Sermon: The State of the Church 2026 (Luke 1:57-80)

The State of the Church 2026 Sunday, December 28th, 2025 Christ Covenant Church – Centralia, WA Luke 1:57–80 Prayer O Father we thank for Your Son, and we thank You for all those people who like John the Baptist, pointed us to Christ in whom alone is salvation and the remission of our sins. Grant that we also might grow and wax strong in the spirit, by the hearing of Your Word preached, for we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Introduction It has been our custom that around the New Year, I preach a sermon on The State of the Church. And just as a you might go see the doctor for a routine examination, this sermon is that kind of annual check up on our health as a corporate body of believers. How are we doing as Christ Covenant Church? How is the broader body of Christ doing in our region and beyond? These are good questions to ask, perhaps not every week, but on occasion, and the turn of the year is a fitting time for this kind of big picture assessment and personal reflection. Now some people avoid going to the doctor simply because they don’t want to know whether they are actually healthy or not (“I feel fine!”). We don’t want them to run those tests, or draw our blood, or go poking around in our private places. Or maybe you are one of those people who hates taking your car to the mechanic, because you know there’s always going to be something to fix or replace, belts and tires get worn out, and usually it all costs a lot more than we want to spend. And so we think, If it’s still running, why pop the hood. Well, this should not be the case when it comes to your soul. When it comes to the health of the body of Christ. Paul says very plainly to the Corinthian church, Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves (2 Cor 13:5). And so with God’s help, we need to submit ourselves to His loving scrutiny. We must go and go often to the Great Physician and Healer of our souls and ask for His honest assessment of our true condition and state. That is what these State of the Church sermons are intended to help us discover about ourselves, and that means asking ourselves the (sometimes uncomfortable) questions that God’s Word places before us. So with that in mind let me give you the outline of our text, and then as we work through the first half of this passage, I am going to highlight five diagnostic questions that arise from this text, and which we should ask ourselves as a church. Outline of the Text Our text divides into three sections In verses 57-58, A Son is Born. In verses 59-66, that Son is named John. In verses 67-80, God is praised for what He will accomplish through John and through Christ. Verses 57-58 – A Son is Born Recall the context. An angel appeared to Zacharias the priest 9 months ago. And while Zacharias was offering incense and prayers in the temple the angel Gabriel appeared and said to him, thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. (Luke 1:13-14). And here now that promise is fulfilled, even in spite of Zacharias’ unbelief. For 9 months he has been deaf and dumb, unable to hear or speak. And for the last 3 months, Mary the mother of God has been living under their roof. The unborn Jesus has been dwelling in their house. And now finally the time has come for the elderly Elizabeth to be delivered. And so as it happens when a child is born, news gets out. And it says in verse 58, her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And this brings us to our first diagnostic question we should ask: Do we as a church rejoice in the mercy God has shown? Are we a church that has a reputation, that is known for our joy? When people visit us is it undeniable that we are a people who love the mercy of God and rejoice in His mercy? Recall from last week that we said that all joy is contingent upon the intensity of our love. And so, where joy is lacking, love is lacking. And so what are your joy levels like? Are you resolved in the year ahead to love God more intensely because you want to experience joy more intensely? You want for yourself and for others what the Apostle Peter describes who says, In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory (1 Peter 1:6-8). The Christian life is a life of joy because even our trials are God’s mercies: to strengthen our faith, to purify us, to rid us of sin and all those desires that hinder our love for God in Whom is fullness of joy (Ps 16:11). And so, are we a church that is known for our joy and known for our love? Jesus says in John 13:35, By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. And Paul says in Philippians 2:2, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. It is by this love and joyful unity that the church becomes as a pillar of smoke by day, and a pillar of fire by night (Ex. 13:21-22) to show the world around us where the glory and presence of God is. We are God’s tabernacle in the wilderness of this world. What is that pillar of smoke but the prayers and the lives of the holy saints? It says in Hebrews 12:1 that we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. And in Revelation 8:4 it says, And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And so this smoke and fire, this glory and light is given to signify the church’s love and joy in God. And where this love and joy is manifest, people will see it and wonder at it, and be drawn to Christ. For Jesus is our glory and we are His. And so how can we not rejoice in the mercy He has shown? So grade yourself. How are we doing in keeping the fires of charity roaring upon the altar? Does the smoke of our prayers ascend daily as a pleasing aroma to God because they are offered from a humble heart? Because this is the love offering God desires from His people, and Jesus says that it is by our love that people will know to whom be belong. We belong to the God who is love. This brings us to verses 59-66 where this son of Zacharias and Elizabeth is named. Verse 59-66 – A Son Is Named First observe that there are two circumcisions happening here: The first is in accord with Genesis 17:10-12 where God says to Abraham, This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations. And so John as a son of the covenant promise, and Zacharias as one who has walked blamelessly before Lord, has John circumcised. And just as Abram’s name was changed to Abraham by this covenant of circumcision, here now the one they presumed to name Zacharias is named by God as John, which means, “Jehovah has graciously given,” or “YHWH has been gracious.” This is the first circumcision, the cutting away of the flesh and the naming of a son in grace. And just as John precedes Jesus and the new covenant Jesus brings, so also John’s circumcision precedes a new covenant circumcision which will be of the heart, and the ears, and the lips of God’s people. And Zacharias is a foreshadowing of this spiritual circumcision. Notice that John has been alive for 8 days already, but still Zacharias is deaf and dumb, they have to make signs to him to communicate. And it is not until Zacharias himself names John (according to the word of the angel in Luke 1:13) that it says, his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. This is the spiritual circumcision of the spirit, and what fleshly circumcision always pointed to. God says way back in Deuteronomy 10:16, Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. And Jeremiah preaches to those who were circumcised in the flesh saying, Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings (Jer 4:4). And so recall what John’s ministry will be. Calling the Israelites, calling the Jews, to live out what their fleshly circumcision signified, namely to love God with a whole heart and to mortify fleshly desires. This is why Paul can say to the Philippians in Philippians 3:3, For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. And likewise in Colossians 2:11-12 he says, In Christ you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And so just as John’s baptism will anticipate Christ’s baptism, so also John’s circumcision anticipates the spiritual circumcision of Christ’s death. And when the spirit opens our ears to hear, and opens our mouths to speak, and has cut away the deadness of our heart’s unbelief, what comes forth but praise? As David says in Psalm 51:15, O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. And in Isaiah 50:4-5 it says, The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God hath opened mine ear, And I was not rebellious, Neither turned away back. So notice, Zacharias is the first fruits of his own son’s ministry. Already God is turning the hearts of the fathers to the children. And the amazing thing about Zacharias, Elizabeth and John, is that together they are the original spirit-filled family. All of them receive the spirit of prophesy and become God’s instruments to testify of Christ. And this brings us to our second diagnostic question which is: Are our families, spirit-filled families? Do we all have the Word of God constantly on our lips? Do mothers and fathers and children alike hear the word, speak the word, pray the word, and sing the word? Because this is what God promised would take place in the New Covenant. It says in Acts 2:17 quoting Joel 2:28, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. What is prophecy but speaking the Word of God, testifying to Christ, praising Him for His mercies which are new every morning. A spirit-filled church needs spirit-filled families, and the way we receive the spirit is by having our ears opened to the word, our hearts softened to receive it, and our mouths opened to proclaim it. And this leads to a third diagnostic question we could ask. It says in verse 65 that after Zacharias praised God, fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. And so we could ask ourselves: Do we “noise abroad,” do we make known to our little hill country of Centralia and Chehalis and roundabout, the mercy God has shown in Christ? Are we as it says in 1 Peter 3:15-16, ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. Notice that when we are a people who live in hope, that hope becomes evident to outsiders, and then outsiders begin to ask, Why are you so hopeful? Why are you not stressed, fearful, and anxious about the future? And to them we can say, I already died in Christ. I have already counted this world as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus. And so however bad things may get, or however good things may be, I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:11-13). Moreover my Lord Jesus told me, Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from [my] Father’s will. But the very hairs of [my] head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows (Matt 10:28-31). When we are living out the hope of the gospel, doing as Abraham did, we become as those of whom this world is not worthy. For it says in Hebrews 11, These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland…But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them… For here have we no lasting city, but we seek one to come (Hebrews 11:13-16, 13:14). When the church lives in hope of this heavenly country, and orders all of its earthly affairs towards that end, the blessing of God rests upon His people. The gospel goes forth and triumphs, and true prosperity abounds. It says in Proverbs 10:22, The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, And he addeth no sorrow with it. Whereas those who love money and trust in uncertain riches, err from the faith, and pierce themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Tim 6:10, 17). As Americans we are abounding with more material wealth than kings of old could have imagined. And yet we have been deceived by our wealth, we have trusted in riches, and lost our soul as result. That is what happens when you serve Mammon instead of God, or worse, serve Mammon in the name of God. And so if the American church would recover a more potent witness to Christ, we must check our hearts and check where our treasure is. We all love and trust money more than we should. And we must declare war on this idol if our hope will become heavenly and not earthly. This leads us to our fourth diagnostic question which is: Do we treasure God’s Word within our hearts? Is our attention, memory, and comprehension of God’s Word a high priority for us? It says in verse 66, And all they that heard them [referring to the news of God’s mercy and the birth of John] laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. It is not enough to just hear the Word, we must also retain it and treasure it in our memory.How else will you be ready to give an answer for the hope within you? How else will you have hope unless God’s Word is constantly within your mind? David says in Psalm 119:11, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee. And in Psalm 119:16, I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. And so are we a church that memorizes Scripture because we value Scripture? And do we value it at the price that God values it? It says in Psalm 119:72, The law of thy mouth is better unto me Than thousands of gold and silver. And of gaining wisdom and understanding it says in Proverbs 3:14-15, For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, And the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: And all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. And so if you struggle with discontent, with covetousness which is idolatry, with love of money, then turn your attention to memorizing and understanding God’s Word. Because as Proverbs 3:17-18 goes on to say, Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her. Fifth and finally, observe what is at the center of Zacharias’ song of praise. In verses 67-73 (the first half), he blesses God for visiting His people, for redeeming them, and keeping His covenant promises. In verses 76-80 (the second half) he prophesies of John’s ministry to prepare people for Jesus. But in the middle, in verses 74-75, he extols the whole purpose for God saving us, and what is that? That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, All the days of our life. Conclusion And so as we close, I want to ask this final diagnostic question: Is this our highest aim, and our greatest desire, and our burning ambition as a church? Do we want what God wants from Christ’s saving work? Do we want to simply serve him without fear? Worship Him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life? Does all our planning, and budgeting, and programs and ministries aim at this goal? Is this what Christ Covenant Church is all about? Serving God without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, All the days of our life. This is what the chief end of man is: to glory God, and enjoy Him forever. And so do this goal govern us. Does this goal order all our lesser goals and set them in right proportion? Is this your personal goal if God were to come to you and ask, “What do you want? I’ll give you whatever you ask up to half of the kingdom?” Is this your knee-jerk response, to say, “I just want to serve you God. I just want to be holy and to live righteously before you all my days.” Or as the Psalmist says in Psalm 73:25, Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. May that become our true answer and desire more and more in the year ahead, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.