If you look at the hand-painted ceramic crèche that my kids made, you’ll see them there. Three Wise Men and the camels they rode in on. Of course, they’ve become such a part of our Christmas story that we think that everyone belongs in the manger scene together—Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, the shepherds and angels, and the Wise Men. Three, of course.

Good morning, and welcome to D.I.Y. on the Embry Hills Advent Network. Here on D.I.Y., we help you learn how to do it all yourself. Now, we have to admit that we can’t advertise our program as “spiritual growth made easy,” because there’s frankly no such thing as easy spiritual growth. But, what we can do is help you understand more about how to take some of those really big spiritual growth tasks and break them down to size, so that your life can look like God wants it to look. Here at D.I.Y., we believe in going ahead and doing to yourself what God wants to do with you.

THE ORDINARY GOSPEL OF JOHN (THE BAPTIST)
Luke 3:7-18

Okay, I know you know this, because if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand dozen times. But, I’m going to have to say it again in order to properly introduce this sermon. So, are you ready?

Does anybody remember Robert Lamm? He was one of the original members of the musical group, “Chicago,” and he was the author and lead vocalist on one of Chicago’s most favorite songs, “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?”

We know how they felt in asking that question. You tell me, what time is it?

Well, here we are just a few days before Turkey Day. It is amazing what Thanksgiving in America has become. It is a huge national holiday. And, on Thursday, Americans of every color and every ethnicity and every religious background will take a day off to eat some vittles and to share some time with loved ones.

So, how many of you have had experience trimming a whole tenderloin of beef?

Before the sermon continues, please make my day and tell me that, while you may have heard that question before, this is the first time you’ve ever heard that question begin a Sunday sermon. Okay, vegans and vegetarians in the crowd, please forgive me. You take a quick snooze, and we’ll loop back with you in just a moment.