Author: Dale Boyer

Script for Sermon: “Entertaining Angels”
Opening Comments:
Thank you to Lakeview Baptist Church and
Mary Circle (Bonnie Darnell ??)
………………...
My text today is Hebrews 13:2 “Be sure to entertain strangers. Some do not realize they are entertaining angels!”
How many of us remember the TV series, “Touched By An Angel” ? ….Actually, angels have always fascinated
human beings.
The Bible has a lot to say about angels. They are one of God’s first creations. Their purpose is to worship and praise God Almighty and carry out His Will.
When they make their visitations to earth, they can appear to be magnificent, beautiful, powerful, frightful, or merely quite human.
In the Bible, they have made appearances to Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, Daniel, The Twelve Disciples, Jesus, Peter, John, Cornelius and Paul, just to name a few.
Hebrews 1:14 defines the nature and present ministry of angels when it says, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who are the heirs of salvation?
Even modern Christian missionaries testify of angels
appearing to foreign Christians and heathen alike.
When Jesus came to this earth as a baby laying in a manger, angel activity was at its peak. Angels became very busy, making visits to Zacharias, Mary, and Joseph. And who can forget the amazing angel choir that appeared to the shepherds? (saying “Fear not, for unto you….)
Our text today, Hebrews 13:2, assures us that we can be entertaining angels and not be even aware of it! Today,
I would like to tell you a story—an allegory—a parable about a church and its unexpected guests! Listen carefully—for there is a surprise ending!
Young Pastor Torgenson, handsome in the charcoal-gray suit his wife had bought him especially for the Christmas Eve service, mounted the platform. An ocean of faces looked back at him—the congregation of the Red Bridge Community Church, holiday-excited and ruddy from the cold outside.
The pastor smiled for a second at his wife who beamed from the first row, then began. “Before the choir sings our first anthem, ‘Angels We Have Heard on High,’
let me remind you of a Scripture passage about angels.
Turn with me to Hebrews 13:2, if you will…”
A tissue-thin shuffle of Bible pages went through the sanctuary like a rushing wind. Then it stopped. As the pastor was about to read Hebrews 13:2 a murmur rose
in the back of the church, near the door.
To the consternation of several older members, a shocking pair of visitors had entered. The man was tall, with partially shaved head and blue jean jacket, the girl was very, very pregnant, dressed in pajama bottoms and an old winter coat at least 2 sizes too small.
“Wonder if they’re married?” whispered a woman in the back row. “I never saw the like, not in this church,” grumbled a man.
From her usual seat, old Mizzie Everett just squinted at the strangers, apparently as confused as ever.
Pastor Torgenson paused, sensing trouble. Another battle of the old and the new, he sighed to himself. Some of those older folks in the back were ready to throw their hymn books at the young couple. And there were some teenagers on the other side, ready to bean their elders back!
“Welcome,” he finally called out to the bedraggled strangers. “We’re glad you’re here. Sit right down.”
But it was easier said than done. The young couple had to wind their way to the front to find the only vacant seats. A few hundred curious eyes watched.
“Now, as I was saying...,” The young preacher continued, “Hebrews 13:2.” He cleared his throat. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for some have even
entertained angels unawares.”
He gulped, surprised at the verse’s sudden application. “Well... Uh..., perhaps you’ve read stories about Christmas visitations by angels. Many have been written, most of them pure fiction. But let’s remember tonight that our Lord himself was not recognized for who He was. And let’s make sure there’s room at our inn tonight.” A nod to the choir, and he sat down by the pulpit.
The music billowed behind him. He tried not to stare at the young couple, but couldn’t help it. Who were they? Why were they here?
All at once it hit him. On Christmas Eve, a slender young man and a pregnant young woman seeking shelter? Did they have a donkey parked outside, too?
He smiled to himself. Angels unawares?
Well..., one never knew…
The choir’s last Gloris in excelsis deo faded, and the
pastor jumped to his feet. He had an idea.
“In our bulletin, the order of service calls next for a personal prayer. But before I lead us, let’s find out what we have to pray about on this Christmas Eve. Jack—“He motioned to an usher. “If you’ll get the portable microphone, we can have a brief sharing of our needs.
Again the pastor tried not to gaze at the young strangers, but hoped they’d share their obvious need. After all, this was a unique chance for the church to show hospitality, he thought.
“Just a brief time,” he repeated, unconsciously nodding at old Mizzie Everett. Poor old Mizzie, they called her. She loved sharing times. At the first click of the microphone, she’d jump up as quickly as her arthritis allowed, only to ramble on and on about some long-forgotten event or person. The whole congregation would look at the floor, embarrassed, as Mizzie tried to remember a
Bible verse or sing a song in her rusty squeal of a voice. It was starting to put a damper on the services, some people said.
The pastor’s hopes rose as the visiting young man started to get to his feet, but Mizzie was up first, and she took the microphone from the reluctant usher. An almost audible groan went up from the congregation.
“Uh, thank you, Mizzie,” the pastor said after a minute of the old women’s rambling. But she droned on.
I wish she’d take a hint, the pastor thought. Poor old Mizzie—her mind’s starting to go and she pushes that broken-down shopping cart all over town, making a spectacle of herself. Even the older members shook their heads about it.
Finally she surrendered the microphone. “We’ll be sure to pray about that, Mizzie,” the pastor said, and then looked to the young couple. This time the skinny fellow made it all the way to his feet.
“I—I don’t know much about talkin’ in church,” he began shakingly. “But my old lady—“he indicated the girl at his side. “I mean, uh, my wife and I really need a place to stay tonight. We saw the lights and came in.”
The pastor watched the young man speak, touched by his openness and transparency. “We’re glad you did,” “and I’m sure we can find you a place for you to stay.
By the way..., what’s your name?”
The young man looked rather sheepish, “I’m Joe,” he said. “And this is Mary.”
A startled murmur was heard throughout the congregation. “Joseph and Mary?” the pastor responded.
“Yeah, I know how it sounds,” the young man said, growing red-faced. “But it’s true..., really!”
The pastor couldn’t hold back a chuckle of wonderment. “Indeed it is, he said and quoted Hebrews 13:2 again. Angels unawares! Inspired, he thanked the young man and prayed fervently for the young couple’s needs.
A few families gathered around to add their support.
There was no doubt about it—the choir sang sweeter than ever that night. The ancient story from Luke was never better read, or more poignant. Even the atmosphere seemed rarer, closer to heaven with the young couple sitting right there in the front. When the time had come for the benediction, Pastor Torgenson looked out on the Christmas Eve faces and spoke from his heart.
“Let there be room in our inn tonight,” he said. “Let us reach out to the Lord of Christmas and to the strangers among us. We may be different from one another—but because Christ came—we can be one.”
Downstairs, the ladies had prepared punch, hot chocolate, and cookies. The congregation streamed in for a bit of fellowship. The pastor and his wife brought cups of hot chocolate to the young man and woman, only to discover several parishioners had already done the same.
“We’d be happy to have you stay at our house tonight, Joe and Mary,” volunteered a middle-aged couple.
“I was going to say the same thing,” said another. A group of high schoolers brought cookies and punch to the strangers. Pastor Torgenson, smiling broadly, hugged his wife.
Over in the corner by the space heater, old Mizzie Everett sat alone with both hands around a cup of coco. She squinted at the sea of people, seeming confused by the noise. Then, suddenly, she put down her cup and looked at her watch.
As if on schedule, she picked up her purse and made her way to the door along the crowd’s edge. Nobody noticed her leave.
The night was cold. Setting her jaw with determination, Mizzie struggled against her arthritis to push her broken-down shopping cart through the snow.
These mortal bodies are so frail, she thought, dumping her purse in the buggy. Her legs strained to make the wheels turn. Iced puddles cracked under her feet all the way out of town.
The city-limits sign was just ahead. Pausing, she knew she could go no further. Slowing, she stopped in the middle of the road. The highway was deserted. A dog barked in the distance. Only the stars and heaven watched as her breath became more labored.
Christmas Eve, she thought, looking at the sky. Just like that first Christmas, when she had sung with all the others. That had been easy assignment compared to this last one. This time, her visit had lasted for such a long time.
She stretched and felt pain. But, it was good to be going home.
Smiling, she closed her eyes and reached heavenward. Slowly the creases in her face vanished and her twisted body stood tall. “Yes, Lord God, I am here,” she answered!
Brighter and brighter her face glowed, her old coat
transformed into a robe the color of the sun.
It was the garment of an angel!
At last..., she thought, ...at last !
There was a silent flash in the night…..,
…..and Mizzie Everett was gone!

Be sure to entertain strangers
Some do not realize they are
entertaining angels!
Hebrews 13:2

Closing Comments
“Be sure to entertain strangers.
Some do not realize they are entertaining angels!”
It has not been my purpose to explore the theological truths about angels in my sermon today.
In closing, I’d only like to ask a few questions.
Who have been the angels in our lives, sent by God at just the right time to minister to us in our time of need?
Who have been the angels sent to us as strangers, so that we may minister to them with generosity and hospitality?
I wonder what angels will show up unexpectedly at our Christmas parties this year?
I wonder what angels are sitting among us today?
And is it possible that there are still strangers among us, folks we have failed to really get to know? Perhaps they are God’s messengers (angels) sent to minister to us in our need. Perhaps our lives would be so enriched if we only allowed ourselves to get to know them.
Is it possible to concentrate so much on the Christmas story, the manger, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, the shepherds, the Wise Men, and the angelic choir—and miss the opportunities that God has given us - today?
Is it possible to bestow lavish generosity upon strangers who live the whole way around the world or in a neighborhood downtown, and ignore the angels that God places in our lives every day?
This Christmas Season would be great time to get to know some angels—strangers who live across the street, or work at a desk across the room, who sit in the next pew, or live in our own home!
Christmas is a great time for entertaining strangers!
Who knows….you may be “Touched By An Angel” !!

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