The Word Became Flesh (Carol Service)

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). The Word Who Became Flesh (vs 1-3 & 14).

(2). The Light Which Dispels Darkness (vs 4-5)

(3). The Choice Which Confronts Everyone (vs 11-12).

(4). The Gift Which God Gives (vs 14)

SERMON BODY:

Questions: What do you and your family need for a good Christmas?

Answer:

• Cards

• Tree

• Decorations

• Advent calendar

• Crackers

• Table decorations

• Drink

• Turkey & Food

• Music

• Jumpers

• Presents

• TV specials

• Carols

• The Queens speech

Questions: What are the essentials of the Christmas Story?

• Angels

• Mary

• Joseph

• Star

• Magi/Wise men

• Shepherds

• Herod

• Bethlehem

• Innkeeper

• Manger

• Gifts

• and, of course Jesus!

• TRANSITION: When the apostle John writes out his introduction to his gospel;

• The only thing in common with those two lists is Jesus!

• Just think about it!

• No Angels

• No Mary

• No Joseph

• No Star

• No Magi/Wise men

• No Shepherds

• No Herod

• No Bethlehem

• No Innkeeper

• No Manger

• No Gifts

• Only one thing in common with my two Christmas lists;

• And that is Jesus, because he is the one essential to Christmas!

(1). The Word Who Became Flesh (vs 1-3 & 14).

• John chapter 1 verse 14:

• N.I.V.: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

• J.B.P.: “So the word of God became a human being and lived among us.”

Ill:

• Many stories start with;

• “Once upon a time…”

• Or: “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away”

• TRANSITION: But this is much more than a story;

• We are dealing with history – his-story!

• Events that happened in time and John the apostle says, even before time!

• So, the narrative does not begin; “Once upon a time”

• But rather, “Once before there was any time!”

• Rather it begins:

“In the beginning” Literally: “Before there was anything else”

“…was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was with God in the beginning.”

• This is how the apostle John describes the baby that was born in Bethlehem!

• Deity in diapers.

• The birth of Jesus was an extraordinary event in human history:

• God became a man without ceasing to be the one and only God.

Question: What do we mean by the name – “The Word”?

Answer: A word is a means of communication,

Ill:

• We use words to communicate a message,

• This message has so far used about 350 of them!

• Hopefully, holding your attention,

• And helping you to understand something of the wonder of the Christmas message!

• TRASITION: Jesus is the expression of God’s being;

• God communicates clearly to us through him!

ill:

• My wife asked me why I was speaking so softly inside the house,

• I told her it was because I felt like someone was listening to us.

• She laughed…I laughed.... Alexa laughed....

• TRASITION: Jesus is the expression of God’s being;

• God communicates clearly to us through him!

Note: Verse 14:

• John chapter 1 verse 14:

• N.I.V.: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

• J.B.P.: “So the word of God became a human being and lived among us.”

• Holman Christian Standard Bible: "…took up residence among us"

• Young's Literal Translation: "…and did tabernacle among us"

Ill:

• Devil's Island was one of the most infamous prisons in the world.

• It was forgotten and unknown until Dustin Hoffman and the late Steve McQueen;

• Were portrayed as two of its inhabitants in the film Papillon.

• Devil's Island is part of a cluster of islands off the coast of South America.

• A hundred years ago it was notorious for its prison,

• It was home to six thousand of the worst of the worst prisoners.

• Whilst serving their sentences, the men had to clear the land for farming,

• Work in the immense forests cutting down trees for export,

• Clear the swamps for fruit growing,

• And build their own huts, usually whilst chained in pairs.

• Medical attention was minimal, and medicines almost non-existent.

• And very few ever left the island if they survived their sentence.

Incredibly, volunteers form the French Salvation Army went and lived there:

• While on the island they could gather some prisoners,

• And work alongside the prisoners in renovate an old house.

• Soon, word got out that these salvationists not only worked alongside he convicts,

• But also slept in beds in the same rooms.

• TRANSITION: These members of the French Salvation Army,