Go! And… Receive The King! A Christmas Morning All-Age Service Series

Go! And… Receive the King! A Christmas Morning All-Age Service

INTRODUCTION – “Go! And… Receive the King!”

Merry Christmas everyone!

Children and adults – welcome! Today we celebrate the greatest birth in history – the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the promised Messiah, our Saviour and our Lord.

This morning our theme in the “Go! And…” series is: Go! And… Receive the King!

Christmas is not just a holiday. It is a divine invitation. God came near. God stepped into our darkness. God became flesh.

Christmas is God saying to all people: “Come and receive My Son.”

Let us hear again the familiar but awesome Christmas account.

Luke 2:8–14 (NLT): “That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Saviour—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognise him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.’ Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.’”

Bethlehem – “House of Bread”.

Jesus – the Bread of Life – would be born in a feeding trough.

A manger – Greek: phatne – meaning a feeding stall.

Jesus was laid where animals ate. The humble King came for all, not just the rich or powerful.

Shepherds – the lowest social class in first-century Judea. Nobody trusted them. Yet they were the first to hear and respond.

This reflects God’s heart – to reveal Himself to the humble.

“Good News” – Greek: euangelion – the announcement of victory, salvation, freedom.

The angels preached the Gospel before Jesus preached the Gospel!

“Great joy” – Greek: chara megale – mega joy!

Full, overflowing, unstoppable joy that comes from salvation.

“The Saviour—yes, the Messiah, the Lord” – three titles proving the identity of Jesus:

Saviour – rescuer, deliverer from sin

Messiah / Christos – the promised anointed King

Lord – Yahweh, God Himself

Christmas proclaims Jesus is God, born to save sinners.

Point 1: Go! And… Receive the Joyful Good News

The angel said, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.”

Joy is not temporary happiness. Happiness depends on circumstances.

Joy comes from knowing God.

Isaiah 9:6 (NLT): “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah prophesied 700 years before Christ.

“Wonderful” – Hebrew pele? – supernatural wonder beyond human comprehension.

“Mighty God” – Hebrew El Gibbor – divine warrior-King.

Christmas joy is rooted in Divine sovereignty – God keeps His promises.

Tim Keller said: “The gospel is not good advice to follow; it is good news to believe.”

Christmas isn’t a suggestion to live better. It announces salvation accomplished by Jesus. We receive, not achieve.

For believers today – in a world of fear, war, brokenness – Jesus brings joy that cannot be cancelled by suffering, inflation, political chaos, illness or loss.

CHILDREN & TEENS TALK – “The Gift with Your Name on It”

(Have a wrapped present.)

Children – when you see a present with your name on it – what do you do? You open it!

Imagine someone hands you a gift – beautifully wrapped – and you never open it. That would be silly!

Jesus is God’s gift to us.

Forgiveness is inside.

Heaven is inside.

Real life is inside.

Hope is inside.

But a gift is useless until you receive it.

So this Christmas: open the gift of Jesus.

Trust Him. Follow Him. Love Him. Obey Him.

And teenagers – following Jesus is not boring. It is the greatest adventure. He gives purpose beyond TikTok, popularity, or achievement. He calls you to live for Him.

Point 2: Go! And… Believe in the Saviour who Came to Save

Luke 2:11 says: “The Saviour… has been born today.”

He didn’t come just to inspire – but to save.

Matthew 1:21 (NLT): “...you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

“Jesus” – Hebrew Yeshua / Yehoshua – “Yahweh saves”.

The mission is in His name.

The cross was not Plan B.

The cradle points to the cross.

A lifeguard cannot save a drowning person unless the person stops struggling.

Many people today are spiritually drowning – holding tightly to sin, pride, control.