A CHRISTMAS CHECKLIST, …
INTRODUCTION: I AM SURE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE LYRICS, “HE’S MAKIN A LIST, CHECKIN IT TWICE, ….”. WELL THIS MORNING, I AM NOT LOOKING AT WHETHER WE/I HAVE BEEN NAUGHTY OR NICE THIS YEAR. RATHER, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST A FEW ITEMS TO PUT ON YOUR CHRISTMAS CHECK LIST (IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY).
I AM SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR A CHECK LIST THIS TIME OF YEAR. THERE ARE TOO MAN Y THINGS HAPPENING IN TOO SHORT OF TIME IN ORDER TO REMEMBER THEM ALL IF WE DO NOT HAVE A LIST.
SO,, AT THE RISK OF OVER LOADING YOU THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON, HERE ARE MY ADDITIONS TO YOUR ALREADY BULGING LIST OF ITEMS THAT NEED YOUR ATTENTION.
1. MAKE SURE YOU FOCUS ON CHRIST THIS CHRISTMAS
MATTHEW 1:18-25 (NIV) THIS IS HOW THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST CAME ABOUT: HIS MOTHER MARY WAS PLEDGED TO BE MARRIED TO JOSEPH, BUT BEFORE THEY CAME TOGETHER, SHE WAS FOUND TO BE WITH CHILD THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT. 19 BECAUSE JOSEPH HER HUSBAND WAS A RIGHTEOUS MAN AND DID NOT WANT TO EXPOSE HER TO PUBLIC DISGRACE, HE HAD IN MIND TO DIVORCE HER QUIETLY. 20 BUT AFTER HE HAD CONSIDERED THIS, AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM IN A DREAM AND SAID, "JOSEPH SON OF DAVID, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TAKE MARY HOME AS YOUR WIFE, BECAUSE WHAT IS CONCEIVED IN HER IS FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. 21 SHE WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND YOU ARE TO GIVE HIM THE NAME JESUS, BECAUSE HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS." 22 ALL THIS TOOK PLACE TO FULFILL WHAT THE LORD HAD SAID THROUGH THE PROPHET: 23 "THE VIRGIN WILL BE WITH CHILD AND WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND THEY WILL CALL HIM IMMANUEL"--WHICH MEANS, "GOD WITH US." 24 WHEN JOSEPH WOKE UP, HE DID WHAT THE ANGEL OF THE LORD HAD COMMANDED HIM AND TOOK MARY HOME AS HIS WIFE. 25 BUT HE HAD NO UNION WITH HER UNTIL SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A SON. AND HE GAVE HIM THE NAME JESUS.
a. WE CANNOT GET AWAY FROM A GREATER AND GREATER SECULAR FOCUS WITH EACH PASSING CHRISTMAS
b. SOME EXAMPLES
i. HAPPY HOLIDAYS ARE NOW THE NORMAL CHRISTMAS GREETING.
ii. A BEAMING RHODE ISLAND GOV. LINCOLN CHAFEE CALMLY WEATHERED A CROSS-COUNTRY CHRISTMAS CONTROVERSY YESTERDAY, STANDING BY HIS PC PRONOUNCEMENT THAT THE 17-FOOT SPRUCE IN THE STATE HOUSE ROTUNDA IS A “HOLIDAY TREE” AS OUTRAGED RESIDENTS CRIED FOUL.
TAKING THE CHRISTMAS OUT OF THE TREE IS IN THE RHODE ISLAND SPIRIT, CHAFEE SAID, INVOKING THE 1663 COLONIAL CHARTER AND THE LEGACY OF STATE FATHER ROGER WILLIAMS.
iii. PRODUCERS OF A NEW THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE VIDEO, POPULAR WITH KIDS AROUND THE WORLD, ARE TAKING HEAT FOR REMOVING ALL REFERENCES TO CHRISTMAS IN A NEW VIDEO SET FOR RELEASE BEFORE THE 2011 CHRISTMAS SEASON. THE STORYLINE IS ABOUT COMPETING TRAINS WHO WANT TO WIN A COVETED PRIZE OF CARRYING ALL THE PRESENTS OF THE CHILDREN DURING A “WINTER HOLIDAY PARTY” FILLED WITH “DECORATED TREES”. ADVANCE WORD OF THE RELEASE OF THE VIDEO HAS PARENT GROUPS UP IN ARMS.
iv. CHRISTMAS HAS BEEN BANNED BY THE RED CROSS FROM ITS 430 FUND-RAISING SHOPS. STAFF HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO TAKE DOWN DECORATIONS AND TO REMOVE ANY OTHER SIGNS OF THE CHRISTIAN FESTIVAL BECAUSE THEY COULD OFFEND MOSLEMS. THE CHARITY’S POLITICALLY-CORRECT MOVE TRIGGERED AN AVALANCHE OF CRITICISM AND MOCKERY LAST NIGHT – FROM CHRISTIANS AND MOSLEMS. CHRISTINE BANKS, A VOLUNTEER AT A RED CROSS SHOP IN NEW ROMNEY, KENT, SAID: ‘WE PUT UP A NATIVITY SCENE IN THE WINDOW AND WERE TOLD TO TAKE IT OUT. IT SEEMS WE CAN’T HAVE ANYTHING THAT MEANS CHRISTMAS. WE’RE ALLOWED TO HAVE SOME TINSEL BUT THAT’S IT.
v. THE CHRIST IS OUT OF CHRISTMAS AT THE STATEN ISLAND ST. GEORGE FERRY TERMINAL. IN WHAT CATHOLICS SEE AS POLITICAL CORRECTNESS RUN AMOK, THE CITY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) HAS REMOVED A NATIVITY SCENE FROM THE TERMINAL, WITH AN AGENCY SPOKESMAN SAYING THAT THE DISPLAY WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO BE THERE. BUT A MENORAH, MARKING THE CELEBRATION OF HANUKKAH, AND A CHRISTMAS TREE REMAIN ON DISPLAY IN THE TERMINAL.
c. THE BIRTH OF CHRIST IS THE FOCUS OF CHRISTMAS, AND EVERYTHING SURROUNDING CHRISTMAS NEEDS TO BE SEEN THROUGH THE FILTER OF THE INCARNATION.
d. THIS CHRISTMAS, DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELVES TO FALL INTO “POLITICALLY CORRECT” THINKING.
e. THE WORLD AROUND YOU IS MAKING IT EASIER TO FORGET CHRIST THIS CHRISTMAS
2. WORSHIP THE RIGHT THINGS THIS CHRISTMAS.
MATTHEW 2:1-2 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."
MATTHEW 2:10-11 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.
a. THIS IS A DIFFICULT PART OF THE LIST FOR ME. I AM A TECH NERD KIND OF GUY, AND AS SUCH, I CAN EASILY GET CAUGHT UP WITH ALL THE COOL THINGS THAT COME OUT RIGHT ABOUT NOW!
b. NOTICE THE WISE MEN. THEY CAME AND PAID A CALL ON THE KING, BUT WHEN THEY GOT TO JESUS THEY WORSHIPPED HIM.
c. THEY USED ALL OF THE RESOURCES AROUND THEM TO ENHANCE THEIR JOURNEY TO WORSHIP CHRIST, NOT REPLACE TO REPLACE THEIR WORSHIP OF CHRIST.
3. AVOID THE WRONG THINGS
MATTHEW 2:12 AND HAVING BEEN WARNED IN A DREAM NOT TO GO BACK TO HEROD, THEY RETURNED TO THEIR COUNTRY BY ANOTHER ROUTE.
a. NOTICE THE ROLE GOD PLAYS IN THIS AREA.
b. DREAMS WERE ONE OF THE WAYS GOD COMMUNICATED HIS DESIRES, DIRECTION AND WISHES TO HIS OTHERS.
c. SCRIPTURE TELLS US THAT GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD, AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE NO OTHER GOD’S BEFORE HIM!
d. GOD HAS PUT SEVERAL THINGS IN PLACE TO WARN US OF IMPENDING DANGER IN THIS AREA
i. OUR CONSCIENCE
ii. OUR BIBLE
iii. HIS SPIRIT
iv. OUR FELLOW BELIEVERS
4. KEEP THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS PRECIOUS
MATTHEW 2:13-16 WHEN THEY HAD GONE, AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO JOSEPH IN A DREAM. "GET UP," HE SAID, "TAKE THE CHILD AND HIS MOTHER AND ESCAPE TO EGYPT. STAY THERE UNTIL I TELL YOU, FOR HEROD IS GOING TO SEARCH FOR THE CHILD TO KILL HIM." 14 SO HE GOT UP, TOOK THE CHILD AND HIS MOTHER DURING THE NIGHT AND LEFT FOR EGYPT, 15 WHERE HE STAYED UNTIL THE DEATH OF HEROD. AND SO WAS FULFILLED WHAT THE LORD HAD SAID THROUGH THE PROPHET: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON."
16 WHEN HEROD REALIZED THAT HE HAD BEEN OUTWITTED BY THE MAGI, HE WAS FURIOUS, AND HE GAVE ORDERS TO KILL ALL THE BOYS IN BETHLEHEM AND ITS VICINITY WHO WERE TWO YEARS OLD AND UNDER, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TIME HE HAD LEARNED FROM THE MAGI.
a. SINCE CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT CHRIST, CHRISTMAS IS PRECIOUS ENOUGH TO PROTECT AND VALUE.
b. WE VALUE CHRISTMAS BY WHAT WE PROTECT IT FROM
c. WE VALUE CHRISTMAS BY WHERE WE PLACE CHRIST ON OUR AGENDA
i. IE: HOW WILL YOU CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST ON CHRISTMAS.
ii. THIS SUNDAY – WHERE WILL YOUR FOCUS BE – AROUND THE TREE OR AROUND THE SAVIOR?
5. CHRISTMAS IS FOR EVERYONE
LUKE 2:8-12 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."
a. YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE ANGELS CAME TO SHEPHERDS TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE BIRTH OF JESUS.
i. SHEPHERDS WERE THE FORGOTTEN OF SOCIETY
ii. THEY WERE THE LOWEST OF THE LOW
iii. THEIR TESTIMONY WAS UNACCEPTABLE IN COURT
iv. YET THE FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT CAME TO THEM
b. THE MESSAGE OF THE INCARNATION CAME TO THEM IN A WAY THEY UNDERSTOOD – “CITY OF DAVID”.
i. TO ANYONE ELSE THIS MEANT JERUSALEM.
ii. TO SHEPHERDS THIS MEANT BETHLEHEM!
c. THE GOD OF ALL CREATION DELIBERATELY INCLUDED EVEN THE OUTCASTS OF SOCIETY IN THE BIRTH OF THE KING.
d. WE NEED, IN SIMILAR FASHION, TO BE INCLUSIVE, NOT EXCLUSIVE IN OUR CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS.
e. ONE OF THE GREAT BENEFITS OF FACEBOOK IS THE WEALTH OF ILLUSTRATIVE MATERIAL IT PROVIDES.
i. JUST RECENTLY I READ OF ONE OF OUR MEMBERS WHO HAS A TRADITION THAT HE SHARED WITH HIS FACEBOOK FRIENDS.
ii. HERE IS WHAT HE POSTED: “KEEP THIS IN UR MIND AS UR SHOPPING FOR UR KIDS..THERE IS BOYS N GIRLS ALL AGES THAT DON'T HAVE NOTHING.RYLEE N I ALWAYS GO SHOPPING FOR 1 LIL BOY N 1 GIRL.THIS TIME OF YR ISN'T FOR RECEIVING IT IS FOR GIVING SMILES.”
iii. WHAT A GREAT WAY TO INCLUDE OTHERS IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE MINISTRY OF JESUS, YOU WILL SEE THAT HE MET THE OTHER NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITHOUT NEGLECTING THEIR SPIRITUAL NEED AS WELL!
6. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ROOM FOR CHRIST
LUKE 2:6-7 6 WHILE THEY WERE THERE, THE TIME CAME FOR THE BABY TO BE BORN, 7 AND SHE GAVE BIRTH TO HER FIRSTBORN, A SON. SHE WRAPPED HIM IN CLOTHS AND PLACED HIM IN A MANGER, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR THEM IN THE INN.
a. THIS IS REALLY AN ITEM WITH OUTWARD FOCUS
b. THE INNKEEPER LOST OUT BECAUSE HE HAD NO ROOM FOR CHRIST!
c. MAN, LEFT TO HIS OWN DEVICES WILL HAVE NO ROOM FOR CHRIST.
d. THAT IS WHY WE WERE SENT INTO THE WORLD.
e. WITHOUT YOU THIS CHRISTMAS, WHO WOULD MISS OUT ON CHRIST?
f. MAKE IT YOUR JOB TO MAKE HIM KNOWN TO OTHERS!
7. TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT THE MEANING/RELEVANCE OF CHRISTMAS
LUKE 2:19-20 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.
a. MARY TOOK THE TIME TO PONDER EVERYTHING ABOUT THE BIRTH.
b. SHE HAD TO REALIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GIFTS THAT WERE PRESENTED – THEY WERE GIFTS FOR BOTH ROYALTY AND BURIAL.
c. SHE HAD TO PONDER ALL THAT WOULD GO INTO PRESERVING THE LIFE OF HER CHILD.
d. SHE WOULD PONDER ALL THAT WOULD SWIRL AROUND THE EVENTUAL DEATH OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS.
e. THIS IS REALLY AN ITEM OF MATURITY.
f. WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE INCARNATION? IT IS A MIND BLOWING ACTIVITY!
8. DO NOT LET THE THOUGHTS OF OTHERS DAMPEN YOUR CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
JOHN 1:10-11 HE WAS IN THE WORLD, AND THOUGH THE WORLD WAS MADE THROUGH HIM, THE WORLD DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIM. 11 HE CAME TO THAT WHICH WAS HIS OWN, BUT HIS OWN DID NOT RECEIVE HIM.
a. ABOVE ALL ELSE, CHRISTMAS IS A TIME OF PERSONAL REFLECTION.
b. JUST AS SALVATION IS AN INDIVIDUAL ACT OF FAITH IN CHRIST.
c. JUST AS THE DEATH OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS IS AN ACT OF INDIVIDUAL SIGNIFICANCE.
d. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE CROSS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO LOSE THEIR INDIVIDUAL SIGNIFICANCE.
e. GUARD YOUR OWN THOUGHTS THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON.
f. BE JEALOUS FOR THEM, AND DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE OF ANYTHING TO TAKE AWAY YOUR CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.
g. CHRIST DID NOT ONLY DIE FOR YOU, BUT HE WAS ALSO BORN FOR YOU!
