Sermon – “Christmas, What’s In It For Me?”
Sunday, December 19, 2016
Faith Temple Church - Sioux Falls, S.D.
Pastor Jeff Hayes
Title: “Christmas, What’s In It For Me?”
Scripture: Luke2:8-2:18
1. “Christmas, What’s In It For Me? We Could Be Terrified!
Scripture: Luke 2:8- 9 “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.”
a. We could be terrified in this walk of life but don’t be, the Savior has ...... come!
b. Romans 8:15 – “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, ...... so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought ...... about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
1. “Christmas, What’s In It For Me? We Could Be Terrified!
We Could Be Terrified But Don’t Be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
a. prayer, God’s Spirit, Christian fellowship, Christian encouragement ...... causes us not to fear!
b. Psalm 3:5-65 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD ……..sustains me. 6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against ……..me on every side.
c. Psalm 46:2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way ……….and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
1. “Christmas, What’s In It For Me? We Could Be Terrified!
We Could Be Terrified But Don’t Be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE LORD IS WITH US!
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Psalm 46:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for …………I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold ………...you with my righteous right hand.
d. a time of war and being in the middle of it could cause one to be ...... terrified!
1914 Christmas Eve Truce Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KHoVBK2EVE
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2. “Christmas, What’s In It For Me? Good News That Will Cause, ...... Great Joy!”
Scripture: Luke 2: 10-12 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
a. Christmas, What’s In it For Me? Good News That Will Cause, ...... Great Joy!
b. “Do not be afraid!
c. Good news..... “Gospel” U On Gil eon (Greek)
d. “for all the people” – this includes you!
e. That Savior born that Christmas day is God himself!
f. His arrival and continual presence causes “Great Joy”
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--He loved us. -He prayed for us. --He gave us grace.
--He gave us mercy. --He saved us. --He forgave our sin.
--We are washed in the blood of the Lamb. --He cleansed us of our sin. --Our sins are atoned for. --They are buried in the deepest sea.
--They were nailed to the cross. --They are removed from us as far as the east is from the west! --And they are forgotten, never to be brought up again.
--We are redeemed.
--We are chosen.
--We are justified.
--We have peace with God.
--We have hope in Christ.
--We have a living hope by His resurrection.
--We have a refuge for bad times.
--We have an anchor for the storms.
--We have a great high priest.
( 2 Christmas, What’s In It For Me? Good News That Will Cause, Great Joy
Our Joy Is Often Times Expressed In Laughter…..
Video – four year old recites N.T. Bible Books https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIvupevIc44
******* 3. “Christmas, What’s In It For Me? His Favor Rests On Us!”
Scripture: Luke 2:13-14 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
a. it’s time for everyone to stop and consume what has happened and ...... give praise!
b. It’s time to realize that God’s favors us and wants his peace to rest on ...... us!
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ILL. A little boy went with his mother into a crowded department store where people were elbowing each other, & weary clerks were ringing up their sales. It was a scene of noise & frustration.
In the midst of it all stood the little boy holding on to a balloon filled with helium. But in the press of the crowd the boy was bumped & he lost his hold on the string. His balloon floated away to the ceiling.
One of the clerks saw it happen. So she called up the janitor & asked, "Would you please bring a ladder up here to retrieve a balloon?" The janitor said, "What?" She said, "I want you to rescue a balloon."
He protested, but then gave in. Soon here he came, bringing a ladder out into the middle of the crowded floor. For a moment everything seemed to stop. Cash registers stopped ringing. People stopped elbowing each other, & everybody watched as the janitor climbed up the long stepladder, grabbed the string of the balloon, brought it down & handed it to the little bright-eyed boy. And everybody applauded.
Then they started elbowing each other again. Cash registers started ringing again, & everything went back to the way it was before. But for a brief moment there was once again evidence of love & care & concern in our world.
Christmas…What’s In It For Me? HIS FAVOR RESTS ON US!!!!!!!!!!
4. “Christmas, What’s In it For Me? The Lord Telling The Story!”
Scripture: Luke 2:15-15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
a. The shepherds hashed it out and decided to go to Bethlehem!
b. Why, because they wanted to see this thing that has happened!
c. Think about it... the Lord told them the story and the Lord was just ...... born as a baby in Bethlehem!
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d. and who told them, “which the Lord has told us about!”
e. If the Lord tells the story... it doesn’t matter how much we have at ...... Christmas time, we have Jesus and he’s telling us the story of joy!
ILL. Do you remember the children’s story by Dr. Seuss of "The Grinch That Stole Christmas?" It’s about an evil Grinch who goes to Whoville to steal all the trappings of Christmas because he doesn’t want people to have a happy Christmas.
So on Christmas eve, while everyone is asleep, he goes & steals all their presents. He steals all their Christmas trees & all their tinsel & lights & turkey dinners. He takes everything about Christmas from their homes & hides them in a cave high on the hill.
But to his amazement & frustration, on Christmas morning the people of Whoville, young & old alike, join hands & begin to sing & rejoice in celebration of Christmas. The message of the story is that their joy at Christmastime doesn’t depend upon presents or trees or tinsel or lights.
SUM. Now, Dr. Seuss doesn’t tell you where Christmas joy comes from, but I will. It comes from a God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to come & live among us, & die for us.
He is the one who is telling us the Christmas Story!
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5. “Christmas, What’s In it For Me? Total Amazement!”
Scripture: Luke 2:16-18 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
What brings you total amazement?
A new Baby?????
Totally amazed by what the “Prince of Peace Brings to us!
He Brings His Presence to us!!!
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ILL. There is a story about a man who lost his wife, leaving him to be both mother & father to a six-year-old son. After her funeral father & son came home, both feeling so alone & grieved by their loss. That night as they prepared for bed, the boy asked, "Daddy, may I sleep in your room tonight, too?"
But neither one could seem to go to sleep. They both tossed & turned until late in the night. Finally, the little boy asked, "Daddy, are you looking at me? Because if you are, I think I can go to sleep." And the father answered, "Yes son, I’m looking at you."
The little boy started at last to rest & finally fell asleep. After he was asleep the father got out of bed, walked over to the window & pulled back the curtain. He looked up into the starry sky & said, "Jesus, are you looking at me? Because if you are, I think I can rest & be at peace."
Conclusion: Title: “Christmas, What’s In It For Me?”
1. We Could Be Terrified But Don’t Be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. What’s in it for me…Good News That Will Cause, Great Joy!”
3. What’s in it for me…His Favor Rests On Us!”
4. What’s in it for me….The Lord Telling The Story!”
5. What’s In it for me…. Total Amazement!”