Your Unexpected Part Series

Video Transition: Reason for the Season – Skit Guys (4 min)

Series: Unexpected Christmas

Introduction:

Unexpected mistake:

Share about problem with the Bible reference of Mary’s Song last week – How many caught the unexpected wrong Bible reference - were you surprised? – that was my unexpected mistake - the correct verse is Luke not Matthew – did this bother you - catch you off guard and cause some confusion? Just recall Mary’s and Joseph’s surprise and how that must have impacted them. By the way this was one of those other unexpected surprises that happen in life caused by the mistakes of others - yes, we humans make mistakes, but God does not. God loves to surprise us, but he knows what He Is doing.

Unexpected surprises I encountered this week:

Last Thursday at our ministerial meeting Adam shared how his church did a live nativity and gave tours telling the Christmas story of Jesus - he was surprised to discover that out of the 200 people they took through the nativity journey about 50 told him they had never heard the story before. Can I remind you this season to not assume everyone you talk too knows the story of Jesus and Christmas.

Friday night we had an unexpected surprise too a car on 171st hit the power pole and our lights went out - the three of us were watching the movie The Preachers Wife” and out goes the power. So we decided to drive down to see the accident and then we decided to go get hot chocolate and drive around and look at Christmas lights which was a blast - can I say It again. “ Expect the unexpected and then do something In the midst of the unexpected and get ready to be pleasantly surprised. Remember your reaction to the unexpected determines you’re attitude! You’re attitude will determine you’re actions and If you become a blessing through the God surprise.

So, get ready to be surprised and then used by God to be a blessing to others!

Thesis of Series: Christmas season is filled with surprises and the unexpected twists and turns that come with this holiday season. The original Christmas season was also filled with surprises from Heaven and the unexpected twists and turns from God. God loves doing the unexpected – so we should learn to expect the unexpected from the Lord – He loves saying “surprise”! Maybe even the word “Tada!”

The Challenge for us this Christmas Season: “Can you decide to expect the unexpected from the Lord this season?” or let me word it this way “Are you willing to expect the unexpected because God is predictably unpredictable this Christmas Season?”

Let me also ask: “Are you praying to be surprised by Him?”

Last week we heard about the unexpected news of Jesus conception by the Holy Spirit and all the challenges that went with this surprise for Mary and Joseph.

T.S. - Today I want to talk about our unexpected part of this Christmas season and how God does like to surprise us and then use us to make a difference In someone’s life.

Sermon: Our Unexpected Part!

Thesis: Do you want God to surprise you this Christmas Season? Then may I suggest you do something unexpected! If we call ourselves Christians then we do have a part in God using us to be a part of something unexpected. The Bible Is clear that God uses us to Impact other people In a unexpected positive way so that we can be a blessing to others.

Introduction:

Question: What is our unexpected part this Christmas Season? I see 3 things we need to focus on.

1. It’s to give with a cheerful heart and make sure our hearts treasure is Jesus and not money or things. I call this the Unexpected Treasures!

2. Another unexpected part of Christmas is centered in on our words and not so much our gifts we give, our words make more of an impact on peoples lives than our gifts. We will call this the Unexpected Words!

3. Lastly my unexpected part is how will I treat difficult people this Christmas season! Will I choose grace and love or the silent treatment and conflict? We will call this the Unexpected Grace!

T.S. - These three unexpected points are critical to understand and focus on If we want to be a blessing to others this season. Let’s look at point 1:

I. Unexpected Treasures: Christmas will test the condition of our heart with God and highlight what we really treasure in our hearts.

a. Acts 20:35: “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”