Reflections on "Gifts You Can't Buy at the Store: Relationships" I Thessalonians 3: 6-13; John 1: 1-

Leading up to this sermon involved more intentional choices than normal.  First of all, I contemplated scrapping the sermon and preaching on the tragedy that took place in CT.  Not sure what the right answer was, but I chose to stay on the announced sermon topic.

Secondly, I intentionally chose not to use a sermon illustration from the CT shootings.  I could have worked it in as a counter-example on needing to be in relationship with people who make us better, but I decided that would almost trivialize what had taken place.

Thirdly, I intentionally chose to use images from movies as a way of connecting with people who do not read a lot, since my sermons have been heavy (this one included) with illustrations from books.  

We also were celebrating Mario Bolivar's graduation from seminary, and again, I chose to not drag that into the sermon, but instead allow it to have its own time later in the service.  

The kids seem to still be enjoying taking the poster out of the gift box, but I am beginning to wonder when the gift theme will wear off.   I have enjoyed having such a focused preaching series for Advent. 

Again, the following text is more accurate to what happened at the chapel service; less accurate to the Sanctuary service since I am preaching there with less easy access to my sermon notes.

The John passage fit very well with the sermon; I would probably pick another passage from Paul instead of the one from Thessalonians, if I were preaching this sermon again.  It did not fit that well.  In fact, when I went to pull the sermon together and read through the text again (I do that periodically in the process to make sure that I am staying grounded in the text), I wondered why I had picked that text.  That's generally not a good sign!

“Gifts You Can't Buy at the Store: Relationships” 3^rd Sunday in Advent; FPC, Troy; John 1: 1-4; I Thessalonians 3: 6-13

Introduction: One of my favorite Christmas movies It's a Wonderful Life. It begins with George Bailey at a crisis point in his life, wondering if his life is worth living. As he wanders around town trying to figure that out, people are praying for him.

We see the faces and hear the voices of people like

Mr. Emil Gower: I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.Giuseppe Martini: Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend, Mr. Bailey.Ma Bailey: Help my son, George, tonight.Bert: He never thinks about himself, God, that's why he's in trouble.Ernie Bishop: George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.Mary: I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.Janie Bailey: Please, God, something's the matter with Daddy.Zuzu Bailey: Please bring Daddy back.

At a time when George Bailey probably does not have enough money to buy any gift at the store, he discovers that he has a gift he cannot buy at the store, the gift of relationships.

Move 1: This morning as we continue to reflect on gifts you can't buy at the store, we celebrate the gift of relationships that God gives to us.

a. We recognize that the gift of relationships grows out of our basic understanding that God is a relational God.

1. The Triune God we know depicts the relationship between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
2. As the opening verses of the Gospel of John remind us, the three work in tandem, inextricably intertwined.
3. We may not understand it exactly, but we recognize that by definition God is a God of relationships.

b. And in the act of creation, God reveals God's God desire to be in relationship with us.

1. Why would God create?
2. To have people to love and engage.
3. Why create Adam and Eve? Because we are made in the image of a relational God and are called to be in relationship with one another.

Move 2: God gives us the gift of relationships to help us become better people.

a. Paul's letter to the Thessalonians that we read this morning is like a lot of Paul's letters to the early churches.

1. Paul tries to help these early Christians discover what it means to follow the resurrected Christ.
2. This is new territory into which they are venturing.
3. And again and again Paul describes the relationships that develop when they follow Christ.
4. Being a christian brings you into relationship with others.
5. To pray for one another; to support one another; to challenge one another.

5. Paul describes how those relationships give him strength and enable him to do his work.
6. They need each other to grow into who God calls them to be.

b. In Mitch Albom's The Time keeper, Father Time chooses two people with whom he shares the secret to time. 

1. Not one person, but two. And as the story progresses it becomes clear that the two people need each other.

2. Neither one of them could bear the truth alone. In fact, as the older, powerful businessman who no longer needs anyone in his life nearly decides to move on and leave the young, high school girl on her own, she looks at him and says, “Please.” And he could not turn away from her when she needed him (Mitch Albom, The Time keeper:  a novel, p. 187).
   
   
3. And they will discover that neither of them could take the opportunity to change on their own. They need each other to grow as people.  

100. You are perhaps familiar with the well-known book Three Cups of Tea that depicts how Greg Mortenson accidentally discovers the Balti people and commits to building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan to help them.
     
     
     1. The title, three cups of tea, comes from what Mortenson learns as he tries to help these people.
     2. He is told that if he wants to help the people, if he want to be build schools for them, if he wants to give them the gift of education, he must first develop relationships with them
     3. the first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family.”
     4. Mortenson learns that he must make time to share three cups of tea, by which he means Mortenson needs to build relationships with the Balti people if he wants to accomplish his goals in the region (I have read three Cups of Tea, but for this quick reference I went to the on-line sparknotes at http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/three-cups-of-tea/)

500. The gift of relationships requires work

1. Sort of like giving someone the gift of exercise equipment – they have to work at the gift.
2. This gift takes us back to the first week when we reflected on the gift of time.
3. One of the reasons God gives us the gift of time is so that we can work on relationships.

4. So we can engage others in relationships that allow us to become the people God is calling us to be.

Move 2: God gives us the gift of opportunities to redeem broken relationships.

a. Why did God send Christ?

1. Because God desires to redeem the broken relationship between God and humanity.

2. God not only models for us the desire to heal broken relationships, but God calls us to do the same in our own lives.

b. Holiday season gives us special opportunities.

1. Movie Home Alone – Kevin, a young boy, gets left at home sleeping in the attic when he family leaves for the airport to fly to France. He spends several days by himself, which is a lot of fun, but also has some scary moments.
2. One of those scary moments is when he runs into the neighbor Old Man Marley. The neighborhood kids tell stories about how he murdered his family kept his victims in his garbage can full of salt, and that the salt was supposed to have turned the dead bodies into mummies.

3. When Kevin meets Marley outside his house, he turns and runs back inside his house, afraid.

4. Later, Kevin discovers Old Man Marley at church, listening to the kids choir rehearse for a musical presentation for Christmas Eve. While talking to him at church, Kevin discovers that Old Man Marley is actually a nice guy, who has been estranged from his family for many years after a fight with his son. In fact, he is in the church listening to his granddaughter sing at rehearsal because he is not invited to join the family on Christmas Eve.

5. Kevin shares his little kid advice – call your son. Even if you're scared. Call him.
6. As the movie ends after Kevin is reunited with his family, he walks over to the window, and sees that across the street Marley has taken his advice and reunited with his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter.
7. I know, a silly movie, but...

100. Think about the holiday gatherings you will attend this year – maybe a family gathering; or a work party; or a neighborhood gathering.
     1. For many of us, those gatherings will include someone with whom we are at odds.
     2. or maybe there is a person who will not be there because of issues
     3. Now is the time to risk yourself; to extend yourself.

4. God gives us the opportunity for healing our broken relationships.

Move 3: Finally, God gives us the gift of a relationship with Christ.

a. Our anticipation of the coming of Christ is more than just waiting for the baby to arrive.

1. it's about what this baby brings to us.

2. Hope for new opportunities.

b. The opportunities that begin with an invitation to be in relationship with God in a new way.

1. In relationship with God in flesh.

2. Our call to follow him.

3. To be a part of what Christ is doing in the world.

4. Do not miss the invitation that the baby in the manger extends to you to be in relationship with him.

Conclusion: No store will sell you the gift of relationships.

But God gives it to you, along with the call to redeem broken relationships and an invitation to be in relationship with Christ.

Amen.