Ep. 107 - Sermon - How to Have REAL Christmas Spirit - Zephaniah 3:14-17, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18

This sermon was preached on December 15, 2024, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Helenville, Wisconsin, by Pastor Titus Buelow. These texts are connected to the third Sunday in Advent as we prepare our hearts and minds for Christ's coming! Zephaniah 3:14-17 Sing, Daughter Zion;    shout aloud, Israel!Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,    Daughter Jerusalem!15 The Lord has taken away your punishment,    he has turned back your enemy.The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;    never again will you fear any harm.16 On that day    they will say to Jerusalem,“Do not fear, Zion;    do not let your hands hang limp.17 The Lord your God is with you,    the Mighty Warrior who saves.He will take great delight in you;    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,    but will rejoice over you with singing.” Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Luke 3:7-18 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. 11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” 15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. 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 barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.