He Showed Up: So What?

HE SHOWED UP: SO WHAT?

LUKE 2: 21-39

DECEMBER 26, 2004

INTRODUCTION: MAKE CHRISTMAS MEMORABLE

As one department store advertised in December of 1983 "Make this Christmas one you will not soon forget – charge everything!"

SOURCE: Jeff Strite

Contributed by: SermonCentralPRO

DAD’S RESOLUTION

Jeanette Case writes: Last year when I called my parents to wish them a happy New Year, my dad answered the phone. "Well, Dad, what’s your New Year’s resolution?" I asked him. "To make your mother as happy as I can all year," he answered proudly. Then mom got on, and I said, "What’s your resolution, Mom?" "To see that your dad keeps his New Year’s resolution."

SOURCE: http://irsweb.com/. Citation: Jeanette Case, Erie, PA, Readers Digest.

Contributed by: SermonCentral PRO

TRANSITION THOUGHT: Here we are, the day after Christmas and the Sunday before New Years Day. This is a little bit of a Sandwich. The excitement of yesterday still glows on our faces, especially if our faces are under the age 12, I guess. Some of us are tired today, because we have rushed all we can and have done all we can to celebrate this wonderful time of the year. As I was thinking of what to preach on this week, something strange, like me, came to mind. Did Santa show up at your house? Then, so what? Now I am not trying to be a Scrooge, but I was just thinking of what it means when Santa comes to town. The So What is not a negative statement, but a question. What does it mean to celebrate the Holiday and receive gifts? What does it mean to be bombarded with stuff and eat lots of food and laugh and hug and maybe be so touched that you feel like crying? What does it mean to gather as family and friends and if just for a brief few hours to forget the struggles of life and just enjoy yourself? I HOPE YOU DID ENJOY YESTERDAY, IT WAS NOT PROMISED, IT WAS A GIFT FROM GOD!

Let me begin to answer my question with that last statement. Yesterday was not promised, it was a gift from God. Yesterday we celebrated the most encredible gift that was ever given! We celebrated the coming of the Christ Child, the Messiah, the child of the virgin, the promised hope of Israel, Immanuel! God showed up and I want us to think about all this means for us, the SO WHAT IF YOU WILL!

THESIS SENTENCE: JESUS IS OUR SALVATION, THAT’S WHAT!

I. SO WHAT IS THE MOVING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT VV. 21-28, 39

A. MOM AND DAD DO THE RIGHT THING: VV. 21-24, & 39 LEV. 12 AND EXODUS 13

B. SIMEON DOES THE RIGHT THING: RIGHTEOUS AND DEVOUT: VV. 25A&B & 28 WHO HE WAS AND WHAT HE DID!

C. THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES THE RIGHT THING: HE MOVES X3

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS UPON HIM

2. REVEALED TO HIM BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

3. MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

TRUTH: OUR GOD HAS A PLAN AND HE IS MOVING!

QUESTION: ARE WE MOVABLE?

II. SO WHAT IS WAITING VV. 36-38

A. A SAD STORY: WIDOWED SO YOUNG VV. 36-37

B. A PROPHETESS: SHE NEVER LEFT THE TEMPLE? V. 37

C. A WORSHIPER: NIGHT AND DAY? V. 37

D. A LIFE OF DEVOTION: FASTING AND PRAYING V. 37

E. A THANKFUL HEART! TO GOD AND TO THE FUTURE: REDEMPTION V. 38

TRUTH: OUR GOD HAS A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE!

QUESTION: CAN WE SEE THROUGH ANNA’S EYES?

III. SO WHAT IS JESUS! VV. 29-32, 38

A. GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES V. 26 AND 29

B. SALVATION IS NOT AN EVENT, IT IS A PERSON/CHILD V. 30

C. GOD DOES NOT HIDE WHAT HE DOES V. 31

D. SALVATION IS OPEN TO ALL V. 32

E. JESUS WILL EFFECT CHANGE V. 34

F. JESUS WILL BE REJECTED V. 34

G. JESUS IS THE HEART OF THE MATTER V. 35

1. THE HEART IS THE MATTER

2. HIS KINGDOM WILL NOT BE HERE: A SWORD IN THE SOUL

TRUTH: OUR GOD HAS A PLAN: OUR SALVATION!

QUESTION: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO US?

CONCLUSION: I hope in some way you heard the so what. The last thought I have for us this day, as we conclude the celebration of the coming of our Lord as a babe in the manger and as we have probably already begun to think about another year beginning, is that of the response of Simeon. For him, the so what was printed for our consideration: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant is peace.” Simeon teaches us two valuable lessons: 1 Don’t be content to go through life without Jesus! 2. If you do know Jesus, be content! This for Simeon was the SO WHAT OF THE HE SHOWED UP! DO YOU HAVE THE PEACE THAT THE PRINCE OF PEACE BRINGS? HE SHOWED UP SO THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM AND HAVE HIS PEACE!

BENEDICTION: JUDE 24-25