Sermon Tone Analysis

TEXT: Matthew 2:1-12

TOPIC: What is Christmas?

Pastor Bobby Earls, Northgate Baptist Church

Preached at Center Point Civitan Club on December 11, 2007

Preached at Northgate Baptist Church, Florence, SC December 16, 2018, and 12/4/2022

There’s nothing quiet like Christmas and children.

Little Johnny came into the kitchen where his mother was making dinner.

Christmas was coming up and He thought this was a good time to tell his mother what He wanted.

"Mom, I want a bike for Christmas."

Now, Little Johnny was a bit of a troublemaker.

He had gotten into trouble at school and at home.

Johnny's mother asked him if he thought he deserved to get a bike for Christmas.

Little Johnny, of course, thought he did.

Johnny's mother, being a Christian woman, wanted him to reflect on his behavior over the last year, and write a letter to God and tell him why he deserved a bike for Christmas.

Little Johnny stomped up the steps to his room and sat down to write God a letter.

Johnny's mother, being a Christian woman, wanted him to reflect on his behavior over the last year, and write a letter to God and tell him why he deserved a bike for Christmas.

Little Johnny stomped up the steps to his room and sat down to write God a letter.

LETTER 1:

Dear God:

I have been a very good boy this year and I would like a bike for Christmas.

I want a red one.

Your friend, Johnny

Johnny knew this wasn't true.

He had not been a very good

Johnny knew this wasn't true.

He had not been a very good boy this year, so he tore up the letter and started over.

LETTER 2:

Dear God:

This is your friend Johnny.

I have been a pretty good boy this year, and I would like a red bike for Christmas.Thank you,

Thank you, Johnny

Johnny

Johnny knew this wasn't true either.

He tore up the letter and started again.

Johnny knew this wasn't true either.

He tore up the letter and started again.

LETTER 3:

Dear God:

I know I haven't been a good boy this year.

I am very sorry.

I will be a good boy if you just send me a red bike for Christmas.Thank you,

Thank you, Johnny

Johnny knew, even if it was true, this letter was not going to get him a bike.

By now, he was very upset.

He went downstairs and told his mother he wanted to go to church.

Johnny's mother thought her plan had worked because Johnny looked very sad.

"Just be home in time for dinner," his mother said.

Johnny walked down the street to the church and up to the altar.

He looked around to see if anyone was there.

He picked up a statue of the Virgin Mary

Johnny walked down the street to the church and up to the altar.

He looked around to see if anyone was there.

He picked up a statue of the Virgin Mary from the Nativity scene, slipped it under his jacket and ran out of the church, down the street, into his house, and up to his room.

He shut the door and sat down and wrote another letter to God.

LETTER 4:

I GOT YOUR MAMA.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN, SEND THE BIKE.

Signed,YOU KNOW WHO 

Dennis the Menace – Rushing downstairs a few days before Christmas and standing before his mother with a wide-open mouth and a large box in his hands, he blurts out, “We’d better call up Santa quick and tell him to cancel that train set I asked for.

I just found one on the top shelf of dad’s closet.”

Charlie Brown’s Christmas Carol – “Can’t anybody tell me what Christmas is all about?”

Linus takes center stage and quotes the first 20 verses of the Luke 2 Christmas narrative.

“That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”

This morning I want you see another passage in the bible that tells us what Christmas is all about.

Open to the second chapter of Matthew, please.

(Read – Matthew 2:1-12)

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR REJOICING, Matthew 2:10

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy

Filled with joy

Overwhelmed with joy

The Wise Men had had little in which to rejoice.

Their two year journey would have been difficult and dangerous.

They had heard of ’s Messiah and had diligently searched for the sign of His coming.

They saw the star and the Bible says they were suddenly filled with great joy, overwhelming joy.

Their excitement soon faded to disappointment when upon entering there was no Messiah to be found.

Where else do you look for a King than in a Kingly city?

They were told in Micah 5:2, But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah.

Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.

So when they heard about from the words of King Herod’s own prophets they resumed their journey with exceeding great joy.

APP.

Christmas is a time of rejoicing for all men.

A time to sing songs, and a time to exchange smiles and well wishes of good tidings and to say “Merry Christmas.”

Tis a Season to be jolly and to dawn gay apparel.

(I do mean that with the purest since of the word).

Christmas is a season of peace on earth and good will toward men.

A time of rejoicing because unto us a child is born and unto us a son is given.

ILL.

The story of Christmas, that God became a man, the incarnation, for you and for me is still cause for exceeding great joy.

Despite the depressing reports on the evening news, or the personal problems we often have at this time of year, Christmas is still a time for rejoicing.

2. CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR FAMILY, Matthew 2:11

When they came into the house they saw the young child with Mary his mother

This to me is a beautiful scene.

Perhaps it’s the same scene Michelangelo saw when he created the sculpting of the Madonna.

The reference to the “house” here indicates a passage of time since the birth of Christ in .

Some believe as much as two years could have passed since the birth of Christ before the Wise Men arrived in .

According to verse 16 Herod’s terrorist actions indicate he believed the Messiah was at least two years of age.

But let’s get back to the family.

Joseph was a good earthly father, a good provider and a good role model.

Mary, an ideal mother, never left her son.

She follows Him all the way to the cross.