This is part of the worship series,
"Amazing Love—An Advent Series Based on Hosea"
Series Introduction
Advent 1 | Advent 2 | Advent 3 | Advent 4
Fourth Sunday in Advent
Flourish Like Grain
Scripture
Hosea 14; John 12:23–26
Song Suggestions for Week Four
“My Soul in Stillness Waits” Haugen
“Change My Heart, O God” Espinosa
“Savior of the Nations, Come,” Luther
“Breathe on Me, Breath of God” Hatch
“O Christians, Haste” Thomson
“To God Be the Glory” Mills
Call to Worship
From Scripture: Psalm 96
In Song: “Humble Thyself in the Sight of the Lord” Hudson
Lighting the Advent Wreath
Child: Why do we light four candles today?
Parent: We light four candles today because today is the shortest, darkest day of the year. We need more light today than ever.
Child: I remember too that Jesus is the light of the world.
Parent: Every candle we light reminds us that the light of Jesus pushes darkness away from our lives and God’s world.
Advent Candle Song
“Light One Candle”(st. 1–4) Sleeth
Sermon Helps: “Flourish Like Grain”
The final Advent sermon before the Christmas celebration is based on the surprisingly joyful and hopeful chapter 14. Replete with images of growth and blossoming, this passage must surely have seemed unrealistic during Assyria’s great threat to Israel’s territory and sovereignty. And, in fact, Israel did succumb to Assyria’s conquest. So then, where were hope and joy?
This passage reminds God’s people not to place hope in human might as Israel had done by trying alliances with Egypt, even with Assyria itself. (Psalm 146 would surely be a fitting reference somewhere in this service, perhaps as a reading immediately following the sermon.) Instead, God promises to change the definition of prosperity and security. Love and forgiveness will replace superiority and power politics.
Two images from the Scripture passages can be used in this sermon for vivid communication of Christian truth. From Hosea 14 comes the image of “dew to Israel.” In that arid land, the dew would at rare times be so heavy that it would provide enough moisture for growth. That is, int he most unlikely place and time, God’s love, blessing, and power can take root and flourish. Yet the second image from John 12 of the seed dying turns human attention to Christ—who flourished by dying, who turned human power upside down.
Thus in Advent and at Christmas, which is the time of God’s “coming down,” God’s people also must look forward to Good Friday, to the death of God’s Son and Seed, and to Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus sacrificed himself—but in dying brought new life. God’s people can sacrifice themselves by bringing hope and life to hopeless refugees, by waiting for wayward children. Or, to return to the guiding image of Hosea, a closing example can be made of a spouse sacrificing herself or himself, waiting beyond human endurance for the other to return.
Revised Common Lectionary
Year B: Advent—Fourth Sunday of Advent
