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SERMON OUTLINE

SUBJECT: Advent DATE: 12-28-08

TITLE: Trouble at the Inn TEXT: Luke 2:1-7
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INTRODUCTION

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be
registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of
Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered.
Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David
called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went
to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

ROUTE THEY TOOK FROM NAZARETH TO BETHLEHEM NOT KNOWN [three

possible ways]
First--Along the sea coast through Plain of Sharon
(shunned by pious travelers---heathen cities rowdy travelers)
Second---shortest, but through Samaria
(fair roads-”bad blood” between Jews and Samaritans)
Third--level, though winding, road of the Jordan Route
(followed by most Galilean travelers)

Whichever route taken . . . .almost 100 miles !

Arrived at night--cold and exhausted (Mary’s “time” is near)

Terrible disappointment awaited them
Luke tells it quite simply

While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth,
and laid him in a manger,
because there was no place for them in the inn. [Luke 2:6-7]

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I. No words have made greater impression on Christian hearts and

minds
there was no place for them

As we look with imaginative eye at Luke’s sparse account; scene reshapes itself

Litlte town in darkness

Jostling crowds seeking shelter
Couple arriving late (Mary is oh, so tired)
Go from inn to inn only to discover--no place left,
except a STABLE

Christian writers have lt been captivated by strange, wistful wonder of the scene

[Luther] “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed”

[Polish carol] “Infant lowly, infant holy, for his bed a cattle stall”

A modern writer (Mike Connoly) views the scene

from the perspective of the inn keeper
“Said the Innkeeper”

This poignant little tale is actually a parable

[She] laid him in a manger,
because there was no place for them

Jesus began his life among us by being shut out

We continue to shut him out of the “busy inns” of our lives

[Collect for Sunday preceding Advent]

Stir up thy people, O Lord,
that we may oipen our hearts and lives to thy coming;
saying with thy holy saints, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

An appropriate Advent exercise to examine this “parable” and ask

“Why was Jesus shut out?

II.T here was no place for them

because the places were all taken
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Men have made “gods” of everything

Plants (Native American Corn God) Animals
Ancestors (ancient Romans & modern Japanese)
(Cultures as varied as the Greek, Canaanite, and Hindu) Sex
(For Romans, Nazis, Fascists, Communists, even some Americans)
Patriotism (love of nation) has assumed status of religion

No worship more foolish than the “self-idolatry” that can be classified under the
heading of MATERIALISM
[Pliny; 1st century Roman]
“Unable to make our values beautiful, we have made them huge!”

Interesting text in First Samuel:

Looking for Saul to annoint him King, Samuel is told
“Behold, he hath hid himself among the STUFF.”
[Have you ever heard George Carlin’s routine on “stuff”?]

I fear that too often we have become so pre-occupied with our “stuff” that we have lost
sight of those things which are of real and abiding value
Too often have confused “good living” with “much having”
There is no place for Christ in our lives
if the “chief end” of our lives is “getting and buying and selling”

1 SAID THE INNKEEPER

1 SAID THE INNKEEPER

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I cannot take these poor;

they do not pay,
They brand the house, they bring disgrace;
I had to send the pair away . . .

And yet--there was a strange look on her face,

This girl who kept her eyes on the floor,
so strange I stopped a space
Before I sent them from the door.

What could I do?

A man must make a living while he may;
And trade is trade, and money too;
And sentiment is not---I say.

I saw the poorness of the pair and put them out.

And I did well!
Two merchants took the great room overhead
It is my principal;
I buy and sell
And give my pity to the dead.

And yet---this girl, this girl ...

I turned her from my door,
But she looked back with kindly eyes,
and fairer than before,
And went away as if she walked with emperors,
And was a queen, And all the world was hers.

What could I say?

A man must make a living while he may.

---Mile Connoly [T-47 312]

III. There was no place for them

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because others had gotten there first
(in all fairness to the inn keeper)
No indication that he refused them admittance because of who they were

Unlike Samaria (and some places in U.S.!) prejudice did not keep them out
Nor were they excluded because they were poor (probably had no rich guests)
No indication that he had any ill-will againsat them
iT WAS SIMPLY THAT OTHERS HAD ARRIVED FIRST

IN LIKE MANNER (WITHOUT MALICE AFORETHOUGHT)

SHUT OUT FROM “INNS” OF OUR HEARTS

We do not deliberately “turn him away”

(just that our thoughts and time are occupied with other things}
We do not mean to exclude from lives (merely filled space with other “guests”)

(Little girl learning Lord’s Prayer) “Forgive us our daily bread”

There are subtle possibilities in her miswording:
Tendency to “major” in the material and “minor” in the spiritual
Little-by-little ---become less sensitive to voice of God in affairs

Howard Moody [The Fourth Man] “The exteriorization of our lives”

One “corrective” for that condition; habit of regular worship

Fort Worth barber 35 years perfect attendance

never “too sick” never felt “a little lazy” “ unexpected” company
never game “just had to see never had “last minute Xmas shopping”

Unless we “reserve” a place for Christ in our lives;

time for worship for study for prayer for service

When he comes. there is no room for him !

2 Trouble at the Inn

2 Trouble at the Inn

The title of this sermon is taken from a story I first read in Guideposts magazine in1972.
The story is about a production of the Nativity play presented in a little church in the Midwest
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and a boy named Wallace Purling-better known as Wally.
Wally was nine that year and in the second grade, though he should have been in the fourth.
Most people in town knew that he had difficulty in keeping up. He was big and clumsy, slow in
movement and mind.
Wally fancied the idea of being a shepherd in the Christmas pageant that year, but the play's
director, Miss Lumbard, knew that there were too many lines for Wally to memorize. So she
assigned him the role of the Innkeeper who only had a couple of lines. For weeks he practiced
his part and his lines. Miss Lumbard's biggest concern for the play that year was that Wally
didn't mess his part up and therefore embarrass himself.
When the big night came, no one on stage or off was more caught up in the magic of the night
than little Wallace Purling. Then the time came when Joseph appeared, slowly, tenderly guiding
Mary to the door of the inn. Joseph knocked hard on the wooden door set into the painted
backdrop. Wally the Innkeeper was there, waiting.

'What do you want?" Wally said, swinging the door open with a gruff gesture.
"We seek lodging.'

"Seek it elsewhere." Wally said, "The inn is filled."

. "Sir, we have asked everywhere in vain. We have traveled far and are very weary."

Looking properly stern, Wally said, "There is no room in the inn for you."
"Please, good innkeeper, this is my wife, Mary. She Is heavy with child and needs a place to
rest. Surely you must have some small corner for her. She is so tired,"

N/ow, for the first time, the Innkeeper relaxed his stiff stance and looked down at Mary. With
that, there was a long pause, long enough to make the audience a bit tense with
embarrassment.

"No! Begone!" the prompter whispered from behind the curtain.

'No!" Wally repeated automatically. 'Begone!"

_
Joseph sadly placed his arm around Mary and Mary laid her head upon her husband's shoulder
and the two of them started to Move away. The Innkeeper did not return inside his inn, however.
Wally stood there in the doorway, watching the desperate couple. His mouth was open, his
brow creased with concern, his eyes filling unmistakably with tears.

And suddenly this Christmas pageant became different from all the others.
"Don't go, Joseph," Wally cried out. "Bring Mary back.I
And Wallace Purling's face grew into a bright smile. "You can have my room."

IV. MY SECONDARY TEXT FOR TH!S MESSAGE IS FOUND

IN THE BOOK OF REVELA TiON

This text relates, not to the new-born, helpiess baby Jesus,

But to the triumphantly resurrected and glorified Christ, who says
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Behold, I stand at the door and knock;

if anyone hears my voIce and opens the: door, I will come in to him . (Rev 3:20 RSV)

A. This Christmas season, once again,

1. There is a knock at the door of our homes and hearts;
2. and as we peep out the window we see Jesus standing there (with nail-scarred hands)
seeking entrance into our lives
Two thousand years ago there was no room for him in the inn

B. But there were others, later in his life who iet him into their lives
and were never the same again
1. Peter and Andrew, workaholics when they met him,
discovered there is more to life than “getting on” in the world of commerce.
2. Matthew and Zaccheus, after dining with Jesus, gave up their cheating and stealing;
their frantic seeking of the “almighty dollar”—dedicatng their lives to service.
3. Saul of Tarsus was to learn that there is much more joy—and hope in being a
disciple of Christ than in the cheerless observance of rules and regulations.
4. Mary Magdalene let him in, and she began to walk in newness of life.
5. Countless others invited him in, and found:
healing for their bodies
restoration for their souls
meaning for both this life and the life to come.

CONCLUSION

When I was a member of a quartet, there was a song we sang that I never thought of as a Christmas
song until I was preparing this message.

IT GOES LIKE THIS:

SOMEBODY'S KNOCKIN' AT YOUR DOOR,

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SOMEBODY'S KNOCKIN' AT YOUR DOOR;
OH, SINNER, WHY DON'T YOU ANSWER ?
SOMEBODY'S KNOCKIN' AT YOUR DOOR

KNOCKS LIKE JESUS

CAN’T YOU HEAR HIM?

It concludes with these words, and so shall I

SOMEBODY'S KNOCKIN' AT YOUR DOOR.

SOMEBODY'S KNOCKIN' AT YOUR DOOR,
SOMEBODY'S KNOCKIN,'
HE'S KNOCKIN,; KNOCKIN,' KNOCKIN' AT YOUR DOOR

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