The Wonder Of Christmas Series

INTRODUCTION

- Have you ever received a gift that was interesting to you, it piqued your curiosity, yet you did not know precisely what it was?

- Then someone explains the gift to you, and you find it useful, yet because you do not fully understand it, you do not use it to its full capacity?

- For me, Excel is like that, I can use it, I can do basic things and some things above a little above the basics, but I do not know the software well enough to maximize its potential.

- When you think about a gift we can receive that we do not always understand well enough to make the most of it, I think we can make a case that Jesus would fit the description.

- During Christmas, we focus on Jesus being born in Bethlehem, in a manger, on a wonderful day around 5 B.C.

- We sing songs about His birth and rightfully acknowledge Him as God who took on the form of humanity, yet do we grasp what this Christmas day we celebrate means for us?

- God created humanity, He walked in the garden with Adam and Eve, eventually, Adam and Eve sinned against God, and it has been downhill ever since.

- Sin separates us from God.

- God did something to bridge that separation.

- God created us so that we could have fellowship with Him.

- He created us so we can be a part of His family, yet what sin did to separate us from God, Jesus did something extraordinary for us.

- What God did through Jesus was done in the name of love.

- God loves you and wants to be with you for eternity!

- Are there people in life whom we want to be with?

- There is something about spending time with people.

- Not just a virtual hangout or staying connected via phone, text, or social media, but being physically in the same place as other people.

- The year of the pandemic, 2020, taught the world the power of being physically present at events, school, and work and being with people we enjoy.

- Human beings like that aspect of personal time with others.

- The incarnation of Jesus reveals the importance of God being with humanity.

- God came to us for a reason.

- Jesus came to us being born of a woman, becoming like us for a reason.

- When we begin to grasp why Jesus came, it will help us to understand how important the gift of salvation we can receive from Him can be.

- As we begin to understand Jesus, we will be able to utilize better the gift Jesus offers us and Jesus Himself.

- As you get to know Jesus in a deep way. it will change your life.

- As that process of change takes place in your life, the way you see life will change right along with it.

- Big Idea of the Message: The incarnation shows God dwelling with and loving broken humanity and the importance of being with others even in their brokenness.

- Let’s turn to Luke 1:30-33

Luke 1:30–33 (NET 2nd ed.)

30 So the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God!

31 Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

SERMON

I. The promise of His presence.

A. The Announcement of the Angel (Luke 1:30)

- Let’s back up a couple of verses.

Luke 1:26–30 (NET 2nd ed.)

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28 The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!”

29 But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting.

30 So the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God!

- In verse 28, Gabriel begins the conversation with Mary by saying, GREETING FAVORED WOMEN. THE LORD IS WITH YOU.

- Here is Mary.

- She may have been as young as 14 and most likely not over 18.

- We know nothing about Mary; she was not famous, she was not someone others hoped to be, she was a simple woman who, in the eyes of the world, was little to no consequence in life.