’s promise of a Redeemer is fulfilled. Christ Jesus is born. We light the Christ candle with praise to our God who brings joy to the world.

Titus 2:11-14 ESV
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Homily: Enter Into the Demands of Love, Patrick Lafferty, Lead Pastor, GMR
Jonah 4
Jonah’s Anger and the Lord’s Compassion
4 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly,[a] and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. 6 Now the Lord God appointed a plant[b] and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort.[c] So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. 7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” 10 And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Isaiah 11:1-4a, 5 NIV, Colossians 1:15-17 NIV
LEADER: 1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—

the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD— 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.

ALL: 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

LEADER: 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

ALL: 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Matthew 1:18-21 NIV, Matthew 1:22-23 NIV, John 1:12 ESV
LEADER: 18 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.

19 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.

20 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.

21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,

ALL: because he will save his people from their sins.”

LEADER: 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”

ALL: 12 to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Luke 2:1-7 NIV
LEADER: 1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,

ALL: because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:8-14 NIV
LEADER: 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them,

ALL: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
LEADER: 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

ALL: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:15-18 NIV
LEADER: When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,

ALL: 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7a ESV, 1 John 4:10 ESV, John 6:29 ESV, Romans 1:17b ESV, John 1:4-5 NIV

ALL: 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

LEADER: 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.

ALL: 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

LEADER: 29 “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

ALL: “The righteous shall live by faith.”

LEADER: 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

ALL: 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

 John 1:14,16 ESV
LEADER: 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

ALL: 16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

Music & Lyrics

Musicians:Jeff Hinkle, Michael Leyshon, Kathleen Ray, Jeff Whisenant, David Hudson, Tonya Hudson

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Paraphraser: Gerard Moultrie,
Tune: Picardy
Arrangement: Tonya Hudson

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly-minded,
for with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
in the body and the blood;
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.

At his feet the six-winged seraph,
cherubim, with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alle-luia, Lord Most High! 

O Come All Ye Faithful / O Come O Come Emmanuel
John Francis Wade / John Mason Neale

O come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye
to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
born the King of angels

O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing, all yea citizens
of heav’n above;
Glory to God, all
glory in the highest:

O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

O come, o come, Emanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee O Israel.

O, come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.

O come Thou Day-Spring come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death’s dark shadows put to flight.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
all peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease,
Fill the whole world with heaven’s
peace.

We Three Kings Of Orient Are / What Child Is This
John Henry Hopkins Jr. / William Chatterton Dix

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor & mountain,
Following yonder star.

Born a king on Bethlehem’s plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign.
Oh . . . .

Star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.

What Child is this,who laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary

O Little Town Of Bethlehem / Away In A Manger
Phillips Brooks and Lewis Redner / traditional

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary;
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep the angels keep
Their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth;
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth.

Away in a manger,
No crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus,
Lay down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky,
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus,
Asleep on the hay.

Be near me Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay,
Close by me for ever,
And love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children,
In Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven,
To live with Thee there.

The First Noel / Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Charles Wesley and Felix Mendelssohn /
traditional

Hark, the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King.
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.”
Joyful all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies,
With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
Hark, the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n born Prince ofPeace
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give us second birth.
Hark, the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

The first Noel, the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
in fields as they lay
In fields where they
lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winters night
that was so deep

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel

Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord
who hath made heaven
and earth of naught
and with His blood
mankind hath bought

Silent Night
Joseph Mohr and John Freeman Young

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, All is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant so Tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord at Thy birth,
Jesus Lord at Thy birth.

 Joy To The World
George Frederic Handel and Isaac Watts

Joy to the world! The Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n and heav’n and nature sing!
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love

Quotes:

“It is not uncommon for those who are respectful of Christianity and eager to rescue some part of it from the assaults of rational skepticism to say Jesus was a great man, and no more than a man. A teacher, a martyr to intolerance, from whom we might learn compassion. He is defined in terms of an equivalence, his mystery anchored to what is assumed to be a known value. But what is man? What does it mean to say, as the Gospel writers say and insist, that Jesus was indeed a human being? What we are remains a very open question. Perhaps some part of the divine purpose of the Incarnation of this Son of man was and is to help us to a true definition. “
Marilynne Robinson