Christmas Eve 2020

Christmas Eve 2020

The greatest gift-presents or presence

John 1:1-5:12,14

Matthew Chapter 2:1-2:11

Prayer-

Introduction-

As we gather for this special service, this has been quite a year hasn’t it?

The times we are a living in are changing.

What was normal has become abnormal and what was not heard of has become the new normal.

We certainly need Jesus and we need Him now more than ever!

During the time of Jesus birth and the time that He ministered to us on this earth mankind and the world was at unrest.

He came when there was political unrest, social unrest, high taxes.

What had been normal to them was in their rearview mirror.

Any one feel like what was comforting and normal seems like it is in the rearview mirror instead of out front of you?

Like you have passed it bye and everything in front of you are roads that you are not familiar with? Jesus understood that, he made provisions for that.

Turn with me to the gospel of John

John 1:1-14 Read from Bible

Jesus the light of mankind was coming, He would be the light and He would be what is needed for a world that sunk so low that they could not save themselves.

The God who created everything, the God who was before time began would leave heaven so that a cruel and wicked mankind could again experience the presence of God.

Let’s this sink in to your Spirit tonight-

Jesus is the word- so everywhere you see the word …word in this passage, replace it with the word Jesus and you will better be able to grip this verse-

In the beginning was Jesus. Jesus was with God and Jesus was God. Jesus was in the beginning, before time began and everything was created by him and for Him. In Him is life and the light that shines in Him defeats darkness and darkness will not overcome the light of Jesus.

(14) The word (Jesus) became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Jesus became flesh and came to this earth

(12) To all who receive Him, who believe in His name…He gave the right to become a child of God.

The title of the message is “The greatest Gift- Presents or presence”

I want you to think about a few things:

Remember the birth of Christ-

Preparing for Christmas

Getting your stress level to where it needs to be so that you are not running around like a person who has just drank 10 cups of coffee and 10- 5 hour power boast drinks.

I want you to think about presents… not boxes or bags.

Presence…having a relationship with the Lord.”

Matthew 2:1- 2:11 Read from Bible

Christmas is a time of giving.

It is a time that we remember and want to thank those who have been a part of our lives.

It is a time of shopping.

Notice ever since the Magi came to see the Christ-child people have been giving gifts- most of the time exchanging gifts.

It has become a little more complicated than when the wise men from the East brought their finest gifts.

Just an observation- they didn’t bring a bag full of numerous gifts.

The bag that never seems to empty.

They each brought their finest gift to give to the Christ child.

They did not have to worry about returns and standing in long lines.

Their gift was their best to the Christ child.

The recorded words here was not focused on what they brought each other, it was on what they brought to Christ.

The most important gift we have ever been given was Jesus.

That baby Jesus who would fulfill all prophecy.

Jesus the one who could forgive our sins and could give us the gift of eternal life.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Most read that as…

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only forgotten Son.”

Christ is the greatest gift-

“I no longer call you servants, because servant does not know his masters business, instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you” John 15:15

That you and I may know the only true God….Jesus Christ …whom God sent for us as a gift.

2 Corinthians 9:15

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift”

Question- How do you prepare for Christmas?

How do you keep from getting sucked up into the commercialized side of Christmas?

Here is probably what you do:

Clean the house

Put decorations up

Buy presents

Get food bought and made

Go buy presents that you forget.

Send Christmas cards