Theological Status: Critical Concern
Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Pergamum
❓ What do these grades mean?
🔍 Biblical Discernment: The 7 Church Parallels
The Cold Orthodox Parallel
Ephesus
Teaching that upholds doctrinal precision yet parallels the loss of the "first love"—the vital, motivating power of the Gospel (Rev 2:4).
Why strictly "Mark & Avoid"?
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This church's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This church's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
🧐 Overview
Sermon Summary: This Christmas sermon warmly retells the story of Joseph and Mary, using the beautiful Japanese art of Kintsugi to illustrate redemption from brokenness. However, its core message centers on human choice and courage, presenting God's grace as something we must activate by 'saying yes,' and framing God's own law as an unloving obstacle to be overcome.
Big Idea: Joseph and Mary's story tells us not to be afraid to pursue the better way, the way of love, focusing not on the letter of the law but on the heart of God, trusting God's desire to bring beauty, goodness, healing, and redemption even in difficult moments. [00:21:08 ▶️ 📄]
Pastoral Analysis: The sermon is an expository treatment of Matthew 1:18-25 that unfortunately falls into two critical errors. First, it presents a synergistic view of salvation, where man's 'yes' is the decisive, cooperative factor alongside God. Second, it creates a false antinomy between the Law of God and the Love of God, suggesting Joseph's righteousness was found in setting aside the former for the latter. This compromises the doctrines of sovereign grace and the goodness of God's law.
Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Pergamum — The sermon holds to the fundamentals of the faith (like the Creed) but allows a man-centered, synergistic teaching to exist alongside it, compromising the doctrine of grace.
🧭 Biblical Alignment Dashboard
Overall Verdict: Fundamentally in Error
| Category | Status | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Soteriology | ❌ FAIL | The sermon promotes a synergistic model where human agency ('saying yes') is presented as a decisive, cooperative act with God, rather than the result of God's effectual, monergistic grace. |
| Bibliology | ✅ PASS | The sermon is based on a specific biblical text and affirms the authority of Scripture through reading and exposition. The church's liturgy includes corporate confession and creedal recitation, affirming core doctrines. |
| Hermeneutic | ❌ FAIL | The sermon establishes a false dichotomy between God's Law and God's Love/Heart. This approach misunderstands the nature of the law as a reflection of God's character and its role in revealing sin and guiding the believer. |
| Theology Proper | ⚠️ WEAK | By presenting God's law as something contrary to His loving heart, the sermon introduces a tension into the character of God, implying a conflict between His righteousness and His mercy rather than seeing them as perfectly unified. |
| Sacramentology | ⚪ N/A | Communion was not observed in the provided transcript. |
📖 How they Handle Scripture & Jesus
Primary Text: Matthew 1:18-25 (Expository (Deep))
Scripture Saturation: Verses Read: 8 | Referenced: 4 | Alluded: 0
Passages Read Aloud:
Key References: Matthew 1:21, Matthew 1:23, 1 Corinthians 12:31, Romans 8:38-39
Christological Connection: Typology: Joseph and Mary's faithfulness and love are presented as prefiguring Jesus' life and as a model for believers to emulate in pursuing 'the way of love' over 'the letter of the law'.
🧱 Sermon Outline
- Joseph's Dilemma: Disappointment, Scandal, and the Law [00:16:58 ▶️ 📄] : The sermon begins by exploring Joseph's perspective on Mary's pregnancy, the societal implications, and his initial decision to dismiss her quietly according to the law.
- God's Message: Don't Be Afraid, Pursue the Way of Love [00:20:10 ▶️ 📄] : Focus shifts to the angel's message to Joseph, emphasizing the 'don't be afraid' theme and introducing the concept of choosing the 'more excellent way' of love over fear and legalism.
- Redemption from Brokenness: The Kintsugi Analogy [00:21:08 ▶️ 📄] : An illustration of Kintsugi is used to explain how Joseph's courage to trust God's heart, rather than the letter of the law, allowed for beauty and redemption to emerge from a seemingly shattered situation.
- God With Us: Emmanuel in the Midst of Difficulty [00:24:36 ▶️ 📄] : This segment highlights God's active presence and loving orchestration of a Savior's birth even in Joseph's 'worst day,' emphasizing the theme of Emmanuel.
- Mary and Joseph's 'Yes': A Lived-Out Commitment of Love [00:25:55 ▶️ 📄] : Explores Mary and Joseph's faithful 'yes' to God, defining love not as a fleeting emotion but as a persistent, lived-out commitment that seeks the good of the other, even amidst fear and difficulty.
- The Gift of God's Unconditional Love [00:28:34 ▶️ 📄] : Concludes by reiterating that Advent and Christmas signify 'God with us' and 'God for us,' a truth that transforms fear into lasting joy, rooted in the assurance of God's unbreakable, unconditional love.
🗝️ Key Topics & Themes
- Fear vs. Love : The central tension between responding to situations with fear or choosing the 'more excellent way' of love.
- Faithfulness : Mary and Joseph's example of faithfulness to God's call despite personal cost and societal judgment.
- Redemption : God's ability to bring beauty, goodness, healing, and redemption out of brokenness and difficult circumstances.
- Emmanuel : The meaning and significance of 'God with us' as a source of comfort, joy, and transformation.
- Joseph's Righteousness : Joseph's character as a righteous man who chose compassion and mercy over legalistic adherence to the law.
✅ Commendations
Homiletics | Clear Expository Structure
The sermon effectively walked through the narrative of Matthew 1, clearly explaining the historical and emotional context of Joseph's dilemma. The structure was logical and easy for the listener to follow.
Rhetoric | Memorable Central Illustration
The use of the Japanese art of Kintsugi was a powerful and memorable way to illustrate the concept of God bringing beauty from brokenness. It connected well with the emotional core of the text.
Liturgy | Corporate Confession and Creedal Affirmation
The service's inclusion of a corporate prayer of confession (00:12:49 ▶️ 📄) and a recitation of the Apostles' Creed (00:30:03 ▶️ 📄) grounds the worship in historical orthodoxy and a proper posture of humility before God.
⚠️ Theological Concerns
🔴 Synergistic View of Faith
Root Cause: Semi-Pelagianism / Synergism. (Reason: This view violates the doctrine of Total Depravity by assuming that the unregenerate human will has the native ability to cooperate with God in salvation. It makes man's choice the decisive factor, rather than God's sovereign grace.)
"...they did what god called them to do not the right thing or the religious thing walk away demand justice they did the far more difficult and demanding thing they said yes to God yes to Jesus the one who saves..." [00:26:24 ▶️ 📄]
Correction: Scripture teaches that salvation is entirely of the Lord. We are saved 'not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy' (Titus 3:5). Our response of faith is itself a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9), worked in us by the Holy Spirit, who makes us willing and able to answer His call (John 6:44). Joseph's obedience was evidence of God's grace already at work in him.
🔴 False Opposition of Law and Love
Root Cause: Antinomianism. (Reason: This error functionally denies the goodness and ongoing relevance of God's moral law for the believer. It turns Grace into a principle that stands in opposition to God's revealed will, rather than the power to fulfill it.)
"he knew the whispers would start in the village so he faced a difficult choice the right thing to do the law dictated that he publicly disgraced Mary or have her punished" [00:19:25 ▶️ 📄]
Correction: The Law of God is 'holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good' (Romans 7:12). The Psalmist delights in the Law of the Lord (Psalm 1:2). Christ did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). The error is never in the Law itself, but in legalism, which seeks to earn righteousness by it, or in using it unmercifully. True righteousness, motivated by love, fulfills the intention of the law.
📜 Full Sermon Transcript (Audit)
Use the 📄 icons next to quotes above to automatically jump to their location in this raw transcript.
[00:07:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:07:36] and Incarnate, Growing in Mary's womb as a vulnerable baby, Joseph contemplating leaving Mary because of her pregnancy, God's love at work in ways that society propriety could not understand, God calling Mary and Joseph to faithfulness despite the fear of disgrace. With Mary and Joseph, we choose to wait, watch, and listen for the way of love instead of responding in fear to the world's judgment. We light this candle of love as a sign of faithfulness
[00:08:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:08:06] seek, find, and follow Emmanuel. God with us. I invite us to pray together. Let us
[00:12:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:12:49] pray. Merciful God, you made light to shine out of the darkness in the advent of Jesus the Christ, and you call us to be prepared to receive him. We confess our unwillingness to see the light and to walk in your ways. We have not loved
[00:13:11] you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not always opened our eyes to the needs of others, and our feet have wandered from the paths of justice and peace.
[00:13:26] Forgive us and be born in us anew, that our hearts may be stirred to glorify the nativity with acts of compassion and service, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[00:14:38] Hear the good news. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.
[00:14:41] That proves God's love toward us.
[00:14:43] In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
[00:14:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:14:46] In the name of Jesus Christ, glory to God. Amen.
[00:14:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:14:52] Please stand as you are able.
[00:15:10] The scripture reading is from the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 1, beginning with the 18th verse.
[00:15:16] Now, the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.
[00:15:21] When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
[00:15:29] Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
[00:15:38] But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said Joseph son of David do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife
[00:15:48] for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit she will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus for he will save his people from their sins all this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet
[00:16:05] look the Virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel which means God is with us when Joseph awoke from sleep he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him he took her as his wife but had no marital relations
[00:16:22] with her until she had born a son and he named him Jesus this is the gospel of
[00:16:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:16:28] our Lord Christ good morning it's good to see you all this morning on this fourth Sunday of Advent and look forward to Jim will give you the schedule later but look forward to seeing you all later in the week as we gather to celebrate Christmas Eve.
[00:16:58] We've reflected on this story before, this reading from Matthew's gospel.
[00:17:04] Talked a bit about what it must have been like for Mary when she had to tell Joseph, the man to whom she was engaged to be married, the man she loved, that she had received this strange message from the Lord, this divine announcement,
[00:17:18] that she would bear a son and that he would be the Messiah of Israel and the Savior of the nations.
[00:17:27] Mary certainly would never want to disappoint Joseph or to hurt him in any way, and it was probably hard to find the right words to tell that strange, unbelievable story.
[00:17:38] And I can imagine Joseph felt a sense of betrayal, maybe, loss at what would have been or what was he thought to be.
[00:17:46] you know when you face a deep disappointment in a relationship whether it's family or friends or spouse you may wonder can can this be made right again can it be put back together in those days
[00:18:01] engagement was a serious legal contract it was not like a proposal today that's that's serious as well but but it was actually the first stage of being legally married and that's why scripture tells us that Joseph, upon hearing the news from Mary, decided that he would dismiss her quietly.
[00:18:23] Their engagement was already a legally binding promise involving Mary and Joseph and their families. So you can imagine the disappointment, the hurt maybe, the anger. When Mary shared her news that in the polite way Scripture sometimes puts it, that she was with child. I mean,
[00:18:46] even if the story of the angel was true, Joseph knew his biology. He knew how these things worked and can imagine that he was skeptical, confused, wanted to believe her, to trust her.
[00:19:04] But Mary's pregnancy was a public scandal, and it was a deep indignity not just to Mary and to Joseph, but again to their families. He loved her, and I can imagine the questions probably began to play on a loop in his mind what will my family say what will our friends think
[00:19:25] why is this happening he knew the whispers would start in the village so he faced a difficult choice the right thing to do the law dictated that he publicly disgraced Mary or have her punished
[00:19:44] that was the legal thing to do there are consequences if you violate the law so joseph began to plan a quiet exit when he received his own strange message from the lord joseph son of david don't be afraid to take mary as your wife her child the child she's carrying is
[00:20:10] is love incarnate and you'll name him jesus which means god saves because he your son will save his people that that that phrase that echoes throughout scripture don't be afraid reasonable fear has its place right it can keep us safe from harm but unwarranted fear it can lead us to make
[00:20:44] really bad decisions and head us down the wrong road. You know, so much of our legalism, the unkindness, the blaming, hatred of others, divisiveness, so much of it comes from fear.
[00:20:59] Fear lies behind a lot of it. Fear can even make us miss the thing God is doing right in our midst.
[00:21:08] but as Paul says there is a more excellent way and Joseph and Mary's story tells us don't be afraid to pursue the better way the way of love now sermon illustrations can be imperfect I've used a few where I've gone home in the afternoon later thought about it and said well
[00:21:34] that made absolutely no sense whatsoever not sure why I included that there but it seemed like a good idea at the moment. But last year, during our Hope and Healing service, Jim shared a story that
[00:21:48] at least relates a bit to this encounter between Joseph and Mary and these strange messengers.
[00:21:56] He talked about, in the Hope and Healing service, the ancient Japanese art form of kintsugi.
[00:22:03] And in that tradition, when a precious bowl or vase or some object, ceramic, porcelain, is broken when it's dropped or shattered the artist doesn't simply throw the pieces out instead they gather the pieces together and and they painstakingly rejoin them using a lacquer
[00:22:23] that's been mixed with powdered gold or or platinum or silver the philosophy of kintsugi says the object isn't ruined by its brokenness or seeming imperfection instead because of the gold or the platinum or the silver holding it together, the object actually becomes more
[00:22:46] beautiful, more valuable, more resilient than it was before. The cracks aren't hidden. They're actually highlighted. They become a part of the object's story. And not to draw too close a comparison, but when Joseph heard Mary's news, just maybe he thought their life together was
[00:23:09] broken, shattered, ruined. Their reputation, their plans, their future, it all lay in pieces in front of them on the floor. And the law said, this is damaged. Sweep it up, throw it out. But Joseph
[00:23:30] had the courage to focus not on the letter of the law, but on the heart of God. And God's desire, even in a difficult moment, to bring beauty and goodness, healing, redemption. And so Joseph
[00:23:49] decides not to throw away their future, but to trust, to lean into the difficult thing God is asking him to do, and pursues the more excellent way, the way of love, to reclaim that which
[00:24:04] seemed lost. And in this way, Joseph and Mary, of course, their lives model the life of Jesus before Jesus even begins His ministry. They prefigure Jesus' life of faithfulness, of compassion, of love. Matthew tells us that Joseph was a righteous man, not merely a religious man
[00:24:29] who legalistically followed a list of do's and don'ts, but a righteous man who chose compassion.
[00:24:36] and mercy, who pursued the more excellent way. I'm sure we've all had moments when we are low, when fear creeps in, when the next step is uncertain. Precisely at the moment Joseph was there, when he felt his life was collapsing, falling apart, God was actually at work
[00:25:03] doing the most loving thing, orchestrating the birth of a Savior and inviting Joseph and by extension us, to play a role. In the midst of heartbreak and grief and anger and fear, God was working to put things right and was hoping that Joseph could see it and be a part of it.
[00:25:31] In the midst of Joseph's worst day, God was with him there in Mary's womb. Wasn't the future he had chosen. It wasn't the story he was writing. It wasn't his plan. It certainly wasn't how he
[00:25:47] thought life was going to go. But it turns out it was something better, more beautiful.
[00:25:55] Emmanuel, God with Joseph, God with Mary, God with us. And because of love, Mary and Joseph say yes now in saying yes i'm sure they didn't suddenly just feel great about things and they also didn't allow their feelings how they felt about things to get in their way of
[00:26:24] get in the way of their desire to be faithful and so they did what god called them to do not the right thing or the religious thing walk away demand justice they did the far more difficult
[00:26:41] and demanding thing they said yes to God yes to Jesus the one who saves who knits our lives together even when they're broken and imperfect Joseph says yes because of love and he's able to
[00:27:06] say yes, because I think his heart, his story had been captured so completely by the love that created him and gave him life. Not sentimental, romantic love like you see in the movies, like yesterday that my wife was making me watch
[00:27:31] with her. Yes, they saved the family business, and yes, it snowed, and yes, they fell in love, and all is well. Not that kind of love, but love is a lived-out commitment, a long obedience in
[00:27:53] the same direction, that seeks the good of the other, love in the flesh that persists, love that is with us even when our life seems to be falling apart, love that says no matter the cost,
[00:28:13] no matter how afraid, no matter how difficult, I will trust God. I can't imagine what it was like for Mary and for Joseph, the looks, the whispers, the knowledge that the little one playing at their
[00:28:26] feet was somehow the Son of God. It's hard enough being a parent, much less dealing with that.
[00:28:34] And yet, young and poor and unprepared as they were, they said yes. Friends, when we're anxious and afraid and uncertain, when life seems to not be following our plan, there is here in this story,
[00:28:50] in this season, in this week, the gift we need the most. God with us. That's what Advent and Christmas mean. God is with us, and God is for us. And that truth can transform our fear and
[00:29:08] our uncertainty into great joy, lasting joy, that comes from knowing what Mary and Joseph knew, That we are unconditionally loved and nothing, nothing, not sickness, not failure, not anxiety, not fear, not sin, not mistakes, not any brokenness, not even death, Paul says, not even death can ever separate us from that love.
[00:29:39] Thanks be to God. Amen.
[00:29:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:29:40] I invite you to stand as we affirm our faith together in response to God's Word.
[00:30:03] I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
[00:30:18] was crucified, dead, and buried the third day.
[00:30:22] He rose from the dead, He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
[00:30:35] the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the
[00:30:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:30:42] body, and the life everlasting. Amen. And I invite you to join with me as we go to God in prayer.
[00:31:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:31:56] Let us pray.
[00:32:01] Gracious God, your angel came to Joseph, encouraged him to trust in your purpose.
[00:32:08] So we pray that you would strengthen us, your church, to also be courageous and trusting in you.
[00:32:15] Help us listen to your voice.
[00:32:18] Help us be your voice in the world.
[00:32:21] Lord, in your mercy.
[00:32:25] Lord, as we have lit a candle this Advent season, first for hope, we pray for all people in the world burdened by hopelessness.
[00:32:35] For those living in persistent poverty or homelessness, joblessness, hunger, sickness, all things that deprive them of hope in life, we pray.
[00:32:47] Lord, in your mercy.
[00:32:50] Lord, as we have also lit a candle this Advent season for peace, we pray for all who live in the aftermath or in fear of violence, all who must exist in areas of war, those who struggle with depression or anxiety and seek inner peace.
[00:33:12] And for our leaders, we pray that they will lead with and speak words of peace and unity.
[00:33:23] Lord, in your mercy.
[00:33:27] Lord, as we have lit a candle this season for joy, we pray for all who are weighed down by despair and sorrow.
[00:33:37] We lift up those whose holidays are reminders of the heavy burdens they bear, particularly their grief.
[00:33:47] And we pray especially for those who will experience Christmas for the first time this year without the presence of a loved one.
[00:33:54] We remember especially this week the family of Kitty Hamilton in her passing, the family of Marsha Adams in her death, and the McKee family in Jean's passing.
[00:34:12] We remember the Viemann family and the death of Brittany's grandmother, the Knorr family, and the passing of Jane's father.
[00:34:23] God, cover them all in your comfort and peace.
[00:34:28] Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
[00:34:31] And Lord, as we have lit today a candle of love, we pray for anyone who feels unloved this season due to loneliness or separation or broken relationships.
[00:34:46] And we pray for those who struggle to love because of anger or hatred in their hearts.
[00:34:53] God, just as love came down at Christmas, may it come to all of our lives.
[00:34:59] Lord, in your mercy.
[00:35:03] And as we gather on this fourth and final Sunday of Advent, God, we have our own joys and concerns that we lift up to you, aloud and in our hearts silently, as we pray now for Almighty God.
[00:35:24] Like Mary, our spirits rejoice in you.
[00:35:28] and give thanks that you look upon us and love us, so much so to come and live among us in Jesus Christ.
[00:35:36] So hear us as we pray the words he taught us.
[00:35:40] Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
[00:35:45] Thy kingdom come.
[00:35:47] Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
[00:35:51] Give us this day our daily bread.
[00:35:54] Forgive us our trespassers as we forgive those who trespass against us.
[00:35:59] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
[00:36:04] For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
[00:36:09] Amen.
[00:36:10] We welcome you to Davidson UMC on this fourth Sunday of Advent.
[00:36:19] We're so glad you're here.
[00:36:20] If you are worshiping with us online today, we hope you'll give us a shout out.
[00:36:24] For everyone here, I hope you'll take just a moment to pick up the friendship pad that's in your pew and let us know that you are here and pass it along to your neighbor.
[00:36:33] If you are worshiping with us for the first time today, thank you so much for being with us.
[00:36:37] I hope you'll, after the service, stop by our welcome table, which is out in the gathering space, so that we can greet you and offer you a small gift for being with us in worship today.
[00:36:48] As David said, we have opportunities to be together again in just a few days.
[00:36:53] We are in the homestretch of the season of Advent, and Christmas Eve is going to be on Wednesday and we have lots of opportunities for worship.
[00:37:03] Five to be exact.
[00:37:04] We will worship for Christmas Eve all here in the sanctuary at 1 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 5 o'clock, 7 o'clock, and 11 o'clock.
[00:37:15] And we hope that you can join us for one or more of those services.
[00:37:19] Our children's choirs will be singing at 3.
[00:37:21] Our youth will be singing and leading the service at 11.
[00:37:24] but there's beautiful music in all services candlelight singing in all five of the services, Holy Communion at 11 o'clock our 5 o'clock service is live streamed, I hope you're taking notes on all this, you got all this right
[00:37:39] I had to write it all down because it's so much, but I hope you can join us for one of those services there will be no no Christmas Day service this year, so be aware of that
[00:37:53] And also next Sunday on the 28th of December, we will only have the 9.30 and 11 o'clock service, no 8 o'clock service next Sunday.
[00:38:03] We are so very grateful as we wind down 2025 for all the ways that you have given and been generous throughout the year.
[00:38:12] I hope you'll take just a moment today to look in your bulletin at the financial update.
[00:38:17] You'll see that we are at 91% of meeting our 2025 budget.
[00:38:23] And that means we have a little ways to go, and you still have a few days to give your financial gifts to the church for the next few days.
[00:38:32] But we're grateful for all that you have done in your tithes, your offerings, your time, your skills, all the ways that you have been generous in 2025.
[00:58:31] Gracious God, your generosity overflows.
[00:58:33] Accept our gifts so that with your blessing we may use them to proclaim Christ in our community and beyond.
[00:58:40] Amen.
[00:58:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:58:40] friends let's go into this week pursuing uh the more excellent way the way that
[01:02:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[01:02:48] joseph in his yes and mary and her yes to god pursued and in so doing welcome jesus into our lives our hearts in a new way in a way that can make a difference in the lives of others as we
[01:03:02] become good news for the world and as we go to be about that work this week let's do so remembering the mission to which we are called, that we will be the body of Christ in our community
[01:03:13] through worship, education, fellowship, and service. Go in peace.
[00:07:36] and Incarnate, Growing in Mary's womb as a vulnerable baby, Joseph contemplating leaving Mary because of her pregnancy, God's love at work in ways that society propriety could not understand, God calling Mary and Joseph to faithfulness despite the fear of disgrace. With Mary and Joseph, we choose to wait, watch, and listen for the way of love instead of responding in fear to the world's judgment. We light this candle of love as a sign of faithfulness
[00:08:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:08:06] seek, find, and follow Emmanuel. God with us. I invite us to pray together. Let us
[00:12:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:12:49] pray. Merciful God, you made light to shine out of the darkness in the advent of Jesus the Christ, and you call us to be prepared to receive him. We confess our unwillingness to see the light and to walk in your ways. We have not loved
[00:13:11] you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not always opened our eyes to the needs of others, and our feet have wandered from the paths of justice and peace.
[00:13:26] Forgive us and be born in us anew, that our hearts may be stirred to glorify the nativity with acts of compassion and service, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[00:14:38] Hear the good news. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.
[00:14:41] That proves God's love toward us.
[00:14:43] In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
[00:14:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:14:46] In the name of Jesus Christ, glory to God. Amen.
[00:14:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:14:52] Please stand as you are able.
[00:15:10] The scripture reading is from the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 1, beginning with the 18th verse.
[00:15:16] Now, the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.
[00:15:21] When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
[00:15:29] Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
[00:15:38] But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said Joseph son of David do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife
[00:15:48] for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit she will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus for he will save his people from their sins all this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet
[00:16:05] look the Virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel which means God is with us when Joseph awoke from sleep he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him he took her as his wife but had no marital relations
[00:16:22] with her until she had born a son and he named him Jesus this is the gospel of
[00:16:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:16:28] our Lord Christ good morning it's good to see you all this morning on this fourth Sunday of Advent and look forward to Jim will give you the schedule later but look forward to seeing you all later in the week as we gather to celebrate Christmas Eve.
[00:16:58] We've reflected on this story before, this reading from Matthew's gospel.
[00:17:04] Talked a bit about what it must have been like for Mary when she had to tell Joseph, the man to whom she was engaged to be married, the man she loved, that she had received this strange message from the Lord, this divine announcement,
[00:17:18] that she would bear a son and that he would be the Messiah of Israel and the Savior of the nations.
[00:17:27] Mary certainly would never want to disappoint Joseph or to hurt him in any way, and it was probably hard to find the right words to tell that strange, unbelievable story.
[00:17:38] And I can imagine Joseph felt a sense of betrayal, maybe, loss at what would have been or what was he thought to be.
[00:17:46] you know when you face a deep disappointment in a relationship whether it's family or friends or spouse you may wonder can can this be made right again can it be put back together in those days
[00:18:01] engagement was a serious legal contract it was not like a proposal today that's that's serious as well but but it was actually the first stage of being legally married and that's why scripture tells us that Joseph, upon hearing the news from Mary, decided that he would dismiss her quietly.
[00:18:23] Their engagement was already a legally binding promise involving Mary and Joseph and their families. So you can imagine the disappointment, the hurt maybe, the anger. When Mary shared her news that in the polite way Scripture sometimes puts it, that she was with child. I mean,
[00:18:46] even if the story of the angel was true, Joseph knew his biology. He knew how these things worked and can imagine that he was skeptical, confused, wanted to believe her, to trust her.
[00:19:04] But Mary's pregnancy was a public scandal, and it was a deep indignity not just to Mary and to Joseph, but again to their families. He loved her, and I can imagine the questions probably began to play on a loop in his mind what will my family say what will our friends think
[00:19:25] why is this happening he knew the whispers would start in the village so he faced a difficult choice the right thing to do the law dictated that he publicly disgraced Mary or have her punished
[00:19:44] that was the legal thing to do there are consequences if you violate the law so joseph began to plan a quiet exit when he received his own strange message from the lord joseph son of david don't be afraid to take mary as your wife her child the child she's carrying is
[00:20:10] is love incarnate and you'll name him jesus which means god saves because he your son will save his people that that that phrase that echoes throughout scripture don't be afraid reasonable fear has its place right it can keep us safe from harm but unwarranted fear it can lead us to make
[00:20:44] really bad decisions and head us down the wrong road. You know, so much of our legalism, the unkindness, the blaming, hatred of others, divisiveness, so much of it comes from fear.
[00:20:59] Fear lies behind a lot of it. Fear can even make us miss the thing God is doing right in our midst.
[00:21:08] but as Paul says there is a more excellent way and Joseph and Mary's story tells us don't be afraid to pursue the better way the way of love now sermon illustrations can be imperfect I've used a few where I've gone home in the afternoon later thought about it and said well
[00:21:34] that made absolutely no sense whatsoever not sure why I included that there but it seemed like a good idea at the moment. But last year, during our Hope and Healing service, Jim shared a story that
[00:21:48] at least relates a bit to this encounter between Joseph and Mary and these strange messengers.
[00:21:56] He talked about, in the Hope and Healing service, the ancient Japanese art form of kintsugi.
[00:22:03] And in that tradition, when a precious bowl or vase or some object, ceramic, porcelain, is broken when it's dropped or shattered the artist doesn't simply throw the pieces out instead they gather the pieces together and and they painstakingly rejoin them using a lacquer
[00:22:23] that's been mixed with powdered gold or or platinum or silver the philosophy of kintsugi says the object isn't ruined by its brokenness or seeming imperfection instead because of the gold or the platinum or the silver holding it together, the object actually becomes more
[00:22:46] beautiful, more valuable, more resilient than it was before. The cracks aren't hidden. They're actually highlighted. They become a part of the object's story. And not to draw too close a comparison, but when Joseph heard Mary's news, just maybe he thought their life together was
[00:23:09] broken, shattered, ruined. Their reputation, their plans, their future, it all lay in pieces in front of them on the floor. And the law said, this is damaged. Sweep it up, throw it out. But Joseph
[00:23:30] had the courage to focus not on the letter of the law, but on the heart of God. And God's desire, even in a difficult moment, to bring beauty and goodness, healing, redemption. And so Joseph
[00:23:49] decides not to throw away their future, but to trust, to lean into the difficult thing God is asking him to do, and pursues the more excellent way, the way of love, to reclaim that which
[00:24:04] seemed lost. And in this way, Joseph and Mary, of course, their lives model the life of Jesus before Jesus even begins His ministry. They prefigure Jesus' life of faithfulness, of compassion, of love. Matthew tells us that Joseph was a righteous man, not merely a religious man
[00:24:29] who legalistically followed a list of do's and don'ts, but a righteous man who chose compassion.
[00:24:36] and mercy, who pursued the more excellent way. I'm sure we've all had moments when we are low, when fear creeps in, when the next step is uncertain. Precisely at the moment Joseph was there, when he felt his life was collapsing, falling apart, God was actually at work
[00:25:03] doing the most loving thing, orchestrating the birth of a Savior and inviting Joseph and by extension us, to play a role. In the midst of heartbreak and grief and anger and fear, God was working to put things right and was hoping that Joseph could see it and be a part of it.
[00:25:31] In the midst of Joseph's worst day, God was with him there in Mary's womb. Wasn't the future he had chosen. It wasn't the story he was writing. It wasn't his plan. It certainly wasn't how he
[00:25:47] thought life was going to go. But it turns out it was something better, more beautiful.
[00:25:55] Emmanuel, God with Joseph, God with Mary, God with us. And because of love, Mary and Joseph say yes now in saying yes i'm sure they didn't suddenly just feel great about things and they also didn't allow their feelings how they felt about things to get in their way of
[00:26:24] get in the way of their desire to be faithful and so they did what god called them to do not the right thing or the religious thing walk away demand justice they did the far more difficult
[00:26:41] and demanding thing they said yes to God yes to Jesus the one who saves who knits our lives together even when they're broken and imperfect Joseph says yes because of love and he's able to
[00:27:06] say yes, because I think his heart, his story had been captured so completely by the love that created him and gave him life. Not sentimental, romantic love like you see in the movies, like yesterday that my wife was making me watch
[00:27:31] with her. Yes, they saved the family business, and yes, it snowed, and yes, they fell in love, and all is well. Not that kind of love, but love is a lived-out commitment, a long obedience in
[00:27:53] the same direction, that seeks the good of the other, love in the flesh that persists, love that is with us even when our life seems to be falling apart, love that says no matter the cost,
[00:28:13] no matter how afraid, no matter how difficult, I will trust God. I can't imagine what it was like for Mary and for Joseph, the looks, the whispers, the knowledge that the little one playing at their
[00:28:26] feet was somehow the Son of God. It's hard enough being a parent, much less dealing with that.
[00:28:34] And yet, young and poor and unprepared as they were, they said yes. Friends, when we're anxious and afraid and uncertain, when life seems to not be following our plan, there is here in this story,
[00:28:50] in this season, in this week, the gift we need the most. God with us. That's what Advent and Christmas mean. God is with us, and God is for us. And that truth can transform our fear and
[00:29:08] our uncertainty into great joy, lasting joy, that comes from knowing what Mary and Joseph knew, That we are unconditionally loved and nothing, nothing, not sickness, not failure, not anxiety, not fear, not sin, not mistakes, not any brokenness, not even death, Paul says, not even death can ever separate us from that love.
[00:29:39] Thanks be to God. Amen.
[00:29:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:29:40] I invite you to stand as we affirm our faith together in response to God's Word.
[00:30:03] I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
[00:30:18] was crucified, dead, and buried the third day.
[00:30:22] He rose from the dead, He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
[00:30:35] the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the
[00:30:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:30:42] body, and the life everlasting. Amen. And I invite you to join with me as we go to God in prayer.
[00:31:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:31:56] Let us pray.
[00:32:01] Gracious God, your angel came to Joseph, encouraged him to trust in your purpose.
[00:32:08] So we pray that you would strengthen us, your church, to also be courageous and trusting in you.
[00:32:15] Help us listen to your voice.
[00:32:18] Help us be your voice in the world.
[00:32:21] Lord, in your mercy.
[00:32:25] Lord, as we have lit a candle this Advent season, first for hope, we pray for all people in the world burdened by hopelessness.
[00:32:35] For those living in persistent poverty or homelessness, joblessness, hunger, sickness, all things that deprive them of hope in life, we pray.
[00:32:47] Lord, in your mercy.
[00:32:50] Lord, as we have also lit a candle this Advent season for peace, we pray for all who live in the aftermath or in fear of violence, all who must exist in areas of war, those who struggle with depression or anxiety and seek inner peace.
[00:33:12] And for our leaders, we pray that they will lead with and speak words of peace and unity.
[00:33:23] Lord, in your mercy.
[00:33:27] Lord, as we have lit a candle this season for joy, we pray for all who are weighed down by despair and sorrow.
[00:33:37] We lift up those whose holidays are reminders of the heavy burdens they bear, particularly their grief.
[00:33:47] And we pray especially for those who will experience Christmas for the first time this year without the presence of a loved one.
[00:33:54] We remember especially this week the family of Kitty Hamilton in her passing, the family of Marsha Adams in her death, and the McKee family in Jean's passing.
[00:34:12] We remember the Viemann family and the death of Brittany's grandmother, the Knorr family, and the passing of Jane's father.
[00:34:23] God, cover them all in your comfort and peace.
[00:34:28] Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
[00:34:31] And Lord, as we have lit today a candle of love, we pray for anyone who feels unloved this season due to loneliness or separation or broken relationships.
[00:34:46] And we pray for those who struggle to love because of anger or hatred in their hearts.
[00:34:53] God, just as love came down at Christmas, may it come to all of our lives.
[00:34:59] Lord, in your mercy.
[00:35:03] And as we gather on this fourth and final Sunday of Advent, God, we have our own joys and concerns that we lift up to you, aloud and in our hearts silently, as we pray now for Almighty God.
[00:35:24] Like Mary, our spirits rejoice in you.
[00:35:28] and give thanks that you look upon us and love us, so much so to come and live among us in Jesus Christ.
[00:35:36] So hear us as we pray the words he taught us.
[00:35:40] Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
[00:35:45] Thy kingdom come.
[00:35:47] Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
[00:35:51] Give us this day our daily bread.
[00:35:54] Forgive us our trespassers as we forgive those who trespass against us.
[00:35:59] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
[00:36:04] For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
[00:36:09] Amen.
[00:36:10] We welcome you to Davidson UMC on this fourth Sunday of Advent.
[00:36:19] We're so glad you're here.
[00:36:20] If you are worshiping with us online today, we hope you'll give us a shout out.
[00:36:24] For everyone here, I hope you'll take just a moment to pick up the friendship pad that's in your pew and let us know that you are here and pass it along to your neighbor.
[00:36:33] If you are worshiping with us for the first time today, thank you so much for being with us.
[00:36:37] I hope you'll, after the service, stop by our welcome table, which is out in the gathering space, so that we can greet you and offer you a small gift for being with us in worship today.
[00:36:48] As David said, we have opportunities to be together again in just a few days.
[00:36:53] We are in the homestretch of the season of Advent, and Christmas Eve is going to be on Wednesday and we have lots of opportunities for worship.
[00:37:03] Five to be exact.
[00:37:04] We will worship for Christmas Eve all here in the sanctuary at 1 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 5 o'clock, 7 o'clock, and 11 o'clock.
[00:37:15] And we hope that you can join us for one or more of those services.
[00:37:19] Our children's choirs will be singing at 3.
[00:37:21] Our youth will be singing and leading the service at 11.
[00:37:24] but there's beautiful music in all services candlelight singing in all five of the services, Holy Communion at 11 o'clock our 5 o'clock service is live streamed, I hope you're taking notes on all this, you got all this right
[00:37:39] I had to write it all down because it's so much, but I hope you can join us for one of those services there will be no no Christmas Day service this year, so be aware of that
[00:37:53] And also next Sunday on the 28th of December, we will only have the 9.30 and 11 o'clock service, no 8 o'clock service next Sunday.
[00:38:03] We are so very grateful as we wind down 2025 for all the ways that you have given and been generous throughout the year.
[00:38:12] I hope you'll take just a moment today to look in your bulletin at the financial update.
[00:38:17] You'll see that we are at 91% of meeting our 2025 budget.
[00:38:23] And that means we have a little ways to go, and you still have a few days to give your financial gifts to the church for the next few days.
[00:38:32] But we're grateful for all that you have done in your tithes, your offerings, your time, your skills, all the ways that you have been generous in 2025.
[00:58:31] Gracious God, your generosity overflows.
[00:58:33] Accept our gifts so that with your blessing we may use them to proclaim Christ in our community and beyond.
[00:58:40] Amen.
[00:58:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:58:40] friends let's go into this week pursuing uh the more excellent way the way that
[01:02:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[01:02:48] joseph in his yes and mary and her yes to god pursued and in so doing welcome jesus into our lives our hearts in a new way in a way that can make a difference in the lives of others as we
[01:03:02] become good news for the world and as we go to be about that work this week let's do so remembering the mission to which we are called, that we will be the body of Christ in our community
[01:03:13] through worship, education, fellowship, and service. Go in peace.
