MISFIT CHRISTMAS:
Impact of the Greatest Misfit
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: Good Idea
1. Two Centerpoint natural Gas company men were checking gas meters in a suburban neighborhood. They parked their truck at the end of an alley worked their way to the other end.
2. At the last house, a woman looking out her window watched the men as they checked her gas. Finishing, one worker challenged the other to a foot-race back to the truck.
3. As they came running up to their truck, they realized the lady from the last house was huffing and puffing right behind them. They asked her if something was wrong.
4. Gasping for breath, she said, “When I saw two gas company men running for their lives I figured I’d better run too!”
B. DECEMBER THEME: “MISFIT CHRISTMAS”
1. We’re talking about misfits this month. A MISFIT is “a person who’s not like everyone else – they’re different.”
2. How many of you know that we Christians are supposed to be different from everyone else? We’re not supposed to ‘blend-in.’ Our being different is not a BAD difference, but a GOOD difference. You see, we’re supposed to be like Jesus!
3. He’s all-good, all-loving, sacrificial, kind, forgiving, generous, and sweet. He’s a wonderful person to be around.
4. ANYONE WHO GOT AROUND JESUS WAS PROFOUNDLY CHANGED!
a. The WOMAN AT THE WELL met Jesus. As she spoke to Him and looked into His eyes, she began to feel a Presence of God she’d never felt before. Touched to the heart, she left her waterpot and went back to tell her whole town about Jesus.
b. The 2 DISCIPLES who met Jesus on the Road to Emmaus said their hearts began to burn within them.
c. HARDENED SOLDIERS, sent to arrest Jesus, returned without Him. When asked why, they said, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”
d. PROFESSIONAL FISHERMEN who took Jesus on their boat said, “What kind of man is this? For even the winds and the waves obey him!” Mt. 8:27.
5. IT WASN’T UNCOMMON FOR PEOPLE WHO MET JESUS TO LEAVE THINGS BEHIND;
a. The Zebedee brothers left their boats & nets behind;
b. Matthew left his Tax Office;
c. Luke left his Dr.’s office;
d. Paul left his Sanhedrin post behind;
e. Healed CRIPPLES left their crutches behind; the BLIND left their tapping canes behind; the RESURRECTED left their empty coffins behind; the PARALYZED left their begging tins behind, and the formerly DEAF threw their hearing devices away!
6. I hope when YOU met Jesus, YOU LEFT SOME THINGS BEHIND! Maybe a wicked lifestyle, a person not good for you, that old habit or addiction, judgmental/ critical spirit.
7. You see, if you really meet Jesus, you’ll never be the same again!
B. BOOK: “HISTORY REWRITTEN.”
1. I asked a group of people last week, “What is your favorite thing about Christmas?” They said, “The lights, trees, gifts, food, family, traditions, music, cards, pageants, excitement, and hope.”
2. Several years ago a group of historians authored a book
called, “IF – OR HISTORY REWRITTEN.”
3. Some of the “IFS” those scholars considered were:
a. What if the Moors/Muslims in Spain had won, and Europe and then America had become Muslim?
b. What if Abraham Lincoln had not been assassinated?
c. What if Napoleon had escaped to America formed a French empire there?
d. What if Hitler had not attacked Russia and German scientists had developed the atom bomb?
4. A question I’d like to ask is, “What if Jesus had never been born? How would the world be different?”
I. NO CHRISTMAS! NO JOY! NO HOPE!
A. NO CHRISTMAS:
1. What if we got to the winter break and there was no Christmas in our calendar?
a. Gone - would be all the decorations in the yards, on houses, and stores – all would be dark!
b. Gone - would be all the children’s joy and excitement;
c. Gone – opening up gifts on Christmas morning;
d. Gone – the Christmas carols & hymns
e. Gone – the family get-togethers, the Christmas food/ feasts, the parties, & the generous spirit.
f. Gone - the Christmas shopping and planning all year long. No Black Friday sales or cyber-Monday. Think how the U.S. economy would crumble/ crater!
2. There’d be no joy, no hope – because Jesus would never have come into the world. It reminds me of the...
B. MOVIE: “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
1. Jimmy Stewart plays the part of George Bailey, a small town Savings & Loan officer. One disappointment after another happens.
2. George tells the angel (Clarence) that he wishes He’d never been born. And the angel makes it occur.
3. George goes back to a town that has been given over to gambling, drinking, and vice. The people he had formerly known as decent and kind were hard and vulgar.
4. George finally comprehend the incredible difference his life had made on the people of that community and begs the angel to reverse the terrible scene.
5. Afterward, George still had his problems, but he faced them courageously knowing that he was making an impact for good on his town, friends, and family.
II. JESUS’ IMPACT ON WORLD HISTORY
A. IF JESUS HAD NOT BEEN BORN...
1. When the Roman Empire fell, no church would have been there to hold it together.
2. No Crusades – the Muslim religion would have dominated Europe and eventually come to America.
3. Columbus, who acted under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, would not have discovered the New World.
4. Slavery would still continue. The leaders of the “abolition” movement were all Christians. Muslims still have slaves today!
5. Women worldwide would be 2nd class citizens, not able to drive a car or vote. They are considered as barter material, mostly without rights.
6. There would probably be little freedom in the world, politically. The Muslim religion controls politics and most aspects of private life.
B. SCIENCE: REFLECTION OF GOD (Earth = our Domain)
1. In history, many/ most scientists were Christians. Often times they claimed their inventions were the product of an inspiration from God. Ex., Samuel Morse claimed that the idea of the telegraph was given him by God (Knight’s New, p. 370).
2. Book, “Men of Science; Men of God.”
3. Only Christianity was conducive to the reality of matter, free thought, exploration, etc. – necessary for scientific inquiry.
4. The atheism that’s now controlling biology & anthropology, etc., is demanding that no other opinions be tolerated. They told Christians we were close-minded, but we see who’s really close-minded!
5. Honesty, work ethic, forgiveness – are all Christian ideas which have made western civilization better and more successful that other worldviews.
C. QUOTE: “ONE SOLITARY LIFE”
1. He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty. He never wrote a book, He never held an office, He never went to college, He never visited a big city, He never travelled more than two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things usually associated with greatness. He had no credentials but himself.
2. He was only 33. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
3. Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today Jesus is the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind's progress.
4. All the armies that have ever marched, All the navies that have ever sailed, All the parliaments that have ever sat, All the kings that ever reigned put together -- have not affected the life of mankind on earth as powerfully as that one solitary life.
III. GREAT CHRISTIAN INSTITUTIONS
A. MUSIC, THE ARTS, ARCHITECTURE
B. HOSPITALS, BENEVOLENT ORGS. TO POOR, THE OLD, ETC.
C. SCHOOLS, EDUCATION
1. Harvard, Princeton, and many other Ivy-League schools were started to train ministers to be educated pastors. Education has always been a primary objective of Christianity.
2. Education is still not valued in the Muslim countries. There are few to none higher education schools – universities, etc. Women usually aren’t allowed to get an education.
D. IMAGINE HUNTSVILLE….
1. With no schools for education;
2. No churches;
3. No hospital;
4. Few scientific advancements;
5. Women still chattel; slavery still widespread and slaves doing the work.
IV. NO CERTAINTY OF LIFE AFTER DEATH
A. JOB’S QUESTION. Job said, “If a man die, shall he live again?” Uncertainty!
B. JESUS’ ANSWER
1. Jesus said unto her, “I am the Resurrection, and the Life: he/she that believes in Me, though they were dead, yet shall they live: And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” John 11:25-26.
2. “Now is Christ risen and become the firstfruits of them that sleep.” 1 Cor. 15:20.
3. How would you be affected? Greatly! WE CAN NOW BE CONFIDENT OF OUR SALVATION!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. A boy and his father read a devotional just before bedtime. It was a scripture where Jesus said, “If I had not come…” John 15:22.
2. When he awoke (he thought) Christmas morning, there were no stocking on the fireplace of Christmas tree.
3. He went for a walk and found the factory down the street bustling with activity; no one was off work.
4. He went by the orphanage, but found it only a vacant lot. He went to his church and found a for sale sign reading, “If I had not come…”
5. The hospital was not on the hill dominating the city. Only a billboard reading, “If I had not come…”
6. Panic-stricken, he ran home and picked up his Bible, but all the last part (N.T.) of it, the pages were blank!
7. He woke up in a sweat and to his relief, it was just a dream! Are you surprised he slipped down to his knees and said, “Dear Jesus, I’m so grateful you DID come! Help me to tell others about you! [Missionary Monthly]
B. THE CALL
1. Isaiah said, “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
2. “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom...forever” Isa. 9:1-2,6-7.
3. It’s great that Jesus did come and was born in Bethlehem, but His birth does you no good unless He’s also born in your heart!
4. If He has been, there should be a great change in your life! Is there room in your heart for Jesus or is He crowded out this Christmas season?
5. Prayer & dedication.
