Luke 2:10
“THE BELLS OF CHRISTMAS”
INTRODUCTION
“I heard the bells on Christmas day, their old familiar carols play…” “Ring the bells, ring the bells, let the whole world know, Jesus Christ was born today, many years ago.” “Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?” “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. O what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh.” “Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock…” “Caroling, caroling through the snow, Christmas bells are ringing…” With time to think, I am sure that you can come up with many more Christmas songs that tell of the joyful sounds of bells.
Last Sunday we thought together about the “Lights of Christmas.” Today let us consider another popular Christmas symbol. The bell. When I sat down and started to think about the bells of this season I came up with a long, long list. Allow me to share a few from that list. 1. The bells of the Salvation Army kettle keepers. 2. Musical bells. 3. Alarm clock bells. 4. Cash register bells.(Or for many today it is beeps instead of bells.) 5. Hangover bells. 6. School Bells. 7. Dinner Bells. 8. Church bells.
I. THE BELLS OF THE SALVATION ARMY KETTLE KEEPERS.
Shortly after every Thanksgiving, for as long as I can remember, I have heard the familiar ding, ding, ding, of the small bell that the person beside the red Salvation Army kettle rings. I remember asking my parents for coins to place in the kettle, located in front of G.C. Murphy Five & Ten Cent Store. Christmas seems to bring out the best in many people. They give to so many great causes. The Army, the Needy Fund, the Falmouth Service Center, Toys For Tots, Fairwinds Mental Health Clubhouse, Upper Cape Chaplaincy, the Falmouth Church of the Nazarene, other favorite charities, and on and on.
The Salvation Army’s mission is to care for those in physical, material, and spiritual need. This is also the calling of every Christian. Our world is filled with a countless number of men, women, boys, and girls who are lost in their sin. Christmas gives us numerous opportunities to witness to the grace and goodness of Jesus Christ. We are a Christian army moving onward, fighting the sins of the world with the “Sword of the Lord,” and with Christian love. March out and boldly tell someone about Jesus.(I know, it will make your heart beat faster… But you are a soldier. You can do it.)
Personally, I like to send Christmas cards with Scripture verses that give glory to the Christ Child. When someone tells me “Happy Holidays,” I reply, “Merry Christmas.” There are all kinds of ways in which we can work Jesus into our conversations during the Advent Season. May the bells of the Salvation Army remind us to let our witness peal out loudly, clearly, and unashamedly.
II. MUSICAL BELLS.
It thrills my heart when I hear the music of my Savior on secular radio stations. During the rest of the year, some of these same stations play vulgar and sensual music. What a change. Last week, during an hour drive in the car, I counted two sensual Christmas songs, several secular carols: But the majority of the music consisted of traditional carols about Jesus. During the past few weeks, one station in particular has played “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” not once, but many times. WOW! The name and love of Jesus is being heard. Why not phone or write these stations and say “THANK YOU?”
I always appreciate our choir and other musicians who practice for many weeks to help us to enjoy the Christmas Story again each year. Don’t forget to invite your friends to attend our annual Christmas Musical. Most will not come if we do not invite them.
III. CLOCK BELLS.
My tradition for many years has been to set my alarm clock to ring very early the day after Thanksgiving Day. Some time between five and five thirty I can be found standing in the cold morning darkness waiting for the store with the best Christmas bargains to open. My well prepared list points me to the items I need and then I hurry through the check out lane and then rush off to a half dozen or more stores. Before Noon, most of my shopping is done. But, oh-do-I-hate-to-get-up when the bell rings. But it is worth doing. So I get up. Some may want to set an alarm to remind them to take time for personal devotions in this busy season. Do not skimp. Do them well. Find a time that works for you and stick to that same pattern. We must study the Word and pray.
Every fifteen minutes the Seth Thomas clock in our home plays the Westminster chimes. A constant reminder that time is passing. At times, it rings and the sound does not register in my mind. How many of you have heard the warning bells of Scripture ringing again and again, reminding you, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”(2 Corinthians 6:2) Life passes quickly. And then what. The Bible speaks of “the signs of times,”(Matthew 16:3) that remind us of the Second Advent/Coming of Jesus. Christmas is about Heaven and Hell. The symbols of this Season remind us to get ready to die. Jesus came to save us from our sins and now he is preparing a place for us in Heaven. Do not miss it. Confess him as your Lord. Accept his salvation while you still have time. When you do, you will be amazed at the joy Jesus will give.
IV. CASH REGISTER BELLS.
Stores are packed. All of us want to get just the right gift. It is fun to receive… But it is also fun to give.(You decide which is better…) But for far too many Americans, Christmas shopping destroys their budgets--big time! Are we trying to keep up with the Jonses? Do we give out of love or out of duty. Do we give what we can afford or do we give to impress or outdo? Does our Christmas shopping reflect good stewardship?
Often I notice people getting gifts that they never use. Perhaps they use them in a “Yankee Swap” as a “White Elephant Gift.” The story of the Prodigal son reminds us that we can not buy true friendship. We can not buy the love of our children. More than gifts, most need our time, our loving hugs, our undivided attention…
Crown Financial Concepts, formerly Christian Financial Concepts, does a good job of helping Christians to budget. Many families are destroyed by a lack of discipline to set and work for goals. Many a home is stressed by careless stewardship of resources.(Illustration: The five men from Zambia who recently visited our service reminded us of how rich we are as Americans. The average wage of their country is $5.00 per week. It costs $3.00 per week to send one child to school. The plainness of their diets is hard to imagine.) God reminds before we build a tower, "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?”(Luke 14:28)
Plan before you spend. Spend only what you can pay or repay. Presents bought at 25% and 50% off at Christmas end up costing far more when they are paid with using credit cards that charge 19% to 21% or more interest. God promises us that if we put him first that He will supply all of our needs. Countless parishioners have told me, “It is amazing how much more I have now that I tithe. God makes me more aware of how I spend and what others and I need.” Give Jesus his share this year.
V. HANGOVER BELLS.
The only unpleasant bell on my list. Christmas parties and gifts of liquor mean lots of drunks. Too many drinks leads to hangovers, ringing in the ears… Alcohol consumption is a major problem in our society. The main reason I do not drink alcohol is because I do not want my example to cause my brother to sin.(I know, I know, that there was some drinking of wine in the Bible and that Paul said a little wine would help the stomach…) The Bible is filled with warnings about drinking to much. Example: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18) In the mechanized society in which we live, I choose to refrain for my own safety and for my brother’s safety. As a pastor, I have counseled far too many who were allowing booze to destroy their lives. All modern psychology and counseling books declare that children of alcoholics have a much higher chance of becoming problem drinkers. Give your children the gift of sobriety. I will not tarry long on this bell… But let me ask one question… “Is it really worth it to drink?”
VI. SCHOOL BELLS.
Don’t you just miss them? I’m just kidding! That final bell before Christmas Vacation was nearly as pleasant a sound as the bell signaling the end of the school year. Aren’t you happy for a couple of vacation weeks to sleep in? To skip the studies and take a well-deserved break? For two weeks the school bells are quiet. But you do promise to do your best when the new year begins, don’t you? Have some family fun this vacation. You may not be able to afford a sleigh ride to hear sleigh bells, but good planning will “ring a bell” in the life of your family. “All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy…” OK, now lets move on…
VII. DINNER BELLS.
Every family has Christmas dinner traditions. Favorite foods. Favorite Christmas dishes and centerpieces. Are you creating good memories for your families? A few tips. Turn off the TV and eat together at the table. Begin each dinner with prayer. Teach your family to be thankful. Do not fight at the table. Encourage, listen, laugh… Tell the cook that they did a good job.(If they are a terrible cook and you know you cannot lie, tell them how pretty the table is or how interesting the silverware is, or that you really, really do appreciate their thoughtfulness for the invitation.)
When our children were at home, it was our tradition to, most days, take time at the end of the meal to read a brief portion of the Bible, discuss it, and to pray for the needs of our family, friends, country, world… At times we used booklets in which we would write our prayers: And then as they were answered, we would joyfully cross them off the list and thank God for the answer. During Advent, we opened that day’s numbered space on our Advent calendar.(Pictures that told the Christmas Story, a little at a time.) The little extra time will be worth it when you seem to hear a “bell ring” and your child tells you that they love and accept your Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If we do not tell them… Who will?
VIII. CHURCH BELLS.
Some people are “C & E Christians.” They only come to church at Christmas and Easter. But I am glad that they do come. When they do, we must reach out in friendliness and Christian love. Our text from Luke 2:10 reminds us that even in a season threatened by terrorists and the trials that some of you are enduring can be a season of joy. “But the angel said to them, ‘do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’ ”(v. 10) If you are a person… You are included.
In the churches that I have pastored that have had bells, I always made sure that they rang before services and at special times of the year. Our current church building does not have a bell. That means that YOU ARE OUR CHURCH BELLS. That you and I have to do the job of the bells in inviting people to come and worship the Christ, the one who can save us from our sins. Send some one a card, pay them a visit, ring their telephone bell and invite them to accompany you to church this Christmas.
CONCLUSION
In the classic Jimmy Stewart Christmas movie “It’s A Wonderful Life,” the ringing of bells symbolized an “angel getting his wings.” Each year as I view the movie, I listen for the bells and think of the angel who got his wings. May the bells of Christmas encourage and inspire us to do as the first Christmas Angels did, and share “good news of great joy!” Listen to the bells and live out the good news.
(The idea for this sermon came as I read a booklet of Advent devotions written by Arden W. Mead, Copyright 2002, published by Creative Communications From The Parish, Fenton, MO. (800)325-9414)
(Ron Keller)
