Christ Alone the Light that Shatters our Nation’s Darkness

Sermon Theme

As we face a new year it is not hard to seek the ‘darkness’ that threatens us:

There are many named victims of terrorist attacks in Brussels, France, Germany etc Yet so many more died UNNAMED in the horrors of Aleppo, Mosul

It would be easy to think our world lives in the darkness of physical terror (to an extent true) Yet, MOST do not see the far more sinister ‘darkness’ is spiritual

This ‘spiritual darkness’ is that which all our Bible readings point to

Australia today lives in spiritual darkness and distress and is now only beginning to realise it
Miranda Divine (well known columnist and panelist and self avowed not ‘hard core practicing Christian’) in article titled: ‘The Left’s bigotry and hypocrisy toward Catholics and Christians is alive and well” wrote in Oct. 15th 2016 when commenting on the American election campaign: “But it’s no surprise that left-wing elites despise Catholics and Christianity, in general. That’s why we are berated constantly about Islamophobia while the plight of the most persecuted religious group in the world is ignored. Christians could soon be extinct from whole swathes of the Middle East and Africa, ethnically cleansed by Islamists”.

Sermon outline

DESPAIR IN THE DARKNESS
CHRIST, THE LIGHT WHO SHATTERS OUR NIGHT
CHRIST THROUGH THE CHURCH, AUSTRALIA’S ONLY HOPE!

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Readings reproduced on this page:
The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996, 1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan

Sermon Outline

Order of Worship

Readings

Isaiah 9:1–7 (NIV84)

¹Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan—

²The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

³You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.

⁴For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.

⁵Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

⁶For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

⁷Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Text

Matthew 4:12–17 (NIV84)

¹²When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee.

¹³Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—

¹⁴to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁵“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

¹⁶the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

¹⁷From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”