Magnifying Hope: Welcoming All in Need This Advent

 

Summary

In this fourth Sunday of Advent, we gather under the theme "Welcome All in Need," reflecting on Mary's song, the Magnificat, from the first chapter of Luke. This song, a profound expression of praise and hope, invites us to magnify the Lord and recognize the great things He has done for us. It is a call to see beyond the immediate and the visible, to perceive the possibilities for hope and the magnification of God in our lives. As we transition from the busyness of getting here to the stillness of being here, we are reminded of the importance of community and communion, where God is among us.

The Magnificat is not just a song of praise but also a song of justice, highlighting the reversal of fortunes where the humble are lifted, and the proud are brought low. This Advent season, we are encouraged to reflect on how we can magnify hope and love in our lives and communities. The practice of ending each day with a reflection on God's greatness can transform our perspective, allowing us to see the extraordinary miracles in our lives.

As we prepare for Christmas, we are reminded that the season magnifies whatever we are experiencing, whether joy or sorrow. It is a time to recognize that we are the gift, and we have the opportunity to give and receive this gift in community every day. The story of a couple opening their home to neighbors and strangers alike exemplifies the spirit of hospitality and inclusion, making space for people and making them feel seen.

In this season of Advent, let us embrace the call to magnify the Lord in our lives, to welcome all in need, and to be the gift to those around us. May we find joy in the simple acts of kindness and the profound moments of connection, knowing that God's Spirit is at work in and through us.

Key Takeaways:

1. Magnifying God in Our Lives: The Magnificat teaches us to magnify the Lord, not by making God bigger, but by allowing His presence to grow within us. This internal magnification opens our eyes to the possibilities of hope and the extraordinary miracles in our lives. [48:02]

2. The Song of Justice: Mary's song is a powerful reminder of God's justice, where the humble are lifted, and the proud are brought low. It challenges us to reflect on how we can participate in this divine justice, welcoming all in need and working towards a more equitable world. [57:29]

3. The Gift of Community: We are reminded that we are the gift, and we have the opportunity to give and receive this gift in community every day. This Advent season, let us make space for people, include them, and make them feel seen, embodying the spirit of hospitality and love. [01:02:35]

4. Reflecting on God's Greatness: Ending each day with a reflection on God's greatness can transform our perspective, allowing us to see the extraordinary miracles in our lives. This practice of gratitude and reflection magnifies hope and love, even in the midst of challenges. [51:36]

5. Embracing Our Unique Calling: Each of us has a unique calling, a way to serve and bless others. It doesn't have to be grand or recognized by others, but it is significant in God's eyes. Let us embrace our calling and live it out with joy and purpose. [01:00:33]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Transitioning to Worship
[02:00] - Advent Series Introduction
[03:15] - Mary's Song: The Magnificat
[05:00] - Announcements and Community Events
[08:30] - The Six Phases of a Project
[10:00] - The Meaning of "De Nada"
[12:00] - Magnifying God in Our Lives
[14:30] - The Need for Hope
[16:00] - Reflecting on the Day
[18:00] - The Song of Justice
[20:00] - Embracing Our Unique Calling
[22:00] - The Gift of Community
[24:00] - Closing Thoughts and Blessing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Welcome All in Need

Bible Reading:
- Luke 1:46-55 (The Magnificat)

Observation Questions:
1. What are the key themes expressed in Mary's song, the Magnificat, as mentioned in the sermon? [49:51]
2. How does the sermon describe the concept of "magnifying God" in our lives? [48:02]
3. What examples of hospitality and inclusion were shared in the sermon, and how do they relate to the theme of "Welcome All in Need"? [01:03:47]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the Magnificat challenge traditional views of power and justice, and what implications does this have for our understanding of divine justice? [57:29]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Advent season can magnify our current experiences, whether they are joyful or sorrowful? [01:02:35]
3. How does the practice of reflecting on God's greatness at the end of each day transform our perspective, according to the sermon? [51:36]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God's presence magnified in your life. How did it change your perspective or actions? [48:02]
2. The sermon encourages us to be a gift to those around us. What is one specific way you can embody this idea in your community this week? [01:02:35]
3. Consider the concept of divine justice as presented in the Magnificat. How can you actively participate in promoting justice and equity in your daily life? [57:29]
4. The sermon highlights the importance of hospitality and making others feel seen. Who in your life might need this kind of welcome, and how can you offer it to them? [01:03:47]
5. How can you incorporate a daily practice of reflecting on God's greatness into your routine, and what impact do you hope it will have on your outlook? [51:36]
6. Identify a unique calling or gift you have that can serve others. How can you use it intentionally this Advent season to bless someone in need? [01:00:33]
7. The sermon mentions the magnification of emotions during the Advent season. How can you ensure that your focus remains on hope and love, even amidst challenges? [01:02:35]

Devotional

Day 1: Magnifying God's Presence Within Us
The Magnificat, Mary's song of praise, invites us to magnify the Lord by allowing His presence to grow within us. This internal magnification is not about making God bigger, but about expanding our awareness of His presence and work in our lives. As we open our hearts to this divine presence, we begin to see the extraordinary miracles and possibilities of hope that surround us daily. This Advent season, we are called to transition from the busyness of life to a place of stillness, where we can truly perceive God's greatness and the hope He offers. By reflecting on God's greatness each day, we can transform our perspective and recognize the extraordinary in the ordinary. [48:02]

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth." (Ephesians 3:14-18, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can invite God's presence to grow within you today? How might this change your perspective on your current circumstances?


Day 2: Participating in Divine Justice
Mary's song, the Magnificat, is a powerful reminder of God's justice, where the humble are lifted, and the proud are brought low. This song challenges us to reflect on how we can participate in this divine justice, welcoming all in need and working towards a more equitable world. As we consider the reversal of fortunes highlighted in the Magnificat, we are encouraged to examine our own lives and communities, seeking ways to lift the humble and bring justice to those who are marginalized. This Advent season, let us be mindful of the ways we can embody God's justice and love in our interactions with others. [57:29]

"Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place." (Jeremiah 22:3, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your community is in need of justice and support? How can you take a tangible step today to lift them up and participate in God's justice?


Day 3: The Gift of Community
We are reminded that we are the gift, and we have the opportunity to give and receive this gift in community every day. This Advent season, let us make space for people, include them, and make them feel seen, embodying the spirit of hospitality and love. The story of a couple opening their home to neighbors and strangers alike exemplifies this spirit of hospitality and inclusion. As we prepare for Christmas, let us recognize that the season magnifies whatever we are experiencing, whether joy or sorrow, and that we have the opportunity to be a gift to those around us. [01:02:35]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you create a space of welcome and inclusion in your community today? Who might need to feel seen and valued by you?


Day 4: Reflecting on God's Greatness
Ending each day with a reflection on God's greatness can transform our perspective, allowing us to see the extraordinary miracles in our lives. This practice of gratitude and reflection magnifies hope and love, even in the midst of challenges. By taking time to acknowledge God's work in our lives, we can cultivate a heart of gratitude and a deeper awareness of His presence. This Advent season, let us commit to this practice of reflection, allowing it to shape our hearts and minds as we prepare for the celebration of Christ's birth. [51:36]

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy." (Psalm 103:2-4, ESV)

Reflection: What are three specific things you can thank God for today? How might this practice of gratitude change your outlook on life?


Day 5: Embracing Our Unique Calling
Each of us has a unique calling, a way to serve and bless others. It doesn't have to be grand or recognized by others, but it is significant in God's eyes. Let us embrace our calling and live it out with joy and purpose. As we reflect on the Magnificat and the call to magnify the Lord in our lives, we are reminded that our unique gifts and callings are part of God's plan to bring hope and love to the world. This Advent season, let us seek to understand and embrace our unique calling, trusting that God will use us to bless others in meaningful ways. [01:00:33]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you can use your unique gifts to serve others today? How can you embrace your calling with joy and purpose?

Quotes

"To go up on some stage somewhere and take a bow, that's not what it's about. In fact, we just had a long-serving member of this congregation hand over a ministerial letter to the president of the United States, and he said, ministry, and she told me about four or five times, I don't want any kind of recognition. I'm a private person. I want you to respect my privacy. She deliberately didn't want any kind of recognition. It's not why she did it. It's not why she gave her heart. That's not why she gave her life, right?" [00:47:09] (36 seconds)


"There's a sense of it's going to magnify, right? It's only going to get bigger. I love the sense that Vicki talked about magnifying God, right? We use that word, mostly in an optical sense, right? Magnification, right? That's what my glasses do besides clarifying things. They don't just make you look bigger. Objects are a little farther away than in reality, right? It doesn't just do that, but like if we're looking through a microscope, or if we're looking through a telescope, right? The object that we're looking at, whether it's a cell or a planet, right? It doesn't actually get any bigger, does it?" [00:48:38] (41 seconds)


"What happens is it gets bigger in us. The magnification happens in us, like in our head, in our mind. You know, we can suddenly see things in the case of a cell or a planet that we had no idea were there to begin with. And the way that applies to what I was just talking about is we can see possibilities for hope. And God is magnified in our lives that we didn't see before, that seemed too minuscule to see. I've seen, because I get to do this, I've seen the devotions for today and tomorrow." [00:49:23] (44 seconds)


"Think about that. You get pretty good at it after a while, right? You'd have it memorized every night at Vespers. As the sun goes down, my soul magnifies the Lord, for He has done great things. What if every day for you ended like that? Talk about magnifying hope. Talk about magnifying love. At one point, this sermon was going to be about songs, but I've done that already a couple of weeks ago, and so I can't talk about songs, but I just, I love to think about and sing and build up my heart with music." [00:51:36] (45 seconds)


"So, I don't know how it is that you choose to do it, but I beg you, I encourage you, make some time to take that second look at your day, at your week, at your month, and to take that second look, that looking with the eyes, what does Jesus say? Of the heart, at your life, and see the extraordinary miracle, that transpires there, in, through, and all around you. The second part that I want to mention about this text is that there's two parts of this song. I don't know if you noticed it while Bill was reading." [00:56:00] (40 seconds)


"Part two is this mess, I don't know if you noticed while Sandy was signing it, but there were some, there were some interesting look at faces she was making when she said, the rich will go away empty, and those who are on their thrones, are you doing it again? There we go. And those who sit upon their high thrones, brought low. It's a song of justice. which tends to happen when God is magnified in our souls and in our world. Make no mistake." [00:57:29] (43 seconds)


"Gather yourself around truth and hope and love and the energy that comes from the Spirit that propels us out of bed and that lays us resting in peace at the end of the day or at the end of our lives, recognizing that God's Spirit has borne us along. No, we don't have to solve every little thing, but do your thing for God's sake and for the sake of others around you. So I want to invite you to think maybe not about your favorite song this time around, but what is your thing? It doesn't have to be a whole lot of things." [00:58:11] (49 seconds)


"For some people, it could be feeding. When I was thinking about this title, Welcome All in Need, sometimes we focus on what that need might be rather than the all we're talking about. I remember serving along with a youth group in Wilmington at a soup kitchen. It was St. Andrew's, I think, in Wilmington. And one of the quirks about this soup kitchen is there was no place to stand behind the serving line. Everything was served at the table and everyone ate together." [00:58:37] (34 seconds)


"And sometimes some of the volunteers would go, that was like a new thing. Because most of the volunteering we do, there's a line between those who are doing the helping and those who are receiving the help. God's Spirit has a way of blessing us. God's Spirit has a way of blessing us. God's Spirit has a way of blessing us. God's Spirit has a way of blessing us. God's Spirit has a way of blessing us. God's Spirit has a way of blessing us. Blurring that line, have you noticed? About who's getting help. What is it that people need? Someone needs you." [00:59:22] (29 seconds)


"Bound up with a calling and launched into this world with a calling. I thought about mine with children, which I've sort of struggled against. It's not something I think I'm ever going to get a reward for. But I just haven't been able to get away from this calling to respect and honor and have a ball with children. Vicki and I were part of leading youth groups and having them lead the way. And I thought about that. And I thought about us for about 30 years." [01:00:33] (29 seconds)


"We're not about this work for anyone who might see. We're about this work because of the miracle of God's Spirit magnifying in our lives. It's the way we live. I thought about telling you about a movie that we saw this week. It was a new Christmas movie called That Christmas on Netflix. I don't know if anybody has seen it, but I was impressed with a couple of things about this. You know, a lot of the Christmas fair can be a little schmaltzy, can be a little overly sentimental, and this was one that attempted to embrace all that this season means." [01:02:35] (40 seconds)


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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?