Christmas! Why? Part 1 Celebration
Introduction
Begin 3 part Christmas series- conclude Christmas Eve
Adapted- The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren.
Roving Mic (two mics- ushers handle)
1. What does Christmas mean to you?
2. Share one unusual family Christmas tradition?
Christmas is the largest celebration in the world today.
There are entire stores/careers dedicated to this holiday
How does a peasant baby born 2000 years ago in the Middle East have such- impact on the world today?
Even history itself is divided by the birth of this baby.
Every event in all of human history is dated by how many days and years it happened
before/since Christ was born.
Begin by looking at part of the Christmas story
Lk 2:8-14
There are simple truths we can learn from- Christmas story, that can transform our lives for the better both during our stay here on earth, as well as forever in eternity.
The Christmas Story
Story of Christmas itself- best gift- will every receive-
1. Most Expensive (IN YOUR NOTES)
Jesus paid for it with His life.
1Pe 1:18-19
18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you … And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver.
19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. NLT
A gift is only as valuable as it is perceived to be.
How valuable is this gift to you? How do you treat it?
The reality of your answer is in whether the gift is being allowed to transform who you are
some have left the gift under the tree unopened,
others have opened it but put it away- in closet.
2. Last Forever (IN YOUR NOTES)
Only gift you will receive that will not decay.
Mtt 6:19-20
19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
Think about gifts you received last year, 5 years ago-
where are they today- God’s gift lasts forever.
3. Very Practical (IN YOUR NOTES)
The most practical gift you will ever receive.
It is a gift you can chose to use in your life daily.
Mtt 6:11 (Lord’s prayer)
11 ’Give us this day our daily bread. NASU
Lk 9:23 (Jesus talking about everyday living)
23 "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. NASU
Acts 17:11 (Bereans- how they studied the Word)
11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. NASU
Do we use God’s Word daily, pray daily?
Christmas gift- should have daily implications in- life.
In this series- look at three aspects of- Christmas story-
Celebration, Salvation, Reconciliation (IN YOUR NOTES)
Celebration
Christmas traditions contain many characters …
Rudolf the red nose reindeer,
Frosty the Snowman, Santa Clause,
the Grinch who stole Christmas, and more.
But the essence of Christmas is the celebration of the coming of the Christ child.
Psa 118:24 This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. NASU
What day? Every day? Well yes- but perhaps- Psalmist had a particular day in view in this verse.
Psa 118:19-29
V19-20
Jn 10:9 "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved … NASU
Jn 14:6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life
V 21-22
1 Pet 2:6 For this is contained in Scripture:
"BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone …"
It is almost as if the day in view here is the day Jesus appeared on earth providing the way of salvation.
V 23-24
We should be rejoicing/celebrating- birth of Christ.
Lk 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; NASU
Three truths in this verse
1. Christmas is personal (IN YOUR NOTES)
I bring YOU good news.
Christmas is for you specifically- God is a personal God, interested in you.
2. Christmas is good news (IN YOUR NOTES)
We have a lot of bad news every day, but this …
ETERNAL good news should overshadow
all TEMPORAL bad news in our lives.
3. Christmas is for ALL people (IN YOUR NOTES)
Not exclusive to my tradition/your- everybody.
Ultimate bail-out program, w/o regard to who you are.
Three reasons why we celebrate Christmas
1. We celebrate God’s LOVE for us (IN YOUR NOTES)
Rom 1:20
According to Paul, Creation reveals God to mankind.
God chose to make Himself known even more clearly-
Jn 1:18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. NASU
God loves mankind so much that He sent His only Son to become one of us so we could understand Him.
Jn 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. NASU
Jesus came to reveal to us …
God’s love for us and our need for Him.
When we speak of God’s love we must be careful not to misrepresent God …
We talk about God’s love as an unconditional love. Sometimes we communicate that God is so filled with love for us that when we die and stand before Him, we are going to be able to explain our life to God and He is going to let us into heaven because He is a loving Father and how could a God of love turn me away.
Truth is- God demonstrated His love towards us in …
the birth of His Son, and
His death on the cross.
Now the issue for you and I is not His love, but being reconciled to His righteousness.
God is a righteous God who allowed His Son to die in our place, to fulfill God’s righteousness.
God’s law had been violated and somebody had to die for our sin- this is the Good News!
2. We celebrate God’s PRESENCE (IN YOUR NOTES)
The way we approach worship is often confusing.
God’s presence has nothing to do with feelings …
whether I feel the presence of God or not.
I am not saying we cannot feel His presence, but whether we feel it or not- He is present with us.
Mtt 1:23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." NASU
It is clear that God’s desire to be with us/us with Him.
Ps 139:7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! NLT
The story of Jonah is a picture of this …
God told him- go to Nineveh- he went- Tarshish
why- to get away from “presence of the Lord”,
God caused a storm- ship in danger of sinking,
Jonah was thrown overboard to save the ship,
God appointed a fish to swallow Jonah,
God heard Jonah’s cry from the belly-fish,
Jonah could not escape God’s presence.
You may feel totally abandoned, rejected, black sheep-
but this does affect God’s presence with you.
You can chose to turn away from God like Jonah and go through some frightening experiences,
but you cannot escape His presence.
3. We celebrate that God is FOR US (IN YOUR NOTES)
Many people struggle with the idea that God is for them and prefer to see God as out to get them.
Psa 118:6 The Lord is for me; I will not fear
Throughout the Bible we learn that God is for us.
This can be seen in Jesus interaction w/people
Mtt 20:32 (two blind men)
And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" NASU
Mk 5:19 (demoniac- delivered of- many demons)
"Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you
Lk 22:31-32 (Satan wants to sift Peter)
31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail …
God is FOR US.
Conclusion
As God has given to us the gift of eternal life, what gift can we give Him in this coming year?
Lk 9:23 And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. NASU
Jesus died for us- are we willing to die for Him daily?
How valuable TO YOU is this gift God has given you?
Have you opened it or left it under the tree?
If you opened it, what have you done with it?
Lk 2:15-20
Christmas is a time glorify God, praise God, celebrate.
