Sermons on Advent Wreath:

Not Home Alone

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Dec 5, 2003

Advent 2: God doesn’t forget us! He sent Jesus to free us from captivity to sin and to prepare us for the trip home.

[Thoughts presented in Concordia Pulpit Resources, Vol. 14, Part 1 – Sermon helps for Advent 2 - are included in this message] The popular Christmas movie, “Home Alone” builds around a theme of a little boy who is forgotten by the family as they go off on a Christmas trip. Can you imagine ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 126:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

Real Repentance Is Fruitful

Contributed by Robert Eggers on Dec 6, 2003

3 Advent C, John’s tough love awakes our need for fruitful living in repentance

Luke 3:7-18 Real Repentance Needs Fruit "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. 11 John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Go Tell It On Mt. Sinai Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 6, 2003

Being a Christian is not a negative thing, nothing but thou shalt nots; it is first of all a relationship with God, but marred by fear. So God gives us boundaries to receive as a gift, not a burden. That’s good news worth telling.

The instant some people hear anything about Christianity they begin to conjure up negatives. For too many being a Christian is defined by what they are not allowed to do. “I don’t drink and I don’t chew and I don’t go with girls who do.” For too much of the world, being a Christian is a joyless, ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:1-21, Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Unlikely Characters Of Christmas

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Dec 7, 2003

A message regarding the character of Joseph and Mary.

Unlikely Characters of Christmas Matthew 1:18-25 December 7, 2003 Introduction We continue our look at the gospel of Matthew this week, as we count down the days to Christmas. Today we¡¦re going to look at what we can learn about the lives of Mary and Joseph, and my hope is that you¡¦ll walk ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Wesleyan

A Jesus We Can Grab On To

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Dec 7, 2003

A pastor tells a story on himself that took place on Christmas Eve many years ago. The bishop was readying his family to go to a candlelight service over which he would preside. On the way to the church, the pastor’s son asked, “Dad, are you going to let

INTRODUCTION Opening Statement: A pastor tells a story on himself that took place on Christmas Eve many years ago. The bishop was readying his family to go to a candlelight service over which he would preside. On the way to the church, the pastor’s son asked, “Dad, are you going to let us enjoy ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

The Gift Of Christmas

Contributed by Derrick Thompson, Sr. on Dec 7, 2003

The gift if Christmas, Jesus Christ, is appropriate for everyone, it does not matter who you are, boy or girl, man or woman, rich or poor, black or white, short or tall, fat or slim, this gift is for you.

December 7th, 2003 Let us pray. Welcome... Today is the second Sunday of Advent, and when we say Advent, we are talking about our Lord’s coming to earth in human form, coming as God incarnate; God in the flesh. This was the first Advent. Christ will come again, not as a baby, but he will come ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-10

Denomination: Church Of God

The Absurdity Of Christmas

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Dec 8, 2003

If you stop and really think about the Christmas story it’s rather bizarre, how come?

The Absurdity of Christmas Imagine that you are standing out in your driveway marvelling at the fact that it’s the first weekend in December and you haven’t had to shovel yet. In your imagination you do not live in Cape Breton or New York, suddenly an UFO lands in the middle of your front lawn and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Wesleyan

Mary's Prayer

Contributed by Richard White on Dec 8, 2003

Sometimes overlooked, Mary’s prayer is one of the most noble of Christian hymns.

Mary’s Prayer Luke 1:46-55 LK 1:46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:46-55

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Wonder Of Christ's Birth

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Dec 8, 2003

Why was the time when Jesus was born the right time? Why did God choose the land of Palestine as the birth place of Jesus? Why was 5 BC the year Jesus was born and not some other year?

The Wonder of Christ’s Birth -In the Fullness of Time- Galatians 4:4 Luke 2:1-7 The story is told about a man who got tired of the Christmas hoopla. All the frantic haste and the crass commercialism disgusted him. So, he decided not to go along with the crowd. Among other things, he decided not ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7

Denomination: Free Methodist

Who Was Jesus? Series

Contributed by Dana Chau on Dec 8, 2003

Questions and answers to the possibilities of who Jesus was.

This is the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning celebration of Christ’s first coming and the anticipation of Christ’s second coming. We will break from our monthly message series to help us prepare for Christmas in a meaningful way. This is a tough task. I’m competing with the millions of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:23

Denomination: *other

Why Jesus Came Series

Contributed by Dana Chau on Dec 8, 2003

Three reasons from Isaiah 61:1-2 for why Jesus came.

We’re continuing our Christmas series in hopes of fostering a more meaningful Christmas. We get so busy with travel plans, shopping, parties and the like that we forget whose birthday we are celebrating. Christmas celebrates Jesus’ birthday. The December 1999 issue of Time Magazine contained an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:14-21, Luke 4:14-20

Denomination: *other

Christmas: Getting Versus Giving

Contributed by Don Schultz on Dec 9, 2003

John the Baptist told his listeners to repent / change from "getters" to "givers." A timely message for us.

LUKE 3:7-16: CHRISTMAS – GETTING VERSUS GIVING “What did you get for Christmas?” That may be the most-asked question during the days immediately following Christmas –“what did you get?” Little children especially like to talk about what they got – “I got this, and I got that.” I remember when ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-16

Denomination: Lutheran

When Christ Was Born Shepherds Came

Contributed by William Yates on Dec 9, 2003

When Christ was born, he was not visited by nobility, but rather, those considered the most vile and lowly in the society of their day.

Luke 2 Christ Born of Mary The Birth and Childhood of Jesus (1) 1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3So all went to be registered, everyone to his ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Glory To God

Contributed by Paul George on Dec 10, 2003

“Glory to God in the highest on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” Does this verse stir your heart with joy and happiness?

“Glory to God in the highest on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” Does this verse stir your heart with joy and happiness? If the angels announced the birth of Jesus with singing shouldn’t there be a song in our heart? Shouldn’t our heart be glad and our spirits rejoice? There are ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:14

Denomination: Holiness

Why Do You Celebrate Christmas?

Contributed by Lynn Floyd on Dec 11, 2003

Christmas reminds us that Jesus is to be sought and truly worshipped by all the nations on the earth.

Introduction: Play DVD Video Clip Why do you celebrate Christmas? from “Essentials” Vol. 3 No. 6. Here we are—11 days away from Christmas. Can you believe it? Seems as though it has snuck up on us. Can you guess what people are thinking about getting you for Christmas? They want to get you a gift ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist