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Series B – Fourth Sunday of Advent – Sunday, December 24, 2017 | Pr. Chris Rosebrough

Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough:

Time Stamp	Transcript
0:29	we have two gospel texts that we will be
0:31	reading today because we will be
0:32	celebrating not only Advent 4 but also
0:35	the Feast of the nativity
0:37	our first Gospel reading is taken from
0:38	the Gospel of Luke chapter 1 verses
0:40	26-38
0:43	in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was
0:45	sent from God to a city of Galilee named
0:48	Nazareth to a virgin betrothed to a man
0:50	whose name was Joseph of the House of
0:53	David and the virgin’s name was Mary and
0:56	he came to her and said greetings o
0:58	favored one the Lord is with you but she
1:01	was greatly troubled at saying and tried
1:04	to discern what sort of greeting this
1:06	might be the angel said to her do not be
1:08	afraid Mary for you have found favor
1:10	with God and behold you will conceive in
1:14	your womb and bear a son and you shall
1:17	call his name Jesus he will be great and
1:20	will be called the son of the most high
1:23	and the Lord God will give to him the
1:25	Throne of his father David and he will
1:27	reign over the house of Jacob forever
1:29	and of his kingdom there will be no end
1:32	and Mary said to the angel how will this
1:35	be since I am a virgin and the angel
1:37	answered her the holy spirit will come
1:39	upon you and the power of the most high
1:41	will overshadow you therefore the child
1:44	to be born will be called holy the Son
1:46	of God and behold your relative
1:48	Elizabeth and her old age has also
1:51	conceived a son and this is the sixth
1:53	month with her who was called Barren for
1:55	nothing will be impossible with God and
1:58	Mary said behold I am the servant of the
2:01	Lord let it be to me according to your
2:02	word and the angel departed from her
2:05	our second text is taken from the Gospel
2:09	of Luke Chapter 2 verses 1 through 20.
2:13	in those days the decree went out from
2:16	Caesar Augustus that all the world
2:18	should be registered this was the first
2:20	registration when quirinius was the
2:22	governor of Syria it all went to be
2:24	registered each to his own town Joseph
2:27	also went up From Galilee from Attack
2:29	the town of Nazareth to Judea to the
2:32	city of David which is called Bethlehem
2:34	because he was at the house and the
2:36	lineage of David to be registered with
2:38	Mary his betrothed who was with child
2:42	and while they were there the time came
2:44	for her to give birth and she gave birth
2:46	to her firstborn son wrapped him in a
2:48	swaddling in swaddling cloths laid him
2:51	in a Manger because there was no place
2:53	for them in the end
2:54	and in the same region there were
2:57	shepherds out in the field keeping watch
2:58	over their flock by night and an angel
3:01	of the Lord appeared to them and the
3:02	glory of the Lord Shone around them and
3:04	they were filled with fear and the angel
3:07	said to them fear not for behold I bring
3:10	you good news of a great joy that will
3:13	be for all the people for unto you was
3:16	born this day in the city of David a
3:18	savior who is Christ the lord and this
3:21	will be a sign for you you will find a
3:24	baby wrapped in swaddling cloths lying
3:26	in a manger and suddenly there was with
3:29	the angel a multitude of the Heavenly
3:31	hosts praising God and saying glory to
3:33	God in the highest and on Earth peace
3:36	among those with whom he is pleased and
3:39	when the angels went away from them into
3:42	heaven the Shepherds said to one another
3:43	let us go over to Bethlehem and see this
3:46	thing that has happened which the Lord
3:48	has made known to us and they went with
3:51	haste and found Mary and Joseph and the
3:53	baby lying in a manger and when they saw
3:56	it they made known the saying that had
3:58	been told to them concerning this child
4:00	and all who heard it wondered at what
4:03	the Shepherds told them but Mary
4:05	treasured up all these things pondering
4:07	them in her heart and the Shepherds
4:09	returned glorifying and praising God for
4:11	all that they heard had heard and seen
4:14	as it had been told them this is the
4:16	gospel of the Lord in the name of Jesus
4:20	amen
4:21	a little bit of a sidebar at the
4:23	beginning of the sermon have you ever
4:25	stopped to think why is it that some
4:27	Christmas specials only air once While
4:31	others become Classics ones that we
4:33	watch over and over and over again
4:37	have you ever thought about that I mean
4:38	that a E network the estrogen Channel
4:41	they put pump those Christmas specials
4:44	out every year and does anyone watch
4:47	them over and over and over again no no
4:50	it seems like they’re just kind of
4:51	churning it’s kind of churning
4:54	but ever since I was a kid there’s
4:57	certain Christmas specials that I end up
4:59	watching
5:00	all the time one of them is a Christmas
5:03	classic and there’s a reason why it’s a
5:05	classic let me explain what the
5:07	important feature is that makes it a
5:09	classic classic Christmas specials are
5:12	the ones who as Tolkien that’s J.R.R
5:16	Tolkien of The Lord of the Rings noted
5:18	they’re the ones that tap into what is
5:21	called the Deep myths now let me explain
5:25	what I mean there if you’ve seen the
5:27	Lord of the Rings or you’ve watched if
5:29	you’ve read the books then you’re going
5:31	to know that J.R.R Tolkien purposely set
5:34	out to retell the story of Christ his
5:38	death his resurrection and his being
5:41	crowned as king but he told it in the
5:45	world of Middle Earth and in some
5:47	strange way we can connect with it
5:50	because our yearning and our longings
5:53	are similar to what we see in a story
5:57	like that I find it fascinating that
5:59	even atheists will watch The Lord of the
6:01	Rings movies over and over and over
6:03	again and it’s funny that they do
6:06	so they tap into the deep myths let me
6:09	tell you about another
6:10	Christmas special that Taps into the
6:13	deep myth when you may not think does
6:15	but this is the reason why people watch
6:17	it year after year hope you’re sitting
6:19	down good looks like you are
6:21	Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer the one
6:24	with Burl Ives as the Snowman yeah that
6:27	one the guy who’s saying Have a Holly
6:28	Jolly Christmas have you ever thought
6:30	why it is that kids watch that one over
6:33	and over and over again and I would
6:35	posit that the reason why is because it
6:37	Taps into some of the most amazing
6:40	themes of what is called Deep myth now
6:42	this doesn’t mean it’s not real
6:45	but it’s tapping into the same
6:48	archetypes the same themes that our
6:51	texts today tap into let me explain if
6:54	you know the story Rudolph the Red-Nosed
6:56	Reindeer is born well a misfit he’s got
6:59	a little bit of a problem every other
7:01	reindeer has a black nose he has one
7:03	that is red it’s shiny and it glows and
7:06	he is eventually cast out from the
7:10	community of the Santa Claus village and
7:12	he becomes a misfit and he’s out on the
7:14	road and in his adventures as his
7:17	character grows he comes to a place
7:20	called The Isle of Misfit Toys
7:23	now stop and think for a second each and
7:27	every one of us because we are sinful we
7:29	are a lot like those broken toys on the
7:32	Isle of Misfit Toys and these are toys
7:35	that long to be loved long to have a
7:38	purpose long to be to live for the
7:41	reason why they were created but each
7:43	and every one of them has major flaws
7:46	the Jack-in-the-Box is named Charlie in
7:48	the Box the train has Square Wheels it’s
7:51	it’s just a mess and Rudolph the
7:55	Red-Nosed Reindeer promises that once he
7:59	finally returns to Christmas Town that
8:01	he will tell Santa Claus about the toys
8:03	on the Isle of Misfit Toys so that they
8:06	can be
8:08	saved but as the story progresses
8:10	there’s this ginormous winter storm
8:13	Christmas is about to be canceled and as
8:15	we all know how the song goes
8:18	Santa Claus goes to Rudolph and says
8:20	Rudolph with your nose so bright won’t
8:22	you guide my sleigh tonight and
8:24	Christmas is well saved It’s on again
8:26	but as the Christmas classic goes
8:30	once Rudolph is hitched to the team and
8:33	is at the front of it the first stop is
8:37	the aisle
8:38	of Misfit Toys and there’s this
8:41	wonderful scene in there and it has
8:43	these toys in the darkness around a
8:47	small fire
8:48	and they’re all kind of lamenting that
8:51	it’s Christmas Eve and they know Santa
8:53	should have left by now and they think
8:56	that they had somehow been overlooked
8:59	yet again
9:01	that their salvation has not appeared
9:03	but then off in the distance you hear
9:05	the sleigh bells ringing and you see
9:07	Rudolph’s nose burst through the clouds
9:10	and one of the characters literally
9:12	cries out it’s Rudolph we’re
9:15	saved
9:18	that is the reason why that story gets
9:22	watched over and over and over again
9:25	because each of us
9:28	Longs for that type of Salvation we
9:32	languish here in this cursed creation as
9:36	we grow older and sicker and weaker
9:39	is the cumulative effect of our sin
9:41	takes a grip on us
9:44	we desire and long for
9:48	salvation
9:49	we long for a Homeland where we will
9:53	finally be saved where we will be loved
9:56	and so
9:57	I would like to go back through a few of
9:59	our texts but we first have to make a
10:02	trip back
10:03	farther in the Old Testament because I
10:05	want to show you something about this
10:07	theme in scripture if you would return
10:09	with me to Exodus chapter 3. Exodus
10:12	chapter 3 this is the commissioning of
10:14	Moses and I want you to pay attention
10:16	because you’re going to see that some of
10:18	the features of this story have the
10:22	exact same features as our gospel text
10:25	does today
10:27	Exodus chapter 3 begins with these words
10:30	Moses was keeping the flock of his
10:33	father-in-law Jethro the priest of
10:36	Midian
10:37	Moses is a shepherd
10:40	in the opening of this chapter
10:42	watch this
10:43	so he led his flock to the west side of
10:45	the Wilderness and he came to Horeb the
10:47	Mountain of God and the angel of the
10:50	Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire
10:52	out of the midst of a bush ah light has
10:56	burst into the darkness if you would he
10:59	looked and behold the Bush was burning
11:01	yet it was not consumed
11:03	and Moses said I will turn aside to see
11:05	this great sight why the bush is not
11:07	burned and when the Lord saw that he
11:09	turned aside to see God Called to him
11:11	out of the bush
11:13	ey Moshe
11:16	and he said here I am
11:18	he said do not come near take your
11:20	sandals off your feet for the place on
11:23	which you were standing is Holy Ground
11:25	and he said I am the god of your father
11:28	the god of Abraham the god of Isaac the
11:31	god of Jacob
11:33	Moses hid his face he was afraid to look
11:36	at God and then the Lord said
11:39	I have surely seen the Affliction of my
11:42	people who are in Egypt I have heard
11:45	their cry because of their task Masters
11:47	I know their sufferings and I have come
11:52	down to deliver them out of the hand of
11:54	the Egyptians and to bring them up out
11:57	of the land to a good and Broad land a
12:00	land flowing with milk and honey
12:03	look at this God himself says that he
12:06	knows their sufferings and he himself
12:09	has decided to come down from heaven in
12:12	order to deliver them out of the hand of
12:13	Slavery to the Egyptians and as we’ve
12:16	learned this is type and Shadow
12:18	the reality is actually found in Our
12:21	Gospel text today but you’re going to
12:24	note Darkness light Shepherd God
12:27	announcing that he has he is coming down
12:30	now with that let’s return to our text
12:33	from our Old Testament reading from the
12:36	prophet Isaiah
12:38	Isaiah chapter 9.
12:40	the people who walked in darkness
12:43	have seen a great light
12:45	those who dwelt in the land of deep
12:48	Darkness on them the light has shined
12:51	remember last week Our Gospel text
12:54	talked about John the Baptist not being
12:57	the light but bearing witness about the
12:59	light he was the voice out in the
13:02	wilderness out in the darkness saying
13:04	repent prepare the way of the Lord and
13:07	now our texts have taken a totally
13:09	different turn the light has now entered
13:12	the world the people who walked in
13:13	darkness they have now seen a great life
13:15	those who land in the dwelt in the land
13:18	of deep Darkness on them the light has
13:20	shined you have multiplied the nation
13:22	you have increased its Joy they Rejoice
13:25	before you as with at the Harvest as
13:28	they are glad when they divide the spoil
13:30	for the Yoke of his burden the staff for
13:33	his shoulder the rod of his oppressor
13:35	you have broken as on the day of Midian
13:39	and the picture is beautiful here light
13:41	burst into the darkness and the slave
13:43	shackles
13:45	the iron and the rod and all of these
13:48	things that are holding and oppressing
13:50	us they are all broken and fall off and
13:54	every boot of the trampling warrior in
13:57	battle of tumult and every garment
13:59	rolled in blood will be burned as fuel
14:01	for the fire and here’s the reason why
14:03	For unto us
14:06	a child is born
14:07	to us
14:09	the son is given
14:11	it’s Jesus
14:14	we’re saved and that’s the theme
14:17	the government shall be upon his
14:19	shoulder
14:21	his name Shall be Called wonderful
14:23	counselor Mighty God Everlasting father
14:27	Prince of Peace and of the increase of
14:30	his government and of Peace there will
14:33	be no end on the throne of David and
14:36	over his kingdom to establish it and
14:38	uphold it with Justice and with
14:40	righteousness
14:41	in other words
14:43	no longer shall we be oppressed by
14:46	tyrants
14:47	terrible politicians
14:49	those who are
14:51	sexually harassing
14:54	their employees
14:57	or oppressing and murdering
15:00	their citizens
15:01	we are saved for unto us a child is born
15:05	to us a son is given
15:09	and with that we return to Our Gospel
15:11	text
15:12	and we’re going to note something very
15:13	important
15:14	Luke Chapter 2 in those days
15:18	a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
15:20	that all the world should be registered
15:22	this was the first registration when
15:25	quirinius was the governor of Syria it’s
15:28	as if C-SPAN wrote the opening verses of
15:31	this particular chapter this sounds like
15:34	something that’s as exciting as watching
15:36	Washington today or something this week
15:41	politics and taxes and registrations and
15:44	censuses
15:45	give me a break but see you’re going to
15:48	note that all of these little details
15:50	tell us that what we are reading here is
15:54	not mythology it’s history
15:56	if this really took place this is the
15:59	minutia of human history this isn’t
16:02	about
16:03	well a story that took place a long time
16:06	ago in a galaxy far far away or about a
16:09	story that took place in the math
16:11	mythical somewhere North Pole near the
16:14	Isle of Misfit Toys
16:16	this took place in Judea two thousand
16:18	years ago when Caesar Augustus was the
16:21	emperor of Rome
16:22	this was the first registration when
16:25	quirinius was the governor of Syria all
16:27	went to be registered each to his own
16:30	town Joseph also went up From Galilee to
16:33	the town of Nazareth to Judea to the
16:35	city of David which is called Bethlehem
16:37	because he was of the house and the
16:39	lineage of David to be registered with
16:41	Mary his betrothed who was with child
16:44	and while they were there the time came
16:46	for her to give birth she gave birth to
16:49	her firstborn son wrapped him in a
16:51	swaddling swaddling Claws and laid him
16:53	in a Manger I always like to picture
16:55	those swaddling claws as a picture of
16:58	Christ soon to be burial clothes
17:02	laid him in a Manger because there was
17:04	no place for them in the end and you’re
17:06	going to note that the king of kings and
17:08	Lord of lords as Philippians 2 tells us
17:11	emptied himself went from the highest
17:14	place that there is in all of the
17:16	universe
17:18	the very Throne of God
17:20	and he was born into abject poverty
17:25	I mean God the Father didn’t even call
17:27	ahead
17:28	and make a reservation for him at motel
17:30	6
17:31	he was on his own his parents were poor
17:34	and we’ll learn next week when it came
17:37	time to dedicate Christ and have him
17:39	circumcised
17:40	they couldn’t even afford a lamb
17:43	they can only afford the two turtle
17:44	doves
17:46	and so there’s
17:48	our savior the one who has come to save
17:51	us
17:52	Ten Little Fingers ten little toes a
17:55	tiny little nose making OHS like little
17:58	babies do
17:59	and it’s wonderful
18:01	and it’s terrible at the same time
18:04	we’re saved we’re truly saved but as our
18:08	sermon hymn noted out
18:11	in verse 2.
18:13	why lie is he in such mean as state
18:15	where ox and ass are feeding
18:18	good Christian fear for Sinners here
18:21	the silent word is pleading
18:23	nails
18:25	spear shall pierce him through the cross
18:28	be born for me for you
18:30	hell hell the word made flesh
18:33	the babe the son of Mary
18:36	and see that’s it we’re saved because
18:38	the wood of the manger gives way to the
18:40	wood of the cross
18:42	the swaddling claws
18:44	give way to the sword and Spear and the
18:47	flogging
18:48	it’s wonderful and it’s terrible
18:51	we’re saved but we’re saved at a great
18:54	cost
18:55	the life of this very child who’s come
18:58	to save us and in the same region there
19:01	were shepherds out in the field keeping
19:03	watch over their flock by night
19:06	an angel of the Lord appeared to them
19:07	and listen to this the glory of the Lord
19:09	Shone around them over and again we
19:11	depict that the light that the shepherd
19:14	saw was the light of the Angels
19:16	but that’s not what the text says
19:18	hear the glory of the Lord makes an
19:20	appearance this is the very glory of the
19:22	Lord that the Book of Revelation
19:24	describes is the thing that will it will
19:26	light up the Earth
19:28	after Jesus’s return the very thing that
19:31	we will always see and so for just a
19:34	brief moment the very glory of the Lord
19:36	shows up and shown all around them and
19:40	they were filled with fear
19:42	the angel said to them fear not for
19:44	behold I bring you good news of great
19:46	joy that will be for all people
19:49	For unto you is Born This Day in the
19:54	city of David a savior who is Christ the
19:59	lord
20:00	For unto you is born a savior
20:04	unto us a child is born unto us a son is
20:08	given
20:10	and he’s Christ the lord and this will
20:12	be the sign for you you’ll find a baby
20:14	wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a
20:17	manger and then suddenly
20:19	there was
20:20	with the angel a multitude of the
20:22	Heavenly hosts praising God and saying
20:24	glory to God in the highest and on Earth
20:27	peace Shalom among those with whom he is
20:31	pleased
20:32	and see brothers and sisters the reason
20:35	why we find ourselves living in darkness
20:37	the reason why we find ourselves
20:39	languishing and suffering because of our
20:41	sin
20:42	the reason why we have to toil to put
20:45	bread on the table to pay the electric
20:47	bill to pay our gas bills and keep our
20:50	houses warm on cold days like this and
20:53	the reason why we have to get up every
20:55	single weekday at the crack of dawn and
20:58	go punch in and that punch clock and
21:00	then pray that we have enough left over
21:02	so that we can somehow retire from all
21:04	of this labor the reason for all of this
21:06	is because each and every one of us was
21:08	born dead in trespasses and sins and At
21:11	War With God hostilities that we
21:15	launched by disobeying God
21:18	but rather than saying destruction and
21:21	death to you
21:22	the good news that is announced to us
21:24	because of this baby of Bethlehem
21:27	is peace
21:30	peace because God has chosen to
21:33	reconcile you to the father
21:36	to end the hostilities and bring peace
21:40	by himself becoming one of us
21:44	and going to the Cross so glory to God
21:46	in the highest
21:48	and on Earth peace among those with whom
21:51	he is pleased and he brothers and
21:54	sisters is pleased with you not because
21:55	you’re so pleasable or pleasing he is
21:59	pleased with you because he has clothed
22:01	you in the righteousness of this little
22:03	baby
22:04	he has clothed you in the righteousness
22:06	of Christ himself and covered you in his
22:09	own Glory if you would
22:10	as a gift because of his great love for
22:13	you
22:14	and so this is such an amazing mystery
22:17	this is such good news that well we
22:21	living in darkness
22:23	couldn’t have spotted it ourselves
22:24	that’s the nature of our Darkness so the
22:27	angels that couldn’t keep quiet any
22:30	longer they just had to sing about it
22:32	glory to God in the highest and on Earth
22:35	peace among those with whom he is
22:38	pleased and so when the angels went away
22:40	from them into heaven the shepherd said
22:42	to one another let us go to Bethlehem
22:44	and see this thing that has happened
22:46	which the Lord has made known to us
22:49	and so you’ll note yet again
22:51	the glory of the Lord appears to a
22:54	shepherd
22:55	multiple Shepherds this time but the
22:58	glory of the Lord showed up to take that
23:02	Shepherd Moses and commission him for
23:04	the work that he was to do and all of
23:06	that is a picture of God’s great love
23:08	and desire to relieve us from our
23:10	sufferings to free Us From Slavery to
23:13	sin and yet again now the glory of the
23:15	Lord shows up again this time not in a
23:17	burning bush but shows up to the
23:19	Shepherds out in the field and of course
23:21	they’ve got to go and figure this out so
23:23	let us go to Bethlehem and see this
23:25	thing that has happened you can almost
23:26	hear Moses saying I’ve got to go over
23:28	there and see why that bush is burning
23:30	but isn’t burning up I’ve got to go and
23:32	see this thing that the Lord has done
23:33	and so they went with haste
23:36	hurry hoof it
23:38	Mary and Joseph and they found them and
23:41	the baby lying in a Manger
23:43	when they saw it they made known the
23:45	saying that had been told to them
23:47	concerning this child
23:49	and all who heard it wondered that what
23:51	the Shepherds had told them
23:53	that Mary treasured up all these things
23:56	pondering them in her heart
23:58	and the Shepherds returned
24:00	glorifying and praising God for all that
24:03	they had heard and seen as it had been
24:06	told to them and see to the average
24:08	observer in Bethlehem that day walking
24:11	by where Mary and Joseph were and seeing
24:14	a baby in a Manger someone may have been
24:16	tempted to say oh a little baby how cute
24:20	as women are prone to do men are not
24:23	exactly prone to doing that and they
24:26	would have had no clue what had what
24:29	that all meant but see God himself
24:32	sent these angels to explain what
24:34	exactly what was going on and what looks
24:37	so humble was looks so mean which looks
24:41	so common which looks so ordinary which
24:44	looks so blah is the greatest thing
24:48	ever
24:49	it’s the greatest thing ever
24:52	it’s the sound of sleigh bells off in
24:54	the distance light shining in the
24:57	Darkness
24:58	it’s this wonderful news that Paul tells
25:01	us about
25:02	in our epistle text but the grace of God
25:06	has now appeared literally burst onto
25:09	the scene bringing salvation for all
25:12	people
25:14	see
25:15	we here like the toys on the Isle of
25:19	Misfit Toys we have been waiting for our
25:21	blessed hope in the appearing
25:23	of the glory of our great God and Savior
25:26	Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to
25:29	redeem us from all lawlessness and to
25:32	purify for himself a people for his own
25:35	possession
25:37	and there it is the great theme
25:39	brothers and sisters as we sit here in
25:41	the darkness I can hear the sleigh bells
25:43	I can see the light
25:47	and I announce to you with great joy
25:50	we’re saved
25:52	we’re saved
25:54	we’re finally going to have a home
25:58	where we will be loved
26:01	forever
26:02	all because of God’s great love for us
26:06	let us cast off our sin let us leave the
26:09	darkness let us rise up with joy in our
26:13	hearts and our throats in our mouth
26:16	and Shout out this great news unto us
26:21	a child is born unto us a son is given
26:27	we are saved
26:29	in the name of Jesus
26:30	amen

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