TOUCH YOUR NEIGHBORS
Luke 2:1-7
S: Evangelism
Th: The Christmas Touch
Pr: CHRISTMAS IS A TIME TO MAKE ROOM.
?: Inductive
KW: Stages
TS: We will find in the story found in Luke 2:1-7 three stages that encourage us to share Jesus by making room for others in our lives.
The ____ stage is the…
I. HISTORY (1-2)
II. HOMETOWN (3-5)
III. HOSPITALITY (6-7)
RMBC 02 December 01 AM
INTRODUCTION:
ILL Notebook: Christmas (swimming pool)
One Christmas season, Janet Teitsort was teaching a group of first graders in public school. They were studying Christmas customs from around the world, so it was an ideal opportunity to tell the Christmas story. She explained that Mary and Joseph had gone to Bethlehem for the census and as they arrived, it was time for the baby Jesus to be born, so they needed somewhere to spend the night. She told her students that when they went to the inn, there were no empty rooms. She compared the inn to a modern-day hotel or motel. And as she was leading up to the stable she asked, "What do you suppose they had behind the inn?"
One little guy, who had been listening intently, began to frantically wave his hand. His face was alight with knowledge, with the answer, "A swimming pool."
Humorous as this is, it does speak a truth to us.
The Christmas story is becoming increasingly less and less a part of the cultural background.
To many, the first hearing of the story brings the most incredible responses.
You see…
1. It is easy to miss the important during Christmas.
This is what is so amazing about the Pilgrimage.
For many, the message is entirely new.
All this time, they have thought Christmas was about gifts, decorations and parties.
2. Unfortunately, there are those that are out of touch with the reality of the season.
Some don’t even want to know the truth.
They would prefer that the religious aspects be removed.
For example…
ILL Notebook: Christmas (Church of Meteorology)
Back in 1991, Dave Barry wrote this in his weekly column:
“To avoid offending anybody, our school dropped religion altogether and started singing about the weather. At my son’s school, they now hold the winter program in February and sing increasingly non-memorable songs such as ‘Winter Wonderland,’ ‘Frosty the Snowman’ and—this is a real song—‘Suzy Snowflake,’ all of which is pretty funny because we live in Miami. A visitor from another planet would assume that the children belonged to the Church of Meteorology.”
It would be funny, if it wasn’t so sad.
Obviously, that is not what we are doing here.
This is the first Sunday of Advent, the time that we anticipate the first coming of Jesus.
And although the Christmas story is already very much on our mind because of the Pilgrimage, it is this Sunday that is our traditional start according to the church calendar.
Which reminds me that you still can get an advent calendar as you go out after the service.
In fact, today is a great day to start with the calendar if you have not already.
This is a tremendous way to keep our spiritual focus throughout the season—because that gets lost so easily this time of the year.
Not only that, you will be coordinated with our theme, “The Christmas Touch” and the messages that will be given from beginning to end.
Using this tool will help us grow together as a church family.
You know…
3. We celebrate today that the story of Christmas has touched us.
Christmas touches our heart and soul.
Jesus has made a difference in us.
He has touched us and changed us profoundly.
So, in order to see how that same touch can effect others, let’s begin our study.
4. Using the familiar passage of Luke 2:1-7, let’s examine three stages that unfold the story of the birth of Jesus.
OUR STUDY:
I. The first stage is the HISTORY (1-2).
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
1. It was time to be counted.
Now, we don’t mean that in the usual sense.
We mean it in the literal sense.
Our author, Luke, gives us historical and chronological moorings to the birth of Jesus.
The birth of Jesus happens in a real place and in a real place in time.
According to Caesar Augustus, it was time for a count.
It was a time for a census.
And they did what was customary in that day and age.
Every family had to return to their hometown for a worldwide census.
But why count?
What was the reason?
Well simply it was this…
2. It was not time for “No new taxes!”
ILL Notebook: Tax (now you have everything)
A businessman on his deathbed called his friend and said, "Bill, I want you to promise me that when I die you will have my remains cremated."
"And what," his friend asked, "do you want me to do with your ashes?"
The businessman said, "Just put them in an envelope and mail them to the Internal Revenue Service and write on the envelope, ‘Now you have everything.’"
Well, in the same way, it was tax time again.
It was time to make those turnips bleed.
For the census was used as a tax roll, a roll Rome could chew on to nourish its greedy appetite.
Which leads us to…
II. The second stage is the HOMETOWN (3-5).
And everyone went to his own town to register. 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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
Well…
1. It was time to go home.
Unfortunately, it was not really home at all.
But because Joseph was of the line of David, he had to return to the town that his family was from…Bethlehem.
Now, the trip to Nazareth (where Joseph and Mary were living) to Bethlehem was an 80 to 90 mile trip depending on where they were going.
So, if they were covering 25 to 30 miles a day, it was going to take 3 to 4 days.
Of course, if one of you is eight and half months pregnant, it might take a little longer.
What do you think?
Well, it was probably okay, because they had a donkey with them for Mary to ride on, right?
Actually, they may not have had a donkey (it is never mentioned in the text; it is only presumed).
It was just as likely that they both walked the whole way.
So this is going to be a very long, dangerous and strenuous journey.
When they finally arrived in Bethlehem…
2. It was time to get some rest.
When they arrived in Bethlehem, apparently motel row was in great chaos.
The manager of the local Motel 6 had difficulty leaving his light on because of all those coming to town to register.
And here is poor Mary and Joseph, desperately needing a place to stay.
They needed a warm bed, a roof overhead, a slice of cheese and bread.
But the no vacancy signs all flashed in neon red.
There was not a single bed available.
This leads us to third stage…
III. The third stage is the HOSPITALITY (6-7).
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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.
1. It was time to give birth.
ILL Notebook: Birth (I Love Lucy)
Have you ever seen the particular story of “I Love Lucy” when it is time for Little Ricky to be born? It is one of the many classics of that wonderful TV show.
The doctor has told Lucy that she is going to give birth on that day. So every time she moves or shifts, Ricky, Fred and Ethel are on edge. Finally, Lucy retires to the bedroom to rest and Ricky, Fred and Ethel begin to practice what they are going to do when Lucy tells them that the time has come.
Ricky very calmly walks to the closet, gets Lucy’s coat and pretends to escort her to the door. Ethel calmly walks to the phone, calls the doctor and tells them that they are on the way. Fred calmly walks to the suitcase and goes to the door. They all have a responsibility and they all know what to do.
Then Lucy comes in to the living room and tells them the time has come and chaos breaks out. They all run to the phone to call the doctor. Then they all run to the door to go call the cab right after Ricky puts Lucy’s coat on Fred. Then they remember the suitcase. They all run after that. And finally, they all get out the door, run to the street to call the cab.
But of course, no one has remembered Lucy and she is still standing in the living room!
Can you imagine what it would have been like for Mary and Joseph as they have arrived in Bethlehem after such a long journey, only to find out that this was the night that the baby was going to be born?
I mean, really, this was no time to have a baby.
Though it is a hometown, they are essentially out of town.
There is no support system for them here, so they are very alone.
They have no place to stay.
And to make it worse, the marriage has not yet been consummated (though it looks like it has), so Joseph is going to be rather unfamiliar with this really private process of giving birth.
2. It was time for compassion.
Let’s consider the innkeeper for a moment.
First, never has been so much attributed to someone so unmentioned.
There is no innkeeper mentioned in the text, but we do presume there is one because there is an inn—that is fairly logical!
He is often portrayed in one of two ways.
He is the insensitive villain, a mean-spirited grumpy old man who slams the door on them.
Or, he is the sensitive hero, a gentle, kind-hearted man who is the victim of circumstances beyond his control.
We really don’t have any idea what happened at this point, but I like to think that he came to the rescue.
He certainly could have ignored the whole situation.
He was obviously busy with a full inn, but apparently, he makes an effort.
He saw the need and came to their rescue.
An inn would have had a shelter for animals that were used by the travellers.
More often than not, the shelters were caves, on the outside of town, but they were also often attached buildings to the house or inn.
Apparently, they were directed to this shelter which would have been pretty smelly, but at least private, if you don’t count the animals!
Could it be that the innkeeper thought of Proverbs 19:17 when he helped Mary and Joseph?
He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.
What we do for others is, in essence, a kindness done to God.
When we give of ourselves to people in need, it is as if we are giving to God.
That Bethlehem bed-and-breakfast owner did not know that his response to Mary and Joseph was actually ministering to Jesus, but He was!
APPLICATION:
1. CHRISTMAS IS A TIME TO MAKE ROOM FOR OTHERS.
This is the season when we are the most gift-conscious.
And that is a great thing.
Gifts are expressions of love.
But…that holiday regimen…
How can it be that a time that is meant to be an expression of love be so characterized by busyness, exhaustion, and confusion?
Look at those around you…that part of the world God has given you to minister.
There are people that are hurting all around us.
They are suffering from depression.
Some are alcoholics or have problems of drugs in their family.
Some deal with parents with Alzheimer’s or there is terminal illness.
Others are facing unemployment; others, divorce.
Some have lives complicated by runaway teens; others children with ADD.
Some are just flat out, bitter skeptics who need to be shown love.
The bottom line is that people around us need us.
They need a touch that can serve as a conduit of the healing grace of God.
ILL Drama: “You’re Invited”
2. It is time to be light to our community (Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:10).
It is time to remember that to be light we give love, for it is the most important gift.
For we remember that God so loved us that He gave His one and only Son (John 3:16).
So, it is a time to make room for others.
As Paul writes…
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people…
It is time to continue prayer, care, and share.
It has been our desire to pray for those around us that need to know Christ.
As we pray, we look for opportunities to serve them, showing them that we love and care for them.
Then, as the Lord leads, we take the opportunity to share the gospel.
One of the ways we love and care for people is to practice hospitality.
You see, people are in need of a touch of hospitality in which they feel the welcoming embrace of a loving God.
There are lots of ways to do it.
You can invite neighbors for a Christmas buffet breakfast on a Saturday morning.
Or you can have a neighborhood Christmas party as was mentioned in the drama.
Perhaps, you can have an open house that people can come and go.
Maybe, if you have a particular neighbor or friend that you want to reach, invite them for dinner or take them out.
I want to encourage you to spend time with unbelievers.
Don’t become weary!
Keep doing good!
Have you ever placed your finger inside the hand of a little baby and felt its grip?
And when they grip your finger, have you noticed that they also tug at your heart?
Well, at Christmas, Jesus reaches out with the tiny hand of an infant to grab hold of our hearts and pull us back to God.
It is my prayer that the Lord will let us be that same tiny hand that grabs the hearts of our neighbors and pull them back to the One that has extended the greatest gift to us.
BENEDICTION: [Counselors are ]
Make room for others…as the innkeeper found a place for Mary, Joseph and ultimately, Jesus—find an even better place; make room for Jesus in your heart; let Him reign in your life.
Make room for others…open your hearts and homes in genuine friendship; see the need of those across the street, around the block, the locker next to you or in the next office; ask the Lord for sensitivity, wisdom and courage to walk the talk and talk the walk.
Make room for others…touch them with the love of God—the Christmas touch!
Now may the God of peace equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
COMMUNION:
It is such a joy for me to enter into this time of communion together with you.
These past three days, I believe that we have done something extremely valuable in terms of getting the good news out.
Thank you for each one of you that participated, especially those of you who have taken time out to pray.
One comment that I heard over and over is, “The church is so together.”
“You must really enjoy doing this.”
I considered that to be powerful demonstration of the Holy Spirit in our midst.
We know that we came together these past three days because of Jesus.
And it is the reason that we gather here at this very moment.
The Lord has brought us together in this fellowship this morning, and the reason we gather is Jesus.
Those of us that know Jesus are invited to share in the elements of the table.
If you do not know Jesus, that is, you have not received Him as your Savior and Lord, your life does not demonstrate His light, then just let the elements pass by.
Please wait until the time comes when you do have a personal
relationship with the Lord Jesus.
We practice “communion” because we are to remember the
death of the Lord Jesus.
We take the bread to remind us that it was by the body of our
Savior that our salvation came.
He died in our place.
He became our substitute.
We take the cup to remind us that it was by the blood of our
Savior that our salvation came.
He died for our sins.
He became our sacrifice.
Being led in prayer by _______________________, let us take a moment and thank Him for giving us the very thing we needed most.
(Prayer)
The apostle Paul writes, "The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."
Let’s partake together.
________________________ will now come and lead us in prayer.
Again, the apostle Paul writes, "In the same way, after supper he took the cup saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."
Let’s partake together.
This series of messages was based on Mainstay Church Resources’, “The Christmas Touch, Making Christlike Connections during the Holidays.” The resources they provided were used in the development of these messages.
