December 18, 2016

Sermon Message by Rev. Dr. Parrish L. Bridges

The Great Interruption

Bible Texts: Isaiah 7:10 - 16 and Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon Message overview . . .

I think all of us would admit that we are big on making plans. We may not like it if God doesn’t consult with us, especially when He is making plans for our life. In my experience, it just never happens that God calls a meeting to say, “Here’s an idea: salvation for the world. We were thinking about using your fiancé, but wanted to get your input first.”

However, it is the nature of God to take control of our lives and call us to places we had not planned on going to or doing and taking away things to which we want to cling to. That is what happened to everyone in the Christmas story. In fact, that was the only way any of them could find themselves, with hope, at the manger, looking at a baby.

We are used to talking about this GREAT INTERRUPTION by God in the life of Mary, how God conceived hope in her womb, how she thought it would be her ruin, only to discover it was our salvation. But Mary had commitments, people who needed her, and people who had made plans with her. So, when Mary’s life was interrupted by God, Joseph’s life was also never again the same.

The exact same thing is true in our own lives as well. Some of you can relate to Mary and others to Joseph. But, all of us have experienced or will experience the interruption of God in our lives and we will never be the same because of it. Getting this kind of news can be a tough thing, but God gives all of us the grace we need at just the right time for whatever we are facing.