November 29 2015 Realizing The Heart Of Christmas

/ Great Plains Community Church/

REALIZING THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS

Matthew 2:1-10

Five Truths To Remember

1. We must move beyond religious practice.

Matthew 2:2 – We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.

Verse 6 – Who will be the shepherd of my people.

Matthew 3:7-8 – You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

2. Our faith must move faith to the heart.

Matthew 2:8 – Herod said..go and make careful search for the child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.

Matthew 15:8 – These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

3. We must understand no one is too far away.

Matthew 2:1 – Wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.

4. We must make our surrender real.

Matthew 2:9 -11 – After they had heard the King, they went their way and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary and they bowed down and worshiped Him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

5. We must decide to be obedient.

Matthew 2:12 – They returned to their country by another route. They had diving instruction to go a different route.

November 25 2012 Preparing For Christ At Christmas

/ Great Plains Community Church/

PREPARING FOR CHRIST AT CHRISTMAS
Matthew 2:1-10

Five Observations To Consider:

1. We must do more than obey the law.
Matthew 2:2 - We saw His star in the east and have come to Worship Him.
Matthew 2:6 - Who will be the shepherd of my people.
Matthew 3:7-8 - You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Examples: The Priest and Levite.
The rich young ruler.

2. Our faith must move beyond the lips to the heart.
Matthew 2:8 - Herod said, go and make careful search for the Child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and Worship Him.
Matthew 15:8 - These people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me.

Examples: They failed to go the second mile.

3. We must understand that those who are farthest want to get close.
Matthew 2:1 - Wise men for the east came to Jerusalem.

Examples: The wise men.
The thief on the cross.
The prodigal son.


4. We must make our commitment real.
Matthew 2:9-11 - After they had heard the King, they went their way and the star they had seen in the east, went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His Mother Mary and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

5. We must obey the Father.
Matthew 2:12 - They returned to their country by another route. They had Divine instruction to go a different route.