CHRISTMAS SERIES
CHRISTMAS PARTY: THE ANGELS
LUKE 2:1-20, #ChristmasParty #Jesusisthebestest
CHRISTMAS SERIES
12/1 Christmas Party: The Angels
12/8 Christmas Party: The Shepherds
12/15 Christmas Party: The Protesters (Herod)
12/22 Christmas Party: The Birthday Boy
BEGIN WITH CHILDREN’S SERMON
BRING KIDS UPFRONT TO READ THE CHRISTMAS STORY
How many of you are excited for Christmas? Why?
[Presents. Off school. Get to see family. Fun trips. Good food. Fun activities. Family traditions.]
Christmas time is a great time of celebration. For some people, it is their most favorite time of year… how many of you would say it is your favorite time of year? How about you parents and adults? Christmas is awesome because of all the things you mentioned:
* Presents: we get to give and receive presents for things we want or need, that is nice
* Off School: working hard in school means you appreciate a good break
* Family: Get to see people we love that we might not always get to see
* Trips and Activities: Special trips and activities like decorating cookies and stuff is fun
* Food: Get to eat some special recipes that we might wait all year for
* Family Traditions: Again, we might get to do some fun things that only happen once a year
* Other: [what they may mention additionally]
I want you to know that all of those things and people and activities do make Christmas special. They do. They really do. They are ‘tops’ for us when it comes to why Christmas and the Christmas Season are important and helps us make great memories. On this first day of December, I want to remind you all that all of those things are cool, but they are not the coolest thing about Christmas. The ‘tippy-top’ ‘best-est’ thing (I know best-est isn’t a word) about Christmas is that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Everyone repeat after me: “Jesus is the Best-est.” “Jesus is the Best-est.”
READ Luke 2:1-20
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 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. 8 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." 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." 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 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. 19 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.
CHILDREN’S SERMON CONTINUED
So basically, the Roman emperor wanted a lot more taxes so he could be richer and he wanted all the people in all the countries counted. He did that and everyone had to go back to the place where they were born. Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem because that was where Joseph was from. Tons of people arrived in Bethlehem about the same time and there were no hotel rooms or anything. Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem in a barn.
Angels from Heaven showed up in the sky at night and announced that Jesus was born. Jesus’ birth was so important that God sent angels to announce that He had been born. Each of you is super important, but none of you had angels announce that you had been born. The angels tell some shepherds that the Savior had been born. That. Is. The Best-est. Jesus was just born and already the angels in Heaven are letting us know that He will save us from our sins. He gives us joy. He gives us peace.
Christmas is that time of year when we celebrate that Jesus was born because that is when the plan of God to save us all from our wrongs/sin took a giant leap forward and became very real to us. Christmas is definitely about presents, being off school, getting to see family, fun trips, good food, fun activities, and family traditions, but at the very top of our list of why Christmas is important and why we are excited about Christmas… is because we celebrate the birth of Jesus. “Jesus is the Best-est.”
PRAY FOR THE CHILDREN
THE CHRISTMAS PARTY
One of the things I noticed about the night Jesus was born was that there was a huge party. Jesus was a huge gift given to us and there was much going on the night He was born. Usually, Christmas parties involve…
… ugly sweaters that people wear that they think look nice
… little bites of food on toothpicks so you have to eat a real meal after you leave the party
… way too many sugar cookies that didn’t quite bake into the shape they should have
My favorite thing to do at a Christmas party is decorating cookies and talk while decorating. White elephant gift exchange is also pretty fun most of the time.
Anyway, I believe on the night Jesus was born a huge party in Heaven happened. We are shown in Luke 2 what happened on this terrestrial ball as the party spilled over to where we could see it. There was a party on earth as well the night Jesus was born. The birth of Jesus was a significant event for many reasons, but one of the reasons is that angels from Heaven came and announced that it was so. Angels announce important happenings all throughout the Bible:
* In Genesis 18, an angel announced that Abraham and Sarah would have a son in their old age.
* In Exodus 3, an angel announced from a burning bush the plan to send Moses to free Israel.
* In Joshua 5-6, an angel announced the battle plan for conquering Jericho.
* In Judges 6, an angel encouraged Gideon over his impending military victory over Midian.
* In Judges 13, an angel announces that Manoah and his wife would have a son; his name was Samson.
* The whole book of Zechariah is one announcement of an angel after another about Israel’s fate.
* In Luke 1, an angel announced the birth of John the Baptist to his father, Zechariah the priest.
* In Luke 1, an angel announced the birth of Jesus to His mother, Mary.
* In Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20 angels announced Jesus’ resurrection at the tomb.
Angels announce the significant life-altering soul-saving birth of Jesus. First we have one angel, then we have many angels.
ONE ANGEL
RE-READ LUKE 2:9-12
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."
We get a clear picture of why there is a party going on. “Good news of great joy” came into the world and was first given to very simple people. Shepherds were in the fields making their living and working hard. Shepherds had the constant job of leading their flocks to fields where they could graze and leading them to running water or to wells where they could drink. Shepherds had the constant job of keeping the wandering sheep together. At night, the time of this particular passage was no time off for the shepherd. It was at night that predators would stalk the sheep and also the most likely time for thieves to also prowl around and try to steal sheep. It was to these simple hard-working people that the “good news of great joy” was first communicated and where the party started.
The message that the angel gave to the shepherds was not only words, but also tied and wrapped up in a Person. The first angel that arrived and shone brightly in the night communicated with words to the shepherds about what was going on.
First, this message and this party are offered for “all people.” What does that mean? That means that the birth of Jesus and all that this means has been offered to anyone and all people who will accept the message. This message is for poor, rich, and everyone in between. This message is for red, yellow, black, and white for we are all precious in God’s sight. This message is for those who tell little white lies and those that kill with big whoppers. This message is for the brokenhearted and for broken marriages. This message is for the person who thinks they are basically a good person and the person who feels like they are a scoundrel. “All people” means the person who hurts with words and the person who hurts with fists. It means that it is not just for people who have their lives together, but also for those who live in a perpetual hot mess.
The Bible shares this Truth with us in other places: Romans 5:18 says, “Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.”
Second, this message and this party centers around a “Savior.” What does that mean? Well, the presence of a savior usually indicates the need or the desire to be saved from something. In our case, all of us are in desperate need of a Savior because we are stuck in sin. Sin is doing wrong, thinking wrong, having wrong motives, and breaks our relationship with a Holy God. You and I have sinned and fallen short of the standard set for all people.
The Bible tells us this same Truth over and over: Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” and Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” and Titus 2:11 says, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.”
Third, the message and party centers around “Christ the Lord.” What does that mean? That means that you and I are not stuck in our sin, but rather there is a plan from God to get us out of the mess we find ourselves in. The baby born in the barn of which the “good news of great joy” is about was the plan all along. Jesus Christ was the plan for us to have knowledge of the way of salvation. Jesus Christ was the plan for us to have forgiveness for sins. Jesus Christ is the only plan for us to be saved.
The Bible tells us this Truth over and over: Luke 1:77-78a says, “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God” and Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
READ FROM CHRISTMAS HYMNS
The event of Jesus’ birth was such a celebration and had such a profound impact that people have written songs and poems about the party that happened on the night Jesus was born. We sing many of them during the Christmas Season. I went digging through the hymnal and picked out some verses in some beautiful songs that represent what we are talking about today. Focus on the words of these songs.
ILLUSTRATION… Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (#81)
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King; peace on earth and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.” Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies; with angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem”
ILLUSTRATION… O Little Town of Bethlehem (#82)
For Christ is born of Mary, And gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love. O morning stars, together, Proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, And peace to men on earth.
O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels, The great glad tidings tell, O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel.
ILLUSTRATION… O Come All Ye Faithful (#83)
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, O sing all ye bright hosts of Heaven above; Glory to God, all glory in the highest.
ILLUSTRATION… It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (#84)
It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold: "Peace on the earth, goodwill to men From heavens all gracious King!" The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled; And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world: Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on hovering wing, And ever o'er its Babel sounds The blessed angels sing.
ILLUSTRATION… There’s a Song in the Air (#85)
We rejoice in the light, And we echo the song that comes down thru the night From the heavenly throng. Ay! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring, And we greet in His cradle our Savior and King!
ILLUSTRATION… While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (#86)
While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground, an angel of the Lord came down,
and glory shone around.
"Fear not," said he for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind "glad tidings of great joy I bring
to you and all mankind.
“To you, in David's town, this day is born of David's line a Savior, who is Christ the Lord; and this shall be the sign:
"The heavenly babe you there shall find to human view displayed, all simply wrapped in swaddling clothes
and in a manger laid."
All glory be to God on high, and to the earth be peace; to those on whom his favor rests goodwill shall never cease."
TRANSITION
Not only do we have the message of one angel, but we have the message of many angels on the night Jesus was born. The party had tons of angels join to announce the gift of Jesus.
MANY ANGELS
RE-READ LUKE 2:13-14
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."
In verse 14, we hear directly what this message had to do with the shepherds and the people in that day, but also for us even though we are removed by time from the message and the party going on. This message, in verse 14, has to do with one word in verse 14: “peace.” The “good news of great joy” and the celebration that was going on had/has to do with “peace.”
Peace with God. You and I who are sinners can have peace with a Holy God only through the death of Jesus and accepting Him as our Lord and Savior. We can have peace with our Heavenly Father by following the way of peace set up for us. This means forgiveness by way of grace. This means God holds us as forgiven. Romans 5:1 tells us, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” That is something to celebrate!
Peace with Self. You and I who are sinners can have peace within ourselves. You and I can be free from the guilt of our sins because of the Grace of God. The way of peace that God has planned for us makes peace within us as we accept the forgiveness and grace given to us by God. Micah 7:19 says, “You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” That is something to celebrate!
Peace with Others. You and I are sinners and so are the people around us. You and I have a way of peace with the people who hurt us and with the people we hurt. Relationships are difficult. Marriage is difficult. Friendships can be difficult. Family relationships can be strained. As you and I think about the people in our lives, we can be guided by peace with them and for them. Romans 8:6 says, “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 14:19 says, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” That is something to celebrate!
SUMMARY/CHURCH REMINDER
The Christmas Season is upon us. It is December 1st which means Thanksgiving is over and Christmas decorations are starting to go up if they are not already up. Plans are being made. Events are in the works.
By the way:
* Keep Saturday, December 7 at 6:30pm open and be here for Jingle Jam which will kick-off your Christmas season right. Melanie is working with the kids for this great program.
* Keep December 19th open because that is when Star Wars comes out. That has nothing to do with anything, just thought I would mention it.
* Keep Tuesday, December 24th (Christmas Eve) at 7pm open and be here for the Christmas Eve service.
Anyway, the Christmas Season is here which means we rightly focus on Jesus Christ. Remember, angels from Heaven showed up in the sky at night and announced that Jesus was born. Jesus’ birth was so important that God sent angels to announce that He had been born because He is the “Best-est.”
He gives us joy and peace.
He gives us grace and forgiveness.
He gives us meaning and direction.
He gives us a personal relationship with God our Father.
He gives us an anchor in the mess of life.
GOSPEL MESSAGE
Christmas is that time of year when we celebrate that Jesus was born because that is when the plan of God to save us all from our sin took a giant leap forward. God came down and moved forward His plan to save us from our sins. Matthew 1:21-23 says, “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."
CONCLUSION
One last thing, “Jesus is the Best-est.”
PRAYER
