Sunday, December 17, 2017

Here Comes the SUN - Advent3B

• 3rd Sunday of Adventwith John 1:6-9
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A video of this sermon can be found at https://youtu.be/_seglqsQnc0

• John 1:7 John was sent from God as a witness concerning the light so that everyone would believe.
Why was John sent? As a witness. So that people would believe. This is my hope as well. & that’s why we have the Bible: people shared witness. Testimony.
• This past week two homicides in Huntington, up to 19 for year.
We're doing a Bible study on gun violence, looking at Micah 4:1-4. Two pronged approach: legislation, transformation. Neither is sufficient.
• Spiritual sickness in world, brokenness. Christ is perfectly sufficient to address/cover/deal with the world's brokenness. It's all over the Bible, Colossians 2:9-10 in Christ all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and in him you are filled.
Not only that but perfectly filled, perfectly fit, perfectly covered.
Isaiah 53:5-6 by his wounds we are healed, and the Lord has lain on him the iniquity of us all.
• Went to Alaska this summer with brothers and dad, to get his 50th state. No other state could complete his map, this venture was unique to Alaska.
Regarding the healing of the brokenness, the sin-sickness, Christ is the only one provides healing. None other. Unique. So says Peter in Acts 4:12 Salvation can be found in no one else. Throughout the whole world, no other name has been given among humans through which we must be saved. He has become the cornerstone! 
Unique. Jesus: I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
• My daughter turns 15 in 3months. We already have plans to pick her up from school early to go to DMV for permit. Need permit to drive. But absolutely necessary if you hope to drive: a key.
Christ is necessary. God caused the one who didn’t know sin to be sin for our sake so that through him we could become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21)
• Sufficient: completely perfectly enough covers our sin.
Unique: our brokenness can be addressed perfectly by none other.
Necessary: There is no righteousness apart from Christ.
SUN = sun. It’s advent and here comes the SUNThe true light was coming into the world.
And we are witnesses. So that all may believe. And have transformation.

• Hymn 188 Christ is the World’s Light

John 1:6-9 (CEB)  Third Sunday of Advent
6 A man named John was sent from God. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. 8 He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light. 9 The true light that shines on all people was coming into the world. ò