Embracing the Wonderful Counselor This Christmas Season
Summary
In today's gathering, we celebrated the profound significance of baptism and the flexibility it offers in different circumstances. Baptism, as a symbolic act, represents our identification with Jesus Christ, mirroring His death, burial, and resurrection. While immersion is our usual practice, we acknowledged the historical guidance from the Didache, which allows for alternative methods when necessary, such as pouring water, as we did today for one of our candidates facing medical challenges.
As we transition into the Christmas season, we are reminded of the complexities and challenges that often accompany this time of year. Despite the festive atmosphere, many of us grapple with personal and global issues, from family dynamics to societal unrest. In the midst of this, we turn to the ancient words of the prophet Isaiah, who foretold the coming of a Messiah, a Wonderful Counselor, who would bring hope, peace, and guidance.
This Wonderful Counselor, Jesus, is not just a figure of history but a present reality offering supernatural wisdom and guidance. The Hebrew term "pele yoetz" encapsulates this idea of a counselor whose wisdom is miraculous and beyond human comprehension. Jesus, as the Wonderful Counselor, provides guidance that is rooted in divine wisdom and moral integrity, offering us a path through life's most challenging situations.
In our exploration of Jesus as the Wonderful Counselor, we are encouraged to bring our full selves—our thoughts, emotions, and realities—into His presence. He invites us to be fully known and fully loved, offering guidance that transcends human understanding. This Christmas, we are reminded that we have access to this divine counselor, who is with us in every situation, offering love, acceptance, and supernatural guidance.
Key Takeaways:
1. Baptism as a Symbol of Faith: Baptism is a powerful symbol of our identification with Jesus Christ, representing His death, burial, and resurrection. It is a public declaration of faith, adaptable in its practice to accommodate different circumstances, as guided by historical teachings like the Didache. [32:03]
2. Navigating the Christmas Season: The Christmas season, while joyful, can also bring stress and anxiety. Amidst the busyness and challenges, we are invited to find hope and peace in the promise of the Messiah, who offers guidance and support through life's complexities. [56:51]
3. Understanding the Wonderful Counselor: Jesus, as the Wonderful Counselor, offers supernatural wisdom and guidance. The Hebrew term "pele yoetz" signifies a counselor whose wisdom is beyond human comprehension, providing divine insight and moral guidance. [01:02:40]
4. Being Fully Known and Loved: Jesus invites us to bring our full selves into His presence, where we are fully known and fully loved. In His presence, love becomes greater than fear, and we find guidance and healing for our deepest wounds. [01:09:06]
5. Access to Divine Guidance: This Christmas, we are reminded that we have access to a Wonderful Counselor who offers supernatural guidance and support. Jesus, as Emmanuel, is with us, providing wisdom and love in every situation we face. [01:12:17]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [32:03] - Baptism and the Didache
- [49:29] - Christmas Preparations
- [51:52] - Audience Participation
- [52:31] - Christmas Season Reflections
- [54:25] - Facing Life's Messes
- [56:51] - Hope in Isaiah's Prophecy
- [58:25] - The Promise of the Messiah
- [58:58] - The Significance of Jesus' Names
- [01:00:26] - Understanding "Wonderful"
- [01:02:40] - The Role of a Counselor
- [01:05:39] - Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life
- [01:07:20] - The Impact of a Changed Heart
- [01:09:06] - Being Fully Known and Loved
- [01:12:17] - Access to the Wonderful Counselor
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 9:6-7
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the different methods of baptism mentioned in the sermon, and why was an alternative method used for one of the candidates? [32:03]
2. How does the sermon describe the challenges and emotions people often face during the Christmas season? [54:25]
3. What does the Hebrew term "pele yoetz" mean, and how is it used to describe Jesus in the sermon? [01:02:40]
4. According to the sermon, what does it mean to be fully known and fully loved by Jesus? [01:09:06]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the flexibility in baptism practices, as discussed in the sermon, reflect the adaptability of faith in accommodating different circumstances? [32:03]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Christmas season can be both a time of joy and a time of stress? How does the promise of the Messiah offer hope in this context? [56:51]
3. What implications does the title "Wonderful Counselor" have for understanding Jesus' role in providing guidance and wisdom? [01:02:40]
4. How does the concept of being fully known and loved by Jesus challenge or affirm one's understanding of divine love and acceptance? [01:09:06]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a situation in your life where you need guidance. How can you seek the wisdom of the Wonderful Counselor in this situation? [01:12:53]
2. The sermon mentions the stress and anxiety that can accompany the Christmas season. What practical steps can you take to find peace and hope during this time? [54:25]
3. Consider the idea of being fully known and fully loved by Jesus. How does this understanding impact your relationship with Him and with others? [01:09:06]
4. How can you incorporate the teachings of the Wonderful Counselor into your daily decision-making and interactions with others? [01:02:40]
5. Identify a personal or spiritual wound that you need healing from. How can you invite Jesus into this area of your life for guidance and healing? [01:12:53]
6. During this Christmas season, what specific actions can you take to spend time with the Wonderful Counselor and deepen your relationship with Him? [01:12:53]
7. How can you share the message of hope and guidance offered by the Wonderful Counselor with someone in your life who may be struggling this season? [01:12:17]
Devotional
Day 1: Baptism as a Living Symbol of Faith
Baptism is more than a ritual; it is a profound symbol of our identification with Jesus Christ, representing His death, burial, and resurrection. This act of faith is a public declaration of our commitment to follow Him. While immersion is the traditional method, the flexibility in its practice, as guided by historical teachings like the Didache, allows for adaptations to accommodate different circumstances. This adaptability was demonstrated when one of the candidates, facing medical challenges, was baptized through pouring water. This reminds us that the essence of baptism lies in its symbolism and the heart's intention, not merely in the method. [32:03]
Colossians 2:12 (ESV): "Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead."
Reflection: Consider your own baptism or the concept of baptism. How does it serve as a reminder of your commitment to live a life that reflects Jesus' teachings and sacrifice?
Day 2: Finding Peace Amidst the Christmas Chaos
The Christmas season, while often filled with joy and celebration, can also bring stress and anxiety due to personal and global challenges. Family dynamics, societal unrest, and personal struggles can overshadow the festive atmosphere. In these moments, we are invited to find hope and peace in the promise of the Messiah, who offers guidance and support through life's complexities. The ancient words of the prophet Isaiah remind us of the coming of a Wonderful Counselor, who brings hope and peace. This season, let us focus on the true meaning of Christmas and the peace that Jesus, the Messiah, offers us. [56:51]
Isaiah 9:6 (ESV): "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Reflection: What specific stressors or anxieties are you facing this Christmas season? How can you intentionally seek the peace and guidance of the Messiah in these areas?
Day 3: Embracing the Wisdom of the Wonderful Counselor
Jesus, as the Wonderful Counselor, offers supernatural wisdom and guidance that transcends human understanding. The Hebrew term "pele yoetz" signifies a counselor whose wisdom is miraculous and beyond human comprehension. This divine insight provides moral guidance and a path through life's most challenging situations. As we explore the role of Jesus as the Wonderful Counselor, we are encouraged to bring our full selves—our thoughts, emotions, and realities—into His presence. He invites us to be fully known and fully loved, offering guidance that is rooted in divine wisdom and moral integrity. [01:02:40]
James 1:5 (ESV): "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need divine wisdom and guidance? How can you seek the Wonderful Counselor's insight and direction today?
Day 4: Being Fully Known and Fully Loved
In the presence of Jesus, we are invited to bring our full selves—our thoughts, emotions, and realities. He offers a space where we are fully known and fully loved, providing guidance and healing for our deepest wounds. In His presence, love becomes greater than fear, and we find acceptance and supernatural guidance. This Christmas, we are reminded that we have access to this divine counselor, who is with us in every situation, offering love and acceptance. Let us embrace the opportunity to be fully known and loved by Jesus, allowing His love to transform our lives. [01:09:06]
Psalm 139:1-2 (ESV): "O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar."
Reflection: What fears or insecurities are you holding onto that prevent you from being fully known by Jesus? How can you allow His love to overcome these fears today?
Day 5: Accessing Divine Guidance in Every Situation
This Christmas, we are reminded that we have access to a Wonderful Counselor who offers supernatural guidance and support. Jesus, as Emmanuel, is with us, providing wisdom and love in every situation we face. His presence is a constant source of strength and guidance, helping us navigate the complexities of life. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us remember that we are never alone. We have a divine counselor who walks with us, offering wisdom and love in every circumstance. Let us seek His guidance and embrace the peace that comes from knowing He is with us. [01:12:17]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: In what specific situation do you need to trust in the Wonderful Counselor's guidance? How can you acknowledge His presence and wisdom in this area of your life today?
Quotes
Go ahead and grab a seat. Man, you guys sound great today. So do you guys. We're going to press pause on the service for a minute to do something really special. If you have been a part of our church, you know that baptism is one of our favorite times. And today we have two baptisms that we get to celebrate with those being baptized and with all of you. But today is a little bit different because what do you do when you, for whatever reason, are not able to use your normal mode of baptism? [00:30:26] (33 seconds)
And they say in this about what do we do when it comes to things like fasting and baptism and communion. And this is what the Didache says about baptism. This is how you should baptize. Baptize in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit in running water. If you don't have running water, then baptize in still water. [00:31:42] (21 seconds)
If you have neither, then just pour water. On the head three times in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. So if you remember, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River and we built a tank. And full disclosure, as one who regularly gets in there to help with this, it's warm and it's lovely. [00:32:08] (19 seconds)
There's a lot to take in at the international level, at the national level, at the city level, at our own personal family levels. It's a lot to take in. So what do we do? Is there any hope? Is there any help for us? I'm going to argue that we're going to find some help this year by going to one of the oldest writings that we have on record and looking and seeing from a prophet named Isaiah that there is actually reason for hope and joy and peace and love this Christmas season. [00:56:51] (31 seconds)
Now our beliefs, our Christian theology teaches that this passage is a reference to the promised Messiah that would one day come and liberate his people and establish his kingdom. And we believe that that Messiah has already come and his name is Jesus Christ and that the world actually, whether they know it or not, they are celebrating his birthday when they celebrate Christmas. That's what we hold to and that Christmas is a time of celebrating that baby. [00:57:58] (27 seconds)
So what's so special about this Jesus, this baby born in a manger? Well, a lot. And if you have ever read Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Juliet has the famous line, what's in a name? Well, when it comes to Jesus, a lot. A lot is in a name. So what we're going to do this year is we are going to unpack the four titles that are given or names given to this Messiah. [00:59:11] (24 seconds)
And it's used in the Bible specifically to talk about acts of God that were just way bigger, way better than we thought. One of the best examples of this is if you go back to Exodus chapter 15. If you don't know the story of Exodus, God's chosen people are slaves in Egypt. They come out and the way God liberates them is he walks them through the Red Sea. And you're like, well, that's not cool. That's a lot of water. Yeah, he stopped it. They walked through. The army chased them. He closed it, destroyed the world's biggest army, saved his people. And what did they say in their song of praise to God? He is Pele, the way he saved us. That was wonderful. That was miraculous. That was supernatural. That was God -sized. That was so much bigger or better than we could have comprehended or expected. That's wonderful. [01:01:13] (44 seconds)
You have a wonderful counselor who is able and capable to not only give you good advice, but miraculous, supernatural guidance to help you and guide you to answers that are far beyond your expectations. So when we put these... When we put these together, when we put this pele -yo -ets, this wonderful counselor together, what we start to see is that this promised Messiah will be a source of miraculous insight, miraculous wisdom, offering guidance that is far beyond human comprehension, far beyond human understanding, far beyond human expectations. [01:03:47] (36 seconds)
And Kevin said, I said, I'm doing this series on Isaiah 9 -6. And what do you think? And he goes, okay. So my immediate gut level response is, I'm going to do this series on Isaiah 9 -6. The question was, what does wonderful counselor mean to you? He said, my immediate gut level response is, one who welcomes and invites us with all that we bring to him, our thoughts, emotions, physical and relational realities, and enters into our story with us, helping us discern what is true about ourselves and what we are bringing to him. In his presence, love becomes greater than fear. [01:09:06] (36 seconds)
The best part is, the great news about Christmas, is that you have access to such a counselor. I have access to such a counselor. His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor. His name shall be called Emmanuel. God with you, entering into your story and being with you in it. His name shall be called Jesus. [01:12:17] (29 seconds)
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