God's Solidarity: Embracing the Marginalized This Advent
Summary
### Summary
Greetings from Chicago, where I am honored to share this message with you from North Park Covenant Church. Reflecting on the challenges of 2020, I am proud of Sanctuary Covenant Church and its leadership. Today, we explore the theme of God’s solidarity with the marginalized, especially during Advent. Our society is highly competitive, often marginalizing those who are less privileged. This mirrors the ancient world, where social hierarchies were rigid and the lowly were often dehumanized. However, the Bible consistently shows that God works through the marginalized to bring about His purposes.
From the expulsion of Adam and Eve to the murder of Abel by Cain, humanity has a history of domination and violence. This is evident in white supremacy, patriarchy, and the devaluation of children. Yet, God’s strategy to dismantle sin involves undermining the powerful by elevating the marginalized. Jesus, the Son of God, came not as an emperor but as a marginalized Jew under Roman oppression. Advent celebrates this divine reversal, where the lowly are lifted, and the self-important are brought down.
Isaiah 11:1-5 speaks of a shoot from the stump of Jesse, symbolizing the Messiah who will bring justice and righteousness. This prophecy aligns with God’s consistent choice to work through the marginalized, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:7-8 and 24:17-22. God’s love for the marginalized is evident throughout Scripture, and Advent invites us to recognize this aspect of His character.
Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:51-55 echoes this theme, celebrating God’s deliverance of the lowly and the scattering of the proud. This challenges us to reflect on our faith and its alignment with God’s heart for the marginalized. African American Christianity, for instance, has long confronted American exceptionalism and its idolization of power and status.
Jesus’ life exemplifies God’s solidarity with the marginalized. Born in humble circumstances, He lived a life of service and obedience, even unto death. This is a powerful reminder that God empowers the marginalized to reveal His character to the world. The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 emphasizes that God chooses the lowly to shame the wise and the strong.
In my ministry, I have seen the transformative power of God working from the bottom up. The Sanctuary Covenant Church in North Minneapolis is a testament to this, serving as a beacon of hope and transformation. As we celebrate Advent, let us remember that we see Jesus most clearly on the margins, and let us strive to live and love as He did.
### Key Takeaways
1. God’s Solidarity with the Marginalized: Throughout history, God has consistently shown His solidarity with the marginalized. From the Israelites in Egypt to the oppressed in our society today, God’s heart is with those who are overlooked and devalued. This is a powerful reminder that God’s love transcends social hierarchies and human prejudices. [12:46]
2. Advent’s Divine Reversal: Advent celebrates the divine reversal where the lowly are lifted, and the self-important are brought down. Jesus, the Son of God, came as a marginalized Jew, embodying God’s strategy to undermine the powerful by elevating the marginalized. This challenges us to align our lives with God’s heart for justice and humility. [20:15]
3. Biblical Consistency in God’s Choice: The Bible consistently shows that God works through the marginalized to bring about His purposes. From Deuteronomy to Isaiah, God’s choice of the lowly to fulfill His promises is evident. This invites us to see the marginalized not as victims but as vital participants in God’s redemptive plan. [25:30]
4. Mary’s Magnificat and Prophetic Condemnation: Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1 celebrates God’s deliverance of the lowly and the scattering of the proud. This prophetic song challenges us to confront societal structures that idolize power and status, reminding us that true Christian faith aligns with God’s heart for the marginalized. [30:45]
5. Empowerment of the Marginalized: God empowers the marginalized to reveal His character to the world. The Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians highlight that God chooses the lowly to shame the wise and the strong. This is a call to recognize the spiritual strength and wisdom that often reside in those whom society overlooks. [40:10]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[0:45] - Greetings from Chicago
[2:00] - Reflection on 2020 Challenges
[3:30] - Competitive Society and Marginalization
[6:15] - Historical Context of Social Hierarchies
[9:00] - Biblical Perspective on Marginalization
[12:46] - God’s Strategy to Dismantle Sin
[15:30] - Advent and Divine Reversal
[18:00] - Isaiah 11:1-5 and God’s Promises
[20:15] - God’s Consistent Choice of the Lowly
[25:30] - Deuteronomy and God’s Love for the Marginalized
[30:45] - Mary’s Magnificat and Prophetic Condemnation
[35:00] - Jesus’ Life and Solidarity with the Marginalized
[40:10] - Empowerment of the Marginalized
[45:00] - Personal Reflections and Ministry Experiences
[50:00] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Isaiah 11:1-5: "A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins."
2. Luke 1:51-55: "He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
3. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29: "Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Isaiah 11:1-5, what characteristics will the Messiah possess, and how will He judge the poor and the meek?
2. In Luke 1:51-55, what actions does Mary attribute to God in her Magnificat, and who are the beneficiaries of these actions?
3. What does 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 say about the types of people God chooses to fulfill His purposes, and why does He choose them?
4. How does the sermon describe the way God undermines the powerful and brings dignity to the marginalized? [12:46]
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does Isaiah 11:1-5 suggest about God's view of justice and righteousness, especially in relation to the marginalized?
2. How does Mary's Magnificat in Luke 1:51-55 reflect the theme of divine reversal, and what does this imply about God's priorities?
3. Why does Paul emphasize in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 that God chooses the lowly and despised to shame the wise and strong? What message is Paul conveying about God's kingdom?
4. How does the sermon challenge contemporary Christians to align their faith with God's heart for the marginalized? [30:45]
### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on Isaiah 11:1-5, how can you personally contribute to bringing justice and righteousness to the marginalized in your community?
2. Mary's Magnificat speaks of God lifting up the lowly and filling the hungry with good things. How can you actively participate in this divine reversal in your daily life? [30:45]
3. Considering 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, think of a time when you felt overlooked or undervalued. How can this experience help you empathize with and support others who are marginalized?
4. The sermon mentions that God works through those on the bottom to bring about His purposes. How can you recognize and support the spiritual strength and wisdom in those whom society often overlooks? [40:10]
5. The sermon challenges us to confront societal structures that idolize power and status. What specific steps can you take to challenge these structures in your own life and community? [30:45]
6. How can you ensure that your faith and actions align with God's heart for the marginalized, as exemplified by Jesus' life and ministry? [35:00]
7. Reflect on a time when you witnessed or experienced the transformative power of God working from the bottom up. How did this impact your faith, and how can you share this experience with others? [45:00]
Devotional
Day 1: God’s Heart for the Marginalized
Description: Throughout history, God has consistently shown His solidarity with the marginalized. From the Israelites in Egypt to the oppressed in our society today, God’s heart is with those who are overlooked and devalued. This is a powerful reminder that God’s love transcends social hierarchies and human prejudices. In a world that often values power and status, it is crucial to remember that God sees and values every individual, especially those who are marginalized. This divine solidarity is a call for us to align our hearts with God’s and to advocate for justice and compassion in our communities. [12:46]
Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV): "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"
Reflection: Think of someone in your community who is often overlooked or marginalized. How can you show them God’s love and solidarity today?
Day 2: Advent’s Divine Reversal
Description: Advent celebrates the divine reversal where the lowly are lifted, and the self-important are brought down. Jesus, the Son of God, came as a marginalized Jew, embodying God’s strategy to undermine the powerful by elevating the marginalized. This challenges us to align our lives with God’s heart for justice and humility. In a society that often glorifies power and status, Advent reminds us that true greatness is found in humility and service. As we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ, let us remember that He came to lift the lowly and challenge the proud. [20:15]
Luke 1:52-53 (ESV): "He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you may be seeking power or status. How can you practice humility and service in that area today?
Day 3: God’s Consistent Choice of the Lowly
Description: The Bible consistently shows that God works through the marginalized to bring about His purposes. From Deuteronomy to Isaiah, God’s choice of the lowly to fulfill His promises is evident. This invites us to see the marginalized not as victims but as vital participants in God’s redemptive plan. By choosing the lowly, God demonstrates that His power is made perfect in weakness. This challenges us to value and uplift those whom society often overlooks, recognizing their unique role in God’s kingdom. [25:30]
1 Samuel 2:8 (ESV): "He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt overlooked or undervalued. How did God use that experience to reveal His purpose in your life? How can you encourage someone who is feeling the same way today?
Day 4: Mary’s Magnificat and Prophetic Condemnation
Description: Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1 celebrates God’s deliverance of the lowly and the scattering of the proud. This prophetic song challenges us to confront societal structures that idolize power and status, reminding us that true Christian faith aligns with God’s heart for the marginalized. Mary’s song is a powerful declaration of God’s justice and mercy, calling us to reflect on our own lives and the ways we can participate in God’s redemptive work. It is a reminder that God’s kingdom is one of justice, mercy, and humility. [30:45]
Luke 1:51-53 (ESV): "He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty."
Reflection: Consider the societal structures around you that idolize power and status. How can you actively work to challenge and change these structures in your community?
Day 5: Empowerment of the Marginalized
Description: God empowers the marginalized to reveal His character to the world. The Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians highlight that God chooses the lowly to shame the wise and the strong. This is a call to recognize the spiritual strength and wisdom that often reside in those whom society overlooks. By empowering the marginalized, God demonstrates that His kingdom operates on principles of justice, mercy, and humility. This challenges us to seek out and uplift the voices of the marginalized, recognizing their vital role in God’s redemptive plan. [40:10]
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."
Reflection: Think of a marginalized group in your community. How can you support and empower them to reveal God’s character and love to the world?
Quotes
1. "We live in a competitive society. I mean, just think about it. We hold contests for almost everything, even the mundane. We have contests to identify the most conventionally beautiful person. We have contests to discover chefs who can whip up delicacies from unknown ingredients in a matter of minutes. We have contests to reward racers who are the fastest at driving cars. In circles, we see that wealth, physical strength, political and other social connections grants access to this rarefied air of the upper strata of our nation's hierarchy." [5:00] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Part of God's strategy in dismantling sin was to undermine the powerful. God undermines the powerful in the world by working through those on the bottom. God undermines the powerful in the world by bringing dignity to the marginalized. God undermines the powerful in the world by joining in solidarity with the lowly. God undermines the powerful in the world by sending his one and only son not as emperor, but as a baby. The Son of God comes as one on the margins." [15:00] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Advent acknowledges and celebrates the God of the universe, who visited earth as a marginalized jew under the oppressive roman empire. Advent acknowledges and celebrates a God who tears down the self important while raising up the lowly. Advent acknowledges and celebrates Jesus, the one who did not consider equality with God as something to use for personal gain. Instead, he poured himself out, taking on the form of a slave, obedient to his father, even to the point of death." [16:00] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Competitive societies are essentially darwinian in that it's about survival of the fittest. Only the strong survive. And even though many christians denounce Darwin and his theory of evolution, those same christians are often social darwinists. They tell people on the bottom of society to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. And these christians tell people in poverty that it's their fault that they're poor, no matter how hard these people work." [24:00] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If God is truly on the side of the marginalized, what might that say about christian faith in our time, in our country? I mean, there are times when white evangelicalism misses the mark of what christian faith should look like. I mean, consider what this religion scholar says. African american Christianity has continuously confronted the nation with troubling questions about american exceptionalism. Perhaps the most troubling was this. If Christ came as the suffering servant, which, by the way, is the way Isaiah presents him, suffering servante, who resembled him more, the master or the slave suffering slave." [32:00] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "To be chosen in this perspective means joining company not with the powerful and the rich, but with those who suffer, the outcast, the poor and the despised. So Advent teaches us that not only is God on the side of the marginalized, God visits the world through the marginalized son of God. Back to that Isaiah passage. Right at the start, the deliverer is called a shoot from Jesse's stump, a branch from his roots. The image of shoot and branch is meant to describe a small size. In other words, Isaiah is emphasizing the apparent insignificance of this deliverer. Yet even though he appears insignificant, he will be empowered by the spirit of God." [34:00] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "We have been taught sometimes that only the powerful in our society can teach us anything. But oppressed and marginalized people are our most powerful teachers, if only we are ready to listen and learn. My great aunt lick, in the most powerful city in the world, Washington DC, and honestly, I think she looked more like Jesus than people in another part of DC who claimed to know Jesus and pushed to get near the president. These professional christians don't represent Jesus as well as people like my own great aunt." [45:00] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "God is using you because you know that God is on the side of those that society overlooks, often because of our race or income or even gender. God is not only on the side of the marginalized. God comes to us as a vulnerable human being. And I'm trying to say that if you want to see Jesus, you don't look to the powerful. You look to the relatively powerless. We see Jesus on the margins." [50:00] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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