Characters of Christmas
The following are my notes from a sermon I once gave for Christmas. May it be revealing to you and may you and yours have a blessed and merry Christmas...
Today we are going to talk about the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, the people involved in this great event, and the lessons that we can learn from them as we celebrate Christmas... and prepare to enter a new year.
Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
What title is most meaningful to you?
How do you see them fulfilled by Jesus?
What other names would you give Jesus?
Wonderful Counselor
Exceptional, Distinguished... without peer... one who gives the right advice
Mighty God
He is God Himself
Everlasting Father
He is timeless... He is God our Father
Prince of Peace
His government is on of justice and peace
Jesus
The Lord Saves
Immanuel
God With Us
Joseph - Matthew 1:18-25
Describe Joseph: Man of Integrity, Compassionate, Afraid, Confused, Not His Child, Loved Mary, Knew The Law, Young Carpenter, Line of David
Steps to a Jewish Wedding
Two families agreed to the union
Public Announcement of the Engagement
Marriage
While engaged, only divorce or death could separate the couple
Sexual relations were not permitted
Joseph knew that Mary’s perceived unfaithfulness could cause her a major social stigma and according to the jewish Civil Law, Joseph had a right to divorce her and the authorities could have her stoned to death.
Lessons We Can Learn From Joseph
Righteousness - Joseph wanted to do the right thing, the right way - no matter what others might say or think.
Obedient - Joseph heard from God and obeyed - Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord...”
Self Discipline/Self Control - Joseph stayed in control (v25)
Mary - Luke 1:26-38 - Describe Mary: Young peasant girl, Recently engaged, Afraid, didn’t doubt the message - just wondered how.
Lessons We Can Learn From Mary
Accepted Her Calling - God Called and Mary Answered (v38)
Mary was available to God - Can we make that statement? (v38)
Do we blow it off, put it off, discount it, think we’re crazy, doubt it?
Is God calling us (you & me) - How will we answer?
God’s Best Servants Are Often Ordinary People Who Make Themselves Available to Him
Mary Treasured God At Work in Her Life And Thought About It Often
Mary valued God at work in her life - After the Shepherd’s visited Luke 2:19 says “Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often.”
Do we ever think about how God has worked or is working in our lives?
Do we treasure it in our hearts?
Being Favored Doesn’t Necessarily Mean/Bring Instant Success or Fame but Pain & Ridicule
Fiancee’ would question and almost leave
Son would ultimately be rejected and murdered
The Shepherds - Luke 2:8-20
The Shepherds: Dredge of Society, Rarely Bathed, Probably Watched Over and Sold the Sacrificial Lambs
Lessons We Can Learn From the Shepherds
Heard About God At Work and “Ran” To See And Be A Part Of It
They didn’t walk or shuffle or otherwise put it off - They RAN to see Jesus
Do we run to see and be a part of God at work around us?
They Were Told of the Savior, Met the Savior and Believed He Was the Savior
How about us? Have we met the Savior? Do we believe He is truly the Savior?
They Told Their World (Great Commission?)
They were so excited about what they had heard and seen and how they had met the Savior, they went and told everyone they came across.
Do we?
Went Back to the Fields Praising & Glorifying God
Do we do that at work?
At home?
After church?
In our world?
The Maji/3 Kings/Astronomers/Wise Men - Saw the Star and Knew God Was At Work
Saw God at work and went there to be a part of it - to join in
The Inn Keeper - Luke 2:7 - Describe the Inn Keeper - Busy, Full with other People & Things - “The Lost World”
Lessons We Can Learn From The Inn Keeper
Denied Our Lord a Place in His Inn
One of the first to deny/reject Jesus into His life
Have we denied Him in our Inn? In our house? In our life?
There may be some here (or reading this) today who may be like this Inn Keeper - Who have no room for the Savior. Too busy to care - too caught up in the world to hear - Who need to know, believe and accept that this baby grew up and lived an amazing life... died for us, in our place, on a cross... and 3 days later resurrected and ascended into heaven. He did all this to forgive us of our sins and give us life... eternal life. All we have to do is believe in Him and accept Him as Lord and Savior of our lives.
Trust. Believe. Accept.
Keep The Faith... Carpe Diem
