Advent Sermon Series: The Bit Parts of the Christmas Story - The Star (4/5)

The Bit Parts of the Christmas Story: The Star (4/5)
Matthew 2: 1-9
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
December 23, 2018
Fourth Sunday of Advent

This Advent we are looking at the bit parts of the biblical Christmas story. If you are just joining us, a bit part is a seemingly minor role which has direct interaction with the lead actors and has just a few speaking lines. However, each of the bit parts in the biblical Christmas story are silent. And yet each one adds something pivotal to the anticipation of the Christ Child.

We have been gleaning a new perspective of the nativity scene from Luke’s Gospel the past three weeks with Joseph, the Inn, and the Manger. But today the Gospel of Matthew reveals how the bit part of the star leads the way to baby Jesus.

Hear Matthew tell it in Matthew 2: 1-10…

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’

When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.

Matthew opens the scene of today’s Christmas story with the plan to take us to the little town of Bethlehem. We see the silent stars go by. And even in the dark streets of Jerusalem there shines an everlasting light.

The light of the star was so very captivating. It created a prophetic moment; the hopes and fears of all humanity’s years are met in Christ’s birth on that Christmas night.

For King Herod the star shined like a GPS locator. It pointed the way to his biggest fear – a political threat – a new King…and not just any king, but The King of the Jews. God’s kingdom was breaking in and creating havoc on Herod, Rome’s client king.

But for the magi the star met them with a new hope. The star appeared like a blessing. It peaked their curiosity and searching for meaning and purpose in life. The star invited the magi to come closer; it wanted to show them more of what God had done. And so, they set out on an unfamiliar road, fully depending upon the star to lead the way to baby Jesus over the course of many nights.

The hearers of Matthew’s Gospel knew the story of God’s people. They knew what it was like to walk along the unfamiliar roads of faith. Generations of past spiritual ancestors had lots of practice walking in the dark. God’s people stumbled upon many obstacles making it hard to walk in God’s faithfulness. And many of those obstacles were of the people’s own making. Humanity cannot steer clear from the dark condition of sin.

For the hearers of Matthew’s Gospel, the star was no bit part. You see the star had a prophetic role of not only announcing the arrival of the King of the Jews. But also, the star had a prophetic role in recalling the memory of God’s steadfast love. And God’s love always leads the way home.

The star recalled God’s promise to Abraham of being chosen out of God’s deep and abiding love to fulfill God’s purposes. Love promised God’s dreams to be accomplished through Abraham; kings would come through him, as well as an eternal inheritance to all future generations. All generations including ours would be as numerous as the stars (Genesis 17: 6-8; 15:5).

The star recalled God’s encouraging words to Moses when the steps got really hard in leading God’s people from slavery into the promise of God’s freedom:

You shall fear the Lord your God; him alone you shall worship; to him you shall hold fast, and by his name you shall swear. The Lord is your praise, for he is your God, who has done for you great and awesome things that your own eyes have seen. Your ancestors went down to Egypt seventy persons; and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars (Deuteronomy 10: 20-22).

The star recalled God is always good on his promises for the prophecy is fulfilled:

For the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined…A child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests on his shoulders and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom (Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7).

The star recalled the name of this Holy Child, “Jesus,” means he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). For Matthew Jesus was the new Moses, fully delivering God’s people from the slavery of sin into the God’s promises of new life.

And today the fullness of the Christmas story surrounds us through the bit parts.

Joseph inspires us to remember that when uncertainty clouds the way forward there is hope. We can take heart, remembering that God is with us and God will deliver us when everything seems to be hanging in the balance.

The Inn, or as we learned it is better translated, “Guestroom” inspires us to remember God’s radical hospitality meets us where we are, gives us a place of belonging and connection, and provides what we need.

The Manger cradles the JOY of God’s promise of new life for humanity. It brings good news of JOY because God’s holiness abides in the unholiness of humanity. When the wrong in the world seems oft so strong, God is at work to reorder and redeem God’s people.

And today the star is shining.

For some of us the star is shining upon a road that feels quite unfamiliar. Questions cloud the background wondering if love is enough to bind strained relationships and mend broken hearts. Grief has made its grand entrance and steals the joy that was once the centerpiece of the season. Decisions need to be made but the direction is still unclear.

Whatever may be threatening your faith today, may the light of God’s love in Emmanuel shine in your darkness when you feel most alone. Trust that God’s love will see you through.

For others the star is shining into curiosity and searching. The culture’s narrative of self-reliance isn’t holding true; there is a slight tapping on the shoulder of our faith that we cannot walk the journey of life all alone. Could kindling or even rekindling the faith be the answer to the MORE we are searching for? A recent situation opened your eyes to see what really matters in life and you are searching for a faithful way of re-prioritizing your days. An ending has brought about a possible new beginning and your soul is curious to discover a new purpose in life.

Whatever you may be searching for today, may the star illumine a new window to reveal the mystery of God’s love and will for your life.

The bit part of the star illumines the truth of God’s love that in Jesus’ nativity we find ours. Through the Christ Child we too are God’s beloved children. We are chosen out of a divine love that will never let us go. We are blessed to be a blessing to others through a life of purpose and meaning. Christ is the MORE we are searching for that connects us to God, one another, and God’s “already here but not fully yet” kingdom.

Togetherness has always been my favorite part of Christmas. Every year of my childhood my family decorated the tree together. And every year the tradition was not complete without playing John Denver’s Christmas album, “A Rocky Mountain Christmas.” It was a folksy album that had so many harmonies and lyrics of love, family, and belonging to something bigger than ourselves.

Just this week I was listening to John Denver’s voice all over again. And suddenly nostalgia gave way to new meaning as I listened to a particular song that I never gave much thought to. It’s entitled, “Perhaps Love.” And the Spirit seemed to knit John Denver’s words through today’s sermon and so I share them with you:

Perhaps love is like a resting place, a shelter from the storm
It exists to give you comfort, it is there to keep you warm
And in those times of trouble when you are most alone
The memory of love will bring you home

Perhaps love is like a window, perhaps an open door
It invites you to come closer, it wants to show you more
And even if you lose yourself and don't know what to do
The memory of love will see you through

Oh, love to some is like a cloud, to some as strong as steel
For some a way of living, for some a way to feel
And some say love is holding on and some say letting go
And some say love is everything and some say they don't know..
Perhaps love is like the ocean, full of conflict, full of pain
Like a fire when it's cold outside or thunder when it rains.

If I should live forever and all my dreams come true, my memories of love will be of you.

May faith’s memory of God’s love be with you this Christmas.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

"The Nativity," by Rev. Carson Overstreet

Advent Sermon Series: The Bit Parts of the Christmas Story - The Manger (3/5)

The Bit Parts of the Christmas Story: The Manger (3/5)
Luke 2: 8-14
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
December 16, 2018
Third Sunday of Advent

This Advent we are looking at the bit parts of the Christmas story in Luke’s Gospel. For those of you with a theater background, you know that a bit part is a seemingly minor role which has direct interaction with the lead actors and has just a few speaking lines.

However, each of the bit parts in the biblical Christmas story are silent. And yet each one adds something pivotal to the anticipation of the Christ Child.

Our focal point from Luke’s story today reveals quite a nostalgic scene within the Christmas story. Hear Luke tell it in Luke 2: 8-14…

In that region [of Bethlehem] there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’ - Luke 2: 8-14


I love the way one of my colleagues in ministry experienced this scene through a live nativity. This is her story:

A previous church I served had a long tradition of creating a Live Nativity. Over time, it became quite professional and thousands of people would attend each year. The costumes were realistic, the sets authentic and believable. They even had a beautiful lighted star that came on magically at just the right moment to illumine the visitors’ way through the darkness of night to the stable where they would discover the holy family complete with a live newborn baby.

One year as I was walking through, I was standing at the sheep pen where the “shepherds were watching their sheep by night.” On cue, a heavenly host appeared in the night sky above. It was really just some of the church ladies on the roof dressed in white robes with a smoke machine and an eerie blue light behind them. But a little girl about 4 was standing beside me and when that light illumined those ladies on the roof, she gasped in delight, “It’s my very first real live angel!” It was perfect, truly magical.

And then a star began to shine over a stable several yards away and the shepherds helped us follow to a rough-hewn stable. When we got there, the Shepherds knelt, and I felt like kneeling too. It was freezing, but somehow, I felt warm… seeing that young teenaged Mary hovering over the manger, proud Joseph at her side. Gazing in wonder at the real live baby sleeping peacefully on the bed of hay….it was surreal….and then out of thin air, came stains of music…..”Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright.”

Only Bessie the donkey wasn’t exactly feeling it. She was a bit antsy, snorting and pacing in the stall. And then, backing up and lifting her tail right next to the baby Jesus, Bessie deposited a steaming hot pile of fresh manure.

Mary and Joseph looked appalled as a rank smell filled the stable, and the youngest Shepherds began to snicker. But I thought to myself, “YES. This is it. Welcome to our world, Baby Jesus.” This is the way it really was. A dark, dirty stable. A pile of hot manure. This is how you really came…to a place dark and dirty, not at all perfect.

No one expected Bessie the donkey to let it go right beside baby Jesus. And likewise, no one in the ancient world expected for this Holy Child, the Son of the Most High God, the Prince of Peace to be born in a manger.

For you and me the sign of the manger is a nostalgic one; we think of live nativities and Christmas pageants gone by, but it was actually rather scandalous for Luke’s readers.

Last week we looked at the bit part of the inn. Luke’s readers would have understood that word “inn” as a guest room in a private Palestinian home. More than likely Joseph knocked on the door of distant relatives with multiple generations living there. They made do and welcomed the Holy Couple in God’s hospitality, even though there was no proper guest room.

A common peasant Palestinian home was a split level with one large room for living and sleeping and a guest room [1]. There was a slightly lower level inside the home that served as a first century garage to park the donkey and ox in each night, so they would not get stolen. It was in that garage that you would find one or two mangers.

In these ancient homes a manger was a feeding trough for the animals. It was commonly either a hollowed depression in the floor with hay [2] or an immovable feeding trough “hallowed in stone [3]”.

The first ones to hear the news of Jesus’ birth were the shepherds. Society held them in the lowest regards. While many shepherds were trying to make an honest living doing the dirty work no one else wanted to do, others had a rap sheet and could find no other work.

And yet this sign of the manger was indeed a sign of grace to the first ones to sneak a peek at baby Jesus. You see, the manger was the throne of God’s upside-down kingdom. And the first ones to attend to the Prince of Peace were not royalty but the lowly underdogs of humanity whom God’s heart beats for.

My commentary states, “The Christmas story is a scandal that God came into human history completely helpless, as a newborn, and was laid in a feeding trough…far from the seat of earthly power. By entering human history this way, Immanuel – God-With-Us, identified with the powerless, the oppressed, the poor and the homeless” [4].

The bit part of the manger adds something pivotal to the birth of the Christ Child. The manger is a symbol of JOY. And that JOY in the biblical Greek is always about gaining a deeper awareness of God’s grace in the ordinary places of life. The manger cradles the JOY of God’s promise of new life for humanity. It brings good news of JOY because God’s holiness abides in the unholiness of humanity. God is at work to reorder and redeem God’s people.

After being told in Luke’s Gospel that she would carry the womb of God’s grace, Mary sung the most magnificent song – the Magnificat. She proclaimed surely Gods’ mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. For this Holy Child lifts up the lowly, fills the hungry with good things, sends the rich away empty, scatters the proud, and brings down the powerful from their earthly thrones (Luke 1: 50-53).

Some scholars see the grace of the manger as a foreshadowing of how the Christ Child will fulfill God’s purposes of salvation. God took on the vulnerability of humanity being in being born as a helpless baby. That sweet little Jesus boy was wrapped in bands of cloth and placed in a manger because there was no guest room.

But after 33 years of growing into God’s wisdom, our Lord and Savior fulfilled God’s plan for salvation. Christ took the vulnerability, the suffering, and the weight of our human sin on the cross. Christ’s body was then wrapped in linen cloth, placed in a rock hewn tomb where no one had laid before [5].

From his birth to his death, although Jesus was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited. He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness, and being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death (Philippians 2: 6-8).

This Advent season I charge you to keep the cross in the manger. And as you do may the manger bring you a renewed sense of JOY. For it proclaims God’s grace has not forgotten the brokenness of the world nor the brokenness of our hearts.

God chooses to live in solidarity with the downtrodden and the poor in spirit.
God is with those who mourn and those who are weak in mind, body, and spirit.
God draws near to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
God’s favor claims those who have lost all hope and have no peace.

As we mark off the days till Christmas Day, let us wait and watch for God’s upside-down kingdom to break in with the HOPE, PEACE, and JOY that only Jesus Christ provides.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:
[1] Ken Bailey, “The Manger and the Inn: A Middle Eastern View of the Birth Story of Jesus,” The Presbyterian Outlook, Dec 21, 2006.
[2]Ian Paul Psephizo, “Once More: Jesus Was not Born in a Stable,” Dec 3, 2018.
[3]Kenneth Bailey, “The Manger and the Inn,” The Shiloh Excavations, Nov 8, 2008
[4] New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, “Volume VIII: Luke and John (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), p. 51.
[5] Luke Timothy Johnson, Sacra Pagina “The Gospel of Luke” (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1991), p.53.

Advent Sermon Series: "The Bit Parts of the Christmas Story - The Inn" (2/5)

The Bit Parts of the Christmas Story: The Inn (2/5)
Luke 2: 6-7
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
December 9, 2018
Second Sunday of Advent

This Advent we are looking at the bit parts of the Christmas story in Luke’s Gospel. Last week I shard with you that a bit part is a seemingly minor role which has direct interaction with the lead actors and has just a few speaking lines. However, each of the bit parts in the biblical Christmas story are silent. And yet each one adds something pivotal to the anticipation of the Christ Child.

Last week we focused on Joseph. Uncertainty clouded the way forward for Joseph and yet God’s faithfulness calmed Joseph’s fears of the unknown. Joseph kept walking forward into the future of God’s hope. Joseph was obedient to the promise that in Christ all things hold together.

Joseph’s part gives us a poignant reminder: Hope that is seen is not hope. Instead we hope for what we do not see. And we wait for God’s perfect plans to be revealed with patience (Romans 8: 24-25).

And so, Joseph and Mary continued to follow God as Mary carried the womb of God’s grace. The holy couple walked in God’s faithfulness until God’s faithfulness became their lived reality.

After 9 months of crazy food cravings, mood swings, and stretch marks, Mary’s pregnancy ended with a rather long journey. The couple traveled from Mary’s hometown of Nazareth to Bethlehem. It is about 100 miles and it would have taken about 8-10 days to travel on foot. More than likely they caravanned with other families making the trek for the Roman census.

In our Western culture we tend to read the Christmas story through the lens of our own context. The unexpected always happens at the wrong time, does it not? As soon as the holy couple arrived in Bethlehem, Mary’s water broke and the contractions began. Of course, there were no hospitals to rush Mary into Labor and Delivery.

And so, we arrive at the next bit part of the Christmas story: the inn. Listen to Luke’s words in Chapter 2: 6-7:

While Joseph and Mary were there in Bethlehem, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

We find ourselves a bit miffed that when Joseph knocked on the door of the Bethlehem Holiday Inn, the innkeeper clicked the neon light saying, “No Vacancy.” I don’t want to burst your Bible bubble, but when we dig a little deeper that is not really what Luke is saying.

There are actually two different words in Greek which can be translated as “inn.”

In the parable of the Good Samaritan Luke uses the traditional word for “inn,” meaning “a place that welcomes all.” The Samaritan took the injured man to the closest Motel 6 where they always leave the light on for you (Luke 10:34).

But here in the Christmas story Luke uses a different word for “inn.” It is actually best translated as guest room. My commentary says, “Luke’s audience would have understood Jesus was born in a private home, crowded with other guests" [1].

Bethlehem was probably flooded with traveling families returning for the Roman census. But remember Joseph’s family roots were from Bethlehem going back all the way to King David. When Mary cradled her baby bump, knowing it was time, Joseph would have knocked on the door of his relatives’ house. Even if a distant relative had opened the door whom Joseph did not know well, the holy couple would have been welcomed because Joseph was a descendant of David.

Middle Eastern culture has long been deeply rooted in hospitality. In Jesus’ time if a traveler knocked upon your door for a place to lodge overnight, the homeowner had an obligation to provide food, water, and shelter [2]. To completely turn someone away would have been contentious, breaking the greatest commandment of loving God and loving neighbor as self.

A Palestinian home in the first century was commonly a square stone structure. The exterior had a white washed stucco material. Typically, multiple generations lived in one home. Inside there would be one large multipurpose room to serve as a living room and sleeping quarters [3]. Another room would serve as a guest room, And downstairs a room would have served as a first century garage to park the ox and donkey so they would not be stolen. Kitchens and bathrooms would have been outside of the home; an open fire to cook and an outhouse respectively.

To stand in Luke’s story with biblical imagination, we begin to get a different picture, don’t we?

The holy couple were not shunned and all alone. While they were told there was no proper guest room to unroll their sleeping mats, Joseph’s relatives made do, as we say in the South. That household used what they had in the best possible way to welcome Mary and Joseph and bring them peace.

You see, the bit part of the inn, or more accurately “the guest room” adds something pivotal to the anticipation of the Christ Child. It reveals a sure sign of God’s mysterious hospitality.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet an incredible woman in Lancaster. Her name is Miss Jackie and she is in her eighties. She lives on Brooklyn Avenue right next door to the reading park that is being created by Promise Neighborhood volunteers. Everyone on Brooklyn Avenue knows Miss Jackie.

She is a woman of faith who does not have a lot, but she has a big heart for Jesus and for the children in her neighborhood. For the past 35 years Miss Jackie has invited the neighborhood children to her house everyday after school. She gives these children food, water, and place to call a second home. Many of these children have very little. And Miss Jackie feels God has called her to bridge the gap.

One of the Promise Neighborhood volunteers asked me last month if I would like to meet her. We knocked on the door and I was welcomed inside. The three of us stood in the middle of Miss Jackie living room. She had collected a lot of items over the years to provide for the needs of others.

Miss Jackie told me one story of feeling God had called her to prepare and deliver meals to a few neighbors in need. However, the recipe she had in mind was missing the ingredients of onions, cabbage, and potatoes. She prayed to God. And then throughout the morning three different people knocked on her door. Each one had been out at the store. In their own way, each friend said that God told them to pick up a bag of onions, another some cabbage, and another some potatoes. It was amazing how God provided all of this!

Miss Jackie radiated God’s welcome, love, and hospitality. After talking with her for about 15 minutes I asked Miss Jackie if I could say a pray for her before we lift. And with tears in her eyes, she said that she had never had someone ask her that.

Holding hands in a small circle, we prayed together, and it felt like God was birthing a new sense of peace over Miss Jackie as she makes do to make Christ known in her neighborhood.

Last Sunday afternoon, a small group of us drove to the homes of our homebound members and a few neighbors to sing Christmas carols. Each one we sang to had such a look of hope and peace on their faces as they sang with us. Even Miss Flo next door was like a kid at Christmas.

But it was the last neighbor that we visited that got each of us emotional. Upon saying our goodbyes at the last neighbor’s house, our neighbor said with tears in her eyes, “Thank you so much for coming. Do you know I have never had someone come and sing carols at our house before? I cannot tell you what this means to me in this very hard time.”

You see, when the neighbor had opened the door, God birthed a new sense of peace among us as we stood together around the front porch caught up in God’s welcome, love, and hospitality. What a gift our neighbor and we ourselves received.

There is only one other place in Luke’s Gospel that he uses that word, “guest room,” as he did in this Christmas story. The time is nearing for Jesus’ betrayal and arrest. But knowing what time it is, Jesus sends out his disciples Peter and John to prepare for the Last Supper. And Jesus says:

When you enter the city of Jerusalem, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters and say to the owner of the house, “The Teacher asks you, ‘Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make the preparations for us there (Luke 22: 10-12).

It was in that same guest room where Jesus and his disciples shared the Last Supper that Jesus Christ prayed for God’s peace over the disciples. And that first evening of Easter, the Risen Lord breathed a spirit of peace upon them too (John 14: 27; 20:22).

You see, the inn or rather, the guest room, is an in-between space where we encounter God’s hospitality in a radical way.

This Advent season you and I are walking in the steps of God’s faithfulness until God’s promises of hope become our new reality. And with each step we encounter these in-between spiritual spaces that meet us in our disappointments, our lack, and our pain.

God always honors our attempts of faithfulness. God’s radical hospitality meets us where we are, gives us a place of belonging and connection, and provides what we need. Friends – this is where we encounter God’s holy moments of peace.

In this Advent season, may God’s hope and peace be yours as it was for Mary and Joseph.

But never forget that the Risen Christ sends us out into this broken world to be that in-between space for others. You and I are called to do the work of Advent to shine the light of hope and welcome others in God’s radical hospitality.

As we prepare to go back out into this bleak midwinter’s day, may the peace of Christ be with you.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] David Barr, “New Testament Story: An Introduction” (Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning), p. 4-5.
[2] Dennis Bratcher, “Travelers and Strangers: Hospitality in the Biblical World”
[3] Msgr. Charles Pope, “What Were Typical Homes Like in Jesus’ Time?” Community in Mission blog, July, 2014

Advent Sermon Series: The Bit Parts of the Christmas Story - Joseph (1/5)

The Bit Parts of the Christmas Story: Joseph (1/5)
Luke 2: 1-5; Matthew 1: 18-25
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
December 2, 2018
First Sunday of Advent

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. - Luke 2: 1-5

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do 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 as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel’,

which means, ‘God is with us.’

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. - Matthew 1: 18-25

Today we open the Christmas story once again with all its familiarity, anticipation, and mystery. The two gospels of Luke and Matthew give accounts of Jesus’ birth. The leading roles always include Mary, baby Jesus, the angels, and the shepherds – and rightfully so. But this year we are taking a detour to look into the bit parts.

If you are familiar with theater, a bit part is a seemingly minor role which has direct interaction with the lead actors and has less than five lines of dialogue. However, each of the bit parts in the biblical Christmas story are silent. And yet each one adds something pivotal to the anticipation of the Christ Child.

Presbyterian poet, Ann Weems, turns the spotlight on our first bit part, Joseph, saying:

Who put Joseph in the back of the stable?
Who dressed him in brown, put a staff in his hand, and told him to stand in the back of the creche,
background for the magnificent light of the Madonna?
Is [Joseph] a man to be stuck for centuries in the back of the stable? [1]

Let’s bring Joseph to the forefront and get to know his story a little better.

You have heard it said that in the South it matters where your people come from. Well, Joseph’s people came from Bethlehem. Joseph was the son of Jacob and a descent from the line of King David. King David’s father Jesse was from Bethlehem (Matthew 1: 16; 1 Samuel 16:1). This is important for Isaiah’s prophecy says the Messiah will be an offspring of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1).

Bethlehem was a village just 6 miles from Jerusalem. Bethlehem means “House of Bread.” It was a community of shepherds, farmers, and hardworking families. Bethlehem is known for producing wheat, almonds, olive oil, and it was the main source of water for Jerusalem [2].

Joseph was a carpenter (Matthew 13:55). He was hardworking, honest, and a righteous man following the Law of Moses (Matthew 1:19). And he was betrothed to Mary, a young lady from Nazareth. The ancient Jewish marriage customs were arranged marriages between two families. The earliest age to marry for a young woman was age 12 and for a young man was age 13. So, Joseph and Mary were most likely quite young.

Betrothal was not like our modern-day engagement where you could just walk away with a case of cold feet. Betrothal was a legally binding contract with consequences. The father of the groom would have paid money or an in-kind service to the father of the bride. “During this time the woman was legally married, although she still remained at her father’s house.” The wedding would come later when the bride was accompanied by a procession walking her to the house of the groom to tie the knot and consummate the marriage [3].

In the meantime, a wrench had been thrown into Joseph’s and Mary’s betrothal; she was pregnant. According to Jewish Law, the consequences were dire for such scandal; Mary could be stoned to death by the men of the city for bringing disgrace upon her father’s house and upon Joseph (Deuteronomy 22: 23-27).

Uncertainty clouded the way forward for Joseph. The future seemed to hang in the balance of betrayal and shame. Joseph had a hard decision to make. But wanting to do the right thing, he decided to spare Mary the disgrace due to her and divorce her quietly (Matthew 1:19).

If Joseph had been left to his own devices and divorced Mary, I cannot say that prophecy would not have been fulfilled because nothing can thwart God’s purposes. But I can say that Joseph would have missed the blessing of being a part of God’s purposes. Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and our ways are not God’s ways. For God’s word will not return to God empty; it shall accomplish God’s purposes and succeed in the very thing for which God sent it (Isaiah 55: 8, 11).

When uncertainty clouded the way forward for Joseph, Holy Spirit settled into the chaos of Joseph’s mind in a dream. God’s Spirit was leading the way forward saying three important things to Joseph: (1) Do not be afraid of Mary’s pregnancy (Matthew 1:20). (2) Keep walking into the future with Mary for God is with you (Matthew 1:20). (3) Be obedient to the plans God has for you (Matthew 1:21).

Joseph could not see the plans God had for him, for Mary, or for the salvation of the world. But Joseph’s role in the Christmas story adds something pivotal to our anticipation of the Christ Child.

It is Joseph who would have the great honor of naming this Holy Child. In doing so, my commentary says, this child conceived by the Holy Spirit, would be adopted into the line of David, and Joseph would be accepting this child as his own [4].

With the knowledge that God indeed had plans to give Joseph, Mary, and God’s people a future with hope, Joseph has a major role to play in sharing his honest, hardworking, and righteous lineage with that sweet little Jesus boy.

This Son would grow up taking his Godly Father’s purposes and his earthly father’s trade of carpentry to work with his hands and heart to help the people in his community and wider world as Scripture states. And Jesus would do so through God’s faithfulness and righteousness and through Joseph’s humility and integrity.
Just the sheer fact that Joseph named Jesus means that Joseph claimed God’s power for himself, for Mary, for God’s people, and for you and me.

When uncertainty clouds the way forward in your life and in mine, Joseph inspires us to remember the profound truth that God is with us and God will deliver us when everything seems to be hanging in the balance.

Today as we enter into this season of Advent, we encounter a mix of emotions: there is a lot of anticipation, excitement, and busyness to prepare for Christmas.

But also, some of us hang in the balance of strained relationships, grief, and uncertainty.

In all of our highs and lows, in all that is unresolved and unfinished, we are waiting for the womb of God’s grace to birth the hope of God’s promises into our broken world once again….so remember how Joseph encountered God’s Advent hope.

When uncertainty clouds the way forward, remember the Spirit whispers to us three things:

(1) Do not be afraid. God’s faithfulness will meet you right where you are.

(2) Keep walking forward. Take the next right step into the hope of God’s future plans, for God is with us. God goes ahead of us and is our rear guard (Isaiah 52:12). Be still and listen for God’s Spirit speaking to you in unexpected ways and even through unexpected people as you discern God’s will.

(3) And be obedient. You may not be able to clearly see the heart and hands of God at work in your situation today. As they say, hindsight is always 20/20.

Rest in the assurance that in Christ all things hold together; for as the womb of God’s grace embraced the Holy Child, the fullness of God was pleased to dwell and through Jesus Christ God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross (Colossians 1: 17, 19-20).

When uncertainty clouds the way forward, it is Christ who holds us together in God’s promises.

Borrowing Ann Weems’ words, “This Christmas, let us give thanks to God for [Joseph] this man of incredible faith into whose care God placed the Christ Child. As a gesture of gratitude, let’s put Joseph in the front of the stable where he can guard and greet and cast an occasional glance at this Child who [brings] us life" [5].

In the name of the triune God who is and was and is to come. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] Ann Weems, “Kneeling in Bethlehem” (Louisville: Westminster Press, 1980, 1985, 1987), p. 50.
[2] Simon Worrall, “The Little Town of Bethlehem Has a Surprising History,” December 23, 2017, National Geographic.
[3] Hayyim Schauss, “Ancient Jewish Marriage"
[4] New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, The Gospel of Matthew, Volume VII (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), p. 71.
[5] Weems, p. 50.

Sermon: Is Your God too Small?

Is Your God too Small?
John 18: 33 – 38; Revelation 1: 4b-8
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
November 25, 2018
Reign of Christ Sunday


Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’

Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’

Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’

Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’ Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?’ - John 18: 33-38


Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Look! He is coming with the clouds;
every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.
So it is to be. Amen.

‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. - Revelation 1: 4b-8

The tension was real. Jesus had been betrayed and arrested. He was brought before Pilate, the governor of Rome. Pilate had talked with the Jewish leaders whom were pleading for Rome to take their case against Jesus. The Jewish authorities had accused Jesus of “political sedition,” which would make the case “fall under the jurisdiction of the Roman courts.” [1]

Jesus was accused of being a rebel-rouser for referring to himself as the King of the Jews. Those words alone were a threat to the Jewish and Roman power structures. The Jewish leaders were afraid Jesus would incite his followers to rebel against both the Jewish and Roman authorities. So the Jewish leaders pleaded with Pilate to try Jesus, find him guilty, and give him the death penalty by the Roman cross.

In our text today, Pilate interrogated Jesus about his reign; “Are you the King of the Jews?” (John 18: 33). And it’s fascinating how Jesus answered the question. “Jesus does not describe the location of his reign, but the nature of it.” Jesus’ reign is not of this world, rather Jesus and “his reign originate from God Almighty.” [2]

Rev. Beth Tanner comments on Pilate’s question in a thought provoking way. She says, “Pilate was thinking too small when he asked if Jesus was the King of the Jews.”[3]

The truth is that not only was Jesus the King of the Jews, but Jesus was the King of Pilate too. It was God Almighty who gave Pilate the authority to govern, not the Roman Emperor. Jesus said that it was through his birth and coming into the world that God inaugurated a kingdom that would never end (John 18:37; 2 Samuel 7: 12-13).

God’s kingdom is one of faith, hope, love, justice, and peace. What a big contrast to our human kingdoms of power, fear, shame, injustice, and hostility. Therefore, the Sovereign God reigns in power over God’s people of Israel, Rome, the world, and over every aspect of our lives.

God’s kingdom urges us to not be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the truth that God is for us. This is the truth you and I belong to.

But sometimes we have our own Pilate moments too. Sometimes our God is too small.

Our small perceptions of God run all across the board.

God has been understood as that old gray bearded man in the sky. If God is that old and gray, how does God have the energy to tend to the whole world, much less me?

Some see God as an unjust judge who patrols the earthly streets of life just waiting to catch us in human failure and accuse us of wrongdoing. If God is all judgement and no grace then faith is derided as a highway of fear with no relationship.

Our circumstances in life often feel bigger than God. The pain, shame, grief, or uncertainty can become so overwhelming that we believe nothing will ever change. When our God is that small then we are tempted to believe God will certainly forsake us and walk away.

Prayer upon prayer was lifted to God, but that prayer was not answered as expected. And so the thought crosses our mind that either God was too busy taking up the prayers of others, or we must have done something wrong for God to withhold his love.

Marianne Williamson says, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” And so we put God in a box so that our faith will never find out.

Brennan Manning shared a story of “A married woman in Atlanta who had two small children. This young mother was certain that God was disappointed with her because she was not ‘doing anything’ for him. She felt called to serve at a soup kitchen ministry, but she struggled with leaving her children in someone else’s care. She was shocked when Brennan told her the call was not from God but her own ingrained legalism. Being a good mother was not enough for her; and in her mind, neither was it good enough for God.” [4]

When our God is too small we not only misunderstand who God is but we also miss the gospel of grace.

Brennan says, “Trust in the God who loves consistently and faithfully nurtures confident, free disciples. A loving God fosters a loving people. The fact that our view of God shapes our lives to a great extent may be one of the reasons Scripture ascribes such importance to seeking to know him.”[5]

God created us good, making us in God’s image that we might care for one another and all that God loves (Genesis 1: 26-28).

Over and over God promised to be our God and we God’s people; The Lord promised to establish an eternal throne through the line of David (Genesis 17:7; Exodus 6:7; Ezekiel 36:28; Jeremiah 7:23; Jeremiah 30:22; Jeremiah 31:33; 2 Samuel 7:13.

God is Spirit and truth and left heaven’s throne so that the most divine love could be born in that sweet little Jesus boy. Lying in a manger the Christ Child fulfilled God’s covenant to prove that all of humanity matters to God – especially the poor and vulnerable (2 Samuel 7:14-15; Luke 1: 32-33).

Jesus Christ ministered among us and sat at table with sinners and outcasts to reveal God’s radical and “indiscriminate love,” for we are all sinners of God’s own redeeming.

Jesus took the humiliation of the Roman cross, dying to take away our sin and grant us the promise of God’s forgiveness and new life.

Holy Spirit sustains us in our faith journey, teaching us all Jesus has commanded, and guiding us in all truth (Matthew 28: 19-10; John 16: 12-13).

As the body of Christ, sometimes we think our God is too small. We ask God why do you allow all of these things to happen. And the Lord God looks at us with love and asks us the same thing. And so we are called to work with God to bring about God’s reign of faith, hope, love, justice, and peace on earth as it is in heaven.

The gospel of grace proclaims that we live in the reign of the Risen Christ. Our Presbyterian Mission Agency states why The Reign of Christ Sunday matters today:

“As the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, Christ is the center of the universe, the ruler of all history, the judge of all people. In Christ all things began, and in Christ all things will be fulfilled. In the end, Christ will triumph over the forces of evil. We are called to a loyalty [to God] that transcends every earthly claim on the human heart. To Christ alone belongs the supreme allegiance in our lives. Christ calls us to stand with those who in every age confessed, “Jesus Christ is Lord!”[6]

So how is Christ reigning in your life?

If your God is too small, then come to the Table and be reminded how big God’s love and grace are for you, for this community, and for this weary world. In Jesus Christ, the bread of life and the cup of salvation proclaim God is forever for us with us; God is always with us; and even when God is silent God is working out all things for God’s purposes and glory.

May your faith be strengthened knowing that because we are children of God the Lord will fight for us and we need only to be still. It is through the gift of faith that God is able to do more than we can ever hope, ask for, or imagine.

Never forget that God Almighty is armed with love that is fierce like a warrior and yet gentle like a nursing mother. The Lord God calls us to be ambassadors of Christ’s reconciling love that reigns in power for us and through us.

May the gifts of God for the people of God announce once again the hope of the world that was, that is here today, and that is to come.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary: Volume VIII (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), 698.
[2] New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, p. 698.
[3] The Working Preacher, Commentary on Psalm 93 and John 18: 33-38, by Rev. Dr. Beth Tanner
[4] Brennan Manning, “The Ragamuffin Gospel” (Colorado Springs: Multnomah Books, 1990, 2000, 2005), p. 40.
[5] Brennan Manning, p. 41.
[6] The Presbyterian Mission Agency, "Christ the King Reign of Christ Sunday"

Sermon: The Marvel of Flaws and Failure

The Marvel of Flaws and Failure
Proverbs 16: 9; Jeremiah 18: 1-6
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
November 18, 2018

The human mind plans the way,but the Lord directs the steps. - Proverbs 16"9

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ‘Come, go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.’ So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him.

Then the word of the Lord came to me: Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. - Jeremiah 18: 1-6

Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet. He was committed to help his people of Jerusalem. To understand why Jeremiah was so deeply committed I need to share a little history with you.

In Jerimiah’s time God’s people were divided into two kingdoms; the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern kingdom of Judah. Jerusalem was the capitol of the Southern kingdom.

In those days Judah had previously been under Assyrian rule. As the Assyrian strong arm crumbled, Babylon conquered much of the Near East, including Judah and Jerusalem. Twice Judah tried to revolt against Babylon but they failed. Judah’s failures were in part due to their disobedience to God. As a result, “Jeremiah preached both repentance by returning to their ancestral faith and complying with the Babylonians as a sole means of avoiding national destruction.”[1]

The prophet knew the emotional and spiritual lows that failure and flaws bring. Jeremiah’s words speak a word of hope to God’s people. And so to help the people breathe that hope in and really see God’s vision for it, Jeremiah took God’s people on a field trip in their community.

Along the streets, there were several potters creating clay vessels for everyday living. Have you ever watched a potter at work? The hands of a potter are closely in tune with the clay. They quickly become aware of the flaws and failures of the clay.

And the potter’s hands move with slow and gentle precision for the clay to take the shape of their artistic vision. So with water, patience, and creativity the potter reworks the clay until it seems good to him or her.

Jeremiah wanted God’s people to see with their own eyes that God works just like that potter in our lives. And for God’s people who felt that flaws and failure had gotten the best of them, they could trust that God would rework the lives of the people to be shaped by God’s creative glory and grace.

At the beginning of Creation, God’s hands worked the clay of the earth to fashion humankind (Genesis 2:7). God created us good and breathed life into us so that humankind might be God’s treasure. Even when sin entered the world and left us spoiled in the Creator’s hand, God added the living water of Jesus Christ and embraced us with the gift of Holy Spirit to reshape us and raise us up into the hope of newly resurrected life.

And just like the potter down the street in the community, our Creator God marvels at reshaping our flaws and failures to serve God’s purposes.

Stan Lee had a unique gift of marveling at human flaws and failure. His gift was in part connected to his own sense of flaws and failure. Once upon a time Stan Lee had worked twenty years as a writer and editor for Timely Comics (later named Marvel Comics). He became very frustrated that comics were perceived as a failed art. Stan wanted the work of comics to inspire others and to be the air we breathe as it was for himself and fellow artists.

On one particularly low day, Stan was about to walk into his boss’s office and quit the industry all together. But his wife gave him a marvelous idea. She encouraged Stan to get back in touch with his passion to create, write, inspire, and entertain.

And Stan did just that; “he put the human in superhuman and started to give his heroes a flawed quality - something to make them more relatable to us mere mortals.”[2]

The Fantastic Four was born and their human personalities and flaws leaped off the page before they leaped into superhero action. Stan Lee commented saying, "They were the kind of team I had been longing to write about," Lee said. "Heroes who were less than perfect. Heroes who didn't always get along with each other, but heroes who could be counted on when the chips were down."[3]

Stan Lee became a master creator of using the flaws and failures of imaginary heroes to inspire us to embrace our very imperfect lives.

He empowered us to marvel over the truth that there is something beautiful about our imperfections when we allow our humanity to shine through. Stan was intentional to intersect comics with the brokenness of the world to weave a narrative of hope, justice, and equality for all.

He illustrated there is something greater at work in us that allows us to rise above our weakest moments and make the world a better place together.

The day the news broke of Stan Lee’s passing last week, editorial cartoon artist Marshall Ramsey quickly sketched a drawing of Stan Lee at heaven’s gates. In one hand, Stan is carrying his attaché case with Marvel written on it; in the other hand he is carrying a case of artistic brushes and pencils. As Stan looks up into the heavenly skies, God speaks saying, “You’re not half-bad at creating universes yourself, kid.”

God invites us to co-create a universe that glorify God!

Yesterday morning a handful of youth and adults from our church took a field trip of sorts in our Lancaster community. We joined hands with nearly 50 volunteers to work with Promise Neighborhood. And we saw firsthand the ways God is reshaping the flaws and failures of one of the most impoverished neighborhoods here.

On Brooklyn Avenue it is no coincidence that Resurrection Life Ministries Church sits adjacent to what is now called the Blue House. The blue house is painted a light blue.

It has a jaded history of being used as a drug house. In broad daylight drug dealers would make their trades. Slum lords seemed to have the upper hand bringing fear and oppression to the good people of Brooklyn Avenue.

Resurrection Life Ministries began a neighborhood prayer walk. On those walks they talked to neighbors and shared about praying for God to transform the neighborhood. And then God created an opportunity for the church to buy the Blue House.

Promise Neighborhood is bringing the community together once a month to clean, update, and paint the blue house, pick up trash along the streets, and create a reading park nearby for children.

As we worked on the reading park site and later picked up trash, we had the opportunity to see God is reshaping the flaws and failures to claim Brooklyn Avenue in God’s glory, hope, and new life. When the remodel of the Blue House is complete it will be a house of hope to benefit the neighbors, who need help.

I am amazed by what our mighty God can do through human flaws and failure. And I marvel at the truth that God needs our hands to work with God to reshape the brokenness of our community and world as it pleases God.

What is not going right in your life? What flaws or failure are taking hold of you? You might feel like throwing your hands up and saying, “I’m done.” But today the word of Jeremiah comes to us and promises you and me something amazing…. God marvels at our flaws and failures!

We are not just spinning around and around alone. The truth is this – when you are feeling flaws and failure holding you down, just remember that God is holding you and your flaws and failure too.

God will never let go of your life. The marvel of it all is that in these moments God is creating an opportunity for the flaws and failure of humanity to shine through. God does his best work through our brokenness. The cross of Jesus Christ claims us in this good news of redemption to raise us to new life.

But it does not stop there. It is not just about you or just about me being reshaped. God invites us to join the Lord in reshaping the world one day at a time.

This week make sure you go to the Potter’s house. Trust God is upholding you in the mess of life. And pray for our Creator to reveal how he is reshaping your life and this weary world by the Lord’s marvelous glory, hope, and grace.

In the name of our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] The Harper Collins Study Bible, (San Francisco: HarperOne, 1989), p. 999 Introduction to Jeremiah.
[2] Taylor-Dior Rumble, “How Stan Lee’s Heroes Helped Change the World,” BBC News, November 13, 2018.
[3] Michael Cavna, “Two Viral Cartoons Capture How We All Feel About Stan Lee,” The Washington Post, November 13, 2018.

Sermon: Inspiring Something Beautiful

Inspiring Something Beautiful
1 Peter 4: 10-11; Mark 14: 3-9
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
November 11, 2018
Stewardship Commitment Sunday


Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. - 1 Peter 4: 10-11

While [Jesus] was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head.

But some were there who said to one another in anger, ‘Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.’ And they scolded her.

But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’ - Mark 14: 3-9

Bethany was a special place. It was where Jesus’ closest friends lived; Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. And it was where Jesus retreated to be embraced in genuine community before he turned his face towards Jerusalem to accomplish God’s purposes of salvation in cross.

Jesus sat at table to break bread with Simon the leper and those gathered in his household. I imagine the conversations gave way to laughter, reminisce, and the ordinary grit of life.

And being there in Jesus’ presence moved the heart of a particular woman. Maybe she was Simon’s wife or sister or daughter; Mark does not say. What matters are this woman’s actions.

The woman slipped away and returned holding in her hands something valuable to her. At the sound of the stoneware jar breaking, there was silence. All eyes were suddenly on her. This woman simply stood beside Jesus and poured the fragrant oil over Jesus’ head. She had used the gift that she had to serve another; she was moved to serve Jesus. It was a beautiful act of self-giving devotion.

I have no doubt that there were some in that room that said, “I wish I had faith like that. I wish I could give my all to Jesus like that!”

And yet some in that room criticized the woman for wasting her valuable resource on Jesus in this way.

Jesus reframed why this woman’s actions matter. He says, “She has performed a good service for me” (Mark 14:6). But the Greek language adds something our English translations do not pick up. Jesus said, “She has done something beautiful that inspires others to embrace what is praiseworthy.” That kind of beauty in sharing the gospel will always be remembered.

This woman was faithfully administering God’s grace as she served Jesus with the strength God provided her (1 Peter 4: 10-11). Her devotion to anoint Jesus Christ was an act of worship to praise God in all things. This woman’s devotion to use her gift to serve Jesus inspires me and I hope inspires you to do something beautiful too.

One of our core convictions as Presbyterians is to live a life of grace and gratitude. We believe “God acts with grace; we respond with gratitude. God claims us as beloved children; we proclaim God’s saving love; God redeems us from sin and death; we rejoice in the gift of new life. This rhythm of divine action and human response - found throughout Scripture, human history, and everyday events – shapes all of Christian faith, life, and worship… As those who have been claimed and set free by his grace, we respond with gratitude, offering him our lives, our spiritual gifts, and our material goods” (Book of Order, W-1.0102, W-3.0411).

Our stewardship and self-giving inspires something beautiful – illustrating that our faith is “attending to the presence and action of God in our lives” (Book of Order, W-5.0103). Stewardship and self-giving are beautiful to God because the Lord desires for you and me to mature in these spiritual practices.

One of our elders on Session, Julia Willingham, says that tithing and pledging are spiritual practices just like prayer and meditating on God’s Word. The beauty of a spiritual practice is that it is a posture of keeping God first in our lives.

God’s giving knows no ending. God has given us everything.

God has given us dominion over creation for us to be good stewards of all God has made (Genesis 1: 27-28).
God has given us the gift of redemption and eternal life through Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Romans 5: 8-11).
God has given us the gift of Holy Spirit to teach us all Christ has commanded so that we might go and teach others how to be disciples (John 16: 13-15; Matthew 28: 19-20).

As we put God first -not just on Sundays, but in our everyday lives - then God’s faithfulness will guide us to use whatever gift we have received to serve God and one another. When others see you and me attending to God’s presence in our lives then it inspires something beautiful; it motivates others to praise God with all that they are and all that they have as well.

I know in my own life I have been spiritually moved by another’s discipleship and giving patterns when Doug and I did not know how much we could give. I have said, “Wow, I wish I had faith like that.” And God always honors our desire to follow Jesus.

This community of faith is a special place where many know Jesus Christ in such an intimate way. But what makes this community of faith so special is the faithfulness here to share God’s grace with others. Your devotion to Jesus Christ has a great potential to proclaim the good news in ways that will be remembered in life-giving ways.

Someone once said, “There is no greater act of worship than giving God all of you.”

How will you inspire something beautiful and give God all of you here at Van Wyck Presbyterian Church?

What part of your calendar will you break open for Jesus?
What passion and skill will you avail to share the good news?
What percentage of your treasure are willing to risk giving to join God in building the kingdom?

God does not desire for us to give out of obligation. God desires our obedience to give ourselves to God as an act of worship to honor Jesus and praise God.

I pray God will inspire each of us to be a part of something beautiful to faithfully administer God’s grace and serve others in this new year of ministry together.

Whatever you and I do in word or in deed, do it for the glory of God. May God’s name always be praised.

Amen.

Sermon: Growing Our Faith Through Generosity

Growing Our Faith Through Generosity
1 Peter 4: 10-11
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
November 4, 2018
Stewardship Sunday


Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. - 1 Peter 4: 10-11


It is hard to keep focus when you are distressed. The Apostle Peter certainly knew this to be true. So he put his thoughts on paper and wrote to his flocks whom were under Roman authority and scattered through Asia Minor. Peter was sending encouraging words to the early church – you see they needed a pick me up.

The church’s core values were being rejected. Christians faced slander and misunderstanding from their neighbors, former friends, and family. It was a divisive time. And Peter’s letter was to reassure Jesus’ followers not to get caught up in all the negativity. Peter’s words were to empower the early church to remain faithful to their core convictions in an uncertain time.

Peter says the very core of our Christian belief is that we are blessed by God’s great mercy for God has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ( 1Peter 1:3). As a result of this new hope we have received an inheritance that is kept in heaven for us. Therefore, this gift of God’s grace is more precious than gold (1 Peter 1: 3-4, 7).

But this incredible gift revealed through Jesus Christ is not solely about transforming us as individuals. This incredible gift is about transforming all humanity and creation back to God’s intentions.

For Peter, the real gift is that Jesus Christ did not abandon the world but gave his life to save it. And this very gift holds great implications for us as disciples of Jesus Christ – if you and I belong to the body of Christ then we are to follow Jesus’ example and not abandon the world either.

Jesus Christ entrusted the disciples and apostles with his resurrection power. And this gift of God’s power changes everything! It changes the way we see the world and one another. It changes the way we are to live, work, and play in God’s beautiful yet broken world. Therefore, God’s precious gift of salvation is to move us to set all our hope on the grace that Jesus Christ brought and will bring as we actively wait for God’s kingdom to fully come.

The Christian life is always about following Jesus.

I love the words of a favorite contemporary Christian song by Third Day:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
Live a life of his glory and his grace.

As we grow in a deeper head and heart knowledge of Jesus Christ and this gift of faith our lives are forever changed.

We find a place of welcome and belonging when God’s hospitality meets us where we are.
We thank God that we are never left where the grace of God finds us.
We experience that second chance (and sometimes more chances that we can count) knowing that we are more than our past mistakes.
In our weakest moments we find that another’s prayers hold us in the strength of God’s deep embrace.
When we fellowship together and serve our neighbors we are blessed by the holy encounters of seeing Jesus in one another.
And the more our faith grows, the more we begin to discover the unique passions, talents, and treasures which God has given to us to help build the kingdom.

Today Peter’s letter taps our faith on the shoulder saying, “Beloved, rekindle the gift of God within you!” (1 Timothy 1:6). God’s Word speaks into our uncertain and anxious times and reminds us to focus on our core conviction. Jesus Christ did not abandon the world and we are not to abandon it either. In fact, God’s Spirit is always seeking opportunities to invite you and me to join God in this holy work of reconciling the world.

Peter speaks the truth in love to us today: “We are to serve one another with the manifold grace we have received” (1 Peter 4:10). In the Greek, the word “serve” means to kick up dust – to actively serve. So do not neglect the gift of God within you.

The prophet Isaiah once spoke as God’s mouthpiece: “My word that goes out from my mouth will not return to me empty; it shall accomplish that which I purpose and succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

God’s Word dwells within you and me and God chooses to work out God’s purposes in the world through us as God’s agents of reconciliation. It is our belief that the church is the body of Christ. And Jesus Christ gives the church all the gifts necessary to be his body. The hope is that we may be good stewards of these gifts with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love.

We believe that the Christian life is an offering of one’s whole self to God (Book of Order W-3.0411). So do not neglect the gift of God within you! Let us invest our whole selves to growing our faith through generosity! We do this by becoming a more integral part of this community of faith.

We serve and kick up some dust by investing our TIME to grow in relationship with God, with one another, and with the neighbors of the community. When we are attentive to God’s work of tethering us in authentic relationships then the world sees us as a genuine “community of love” (F-1.0301). Authentic and genuine relationships exists where “sin is forgiven, reconciliation is at work, and the dividing walls of hostility are being torn down” (Book of Order F-1.0301).

Many from this congregation attended a vigil Thursday evening at Sun City Carolina Lakes to remember the eleven Jewish souls who died at the Tree of Life Synagogue (Pittsburgh, PA) on Saturday October 28. It was overwhelming for hundreds to gather as a community of love united as children of Abraham; sisters and brothers of the Jewish and Christian traditions. Pastor David of the Bible Study Club shared, “We stand in solidarity with you because we love you.” Rabbi Rachel urged us to live our lives with intention to be the light, love, and joy to bring peace.

Let us be intentional to grow our faith through generous relationships of self-giving love.

We serve and kick up some dust by investing our TALENTS – our passions, skills and spiritual gifts to further our identity as a “community of hope” (Book of Order F-1.0301). Van Wyck Presbyterian Church is known as a small church that cares. I am often overwhelmed by the generosity of hospitality and compassion here. When a need arises this church rallies in prayer and in action. The gift of faith moves our hearts and minds to share the hope of Jesus Christ with others. And there are so many talents and skills among us!

We serve one another and kick up some dust by sharing our stories in worship; by learning God’s Word through one another; sharing our talents with one another and the community through Van Wyck’s Got Talent; seeking opportunities to help our neighbors in need; and gathering together in the greater community to bring new life.

Let us be intentional to grow our faith through the generous giving of hope.

We serve and kick up some dust by investing our TREASURES to join God in building the kingdom as a “community of witness” (F-1.0301). All that we are and all that we have belong to God. When we return a portion of our financial gifts to God through our tithes and pledges then we are making a promise to live by God’s faithfulness. The whole of Scripture proclaims God will always keep his promises to give God’s people a future with hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

God invites you and I to discern God’s plans for our church’s hope-filled future. Therefore, our tithes and pledges become foundational building blocks of ministry that change lives beyond the church walls. As our ministries grow to share God’s story of love and hope, our gifts “point beyond the church itself and to the good news of God’s transforming grace in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Book of Order F-1.0301).

Let us be intentional to grow our faith through the generosity of our treasures to share the good news.

My prayer is that God’s Spirit would rekindle how precious the gift of faith is for you and for me. I pray each of us will consider taking a risk to grow a little more in our faithfulness to God.

Each year we have a few more households who feel led to pledge or tithe. I thank you for your generosity AND your growing trust of God’s provision!

May we grow our faith and our core convictions through generosity – becoming a more integral part of our faith community.

There is something at stake for us. Our community and the world need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ in these anxious times. Every member here has a mission and a purpose in this. How will you share this precious gift with the generosity of your time, talents, and treasures?

Our time, talents, and treasures may seem quite ordinary, but to God they are extraordinary instruments of Christ’s resurrection power! The sole reason we share them is so that God’s name will be praised.

Are you ready to serve and kick up some dust today and into this new church year of ministry together?

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.

Amen.

Sermon: "What Do You Want Me to Do for You?"

What Do You Want Me to Do for You?
Psalm 37: 3-7; Mark 10: 46-52
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
October 28, 2018

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make your vindication shine like the light,
and the justice of your cause like the noonday.

Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;
do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
over those who carry out evil devices. - Psalm 37: 3-7

They came to Jericho. As [Jesus] and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’

Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’

Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’

So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. - Mark 10: 46-52

The mark of a good teacher is one who creates a trusting space to ask questions. And the asking is always reciprocal. The teacher asks questions of the students to encourage their curiosity and understanding, as well as challenge their thinking. And the students ask questions of the teacher to gain clarity and insight.

Jesus was such a teacher. He asked more questions than he gave answers for.

And in the tenth chapter of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus asks a particular question in two back to back settings; first to James and John and then to Bartimaeus. Jesus’ question implies he is curious to know the desires of the heart for all three. But more so, Jesus is curious to hear that desire named out loud.

Jesus asked the brothers of Zebedee, “What do you want me to do for you?” when they had asked a favor of Jesus (Mark 10:26). The brothers said they wanted to sit in Jesus’ glory at his right and left hand (Mark 10:37). The brothers want the power that Jesus has. And yet the Teacher knows they do not fully understand.

Jesus had just foretold for the third time about his coming death and resurrection (Mark 10: 33-34). Jesus could see that “deer in the head lights” look in his disciples eyes. He reminds his disciples God’s kingdom is contrary to Rome’s kingdom; the world knows powerful rulers lord their power over the people but this is not so among you (Mark 10: 42-43).

And yet Jesus ultimately uses the cross to instruct the disciples the core concept of his servant leadership. To be last and not first…to serve and not be served because Jesus will give his life as a ransom for many. For Jesus the work of the cross is to lay down God’s power in self-giving, unconditional, sacrificial love for all humanity (Mark 10: 44-45).

The disciples needed to hear Jesus ask Bartimaeus the same question, “What do you want me to do for you?”

The future is at stake. At the end of Mark’s Gospel, the disciples would be sent with Jesus’ Easter power to proclaim the good news to the whole creation and work with the Lord (Mark 16: 15, 20).

The disciples needed to be embraced by a teaching moment with Bartimaeus because the Christian life as a disciple of Jesus is never about having power over another. The Christian life is not about telling others what they need to feel or do in order to experience God’s saving grace. The Christian life is about sharing Jesus’ power with others.

Jesus and the disciples come to Jericho and the crowd is mesmerized by Jesus’ teaching. The crowd followed Jesus and the disciples oh so closely to learn more about the One who teaches in God’s authority.

As Jesus walked the streets of Jericho a man named Bartimaeus could hear all the chatter. We don’t know how or when he first heard of Jesus. But Bartimaeus’ actions that day imply that he had an understanding of how powerful Jesus was.

Mark does not reveal what had caused Bartimaeus’ blindness or how long he had struggled with it. But it certainly brought isolation, exclusion, and powerlessness to Bart’s life.

The beat on the street was that Jesus reached out to those with a similar story. Jesus healed those who wrestled their demons (Mark 1: 21-28; 5: 1-20); he chose to touch and cleanse lepers (Mark1: 40-42) ; he empowered women to share their stories of pain and exclusion in light of God’s powerful healing and grace (Mark 5:32-34) ; he healed the sick and welcomed children (Mark 1: 29-34; 6:53-56; 9: 25-27; 10:14); he cured the deaf and the blind (Mark 7: 31-37; 8:22-26).

And Bart was desperate to be healed too. He knew that Jesus was the One who could do it.

So just as Jesus and the disciples were about to head back to Jerusalem, Bart cold not let this moment pass. He shouted to grab Jesus‘ attention.

This is where that teaching moment begins. The crowd tried to silence Bart. They tried to exert a level of power over him. Those in the crowd standing near Bartimaeus said to him – keep quiet. Not now. And as the crowd tried to shut out Bartimaeus, he shouted out all the more loudly.

Jesus stood still and spoke to the men and women who were standing as a barrier between Bart and Jesus. And Jesus said, “Call him here” (Mark 10:49).

And the disciples saw something take place that would change them forever. The ones who tried to silence Bart did not push back against Jesus but had a change of heart.

Those in the crowd followed Jesus’ instruction and looked at Bartimaeus saying to him, “Take courage. Rise up. He is calling you” (Mark 10:49). Those individuals in the crowd shared Jesus’ power with Bartimaeus; they helped him rise up; they helped him get to Jesus.

And it is there that James and John and the disciples heard Jesus ask Bart the same question, “What do you want me to do for you?” The Greek renders a more faithful reading, “What do you desire that I do for you?”

I can’t help but wonder as Bartimaeus heard that question if Psalm 37:4-5 filled his mind, “Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lod; trust in him and he will act.”

I love Bartimaeus’ answer. He wanted to receive Jesus’ power to see again but to see in a new way – to experience God’s mercy, amazing grace, and blessed assurance that Jesus was his Lord too.

And after being touched by Jesus’ merciful power Bartimaeus followed Jesus on the way (Mark 10:52). Bartimaeus became a disciple too.

And I know as the circle of Jesus’ students grew, their view of God’s kingdom grew too.

Have you ever felt silenced? If so, who or what silenced you? Who listened to your pain and the desires of your heart? Who helped you take courage and rise up in Jesus’ merciful love, healing, and rise up a little closer to your God-given potential?

Holy Spirit is on the move as the Advocate to teach us to be like our Teacher and Savior. Jesus came to proclaim the good news of God (Mark 1:14).

But the good news Jesus brought came through loving God and loving neighbor. The good news Jesus brought was walking beside those who had been silenced. God hears all our pleas and prayers, but God is particularly close to the powerless and the marginalized. The good news Jesus brought shared God’s power to redeem humanity physically, emotionally and spiritually and to join God in changing the world.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we too are sent to proclaim the good news too….. But if the good news that we proclaim does not include loving God and loving neighbor then we are not proclaiming Jesus.

We are to proclaim the good news by sharing Jesus’ power of mercy and grace with others. To share Jesus’ power is not about being theologically right or determining who is inside or outside of the circle of God’s grace. Sharing Jesus’ power is to lay down ours power for the sake of living in in relationship with God and one another like Jesus did.

It is to listen for our sisters and brothers who are shouting out because society is silencing their voices. The history of humankind has long silenced whole groups of people, and lest we forget – the Church – has a long history even through the present day of silencing voices too.

The Spirit is on the move to lead us to confess our spiritual blindness and to empower us to spiritually see in a new way. And so life becomes a classroom of faith to encounter new insights from the Teacher and to learn from one another.

We are collecting Dimes for Hunger this month so that we may share God’s abundance with our sisters and brothers who live near the poverty line here in Lancaster County and even all the way to Guatemala and Honduras. This ministry has been asking the question, “What do you want Jesus to do for you?” and many reply they want to know God will always provide daily bread and fill the gap that they cannot.

We will be baking cookies these next few weeks for the Kairos ministry to take a dozen homemade cookies to 1,500 of our brothers serving time in the Kershaw prison. That ministry has been asking the question, “What do you want Jesus to do for you?” and many have replied they want to know the truest gift of God’s forgiveness – that we are more than the worst thing we have ever done. And those cookies convey a prayerful action of unconditional love and mercy that is tangible.

We are praying for American Leprosy Missions this week as one of our own travels with the team to Napal to learn from and serve our sisters and brothers who struggle today with leprosy. And this ministry asks, “What do you want Jesus to do for you?” and one man said, “People look down on me because of this sickness.” He wants to be healed, to experience belonging, and to find the hope of making a difference in his community.

Our Jewish sisters and brothers in Pittsburgh are shouting out because violent hatred has once again tried to silence them. How will you and I respond?

In our daily living – at school, at work, in the community and wider world- when we walk beside our sisters and brothers who are hurting, who have been silenced, and we listen to their stories – even when God takes us out of our comfort zone - that my friends is holy work.

When we listen and help others to rise up in Jesus’ power to reach their desire and God-given potential, when we work together to right the wrongs, when we see each other through eyes of mercy, and when we serve humbly then that is doing what the Lord requires of us….to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.

Who is God calling you and me to listen to? Who might God place in your path and mine this week that has been silenced? Will we listen?

May we remember the blessed assurance of belonging to Jesus is God’s desire for all.
In the name of our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, Amen.