INTRO.
1. A Blessed Christmas to everyone!
2. This season is the most wonderful and glorious time of the year.
? CHRISTMAS SURVEY:
• 67% - believe that the entire story of Christmas is historically accurate.
• 24% - believe the story of Christmas is a theological invention.
• If Jesus had never born, people believed there would be:
• 63% - less charity
• 61% - less kindness
• 59% - less personal happiness
• 58% - less tolerance
• 47% - more war
SOURCE: Brian Mavis, SermonCentral.com. Citation: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6653824/site/newsweek
3. Christians ought to celebrate the celebrant.
? “…Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls."--Mother Teresa
TEXT: Luke 2:8-11, 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.
? Matt 2:10, When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.
I. GREAT JOY IS FOUND IN THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS
? Joy is the message of God’s love being revealed through Jesus in a personal way.
? (v.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.
? Ps.16:11, ‘in your presence is fullness of joy!’
? 1Jn.4:9, This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
II. GREAT JOY OF CHRISTMAS COMES THROUGH RECEIVING JESUS AS A GIFT
? Rom 3:23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
? Rom 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
? Luke 7:44, Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven — for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
III. GREAT JOY OF CHRISTMAS BRINGS A LONG AND LASTING PEACE
? Luke 2:13, Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
? Isa.9:6, ‘..Prince of Peace’ (Jehovah Shalom)
? The Jewish word shalom (peace) means much more than a ceasefire in the battles of life.
? It means well-being, health, prosperity, security, soundness, and completeness.
? “Kaya ang sinomang na kay Christ, walang CRISIS, because CHRIST IS.”
? Luke 2:17, 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.
? Luke 2:20, The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
