The King That Missed Christmas
December 2, 2007 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: Don’t be so preoccupied with Christmas that you miss Christ.
Focus Passage: Matthew 2
Introduction
: Herod the Great! Herodium was tall enough to be seen from Bethlehem. Wealth was staggering. Luxury was unequaled. Herod had information specialist to tell him about prophesy. He had international experts who came to tell him. But, he ignored them all. The shepherds were poor. They had no comforts. All they had was time. They were caught off guard by the angelic announcement. However, when they heard, they went to worship. When Herod heard, he planned to destroy.
I. Set aside the time this year to find Christmas
a. The shepherds were bored stiff; the citizens were worn out.
b. Actually schedule a time where you can find Christmas the way you’d schedule a party.
c. Just say “NO” when you are asked to another party. Tell them you have a previous engagement.
II. Searching for Christmas? Be sure to be still.
a. Not looking for just any time. Find QUIET time.
b. Not during family events, shopping, movies, parties, or even here at church
c. Find the kind of quiet you’d find in a shepherd’s field.
III. Bring your faith to the manger.
a. Herod missed Christmas even though God had gone to great lengths to make sure he knew.
b. He had no faith in God, no trust in God’s message, and he saw no need for a Savior.
c. Dwight L. Moody discovered in the last century something we need to discover today: that faith comes from seeking the Lord. Moody wrote: "I prayed for faith and thought that some day faith would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith did not seem to come. I remembered, 'Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.' I had up to this time closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible and began to study and my faith has been growing ever since."
d. You may be so familiar with the story that you can quote Luke 2. But do you KNOW that the story is TRUE?
Invitation: Herod is dead; Jesus is ALIVE!
