Mission Of Christmas

Opening illustration: Play video of Office Christmas.

Introduction: We know that the church is supposed to be about Christ's mission on earth - preaching the gospel, making disciples, baptizing and teaching them. But have you considered that it is God who is the true Missionary? The story of Christmas shows how God's missionary heart sent Jesus to be our Savior. You can share that message of hope this Christmas with your congregation.

What is the MISSION of CHRISTMAS?

1. JOY to the World (Isaiah 9:3,6-7; Luke 2:1-7)

The opening line of “Joy to the World” is sometimes sung incorrectly as, “Joy to the world! The Lord has come.” That is not what Isaac Watts wrote. He wrote, “The Lord is come.” Watts was not describing a past event (the birth of Jesus) but rather looking forward to a future event (the return of Jesus). The main point of Psalm 98 (which Watts himself clearly understood) was not about the first coming of Jesus, but, rather, about His Second Coming! And that’s precisely what the song is about. It speaks of Jesus’ final coming to earth when “the Savior reigns” and when “He rules the world with truth and grace.” Watts longed for that glorious final day when the “nations (will) prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love.”

Even though Isaac Watts may not have ever envisioned his song being sung at Christmas time, I think it is a wonderful tribute to his work. Indeed, the first advent of Jesus stands as a historical guarantee that His Second Advent is just around the corner. Indeed, the birth of Jesus and the return of Jesus are “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

Joy is certainly one of those stock phrases of the season. You could send a Christmas card to people with the simple word “joy” emblazoned on the front and a picture of your family inside and it would be enough. But what does “joy” mean? Joy must be like happiness, but somehow deeper.

Perhaps we can gain some wisdom if we think about the opposite of joy which would be grief. Grief is related to sadness, but sadness is short – your team loses a chance to make the playoffs, you score a grade lower in a class than you were thinking, you couldn’t get tickets to the Star Wars opening this past weekend. Grief is different. You mourn when you lose someone you love, when your marriage falls apart or when your dreams are shattered. You move through these and you can learn to cope in this new reality, but you are never the same. The mark of that grief never leaves you even as we move through the good times of life, a tinge of the reality lose is with you.

So, joy is like that on the other side. There is a satisfaction, a peace, a rejoicing deep in our souls that is there even when we go through hard times. Joy is a happiness that leaves a mark, a goodness that stays with you. We know only too well what causes grief. What could ever cause us joy?

2. FEAR NOT (Luke 1:30; Matthew 1:20; Luke 2:10)

Observing the consternation and confusion she was in, he calls her by her name, signifying that she was well known to him, as the saints are to the ministering angels, who are often sent unto them, encamp about them, and do them many good offices; and bids her not be afraid, he had no ill design upon her, nor brought any ill news to her: or "found grace with God."

What is about to happen in your life is of the Holy Spirit: [nothing happens in our life without God’s intervention OR Him allowing it]. In Matthew 1:20, fear was eating up Joseph as Mary was pregnant before marriage as he knew he was not the physical father. In that context it was shameful and worthy of stoning to death of both of them.

Therefore, Joseph receives a message from the angel that Mary was pure in the eyes of God and what happened to her was a God thing. A body was thus prepared pure and holy, and free from the corruption of sin, in order that he might be qualified for his great work the offering of a pure sacrifice to God. As this was necessary in order to the great work which he came to perform, Joseph is directed by an angel to receive her as pure and virtuous, and as every way worthy of his love.

The mission of Christmas is to bring us joy. When the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, they were very afraid. Probably the shepherds, realizing their own sinfulness, were expecting a message of judgment, of doom. But the message is “Fear not.”