Year C    Book of Alternative Services, page 270

The holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

according to Luke.

7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." 10 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" 11 In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" 13 He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." 14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.                                                                                                           Luke 3:7-18

The Gospel of Christ

 

JOY – emotion of pleasure, contented, completed, connected

PART ONE

A          Who are the characters in this reading?

            1)            John, Son of (Ben) Zechariah (The Baptizer)

            2)            crowds that came to be baptized

            3)            Tax collectors, Soldiers

 

B          What are they doing?

            1)            Preaching and Baptizing

            2)            Acting like poisonous snakes toward Rome

            3)            Acting like barren fruit trees towards other Jews

 

C         What is this reading about?

        This reading is about who has power (the wrath of Rome) and how we welcome the kingdom of God by sharing what we have with those who have nothing, and treating others fairly and respectfully.

 

PART TWO

A          What does this message reveal about GOD?

            God's way is not the Roman way.

            Peace gained by the sword is not God's peace.

            A kingdom gained by the sword is not God's kingdom.

           

B          What does this message reveal about US?

        If we act like those who mistreat us we are no better than them. The only thing that changes is the position of power. God's kingdom is not about power struggles.

           

C         What message does God want us to hear?

        Power should belong to God. (one who is more powerful than I is coming, vs. 16

There is a fire that destroys (vs. 9) and a fire that cleanses (vs. 16). God's Spirit frees us of our need for power over others.

 

PART THREE

A          What is the Good News you hear in this reading?

            God is coming to cleanse us for his kingdom.

            God will sift our thoughts, words, and deeds, gathering what is wheat to become the bread of life, and burning away what is chaff.

 

B          How are we to be stewards of this Gospel?

        By trusting God to purify us for his kingdom.

 

C         Write a personal prayer about this reading.

        We often seek power over others. Free us from our craving for power and control. Teach us to trust in your power to save us from ourselves and to be the wheat of your kingdom, and life Jesus become the source of life for all people. Then we will praise you for the Joy your kingdom brings.

 

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

We continue our journey toward Christmas by lighting a third candle, the sign of light and joy. As a sign of desire to welcome the news of God's coming in the Saviour's birth we ask God to help us repent by waiting for the joy that God's relationship brings so we can live in the joy of the kingdom present and coming.

 

            Most holy and merciful Father,

            we confess to you, to one another,

            and to the whole communion of saints

            in heaven and on earth,

            that we have sinned by our own fault

            in thought, word, and deed;

            by what we have done,

            and by what we have left undone.

 

My soul waits for the Lord.             In his word is our Joy.

 

God, we are always striving for power,

Help us to see how this is like poison to others.

 

God, you send us your Son who is more powerful than we,

Help us relinquish our power to him.

 

Jesus, you sift the chaff from our life.

Make it as nothing in our sight.

 

Jesus, you gather like wheat our generosity to those in need

You make us your bread of life and fill us with joy.

 

Accomplish in us, O God, the work of your salvation,

            That we may show forth your glory in the world.

 

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins

through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness,

and by the power of the Holy Spirit  keep us in eternal life. Amen.

 

            We pray with …

            We give thanks for…

            We remember the departed…

 

With thankful hearts we say, Amen.