Classic TV Christmas
The Heart of Christmas Worship
The Little Drummer Boy
INTRODUCTION
In the Classic TV Christmas Special, the Little Drummer Boy, Aaron, is a wandering orphan who harbors an intense hatred for people because of the hurt inflicted upon him. He has seen his mother and father brutally murdered, he has been captured and enslaved by unscrupulous desert entertainers and finally one of his beloved pets has been stolen from him and sold to a caravan of Magi on a quest.
But this wounded little boy has an incredible transformation that takes place. It begins with a turning point in his journey.
(Watch this video clip with me.)
In this tragic tale is a lesson for each of us as we approach the Christmas season. Our hearts will be caught up in worship when we follow the star to its destination.
This Christmas Season we can except to encounter new worship experiences when, like The Little Drummer Boy our face is set towards Bethlehem.
T.S. The Chrstmas Story is one filled with protraits of worship and by examining them we gain a glimpse of what our worship experience should be like as we journey to Bethlehem this Christmas season.
There are three obvious aspects of worship associated with Jesus coming to earth. They define for us a pattern to follow for Worship during the Christmas season.
Our Guides for this journey will be different examples of worshippers in the Christmas Story.
Mary
Shepherds
Wise Men
Through them we see that our Journey to Bethlehem will lead us to . . .
I. Personal Acts of Worship
WORSHIP
Honor, reverence, homage, in thought, feeling, or act, paid to specifically and supremely to God.
Reverent devotion to God; the rituals or ceremonies by which this reverence is expressed.
--Mary is a Worshipper
Luke 1:46-47
46 And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, NIV
--Shepherds Worship
Luke 2:16-20
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. NIV
--Wise Men Worship
Matt 2:10-11
10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. NIV
A. Upward Element
-- Acts of reverence and honor directed toward God.
o Mary Sings
o Shepherds Journey
o Wise Men Bow
B. Outward Element
-- Acts of reverence and honor directed toward others.
o Mary shares with Elizabeth
o Shepherds return with rejoicing
o Wise men declare to Herod.
Therefore worship is both declarative and demonstrative
Appl: We should expect that our journey to Bethlehem will lead us to personal acts of worship. Some which will be upward directed just to God, others will be outward acts reverence and honor.
II. Based Upon Personal Encounters
Considering how momentous the birth of Jesus was, it is interesting to note how few worshippers are identified in the nativity story. Besides Mary, the Shepherds and the Wise men only two others are named: Simeon and Anna.
In the movie Dennis the Menace, Mr. Wilson has waited for years to witness his rare plant bloom. Then due to the distractions that occur he misses the event.
Most of the Jewish nation had been looking for a messiah for thousands of years yet on the night he was born, most of them missed the event.
Today with the business of our lives we can easily miss truly worshipping this Christmas. Why because we will be too busy too distracted and miss the encounter God wants to have with us.
A. Mary listened to the angel
Luke 1:26-28
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." NIV
B. Shepherds believed the Heavenly Host
Luke 2:8-12
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." NIV
C. Wise Men followed a Star.
Matt 2:1-2
2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." NIV
True Encounters with God occur when we are seeking to listen to his word, believe what it says and follow in obedience.
Appl: Do you want to be a Worshipper this Christmas. To you want to experience the awe and wonder of this season. Place your self in the position to encounter God. Make listening, believing and following a priority this Christmas season.
III. Appropriate To Our Life Styles
We said earlier that worship is both declarative and demonstrative. But it is also appropriate to our individual lives.
Pastor Dan gave me permission to share this story.
I love my brother Pastor Dan. He is a good friend, loyal associate and an excellent co-worker in Christ. But he can¡¦t sing. You should be glad that I have Pastor Wayne, who I also love and appreciate lead worship. It would be wrong of me to expect Pastor Dan to lead something that is not appropriate to his gifts and life.
This Christmas we should expect that we will have personal expressions of worship, based upon our encounters with God that are appropriate to our lives.
--Mary sings a song and shares it with a relative.
Luke 1:39-46
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
46 And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord . . . NIV
--Shepherds search for a manger and raise a chorus of praise.
Luke 2:16-20
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. NIV
--Wise Men followed a star, shared their wealth and declared his birth to a king.
Matt 2:1-2
2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." NIV
Matt 2:10-11
10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. NIV
Appl: How will you respond in worship to the encounter you have with God this Christmas season? What will God have you do that is specifically intended for you?
+ Will be an act of service?
+ A generous gift?
+ Will it be shared with a friend a relative, co-worker?
+ Will it formal or informal, public of private?
SUMMARY
When the little Drummer Boy stands in the presence of the Baby Jesus, when he has encountered the miracle of Christmas, the song reminds us that he responds. He plays a song for him on his drum. While the little drummer boy is just a story it illustrates the truth that
> personal upward and outward acts of Worship
> based upon real encounters with God
> appropriate to our lives and gifts
Are you ready for the journey back to Bethlehem?
Prayer: Jesus, it is to easy to miss the true heart of Christmas worship. Fill my life with expressions of worship that come from daily encounters with you. Lead me to ways to express that worship that declare and demonstrate my devotion to you. Give me a heart for Christmas Worship. Amen
