Dec 3, 2020
Today we are kicking off our Advent series with Dr. Chris Williamson who is a local Pastor of Strong Tower Bible Church in Franlkin, TN. Pastor Chris is just the best, he’s wise, he’s profound, he’s hilarious, and he just tells it like it is and y’all, we are going to CHURCH today. We talk about the double edge sword of this Christmas story, where there’s a romance to the story we like to stick to, the cuteness of Christ and the holy Hallmark, as Pastor Chris says, but there is also suffering in this story. And while that can sometimes be disconcerting, I think this year, more than ever before, I find that so comforting. That our Savior entered the atmosphere in a season of simultaneous joy and pain.
We spend time unpacking what we know from the Word and what we can just imagine because of the context and from being human what it must have been like during those days where a messenger of Light burst onto a dormant scene while Zechariah was going on about his daily life, and God met him in the mundane, and then it all broke loose. But no matter how chaotic any of it appeared to be then, or how chaotic it is now, God’s will cannot be thwarted. It is not in jeopardy. The Savior is still coming, praise God, He will come again.
This is such a unique Advent season and we have a unique opportunity to respond to it as we long for the Light after such a dark year, during the darkest part of the year, we must fight for this hope, and we hope that this conversation can help hold the Light for y’all today. Wherever you are. However your day looks. I hope that every time you see a light turn on, you remember that His Light never fades, and He will fan even the smallest spark in you. You matter, friend. You are seen, you are known and you are so loved. Your story matters.
*Our Advent series intro music is by Chris & Stephanie Teauge of Out of the Dust. We’re so grateful for their generosity in allowing us to share their song “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” Listen on Spotify to the rest of this song and the remainder of their Christmas EP here.
*Instrumental filler/outro music is from audionautix.com
*Episode Sponsor: Hopefuel
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*The reading I shared in the outro is from Every Moment Holy: Volume 1 by Douglas McKelvey
References & Resources:
-Dorena Williamson --
Part 1 and
Part 2 episode of the SSP and her books:
Colorfull,
Thoughtfull,
Gracefull
-What is a tract :: Here are some examples of what they
are
-Run
DMC
-LL Cool
J
-Grand Master Flash
-Beastie
Boys
-The
Fat Boys
-What is a concordance ::
Here’s an example of one I use
-Chris’ rap group Transformation Crusade
-DCTalk - Toby
Mac
-”Hee
Haw”
-Minnie Pearl and Roy Clark
-Experiencing
God- Richard
Blackaby
-Strong Tower Bible Church in Franklin,
TN
-Tiffany Bluhm and Ashley Abercrombie
-Tribe
of Levi - descendants of
Aaron- Priests
- casting the lots for the priestly
duties
-Warren
Wiersbe- God has a way
of showing up in the mundane, none of us can steer a parked car, we
can only steer a car that’s moving.
-Solomon’s temple destroyed
-Rudolph and the Reindeer and the Island of the
Misfit Toys
-Harold Wilmington
-John Rankin- the light in the window for slaves crossing
from Kentucky to Ohio
-Mailing a hug
-Jesus
Storybook Bible version of the Christmas story (you can hear it
again
here)
-My
Advent conversation with
my Dad
Scripture:
Matthew 4:19-Jesus told them they need to be fishers of
men
Exodus
30-Zachariah’s role as a
priest to light the incense
Malachi
4 - is the last
book of the Old Testament and the last word from God for 400
years
1
Corinthians 12:12-16:41-Biblical Diversity
Ephesians 4:32-have compassion and
understanding
Psalm 66:10-He’s always refining us
Psalm 66:2 //Psalm 115:1 -He makes us better for His
sake
Matthew 6:10-On Earth as it is in Heaven
1
Corinthians 12:12-27-The
body of Christ needs all its parts
Romans
12:6-8-We all have gifts
God has given us
Colossians 1:16 //
Romans 11:33-God is sovereign
Psalm 47:8-God is on His throne
Matthew 20:16 -The last will be first and the first will be
last
Ecclesiastes 12:14 / Romans 2:2 / James 2:13 / Revelation 20:12 - God is a judge, there is a judgement and will
judge those who mistreat His creation
Deuteronomy 32:4 /Job 34:12/ Psalm 9:7-8/ Psalm 99:4 /Isaiah
30:18 / Isaiah
61:8 / -He’s a God
of justice
Ephesians
6:10-18-Armor of God
(Breastplate of righteousness and Shoes of
Peace)
Amos 6:1-At ease in Zion
Luke
2:8-20-the angels came
and sang “glory in the highest”
Matthew
2:16-18-Herod goes on a
killing spree (and Jeremiah 31:15 about Rachel weeping)
Ephesians 6:12-We are not war with flesh and
blood
Luke
1:5-25-Zachariah and
Elizabeth were childless and yet righteous
Psalm
23-He can lead through
the valley of the shadow and still have goodness and mercy follow
me all the days of my life
Isaiah 9:6 /
Ephesians
2:13-18-He’s the prince
of Peace
Luke
12:49-56-The Gospel will
divide families
Revelation
5-He is the Lamb AND the
Lion
Matthew
2-the wise men bringing
their best gifts
Revelation 1:16-Jesus in revelation brings a double edge sword
out of his mouth
Hebrews 4:12-Scripture is a double edged
sword
John 1:14-He is the Word made flesh
Galatians
4:4-7-At the fullness of
time, God sent His Son
Exodus
3-out tending sheep, and
then a burning bush -- also where Moses argues with the
Lord
1
Samuel 17:34-50-killing
a lion and a bear while tending sheep, and then kills
Goliath
Romans 12:1-be a living sacrifice
Mark 3:35 / Luke 10:27 -do the known will of God
Luke 16:10-be faithful with little and you will become
faithful with much
Exodus
30:7-8-incense offered
in the morning and evening
2 Corinthians 2:15-a sweet smelling sacrifice
Judges
6-Gideon and his
multiple chances
Luke 1:22-Zechariah comes out mute and gesturing
Genesis
12 and etc-Abraham and
Sarah
Luke
1:63-65- “The name will
be John” and then he gets to praise God
Luke
1:26-38-The angel comes
to Mary when Elizabeth is 6 months along, fresh out of her
seclusion
Luke 1:15 /
Luke 1:39-56
-John the Baptist is full of the
Spirit in the womb and that overflows to Elizabeth and THAT
overflows to Mary
Luke 1:64-80-Zechariah’s
praise to God when he could speak again
Mathew 2:13-Angel tells them to flee to Egypt, and again
to go home after Herod dies (Matthew 2:19-23)
Romans 5:5-Our hope will not be put to
shame
1
Thessalonians 4:13-5:11-The Savior has come and is coming again
Isaiah 61:3-There’s beauty still coming from the
ashes
Haggai
2 -The Jews came back to
rebuild the temple (Zerubabel’s temple). The Jews who knew the old
temple, cried when they saw the new because they thought it wasn’t
beautiful. The Jews who were born in captivity cried because they
had never seen something so beautiful. A greater glory is going to
be on this shanty of a temple (built out of rubble)
2
Chronicles 7:14 //
Judges
6:25-29 -Heal our land
-- we have to take down some idols
Psalm 46:10-Be still and know who God is
John 8:12-Light of the World
Matthew 2:9-Follow the star
-Revelation
1 - the lampstands, are
just the bearers of the light, they don’t create the light, and we
are called to bear the Light
John 1:8-John was not the light, but called to bear
witness to the Light
Matthew
5:16-Let your light
shine before men
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