COME LET US ADORE HIM:
THE WELCOME, WITNESS AND WORSHIP OF CHRISTMAS
OPENING TEXT: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6).
- The Christmas story actually started long before the birth of Jesus.
- In the Old Testament, the prophets said, “He is coming.” Isaiah says…
- Unto us a Child is born – unto US – Jesus was born for you & me!
- He is Wonderful – Jesus is precious to those of us who believe
- He is a Counselor – if you have a problem, go to Jesus!
- He is Mighty God – He is powerful to save
- He is the Everlasting Father – we’re His children, and we belong to Him
- He is the prince of Peace – He will give us peace in our hearts & lives
ILLUSTRATION:
A Sunday School was putting on a Christmas pageant which included the story of Mary and Joseph coming to the inn. One boy wanted so very much to be Joseph, but when the parts were handed out, a boy he didn’t like was given that part, and he was assigned to be the inn-keeper instead. He was pretty upset about this but he didn’t say anything to the director.
During all the rehearsals he thought what he might do the night of performance to get even with this rival who got to be Joseph. Finally, the night of the performance, Mary and Joseph came walking across the stage. They knocked on the door of the inn, and the inn-keeper opened the door and asked them gruffly what they wanted.
Joseph answered, "We’d like to have a room for the night." Suddenly the inn-keeper threw the door open wide and said, "Great, come on in and I’ll give you the best room in the house!"
For a few seconds poor little Joseph didn’t know what to do. Thinking quickly on his feet, he looked inside the door past the inn-keeper then said, "No wife of mine is going to stay in dump like this. Come on, Mary, let’s go to the barn." -And once again the play was back on track! (from sermoncentral.com)
THE BIG IDEA: The old Christmas Carol declares, “O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, o come ye, o come ye, to Bethlehem.” Christmas is about turning our hearts towards the birth of the Christ-child, and responding with welcome, worship and witness. Come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
KEY TEXT: THE CHRISTMAS STORY - LUKE 2:
• Background: An angel had appeared to Mary and said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35).
“1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
QUOTE –GOD CAME NEAR:
“They were too busy. The day was upon them. The day’s bread had to be made. The morning’s chores had to be done. There was too much to do to imagine that the impossible had occurred. God had entered the world as a baby. Yet, were someone to chance upon the sheep stable on the outskirts of Bethlehem that morning, what a peculiar scene they would behold. The stable stinks like all stables do. The stench of urine, dung, and sheep reeks pungently in the air. The ground is hard, the hay scarce. Cobwebs cling to the ceiling and a mouse scurries across the dirt floor. A more lowly place of birth could not exist…
Meanwhile, the city hums. The merchants are unaware that God has visited their planet. The innkeeper would never believe that he had just sent God into the cold. And the people would scoff at anyone who told them the Messiah lay in the arms of a teenager on the outskirts of their village. They were all too busy to consider the possibility. Those who missed His Majesty’s arrival that night missed it not because of evil acts or malice; no, they missed it because they simply weren’t looking. Little has changed in the last two thousand years, has it?” (Max Lucado).
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
BACKGROUND ON THE SHEPHERDS:
• Isolated and forgotten - nomadic. Treated with contempt and mistrust.
• Suspected of being thieves. Known to be brash and bold.
9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
• OBSERVATIONS ON THE STORY:
• The birth of Jesus is called, “Good tidings of great joy!” Christianity = good news!
• Jesus came to be a Saviour – to save us from our sins, sicknesses, fears, etc.
• Christmas is about glory to God; peace on earth, and love for one another.
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” (Luke 2:1-20).
HOW DO WE RESPOND TO THE CHRISTMAS STORY?
Let’s make this practical!
1. WELCOME Jesus this Christmas Season:
“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7).
• How can you welcome Jesus?
a. Read the Christmas story together as a family.
b. Take time to pray together as a family, and pray for others.
2. WORSHIP Jesus this Christmas Season:
“Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen.” (Luke 2:20).
• How can you worship Jesus?
a. Not just with songs– but with your life –a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).
b. With generous giving – to help the poor, to see lost souls saved, to missions
c. With a walk of love and kindness towards others – “good will toward men”
3. WITNESS for Jesus this Christmas Season:
“Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.” (Luke 2:17).
• How can you witness for Jesus?
A. Through gifts (Bibles, Christian tract bookets; Christian cards or letters)
B. Invite people to Christmas services at church, etc.
C. Put Christmas story quotes & messages on your myspace or facebook pages!
“Christianity, in its purest form, is nothing more than seeing Jesus. Christian service, in its purest form, is nothing more than imitating him who we see. To see His Majesty and to imitate him, that is the sum of Christianity.” (Max Lucado, When God Came Near).
ALTAR CALL FOR SALVATION
Chris Jordan is the lead pastor of Beausejour Community Church in Beausejour, Manitoba, Canada.
For more sermon outlines, and online audio sermons, go to www.beausejourchurch.ca.
