A Story Worth Telling! Series

A Story worth Telling!

Thesis: The story of Jesus Christ is still worth telling because it’s not lifeless but full of new life!

Opening Illustration: Opening skit by kids with David Phelps song being played - "End of the Beginning".

Song¡¦s message:

Verse 1

I was taking a trip on a plane the other day, just wishin that I could get out. When the man next to me saw the book in my hand and asked me what it was about. So I settled back in my seat. "A best seller," I said, "A history and mystery in one." Then I opened up the book and began to read from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Chorus

He was born of a virgin one holy night in the little town of Bethlehem. Angels gathered around him underneath the star singing praises to the Great I Am.

He walked on the water, healed the lame, and made the blind to see again. And for the first time here on earth we learned that God could be a friend. And though he never , ever did a single thing wrong, the angry crowd chose Him. And then he walked down the road and died on the cross and that was the end¡K.of the beginning.

Verse 2

"That’s not a new book, that’s a Bible," he said, "And I’ve heard it all before. I’ve tried religion, its shame and guilt, and I don’t need it anymore. It’s superstition, made up tales, just to help the weak to survive. "Let me read it again," I said "But listen closely, This is gonna change your life."

Verse 3

"The end of the beginning" he said with a smile. "What more could there be? He’s dead. You said they hung him, put nails in his hands and a crown of thorns on his head." I said, "I’ll read it again, but this times there’s more. And I believe that this is true: His death wasn¡¦t the end but the beginning of life that’s completed in you. Don’t you see, He did all this for you."

Chorus 2

He was born of a virgin one holy night in the little town of Bethlehem. All the angels singing praises to the Great I Am. He walked on the water, healed the lame, and made the blind to see. And for the first time here on earth, did you know that God could be a friend. And though He never, ever did a single thing wrong. He was the one the crowd chose. And then he walked and he died , but three days later, three days later, three days later He rose! Three days later He rose!

Tag

You see, He came, He lived, and he died, but that was the end of the beginning.

Introduction:

This song is about a man sharing the story that’s worth telling to a man on a plane. It’s about the message given to us to by a person in history surrounded by mystery. This man went around declaring the message of new life. His message sang out about the power of Gods love to supersede the boundaries of nature to show mankind he loved them. His message of love and compassion is heralded as he makes the blind see. His hands of graceful healing heal the lame and the sick and the act cries out about his extravagant love. His willingness and power to raise the dead pronounce his ability and intention to produce new life and defeat death. Is it no wonder that at His birth the angels sang praises to the Great I AM!

Friends this song bellows out the message of God brought to us through Jesus Christ which is -He cares for you - He came for you - He lived for you - He died for you - He rose from the grave for you! Everything he did - He did it for you!

Andy is going to come help me out this morning as we learn more about the message of this song. The song¡¦s message and story is worth learning and understanding.

Listen closely as Andy sings the first part of our song today. (On the power point put up verse one’s words)

I was taking a trip on a plane the other day, just wishin that I could get out. When the man next to me saw the book in my hand and asked me what it was about. So I settled back in my seat. "A best seller," I said, "A history and mystery in one." Then I opened up the book and began to read from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Chorus:

He was born of a virgin one holy night in the little town of Bethlehem. Angels gathered around him underneath the star singing praises to the Great I Am.