The Gift Of Christmas- Part 2 " The Star" Series

Community Christmas service

Church of the Nazarene, Grand saline Texas

December 10, 2017 6:30 PM

“The star”

More years ago than I want to admit

Back when Patti and I were very young and newly married

We decorated our first Christmas Tree as a married couple

With hand me down Christmas Ornaments that had been given to us by family members and friends

We did have a few new ones

That we had acquired

But

Working as a cowboy in the 80’s did not pay much

And so we did not have much

I don’t recall exactly how it went

But when we had emptied the box

And everything was on the tree

We noticed there was nothing on the top of the tree

So

In a very crude manner

I made a star similar to this one

Just a cardboard star covered in tin foils

With bread ties to hold it on the tree

Nothing fancy

I would say

Most people would look at it and laugh

Or simply leave it in the box while decorating the tree’ But to us it was great

That silly little cardboard and foil star adorned the top of our Christmas trees for years

And has since been replaced a number of times by more beautiful

Costly and commercial tree toppers

Our first star was simple

But still special

And it now

So many years latter remind me of the love in our family

The joy of Christmas

And

The gift of God

To the world he loves

Of his one and only Son Jesus Christ

Our little simple star had only five points

I know there are fancy stars out there that have many points

And glow like the sun

But the five points of our little star

While reminding me of our love

Also remind me of My savior

So tonight

I would like to put a name on each point

The first point of my Christmas star is the Birth Of Christ

I know many in this world who think That Christmas is just a giving and getting holiday

They focus on the gifts and trees the tinsel and bows

And often forget about, or even choose to forget about the fact that Christmas is a celebration of the Birth of our savior

Christmas is about the perfect Gift

Christmas is about the star of the show

The original Christmas present

And the first Christmas ornament

We read of Jesus ‘miraculous birth

First in Matthew

Then Luke gives us a few more details

John

The disciple that Jesus loved Talks of his birth

Without giving an account of the events

And it is this account I love the most

John 1:1-14

1 In the beginning the Word already existed.

The Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 He existed in the beginning with God.

3 God created everything through him,

and nothing was created except through him.

4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,[a]

and his life brought light to everyone.

5 The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness can never extinguish it.[b]

6 God sent a man, John the Baptist,[c] 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

14 So the Word became human[d] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[e] And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John in a few simple verses

Wraps up the Birth of our savior

He was God

He was with God

He has always been

Ands he came and lived with us

Matthew tells of the Magi and the danger from Herod

Luke tells of the Bright star, the manger, the shepherds and angels

Both tell of the virgin birth

But it is John

Who describes for us

Who Jesus really is

And what it is he came to accomplish

God

With us

In the flesh

The first point on my star is for his birth

The birth of my savior

The next point on my star

Stands for Jesus’ life

In human standards

his life was short

Just some 33 years