Sermon Sandwich
Trinity Church, 1589 Hwy 174, Edisto Island, SC 29438
www.trinityedisto.com 843-869-3568
2nd Sunday of Advent, December 5, 2021
Holy Eucharist - Renewed Ancient Text; 2019 BCP, p.12
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Luke 3:1-6 Sermon Notes
Intro - Listening.
Luke 3:2 - the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness;
John the Baptist is a Prophet with a ministry of preparing people for the salvation of God which becomes The Gospel.
The Gospel is the Good News of the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Old Covenant of Law New Covenant of Grace
World Kingdom of Heaven
Obey Repent and Believe
I do Jesus does
John the Baptist - the last Prophet of the Old Covenant of Law. But as Believers in the New Covenant of Grace, we are all called to the prophetic ministry.
I Corinthians 14:1 - Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
The Prophetic Ministry - The Prior Condition -
A Prophet is someone who listens.
Listening/Hearing the Voice of our Savior -
the birthright of every Believer.
John 10:2-5 - he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
Avoid the Two Extremes - The Wild or The Religious
The Four Sources of voices/thoughts inside our heads/hearts? World, Flesh, Devil Holy Spirit
Society Self Satan Savior
How Do Believers Hear the Divine Voice? The Three Lights -
(Hearing God; Developing a Conversational Relationship with God by Dallas Willard)
1. Circumstances - of daily life
2. Impressions of the Holy Spirit - inward promptings of the Spirit
3. Passages from the Bible - verses of Holy Scripture
“His speaking most commonly occurs in conjunction with the study of and reflection on the Bible, the written Word of God.”(p.195)
The Three Lights are Interdependent, not independent or autonomous.
Six Steps for Hearing the Voice of our Savior: (p.213)
1. Do what we know to be morally right and commanded by God, including the intention to find what may be morally right and commanded by God.
Romans 6:15 - What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
2. Seek the fullness of our new life in Christ at the impulse of the Holy Spirit.
John 15:26 - But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
3. Meditate constantly on God’s principles for life as set forth in Holy Scripture.
4. Be alert and attentive to what is happening in our life, mind and heart.
“Adam, where are you?”(Gen 3:9) and
“What are you seeking?”(John 1:38)
5. Pray and speak to God constantly and specifically about the matters that concern us. Nothing is too insignificant or too hopeless to bring before God.
Our Heavenly Father longs to hear the voice of His Children.
6. Use a regular plan to listen, carefully and deliberately, for God. When God does speak to you, pay attention and receive it with thanks.
Spiritual Disciplines - Silence and Solitude.