Checkpoint John the Baptist

Sunday December 6, 2009
Preacher: Pastor Mick Roschke

Readings:
Malachi 3:1-4
Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6

Audio sermon file: http://fileresource.sitepro.com/filemanager/74/filecollections/742/C4E400EA-405D-3B4A-2C30-D23C57582841.mp3


To be a Christian, by definition, is to be open to change your way of thinking. In our Earthly lives, we too often allow change to be driven by necessity; we change in response to external circumstances; we change only after having received ultimatums.

ADVENT comes from the roots “ad” meaning “toward” and “vent” meaning “within us”. In this season, we want to look into ourselves so we may look more clearly outward. Pastor Mick’s wife teaches 5th grade. One day in class, someone was misbehaving. When asked, 20 of the 31 students claimed it was one particular student. Even when confronted with the evidence, he student denied it was them. We choose, too often, to contest our behavior rather than being open to our struggles.

The truth is we don’t ever “get to Christmas” without

(a) Being honest
(b) Hearing John the Baptist, “the eyes of change” and
(c) Concentrating on the “NOW” and not just “the later on”

There are many dangerous trappings along the journey. Rivers have always symbolized boundaries & crossings. Pastor Mick storied that this brought up conjurings of Checkpoint Charlie at the Berlin Wall, complete with mirrors, rude & mean border guards, dogs, the whole nine yards. You never knew if you would be permitted to leave (or re-enter), get through to “the other side”.

The key is there are ominous checkpoints for us along our way. And you can’t get to Christmas without passing through Checkpoint John the Baptist. At this advent border, something happens … a new beginning, a new start … where, if you repent, you cross over to the land of the vulnerable who can be transparent to their transgressions.

On “the other side”, it’s those who have the least who teach us in Advent.

Steal away to Jesus – across Checkpoint John the Baptist – and you’ll cross the border to be with those who are the true spirit of Christmas.