Sermons on Unexpected Christmas:

What Prompted Jesus To Dowhat He Did

Contributed by Doug Warren on Dec 13, 2002

Several factors promoted Jesus to leave the Glory of Heaven, take on Human form, suffer and die... What were they?

Intro:It "boggles our mind" to think that Jesus existed in Glory before the foundation of the world, was co-creator with the Father and Holy Spirit, lived a limitless existence with all glory and privilige at His disposal, yet CHOSE to leave all that, come to Earth and Limit himself to the confines ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Do We See What Ezekiel Saw? Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Dec 13, 2002

Third in the series on God’s view of the coming of Christ as revealed through the message of the major prophets.

We’ve been looking these last few Sundays at the coming of Christ from God’s perspective by viewing some of the Messianic prophecies of the major prophets. We looked at how Isaiah saw the coming of Messiah as "God with us", and Jeremiah, who saw Jesus as, "The Lord Our Righteousness". Ezekiel, ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 17:22-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Gift Of Good News Of Great Joy Series

Contributed by Bradford Robinson on Dec 14, 2002

This sermon emphasizes the angels’ announcement to the shephards of good news of great joy by looking at why we need the good news, what is the good news, and how can we enjoy this joy this Christmas.

This past Thanksgiving my family and I headed North to spend the holiday with my family in Kentucky. As we were there, on the day after Thanksgiving, my wife and my sister went to do the usual holiday routine of shopping at the various stores. Now I’ve never been shopping on the day after ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Methodist

Reawakening Joy Series

Contributed by Don Hawks on Dec 14, 2002

Part 2 of series based on Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol"

SLIDE 1 Welcome to Bethany on this second Sunday of Advent as we continue to prepare for the coming of Christ. We have many activities to look forward to. Tonight the youth are inviting you to go Christmas Caroling. 8:30 - Maybe something like this might happen if you go along. SHOW ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Luke 2:8-15

Denomination: Methodist

Valuing Relationships Series

Contributed by Don Hawks on Dec 14, 2002

Part 3 of series based on Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol"

Matthew 1:18-25 [18] Now this is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. [19] Joseph, her fiancé, being a just man, decided to break the engagement quietly, so as not to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Methodist

Rejoice Anyway!

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Dec 15, 2002

Is your Christmas turning out to be less than ideal? So was the first one. Rejoice anyway!

The Christmas season is a time of celebration, a time of rejoicing. As the song tells us, "It’s the most wonderful time of the year!" And there are dozens more where that came from, Christmas songs exhorting us to rejoice and be of good cheer; songs like "Good Christian Men, Rejoice!" and, "We Wish ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:30-33

Denomination: Baptist

What If God Spoke To You The Way He Did Mary?

Contributed by Scott Bradford on Dec 15, 2002

Asking yourself the question, "what would you do, if God spoke to you the way He did Mary?"

"What if God spoke to you the way He did Mary?" There is really no other way to begin this message than to just come straight out and ask the question? "What if God spoke to you the way He did Mary?" I imagine that just about everyone wants God to speak to them at some point in their life: Is this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: United Methodist

What If God Gave You A Mission Like He Did The Wisemen?

Contributed by Scott Bradford on Dec 15, 2002

What would be your response if God gave you a mission like He did the wisemen?

Someone once asked the question: "Do you know what would have happened If it had been Three Wise Women, Instead of Three Wise Men?" The answer: They would have asked for directions, Arrived on time, Helped deliver the baby, Cleaned the stable, Made a casserole, Brought practical gifts and There ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

God's Unique Sign

Contributed by Warren Bird on Dec 15, 2002

Why did the shepherds get excited when told that a baby had been born? Why did Simeon and Anna get excited when they saw the baby Jesus? A baby!! So what? So everything - this was the hopes and fears of all the years meeting in Bethlehem that night.

Introduction When a baby is born the new parents get all sorts of different reactions from family and friends: • “Oh, how lovely!” • “Look, he’s got his dad’s eyes!” • “Doesn’t she look just like her mum?” • or, simply, “oh!” But when Mary gave birth to her first son in a stable in Bethlehem ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Reflect The Purposes Of Christmas #3 - "(To Proclaim) Recovery Of Sight" Series

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Dec 15, 2002

Third in series reflecting on the "mission statement" of the Messiah.

Reflect the Purposes of Christmas #3 – “(To proclaim) Recovery of Sight for the Blind.” John 9 December 15, 2002 Introduction John Newton’s famous hymn has a famous line that most of us are familiar with. “I was blind, but now I see.” He was not talking about physical sight, but about ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41, Luke 4:18-19

Denomination: Wesleyan

Jesus- Left Behind

Contributed by Thomas Baird on Dec 15, 2002

At this holiday time of year, have we Forgotten Jesus... Or have we just left him behind

Jesus…. Left Behind. Opening Statement….. During this Holiday Season.. have we Forgotten Jesus Christ?? Have we forgotten Jesus? How many of you have done any shopping for Christmas so far?… We have We even braved Wal-Mart at 6:00 A.M. the day after ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:41-49, Matthew 25:31-40

Denomination: Baptist

The Journey From The Intellectual To The Foolish Series

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Dec 16, 2002

2nd of 4 messages: Wise men traveled a great distance to worship Jesus, yet there were important intellectuals who wouldn’t go six miles out to see if the rumors were true... Today intellectuals find it difficult to embrace the foolishness of a God who i

12/15/2002: The Journey from Intellectual to Foolish Wise men traveled a great distance to worship Jesus, yet there were important intellectuals who wouldn’t go six miles out to see if the rumors were true... Today intellectuals find it difficult to embrace the foolishness of a God who is born a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Peace, Hope And Love

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 16, 2002

May we have the Spirit of Christmas, which is Peace; the gladness of Christmas, which is hope; and the heart of Christmas, which is Love.

Sermon for 12/15/2002 Peace, Hope, and Love Introduction: Show the congregation the Christmas card from Marie Vencill. WBTU: A. Christmas cards. B. We are sending out a Christmas letter. Thesis: May we have the Spirit of Christmas, which is Peace; the gladness of Christmas, which is hope; ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:19-25, Luke 2:8-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

So What's The Big Deal?

Contributed by Troy Brewer on Dec 16, 2002

a look at why the birth of Jesus is something worth celebrating and why the story needs to be told over and over again.

I was at el aztek cafe and the waitress there told me a story that illustrates why we need to tell the story at Christmas time Her little grandson whom she is quite convinced is the most beautiful little boy in all the world was told 5 or 6 months that mommy and daddy would be having another baby ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:37, Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gift That Was Not Acceptedt

Contributed by Eric Hickman on Dec 16, 2002

God gave Christ as a gift, knowing that many would not accept the gift.

The Unwanted Gift Matthew 2:1-4; 16-18 Intro: - Ever received an unwanted gift for Christmas - Ever given an unappreciated gift for Christmas - Christmas Carolers Receive No Praise for Giving - It was a chilly December evening in downtown Chicago, and about a dozen people from a suburban ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-4, Matthew 2:16-18

Denomination: Church Of God