SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). The message is Reliable.
(2). The message is Universal.
(3). The message is Personal.
(4). The message is Invitational.
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• We’ve all probably done it,
• Purchased a very small gift and wrapped it in a very big box,
• Or maybe a series of boxes.
• The idea being to disguise the gift,
• Especially if the receiver is one of those who prods and feels the present,
• Trying to guess what the gift is, if it is left under the Christmas tree.
• TRANSITION: Surely by now we have learned,
• That the size of the package can be very misleading.
• You can easily disguise a small diamond ring in a very big box.
Joke:
• Talking about jewelry,
• Penny my wife has been leaving jewelry catalogues lying around the house,
• So, I took the hint and did what any astute husband would do.
• I hope she will be pleased with her magazine rack,
• Should keep all those jewelry catalogues nice and tidy!
Ill:
• I am not a fan of Dr Who,
• It is a top seller,
• Doctor Who is currently BBC Worldwide's biggest selling TV show around the world.
• For me the best Dr was John Pertwee,
• But I think it all depends on the Dr at the time you started to watch it!
• The Dr of course has a TARDIS:
• The acronym stands for Time and Relative Dimension in Space,
• And this is The Doctor's chosen mode of transport for travelling through time.
• Question: Why a police box?
• Answer:
• The Doctor's TARDIS has a broken "Chameleon circuit."
• The TARDIS were supposed to disguise itself to blend into any environment.
• e.g. in ancient Rome, it might look like a Roman pillar or statue from the outside.
• e.g. in ancient Egypt, it might look like an Egyptian monument on the outside...
• However, in the first ever episode called, ‘An Unearthly Child’,
• We discover that the circuit is broken,
• And the TARDIS is stuck in the shape of a police box.
• Now, here is my point – A TARDIS is bigger on the inside than on the outside.
• On the outside it is small but, on the inside, it is very big.
• TRANSITION: 2,000 years ago,
• A stable once had something inside it that was bigger than our whole world.
• Veiled in flesh and lying in a manger was the creator of the universe!
• The term that the theologians use for this grand miracle is incarnation.
• Incarnation literally means ‘to take on flesh’.
• For Christians, the incarnation shows that Jesus was fully God and fully human.
Ill:
• On Thursday evening we enjoyed a meal of Chili con carne.
• (This dish is made from minced meat, vegetables, and powdered or fresh chilies.)
• Chili con carne is a Spanish word that means “chili with meat - flesh,”
• Implying not only the spices used in the dish, but also it contains meat.
• TRANSITION: Jesus became ‘Con carne’ – that is ‘With flesh.’
• The apostle John in his gospel put it this way (chapter 1 verse 14),
• NIV: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
• GNB: “The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us.”
Ill:
• Because the Bible of the Great Britain for 1,000 years was the Latin Vulgate,
• That Latin expression, ‘incarnate’ stuck.
• ‘Incarnate’ comes from the Ecclesiastical Latin term ‘incarnatus’,
• This term is derived from ‘in-’ and ‘caro’, which translates to ‘flesh’ in Latin.
• TRANSITION: Christmas is celebrating the enfleshment of the Creator.
• Which as to be, ‘The most unthinkable event in human history.’
• In short what happened was ‘unbelievable’ – history changing!
Ill:
• Many people have tried to express their wonder.
• St. Augustine of the third century tried:
• "He it is by whom all things are made, who was made one of all things.
• The Maker of the sun made under the sun.
• Author of the heavens and the earth sprung under the heavens out of the earth,
• utterly wise in his wisdom, a babe without utterance."
I.e.:
• Charles Wesley of the eighteenth century tried:
• "Veiled in flesh the godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity,
• Pleased as man with us to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel."
I.e.:
• CS Lewis of the twentieth century tried in his Chronicles of Narnia:
• "In our world, too, a stable once had something in it bigger than the whole world."
I.e.:
• Musicians Keith Getty and Stuart Townend have tried:
• "Hands that set each star in place shape the earth in darkness,
• Cling now to a mother's breast, vulnerable and helpless."
Ill:
An unpublished poem by D.A. Carson tried to convey this truth:
“Before there was a universe,
Before a star or planet,
When time had still not yet begun —
I scarcely understand it —
Th’ eternal Word was with his God,
God’s very Self-Expression.
Th’ eternal Word was God himself —
And God had planned redemption.
The Word became our flesh and blood —
The stuff of his creation —
The Word was God, the Word was flesh,
Astounding incarnation!
But when he came to visit us,
We did not recognize him.
Although we owed him everything
We haughtily despised him.
In days gone by God showed himself
In grace and truth to Moses.
But in the Word of God made flesh
Their climax he discloses.
For grace and truth in fullness came
And showed the Father’s glory
When Jesus donned our flesh and died:
This is the gospel story.
All who delighted in his name,
All those who did receive him,
All who by grace were born of God,
All who in truth believed him —
To them he gave a stunning right:
Becoming God’s dear children!
Here will I stay in grateful trust.
Here will I fix my vision.
Before there was a universe,
Before a star or planet,
When time had still not yet begun —
I scarcely understand it —
Th’ eternal Word was with his God,
God’s very Self-Expression;
Th’ eternal Word was God himself —
And God had planned redemption.”
• TRANSITION: Now all that is my introduction – LOL,
• Well, it is an important backdrop or foundation to my talk.
• Let me highlight a few things from this great verse: 1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 15.
‘Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.’
(1). The message is Reliable.
Ill:
• Celebrating a landmark twentieth anniversary this year in the film, ‘Elf.’
• (An American Christmas comedy film),
• The story is about aa man called, ‘Buddy,’
• A human who was raised alongside Santa’s elves in the North Pole.
• He makes a trip to New York to track down his father.
• And in one scene he encounters Santa,
• And of course, he realizes he is a fake.
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/-vZdvDjkm8w?si=e9-Lnt9eBob4PrxH
• TRANSITION: I love the line, “You sit on a throne of lies!”
• A bit of fun highlighting a fake Santa!
Ill:
• It was Donald Trump who loved to use the phrase, ‘Fake News.’
• He has called journalists and news outlets “fake news.”
• Nearly 2,000 times since the beginning of his presidency,
• Averaging more than one daily broadside against the press over the last four years.
Ill:
• One newspaper (The Guardian) recently ran the headline,
• ‘Boris Johnson is the ultimate purveyor of fake news.’
• Boris Johnson was the first British prime minister with genuine journalistic experience,
• Having been a reporter, columnist and editor.
• He knows from the inside what the press can achieve.
• From early in his career, he learned the dark arts.
Ill:
• These last few weeks the BBC has been accused of bias,
• In the way it has reported on Israel and Palestine conflict.
• The BBC has been accused of bias by its own reporters,
• Who says the broadcaster has not been covering the conflict accurately or fairly.
• TRANSITION: So much that we read and hear today is difficult to verify,
• But here is a statement that is reliable and trustworthy,
• “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
Note:
• The fact: “Christ Jesus came into the world.”
• No credible historian will doubt that reality!
• There is overwhelming evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ,
• Both in secular and biblical history.
• (See: https://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-exist.html _
• Perhaps the greatest evidence that Jesus did exist,
• Is the fact that literally thousands of Christians in the first century AD,
• Including the twelve apostles,
• They were willing to give their lives as martyrs for Jesus Christ.
• People will die for what they believe to be true,
• But no one will die for what they know to be a lie.
• Here is a statement that is reliable and trustworthy,
• “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:
• Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
(2). The message is Universal.
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
Ill:
• A teacher asked some children what does the word, “whoever” mean?
• One child answered, “Everyone in the world and me!”
• TRANSITION:
• The Christian message is not bound by linguistic, cultural, or geographical limits.
Ill:
• In the Book of Acts (the history book of the Church).
• On the day of Pentecost, when the Church was born,
• We have recorded a list of 17 nations mentioned in chapter 2 verses 9–11.
• The list covers most of the first-century Roman world.
• Many Jews who lived outside Palestine traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost,
"Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs"
• We have recorded another list In the last book of the Bible,
• Revelation (chapter 7 verse 9),
• The apostle John provides has a vivid and awe-inspiring vision of the future.
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language.”
• TRANSITION:
• The Christian message has the unique ability to transform lives of people,
• From diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• And it is a message that never goes out of date.
• It is for all people, for all time, this message is for you.
(3). The message is Personal.
‘Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.’
• The word “worst” or “chief” is a translation of the Greek term protos,
• Meaning “first, leading, or ranking above all others.”
• That description might seem like an exaggeration,
Ill:
• DVD Clip –
• Apostle Paul’s testimony -Acts chapter 9.
• TRANSITION:
• The apostle Paul may not have been an Adolf Hitler, a Joseph Stalin or a Pol Pot,
• But when he encountered Jesus,
• He became aware of the the wickedness and the epravity of his heart and his actions,
• His religious zeal led him to persecute God’s people,
• His religious zeal, led him to commit violent actions against, men, women & children..
• His religious zeal led him to blaspheme the name of Christ.
• And yet, God still had mercy on him,
• God saved him, God changed him and God chose him to be an apostle!
• The point of writing, ‘My story,’ says Paul, ‘is to encourage you the readers,
• That you can be sure of this, no-one is beyond the reach of God’s grace,
• The paraphrase the apostle Paul, ‘If God can save me, he can certainly save you!’
Note: He came to ‘save sinners.’
• Now, let's take a closer look at the word "sin" in Romans chapter 3 verse 23.
• This Greek, the word ("hamartano”) literally means "to miss the mark."
• It's an archery term.
• When an archer shoots an arrow and it doesn't hit the target, that's "hamartano" (sin).
• We're all aiming for God's perfection, but we all miss the mark.
Ill:
• Have you ever been in a train station,
• You are running down the platform only to see the train pulling away,
• And you are left behind, you have missed it by seconds?
• Now whether you miss a train by 5 seconds, 5 mins or 5 hours,
• The point is you have missed the mark, you have failed!
• The only way to sins forgiven, the only way to heaven, is perfection,
• Because God is perfect, he is holy,
• But we (humanity) all miss the mark.
• TRANSITION:
• The Bible teaches, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
• (Romans chapter 3 verse 23)
Quote: Tim Keller:
"Christmas is the end of thinking you are better than someone else, because Christmas is telling you that you could never get to heaven on your own. God had to come to you."
(4). The message is Invitational.
‘Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.’
Ill:
• The saying I before E except after C,
• Is supposed to help us remember the order of vowels while spelling.
• The phrase 'Richard of York gave battle in vain',
• Often shortened to ROYGBIV,
• Is intended to aid the recall of the colours of the rainbow.
• TRANSITION: The apostle Paul uses a similar teaching aid,
• In three of his New Testament letters (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus),
• He uses a certain phrase five times.
• The phrase he uses is, "the saying is trustworthy."
• (1 Timothy 3:1 and 4:9, as well as 2 Timothy 2:11 and Titus 3:8.)
• Each time he uses the phrase to emphasize a particular point or quote.
• That Paul wants Timothy or Titus to remember.
• These types of prompt devices aid in memorization.
• But this verse demands more than to be remembered!
• It demands a response. It is an invitation!
Question: have you accepted it, if not, why not?
Ill:
• If you read the gospels, you soon discover Jesus liked to give invitations.
• He gave seven general invitations to all people.
• Invitation #1:
• “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest!”
• Matthew chapter 11 verse :28.
• Invitation #2:
• “Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.”
• John 7:37
• Invitation #3:
• “Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.””
• John 21:12
• Invitation #4:
• “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
• John 1:39
• Invitation #5:
• “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
• Mark 6:31
• Invitation #6:
• “Come, follow me.”
• Mark 10:21
• Invitation #7:
• “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance…”
• Matthew 25:34,
Note: Jesus also gave individuals an invitation.
• When Jesus calls individuals to himself he only needed to use two words,
• “FOLLOW ME.”
• (a). That is how Jesus called his twelve disciples,
• (e.g., Matthew 8:22; 9:9, 10:3–4). Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27; John 1:43).
• (b). But on other occasions, Jesus gave personal invitations.
• e.g. Zacchaeus (Luke chapter 19 verse 5).
• e.g. To his friend Lazarus, dead and bound in a tomb, He called out: "Lazarus, come out."
• (John chapter 11 verse 43).
In Conclusion:
• The message is true, it is tried and tested!
• It is based on facts, 2000 years ago Jesus Christ chose to enter this world.
• And he chose to die on a cross – he came as a saviour!
• Like the apostle Paul, realise that God is holy and you are not,
• Realise that your sin has cut you off from God’s presence.
• Realise your sin needs forgiveness,
• Realise that you cannot save yourself.
• Realise this is an invitation to you this evening,
• Will you RSVP positively or negatively – the choice is yours.
• And if you have yet to receive Jesus Christ as your saviour, then do so now.
• I often say it’s as easy as A.B.C.
• A = Admit – Like Adam I am a sinner by nature and by practice.
• And I know my sin is an offence to a holy God.
• B = Believe – that the last Adam Jesus bore your sins when he died on the cross.
• Put your faith and trust in him and his finished work and not your good works.
• C = Consider – am I willing to make Jesus Christ Lord of my life,
• Am I will to repent, turn from living for self and start to live for him?
• D = Do – will you do that now as I lead you in a short prayer of commitment to Christ.
• Let’s pray.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=qCGZj4rV0cSupSS9UbKMcRxKkNKgUE7u
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/5lZkPyjppCc
