A Different Set Of Ears

My daughters and I have a mother-daughter day sometime in December.
It is a tradition we started years ago and look forward to each year.
We do things together throughout the year, but this is always a dress-up kind of occasion.
This is about doing something different; it is about creating a special memory.

We have gone to New York and taken a carriage ride through Central Park.
We have gone to the ballet and seen The Nutcracker.
We have gone to the theater and seen Elf.
We have gone to the beautiful Longwood Gardens for their Christmas display.

In a little over a week, my girls and I are going to listen to the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Conducted by Bramwell Tovey, we will be enjoying The Glorious Sound of Christmas.
Tovey is an award winning British conductor and composer.
A gentle man with a wonderful sense of humor, he brings skill and passion to his music.

I received an email with an update and a short video of what we can expect at the concert.
I was captivated by the incredible gift this man has been given.
I listened to the short video with him explaining his vision for this performance.
I found myself pondering something he said.

The trick of this kind of concert is the familiar…we want to hear the things we know…people come with a different set of ears the rest of the year. At Christmas, we want to hear familiar tunes, things that we know, either in familiar guises or new guises. (Bramwell Tovey)

We want to hear the things we know.
Especially at Christmas, we want to hear the things we know.
The people that sit in the pews week after week need to hear the Story again.
The people that come to church only on Christmas and Easter need to hear the Story.

We need to hear the Story over and over.
We need to preach the Gospel to ourselves as much as we need to preach it to others.
We should never tire of hearing the greatest Love Story ever told.
There is always something new to hear.

How sad when at this time of year it is business as usual.
For the four weeks of Advent, people want to, people need to, hear the familiar.
Using Tovey’s words: they have a different set of ears at Christmas time.
They need to hear the Story they have heard before but may have forgotten.

They need to hear the Story of the most unimaginable thing happening.
They need to know that the Story is true.
They need to know that their salvation depends on their belief in this Story.
Their salvation depends on the little Baby in the manger.

There should be no groans or complaints about hearing the Story yet again.
Like Tovey said, hearing it with familiar guises or with new guises.
If we cannot think of creative ways to tell the Story of Christmas, we have a problem.
God meets us right where we are with His Living Word.

Sermons should be about the Incarnation.
Children’s sermons should be about Jesus, who was a Child just like them.
Opportunities are missed when we don’t share: For to us a child is born.
What does that mean: For us?

For 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. Of 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. (Isaiah 9:6,7)

You can spend a year on this passage alone.
You can explain each of the names given to the Child during the four weeks of Advent.
You can discuss what this Story means to the nations, to the governments, to the people.
Familiar guises and new guises on the greatest Story ever told.

He who has ears let him hear. (Matthew 1:15)
People have different ears this time of year.
People who never would have listened to the Gospel Story are more likely to listen now.
Attention that would never be given the other eleven months of the year, is given now.

Are we ready?
Do we know the Story so that we can tell others?
Are we going to miss our opportunity yet again, this year?
People have different ears this time of year.

In those days of Caesar Augustus…
So Joseph also went up from the town of Bethlehem…
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch…
An angel of the Lord appeared to them…
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly hosts…
Glory to God in the highest…(taken from Luke 2:1-20)

Can you fill in the blanks?
Do you know the Story?
Do you know the One who the Story is about?
Are you ready to tell others who have different ears this time of year?

Don’t miss your opportunity.
The familiar can be life changing.
That’s exactly the way God intended.

Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. (Luke 2:10)

People are listening.