Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION:

You and I live in a world that has come to question all traditional values.

Traditional concepts that govern the behavior of everyday life are being cast aside for what some people call progressive interpretations of life.

Truths that were once held dear are called into question.

The month of December marks the beginning of the season that used to be considered one of the most sacred seasons of the entire year.

Christmas, has long been known as the joyous season commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ into the world of men.

For decades, the Christmas season has become increasingly more secularized and commercialized.

As a result of this secularization and commercialization, the true meaning of Christmas has become lost to a great portion of the population.

Nativity displays and other depictions of one of the most joyous events in all of human history have become targets of lawsuits and public demonstrations attempting to force the suppression of the Christian message from the public arena.

Today we will seek to answer the question, Why should we celebrate Christmas?

Here are some TRUTHS that will help to answer this morning’s question: “Why should we celebrate Christmas?”

I- MANKINDS SPITITUAL CONDITION REQUIRES DIVINE INTERVENTION.

(Luke 1:67 – 68).

67 Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:

68 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited (ἐπεσκέψατο) and redeemed (ἐποίησεν) his people.

A- God intervened supernaturally in human history.

1- Here in Luke chapters 1-2, God supernaturally revealed his power in the lives of people.

ἐπεσκέψατο= to look into with a view to help

ἐποίησεν=redemption that is spiritually based

a. God sent the angelic messenger to Zachariah with the message of a miraculous intervention in his life that would impact his family and ultimately, the rest of the world.

Because of Zachariah’s unbelief, he was unable to speak until after his son was born.

(Luke 1:5–23).

b.

God performed a miracle on behalf of Zachariah and Elizabeth enabling the birth of their son John, when such an event was humanly impossible.

(Luke 1:24 – 25)

c.

God sent the angel to the virgin Mary, announcing that she would soon become pregnant with the Messiah of Israel.

(Luke 1:26 – 38)

d.

After submitting to the will of God, the Lord made her aware of the miracle that Zachariah and Elizabeth were about to experience in their lives.

The reaction of the unborn John to the presence of Mary and the child that she carried in her womb bore witness to the magnitude of the miracle of which all of them were a part.

(Luke 1:39 – 56)

e.

The manner of John’s birth and the miraculous occurrences surrounding his birth confirmed that God was up to something special.

Zachariah’s ability to speak was restored following his demonstration of obedience to God.

Relatives and friends who were present at the birth of John verbally acknowledged that God was going to do something extraordinary with John.

God’s intervention was obvious.

(Luke 1:66).

( Luke 1:59 – 80)

B- The spiritual condition of mankind demonstrates the need for God’s intervention.

1- The beginning of Zacharias praise for God points to the fact and need of God’s intervention.

(Luke 1:67 – 75)

a. Zachariah described the great need for God’s intervention on behalf of Israel.

(1) In Luke 1:68, Zachariah says that God has visited and provided redemption for his people.

(2) Zachariah prophesies that the purpose of God’s intervention is to rescue his people so that they may serve him.

(Life transformation) (Luke 1:74-75)

2- The preaching of John the Baptist constantly pointed to the need of individuals for God’s intervention in their lives.

(Luke 3:3 – 18)

3- The ministry and preaching of Jesus also demonstrated the need for God’s intervention in the lives of people.

a.

The miracles that Jesus performed demonstrated man’s helplessness and need for God’s intervention.

(1) Lepers healed

(2) Deaf made to hear

(3) Lame made able to walk

(4) dead raised to life

b.

Jesus openly proclaimed that he came to give his life as a ransom for human beings.

(Matthew 20:28)

C- Following Christ’s resurrection, the apostles proclaimed that God’s intervention in the world was necessary.

1- The universal problem of sin makes it impossible for man to relate to a holy God.

(Romans 5:12)

(Romans 6:23)

II- CHRISTMAS PROCLAIMS THE LOVE OF GOD FOR MANKIND.

(LUKE 1:76 – 80)

A- God’s loves mankind so much that he is unwilling to leave mankind in his helpless condition.

(Luke 1:69)

1- In his natural state, man is hopelessly bound by sin.

(Ephesians 2:12)

(Isaiah 64:6)

2- Even though mankind is at war with God, He provided the way for man to be reconciled to himself.

(Romans 5:6-11)

B- God’s loves mankind so much that he commands the message of forgiveness to be proclaimed.

(Luke 1:76 – 78)

Zechariah prophesies that John’s purpose in life is to prepare the way for the Savior by preaching the Good News.

(vs.

76-77)

He will be charged with the task of telling others about how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.

τοῦ δοῦναι γνῶσιν σωτηρίας τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀφέσει ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν

God has established his church to share the same message.

(Acts 1:8)

Mark 16:15)

(Matthew 28:18-20)

CONCLUSION:

Why should we celebrate Christmas?

MANKINDS SPITITUAL CONDITION REQUIRES DIVINE INTERVENTION..

CHRISTMAS PROCLAIMS THE LOVE OF GOD FOR MANKIND.