Christmas Series Christmas Party: The Angels Series

CHRISTMAS SERIES

CHRISTMAS PARTY: THE ANGELS

LUKE 2:1-20, #ChristmasParty #Jesusisthebestest

CHRISTMAS SERIES

12/1 Christmas Party: The Angels

12/8 Christmas Party: The Shepherds

12/15 Christmas Party: The Protesters (Herod)

12/22 Christmas Party: The Birthday Boy

BEGIN WITH CHILDREN’S SERMON

BRING KIDS UPFRONT TO READ THE CHRISTMAS STORY

How many of you are excited for Christmas? Why?

[Presents. Off school. Get to see family. Fun trips. Good food. Fun activities. Family traditions.]

Christmas time is a great time of celebration. For some people, it is their most favorite time of year… how many of you would say it is your favorite time of year? How about you parents and adults? Christmas is awesome because of all the things you mentioned:

* Presents: we get to give and receive presents for things we want or need, that is nice

* Off School: working hard in school means you appreciate a good break

* Family: Get to see people we love that we might not always get to see

* Trips and Activities: Special trips and activities like decorating cookies and stuff is fun

* Food: Get to eat some special recipes that we might wait all year for

* Family Traditions: Again, we might get to do some fun things that only happen once a year

* Other: [what they may mention additionally]

I want you to know that all of those things and people and activities do make Christmas special. They do. They really do. They are ‘tops’ for us when it comes to why Christmas and the Christmas Season are important and helps us make great memories. On this first day of December, I want to remind you all that all of those things are cool, but they are not the coolest thing about Christmas. The ‘tippy-top’ ‘best-est’ thing (I know best-est isn’t a word) about Christmas is that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Everyone repeat after me: “Jesus is the Best-est.” “Jesus is the Best-est.”

READ Luke 2:1-20

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 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. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

CHILDREN’S SERMON CONTINUED

So basically, the Roman emperor wanted a lot more taxes so he could be richer and he wanted all the people in all the countries counted. He did that and everyone had to go back to the place where they were born. Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem because that was where Joseph was from. Tons of people arrived in Bethlehem about the same time and there were no hotel rooms or anything. Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem in a barn.