December 20 2015 Revealing The Purpose Of Christmas

REVEALING THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS

Luke 2:8-20

Luke 2:10 – I bring you good news of great joy.

Five Wonderful Purposes of Christmas:

1. God reaches out to every person.

Verses 8-9- And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them.

Job 36:7 – He does not take His eye off the righteous.

Isaiah 64:8 – We are all the work of God’s hand.

2. God releases your fears.

Verses 10-11 – Do not be afraid, A Saviour has been born to you, He is Christ the Lord.

Examples:

• Storm tossed sea Matthew 14:27
• At His resurrection Matthew 28:10
• At the last supper John 14:27

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin.

John 16:33 – But take heart, I have overcome the world.

Matthew 6:33 – Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all those things will be given to you as well.

3. God recovers your lost condition.
Verse 11 – A Saviour has been born to you.

Luke 19:10 – Jesus said, for the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

Matthew 20:28 – I did not come into the world to be served, but to serve and give My live a ransom for many.

John 12:47 – I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.

4. God reproduces His life in you.
Verse 14 – Peace to men on whom His favor rest.

John 10:10 – Jesus said, I have come that you might have life and have it to the fullest.

2 Corinthians 9:15 – Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

5. God needs your response.

Verses 16-17 – So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a manger.  When they had seen Him they spread the word.

John 6:47 – I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

December 7 2015 God's Christmas Gift To You

God's Christmas Gift To You

1. God’s first Christmas gift is celebration.

Luke 2:8-10 – There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’

WHY DO WE CELEBRATE?

• GOD LOVES US!

John 3:16 – God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

• GOD IS WITH US!

Hebrews 13:5 – God says, ‘I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.’

• GOD IS FOR US!

John 3:17 – God didn’t send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.

2. God’s second Christmas gift is salvation.

WHAT IS SALVATION?

• SAVED FROM MY SIN

Matthew 1:21 – Give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.

Romans 7:24-25 – I’ve tried everything and nothing helps.  I’m at the end of my rope.  Is there no one who can do anything for me?  The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does.

• SAVED FOR A PURPOSE

II Timothy 1:9 – He saved us and called us to be His own people, not because of what we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace.

3. God’s third Christmas gift is reconciliation.

Luke 2:13-14 – Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men.

WHAT KIND OF PEACE DOES JESUS GIVE?

• PEACE WITH GOD

Romans 5:1 – Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

• PEACE OF GOD

Philippians 4:6-7 – Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.  If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

• PEACE WITH EACH OTHER

Matthew 5:9 – Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.

Acts 10:35 – It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from, if you want God and are ready to as He says, the door is open.

December 9 2012 Experiencing Christ At Christmas

EXPERIENCING CHRIST AT CHRISTMAS
Luke 2:8-20

Luke 2:10 - I bring you good news of great joy.

Five Wonderful Facts.

1. God reaches out to every person.
Verses 8-9 - And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them.

Job 36:7 - He does not take His eye off the righteous.

Isaiah 64:8 - We are all the work of God’s hand.

2. God releases your fears.
Verses 10-11 - Do not be afraid, a Savior has been born to you, He is Christ the Lord.

Examples:

• The stormy sea. Matthew 14:27

• At His resurrection. Matthew 28:10

• The Last Supper. John 14:27

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.

John 16:33 - But take heart, I have overcome the world.

Matthew 6:33 - Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all those things will be given to you as well.

3. God wants to recover our lost position.
Luke 2:11 - A Savior has been born to you.

Luke 19:10 - Jesus said, for the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

Matthew 20:28 - I did not come into the world to be served, but to serve and give My life a ransom for many.

John 12:47 - I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.

4. God can reproduce His life in you.
Luke 2:14 - Peace to men on whom His favor rest.

John 10:10 - Jesus said, I have come that you might have life and have it to the fullest.

2 Corinthians 9:15 - Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

5. God needs your response.
Luke 2:16-17 - So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in a manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word.

John 6:47 - I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.