Sermons on Bethlehem In Judea:

The Journey Of Mary & Joseph Series

Contributed by Dwight Gunter Ii on Dec 20, 2000

How can we deal with the unexpected curves along the journey of life? Mary and Joseph serve as a model for us.

Introduction… Life is a journey/ an adventure. And as we journey on the road of life we sometimes encounter unexpected curves: · The medical report you didn’t expect · The accident you didn’t see coming · The job being over · Having a baby · Losing a baby · Losing someone without ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: *other

Can Anything Good Come Out Of Nazareth Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 7, 2014

Nazareth would seem to be an insignificant backwater town. That's how most scholars have painted it. The city didn't even seem to make much difference in the life of Christ. But is there more to its story?

OPEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGlEte0qPFM What you just saw was the opening celebration for last year’s “Christmas in Nazareth”. It’s a 5 day festival that begins with the lighting of a Christmas tree and fireworks. In the following days there are parades, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The White Goose

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 22, 2016

If I was given the task of deciding how the Son of God would come to this earth, I would followed human reasoning to get the best conditions for Jesus message to have reached the most people. But God did it differently

Christmas at WSG and WSMM 2016 The Christmas Story Luke 2:1-14 A Scottish farmer did not believe in the Christmas story. The idea that God would become a man was absurd. His wife however was a devout Christian and had raised their children as Christians. The farmer would sometimes mock her ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-14

Denomination: Anglican

The Search Of The Magi Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jan 6, 2013

This series looks at the 5 stories after Jesus was born and the one thing whic unites all of them: their search for the Christ. This sermon looks at the search of the Magi for the Messiah from both a historical and theological perspective

The Search of the Magi Matthew 2:1-12 Advent is the season we prepare for the birth of Jesus and as we look forward to His return and when He calls us by name and welcomes us home. Typically during this time, we look at the stories leading up to Christmas but this year, we looking at the stories ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

Taking The Journey

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Apr 1, 2019

God’s call to take the journey to worship the newborn king isn’t just for those born to privilege, or those born in the church. It isn’t just for pastors, scholars, and religious leaders. No, God’s call to worship is for anyone who will listen.

OPENING STORY An old king sat uncomfortably on his throne, fingernails dug into well-worn grooves in the wood as he waited nervously for the mysterious travelers to approach. All Jerusalem was abuzz with the rumors that these men were searching for a new heir which had just been born, yet neither ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Nazarene

The Flight Into Shadows

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Dec 31, 2025

We come to the end of the Christmas season, and the Gospel reading assigned to us is jarring.

We come to the end of the Christmas season, and the Gospel reading assigned to us is jarring. We've spent weeks with angels and shepherds, with wise men and star-light, with Mary's Magnificat and the peaceful scenes around the manger. We've sung "Silent Night" and "Joy to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23

Denomination: Methodist

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season! Iii

Contributed by Glen Lawhun on Dec 19, 2004

On my mother’s side my work seem to end, But on my Father’s side I will be the judge of all man kind.

Read John 3:16-21 This is the third sermon on “Jesus is the reason for the season”. We have learned how Jesus was before the beginning of time. He was there when the earth was created. He was there in the Garden of Eden. He was there when Adam, the first person ever to walk on the earth, was ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Do The Magi's Gifts Mean Today?

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 2, 2021

The gifts that the magi presented to the baby Jesus have metaphorical meaning. What do they mean today?

The story about the three magi visiting the baby Yeshua is a problematic story. If such an event took place, why is it only found in Matthew's Gospel? The idea of three magi traveling from Persia to Judea is fascinating. The narrative says that they followed the Bethlehem star. Many people ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

Christmas

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 18, 2022

Christmas is a season mixed with good and evil. Let’s learn about the good from Luke 2.

Christmas is a season mixed with good and evil. Let’s learn about the good from Luke 2. A Decree “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Once Upon A Starry Night

Contributed by Jerry Owen on Dec 16, 2025

A simple Christmas Story.

ONCE UPON A STARRY NIGHT LUKE 2:1-20 Around 700BC, Israel had become a dark place. Judah had greatly sinned and fallen away from God. There was great spiritual darkness and enemies surrounded them that threatened their very existence. But God sent His prophets to give them hope for the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

"Christ Is Christmas"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 21, 2016

A sermon about God's pursuit of humankind.

Christ is Christmas Luke 2:1-20 “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.) And everyone went to his own town to register.” So Joseph ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: United Methodist

Experience The Gift Of Christmas Series

Contributed by Todd Sullivan on Dec 26, 2024

This is a narrative sermon based on the first Christmas Day.

Church, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, I want to share a story to reflect on that first day when Jesus entered the world. Let’s go back 2000 years, to the land of Judea. Imagine being in Bethlehem the day Mary and Joseph are about to arrive into town on their donkey. They were tired, thirsty, ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-5

The Adoration Of Baby Jesus

Contributed by Paul George on Dec 26, 2003

If Jesus was the promised Messiah one might expect that He would be received with all the ceremony possible.

The Adoration of Baby Jesus Matthew 2:1-12 If Jesus was the promised Messiah one might expect that He would be received with all the ceremony possible, that crowns and scepters would be laid at his feet, and that the high and mighty princes of the world would humble themselves and bow before Him ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Holiness

When God's Goodness Is Eclipsed

Contributed by Jason Patrick on Jan 12, 2002

One struggle of the Christian life is to maintain hope in the goodness of God. Christmas promises us that God is good even in the midst of the most adverse circumstances.

When God’s Goodness is Eclipsed / Matthew 2:13-23 Christmastide, Year A; Downsville Baptist Church; 30 December 2001 Phyllis was a 25 year old mother of a 6 month old little baby boy named, Jeremy. Phyllis and her husband, Oliver, a animal skin tanner in Bethlehem were happy parents. Phyllis ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23

Denomination: Baptist

The Gentile Christmas

Contributed by Christopher Martin on Mar 12, 2009

An Epiphany sermon I preached on 1/7/2009 at the Salem Lutheran Home chapel, Elk Horn, Iowa.

In some ways, you could say that Epiphany is the “last hurrah” of Christmas. It’s the day when we remember the visit of the wise men, or magi as they are called in our text, to worship the Christ child and present the gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. It’s a great scene, one that’s often ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran