All Age talk
1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (main text)
Mark 13:24-end.
Prayer – Lord as we think about Scripture take us through these spoken words to the Living Word your Son our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
So, these are exciting days.
I mean, we have a man with a red hat, a red cloak and a white beard on a horse and some funny guys, in funny clothes called Piet…
So as you know, I am not Dutch, and it is important that I get this right…
Parents please talk to your children in their native tongue and if you’d like to translate for them that is fine…
So… All Saints Kids!
Sinterklaas – can you remind me of what happens?
So when does he come…
Okay. I want to try to remember this …
How does he come? By boat.
Where does he come from – from Spain.
So does he come every year – I mean every year – no chance he doesn’t come…
Always comes…
But do you know when he will come to your house – exactly – but you have to be ready yeah?
And does everyone see him? Yes – wow. Or maybe they don’t – they see his gifts.
And does he just come and tickle your nose – what does he do…
He brings presents – his Piet bring presents… wow – nice presents …who IS looking forward to nice presents?
What do we need to do to be ready?
Sing songs? Be good.
Now someone mentioned a book – what is that book?
Put out my shoes…
That is really helpful.
It is good I am reminded.
So it is sure he comes, but not sure exactly when on 5th…
He brings gifts.
Every family will know he’s been.
He knows if you’ve been good or bad.
And you have to get ready.
Brilliant. You know, what we’ve said, makes me think. Sinterklaas teaches us about our Lord Jesus.
Advent is that time in the church – we use purple – for we remember a King. His first coming – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords born in that stable in a manger… and we remember also his second advent, when he will return – physically, as an adult, with the marks on his hands – that he will return again in the future…
The Lord Jesus promised that someday he would return. He said, even if heaven and earth pass away, his words would not.
This has been a crazy autumn for weather. The weather has been so unsure.
Jesus words are sure. ‘’Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.’’
We know Sinterklaas and the Piets will come each year,
it is even more sure that our Lord Jesus will return physically in the future…
And like our Sinterklaas avond we enjoy gifts, when the Lord Jesus returns it is such a good thing.
When we think of Sinterklaas and the excitement, the return of Jesus fills us with even more excitement, I feel.
Paul praises the Corinthians how they ‘eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus to be revealed.’
In Luke, Jesus says: “So when all these cosmic signs begin to happen, stand and look up for your salvation your redemption is near.” While people are fearful, with all the things going on in the world, we look forward with confidence.
Jesus says – it is a great thing he returns.
How our mortal lives will be transformed into immortality,
the things that hinder us from our following of Christ,
the things we struggle with,
the addictions and illnesses we hold, will be taken from us…
We will see the kingdom of God come – when Satan will be defeated, when God’s reign will be over all the earth, a reign of love, justice and righteousness. The one whom we have worshipped we will see with our own eyes. What gifts we will receive what we can look forward to…
But we do have to prepare?
Our inner lives we need to be watchful. Jesus said: keep watch!
Ask God to make us like the Corinthians – to be eagerly waiting for our Lord Jesus to be revealed.
We have to be steadfast in our faith – even when maybe fellow students mock us for being Christian,
or at work people may be unfriendly,
even if we face persecution –
the God of encouragement and endurance – Romans 15 describes him like that – God of encouragement and endurance – what a wonderful name – he wants to be alongside us to encourage us to keep on being faithful, and to help us endure. In fact Paul tells us – he will keep you strong until the end – so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But we have to be watchful and alert – the Lord is coming, we do not know when he will come back.
And to pray, pray we will be not be drawn away by people who teach wrong things, or by what we see going on in the world around us,
pray that when the Lord, the Son of Man comes in power, we will found watching and waiting and can confidently stand before him…
So Sinterklaas – good to be reminded – but Advent – each year reminds us – in Advent, we remember the Lord’s sure return, the gifts he brings and let us prepare for that day which may well be in our lifetimes. Amen.
Let us pray.
Lord, we thank you that you will return again.
We thank you for what you will bring and what we will see
And we ask you, help us to be watchful, alert, expectant and ready for your return. Amen.