Celebration Series

Christmas! Why? Part 1 Celebration

Introduction

Begin 3 part Christmas series- conclude Christmas Eve

Adapted- The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren.

Roving Mic (two mics- ushers handle)

1. What does Christmas mean to you?

2. Share one unusual family Christmas tradition?

Christmas is the largest celebration in the world today.

There are entire stores/careers dedicated to this holiday

How does a peasant baby born 2000 years ago in the Middle East have such- impact on the world today?

Even history itself is divided by the birth of this baby.

Every event in all of human history is dated by how many days and years it happened

before/since Christ was born.

Begin by looking at part of the Christmas story

Lk 2:8-14

There are simple truths we can learn from- Christmas story, that can transform our lives for the better both during our stay here on earth, as well as forever in eternity.

The Christmas Story

Story of Christmas itself- best gift- will every receive-

1. Most Expensive (IN YOUR NOTES)

Jesus paid for it with His life.

1Pe 1:18-19

18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you … And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver.

19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. NLT

A gift is only as valuable as it is perceived to be.

How valuable is this gift to you? How do you treat it?

The reality of your answer is in whether the gift is being allowed to transform who you are

some have left the gift under the tree unopened,

others have opened it but put it away- in closet.

2. Last Forever (IN YOUR NOTES)

Only gift you will receive that will not decay.

Mtt 6:19-20

19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

Think about gifts you received last year, 5 years ago-

where are they today- God’s gift lasts forever.

3. Very Practical (IN YOUR NOTES)

The most practical gift you will ever receive.

It is a gift you can chose to use in your life daily.

Mtt 6:11 (Lord’s prayer)

11 ’Give us this day our daily bread. NASU

Lk 9:23 (Jesus talking about everyday living)

23 "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. NASU

Acts 17:11 (Bereans- how they studied the Word)

11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. NASU

Do we use God’s Word daily, pray daily?

Christmas gift- should have daily implications in- life.

In this series- look at three aspects of- Christmas story-

Celebration, Salvation, Reconciliation (IN YOUR NOTES)

Celebration

Christmas traditions contain many characters …

Rudolf the red nose reindeer,

Frosty the Snowman, Santa Clause,

the Grinch who stole Christmas, and more.

But the essence of Christmas is the celebration of the coming of the Christ child.

Psa 118:24 This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. NASU

What day? Every day? Well yes- but perhaps- Psalmist had a particular day in view in this verse.

Psa 118:19-29

V19-20

Jn 10:9 "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved … NASU

Jn 14:6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life

V 21-22

1 Pet 2:6 For this is contained in Scripture:

"BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone …"

It is almost as if the day in view here is the day Jesus appeared on earth providing the way of salvation.

V 23-24

We should be rejoicing/celebrating- birth of Christ.

Lk 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; NASU

Three truths in this verse

1. Christmas is personal (IN YOUR NOTES)

I bring YOU good news.

Christmas is for you specifically- God is a personal God, interested in you.

2. Christmas is good news (IN YOUR NOTES)

We have a lot of bad news every day, but this …

ETERNAL good news should overshadow

all TEMPORAL bad news in our lives.

3. Christmas is for ALL people (IN YOUR NOTES)

Not exclusive to my tradition/your- everybody.

Ultimate bail-out program, w/o regard to who you are.

Three reasons why we celebrate Christmas

1. We celebrate God’s LOVE for us (IN YOUR NOTES)

Rom 1:20

According to Paul, Creation reveals God to mankind.