The Truth Of Christmas

Video Why Do We Celebrate Christmas

Slide #1 Welcome to Vista Pointe

We are so glad that you chose to be with us this evening for this very special service.

It’ true…Christmas is a very special time of year.

Statistics show that more people meet together during this holiday than any other holiday throughout the year.

And I think there is a reason that this is true…Over 2000 years ago God gave the world the greatest gift that could ever be given.

And my hope and prayer is that before you walk out those doors…If you do not about this gift…you take the time to receive it.

I would ask that you stand this evening as I share with you the “Truth of Christmas” found in Luke Chapter 1:26-38.

SLIDE#2

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary.

She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.

28 Gabriel (Angel)appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.

33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

So the baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God.

36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age!

People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”

38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.”

Prayer… Thanks for the gift…

SLIDE #3

One of the most anticipated, exciting, and cared about holidays of the year is Christmas.

To the children around the world… it is thought to be the most wonderful day of the year.

To a child the mystery of unopened presents is almost overwhelming at times.

The excitement of waking up early… on Christmas morning and peeking around the corner…glancing…to see if Santa has visited there home…is almost too much to handle.

For the adults…as we feed off our children’s excitement… we often find ourselves re-living our own childhood experiences from years past.

How many of us here can still remember the sleepless nights before the big day!

I can personally remember patiently sitting at the top of our staircase… listening…waiting… just to hear my parents voices say OK…come on down and see what Santa has left for you.

And finally the anticipation was over… down the stairs I would shoot…

Around the corner I would slide…first noticing all the large and small…colorful wrapped presents just waiting to be torn open…just to see what was hidden inside.

It’s true…Christmas is a wonderful time of year…But what if there were more to the story of Christmas…

During the busyness of the holidays it’s much too easy to become distracted with the routine of the season…while forgetting about the true meaning of Christmas?

For most of us here tonight… Christmas… has a personal spiritual significance…

While maybe for some… it has simply become just another high priced holiday.

Christmas can be the most wonderful day of the year for you if you are just willing to remember what the season is all about?

Tonight I would like to share with you the story of Christmas told as an illustration …

“It begins like this”

I had just finished picking up the house for the night and was preparing to go to bed after a long day’s work… when I heard a noise.

SLIDE #4 -Angel

As I looked up… and to my surprise…I noticed an Angel looking at me… then all of a sudden she began to move towards me…

Surprised of this I began to speak out when…she reached forward and placed her hand over my mouth… keeping me from speaking.

All I could think about was find out “Why she was there?” As I glanced up towards her face I noticed… tears beginning to form in her eyes….

I became puzzled…Why tears / why now on Christmas?