Sermon: Advent 2B (Epistle)
4 December AD 2011
Sermon Theme: All in Good Time
Summary: The world — indeed, all of Creation — will end. Broken by sin, tainted by mankind’s corruption, God’s handiwork must finally be destroyed. Yet out of the rubble will arise a new and incorruptible dwelling place for God’s people.
At times, we may wish to delay the day because we’ve grown to comfortable with this earth or else dread the consequences of the Last Judgment. At others, we not only wait eagerly but impatiently demand that God hurry up and end it all.
However, all times are in God’s hands and He has chosen the perfect ending point for this old heavens and old earth, which must pass away before the new appears. Until then we give thanks that He doesn’t impatiently destroy everything — or just as hastily blot out our individual lives when we sin and fall short of the perfection He demands.
At all times, and particularly in this anticipatory season of Advent, we ask that we might wait for our Lord’s return with the same patience that He shows us. We also pray that He would guide us to regard those who sin against us with the same forbearance that He has for us.
Text: But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 2 Peter 3:8-14
Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Audio: Click to hear the MP3 of All in Good Time, preached to the saints of God at Peace Lutheran Church, Slater, Missouri.
Other Readings: Psalm 85; Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8
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Sermon Theme: All in Good Time
Summary: The world — indeed, all of Creation — will end. Broken by sin, tainted by mankind’s corruption, God’s handiwork must finally be destroyed. Yet out of the rubble will arise a new and incorruptible dwelling place for God’s people.
At times, we may wish to delay the day because we’ve grown to comfortable with this earth or else dread the consequences of the Last Judgment. At others, we not only wait eagerly but impatiently demand that God hurry up and end it all.
However, all times are in God’s hands and He has chosen the perfect ending point for this old heavens and old earth, which must pass away before the new appears. Until then we give thanks that He doesn’t impatiently destroy everything — or just as hastily blot out our individual lives when we sin and fall short of the perfection He demands.
At all times, and particularly in this anticipatory season of Advent, we ask that we might wait for our Lord’s return with the same patience that He shows us. We also pray that He would guide us to regard those who sin against us with the same forbearance that He has for us.
Text: But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 2 Peter 3:8-14
Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Audio: Click to hear the MP3 of All in Good Time, preached to the saints of God at Peace Lutheran Church, Slater, Missouri.
Other Readings: Psalm 85; Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8
Technorati Tags: Advent 2 | Second Sunday in Advent | 2nd Sunday in Advent | Three Year Lectionary | 3 Year Lectionary | Series B | theology | Jesus | Jesus Christ | Christ | Law and Gospel | Law | Gospel | time | eternity | judgment | a day is like a thousand years | a thousand years are like a day | patience | forbearance | Advent | 4 December 2011 | December 4, 2011 | Lutheranism | Lutheran | Church | Christian | Christianity | Christian Church | Isaiah 40 | sermon | preaching | homily | text | theme | topic | All in Good Time | audio | mp3 | Pastor Snyder | Pastor Walter Snyder | Walter Snyder | Ask the Pastor | Happenings
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