The Big Picture
Notes
Transcript
(Luke 2:1–14 and John 1)
See also:
Christmas Gifts from God (Luke 2:8–14)
Christ is Christmas (Luke 2:10–11)
The Coming of the Word (John 1:1–18)
The Incarnation: A Child is Born (Luke 2:1–14)
Good News for All (Luke 2:1–20)
Do You Have Room for Jesus? (Luke 2:1–7)
I. Intro
I. Intro
A. I try to read one particular passage of Scripture every year on the Sunday before Christmas.
A. I try to read one particular passage of Scripture every year on the Sunday before Christmas.
1. This is the Christmas story to me.
1. This is the Christmas story to me.
2. We used to read the Scripture at our Christmas plays at Becker School.
2. We used to read the Scripture at our Christmas plays at Becker School.
3. This passage announces to me that it’s Christmas.
3. This passage announces to me that it’s Christmas.
4. The passage is Luke 2:1–14.
4. The passage is Luke 2:1–14.
B. Read Luke 2:1–14. Luke 2:1–14
B. Read Luke 2:1–14. Luke 2:1–14
1. Read Luke 2:1–14.
1. Read Luke 2:1–14.
C. This is how it all happened.
C. This is how it all happened.
1. Mary and Joseph grab a donkey for the 90 mile or so ride to Bethlehem.
1. Mary and Joseph grab a donkey for the 90 mile or so ride to Bethlehem.
2. When they get there, Mary tells Joseph, “It’s time.”
2. When they get there, Mary tells Joseph, “It’s time.”
3. They can’t find a motel room so they check into a barn.
3. They can’t find a motel room so they check into a barn.
4. The baby Jesus is born in a barn.
4. The baby Jesus is born in a barn.
5. He’s wrapped up in some cloth rags to keep warm.
5. He’s wrapped up in some cloth rags to keep warm.
6. He’s laid in a feed trough.
6. He’s laid in a feed trough.
D. Some lonely shepherds are out watching their sheep.
D. Some lonely shepherds are out watching their sheep.
1. A supernatural occurrence takes place.
1. A supernatural occurrence takes place.
2. Angels appear to these shepherds.
2. Angels appear to these shepherds.
3. The angels tell the shepherds that a baby has been born in Bethlehem.
3. The angels tell the shepherds that a baby has been born in Bethlehem.
4. Not just any baby, but the Messiah.
4. Not just any baby, but the Messiah.
5. The angels sing for the shepherds and fade away.
5. The angels sing for the shepherds and fade away.
6. We also know some wise men came to see this baby.
6. We also know some wise men came to see this baby.
E. There’s no doubt this baby is something special.
E. There’s no doubt this baby is something special.
1. Every baby born is special.
1. Every baby born is special.
2. But this baby is extra-special.
2. But this baby is extra-special.
3. And this passage gives us a great snapshot of the time of this baby’s birth.
3. And this passage gives us a great snapshot of the time of this baby’s birth.
4. We get a personal view of what happened that first Christmas night.
4. We get a personal view of what happened that first Christmas night.
F. But today, I want us to zoom out from this scene in the barn.
F. But today, I want us to zoom out from this scene in the barn.
1. I want us to pull back a bit and look at this event from another angle.
1. I want us to pull back a bit and look at this event from another angle.
2. We know the birth of Jesus was special.
2. We know the birth of Jesus was special.
3. Angels announcing your birth gives the specialness away.
3. Angels announcing your birth gives the specialness away.
4. But what made this baby’s birth so special?
4. But what made this baby’s birth so special?
G. To get a wider view of this event, let’s go to another book of the Bible.
G. To get a wider view of this event, let’s go to another book of the Bible.
1. Let’s go to the Gospel of John.
1. Let’s go to the Gospel of John.
H. John 1:1–5, 9.
H. John 1:1–5, 9.
1. Read John 1:1–5, John 1:9
1. Read John 1:1–5, John 1:9
I. John 1:14.
I. John 1:14.
1. Read John 1:14
1. Read John 1:14
J. John 1:18.
J. John 1:18.
1. Read John 1:18
1. Read John 1:18
K. John 1:12–13.
K. John 1:12–13.
1. Read John 1:12–13
1. Read John 1:12–13
L. So we’ve seen the micro-view of Jesus’ birth.
L. So we’ve seen the micro-view of Jesus’ birth.
1. We’ve seen the events that took place as He was born.
1. We’ve seen the events that took place as He was born.
2. He was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger.
2. He was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger.
3. His birth was announced by angels to an isolated group of shepherds.
3. His birth was announced by angels to an isolated group of shepherds.
4. His birth was obviously a big deal.
4. His birth was obviously a big deal.
M. The verses in John tell us just how big a deal it was.
M. The verses in John tell us just how big a deal it was.
1. We get a macro-view.
1. We get a macro-view.
2. We get to really see the scope of what it meant for this baby to be born.
2. We get to really see the scope of what it meant for this baby to be born.
II. This newborn baby has always existed.
II. This newborn baby has always existed.
A. He was in the beginning.
A. He was in the beginning.
1. He is called the Word.
1. He is called the Word.
2. He was with God.
2. He was with God.
3. And He is God.
3. And He is God.
4. He’s always been.
4. He’s always been.
B. All creation was made through Him.
B. All creation was made through Him.
1. Without Him there would be nothing that is created.
1. Without Him there would be nothing that is created.
2. He is life itself.
2. He is life itself.
3. He doesn’t just create life, He is life.
3. He doesn’t just create life, He is life.
C. He is the light of men.
C. He is the light of men.
1. He illuminates everybody.
1. He illuminates everybody.
2. If we have any light in us, it comes from Him.
2. If we have any light in us, it comes from Him.
3. Darkness, evil, cannot overcome Him.
3. Darkness, evil, cannot overcome Him.
III. The Word became flesh.
III. The Word became flesh.
A. This baby may have been born into this world in Bethlehem.
A. This baby may have been born into this world in Bethlehem.
1. His birth may have occurred at a specific time.
1. His birth may have occurred at a specific time.
2. But He has always existed.
2. But He has always existed.
3. He is God.
3. He is God.
B. God took on the flesh of His creatures.
B. God took on the flesh of His creatures.
1. He came and lived with His creation.
1. He came and lived with His creation.
2. God made His home with people.
2. God made His home with people.
3. He revealed grace.
3. He revealed grace.
4. He revealed unmerited favor.
4. He revealed unmerited favor.
5. He revealed unconditional love.
5. He revealed unconditional love.
6. God came and showed Himself to us.
6. God came and showed Himself to us.
IV. Jesus shows us God.
IV. Jesus shows us God.
A. Nobody has seen God, the Father.
A. Nobody has seen God, the Father.
1. But God the Son, Jesus, shows us God.
1. But God the Son, Jesus, shows us God.
B. You want to know what God looks like?
B. You want to know what God looks like?
1. Look to Jesus.
1. Look to Jesus.
2. See how He lives.
2. See how He lives.
3. See how He treats people.
3. See how He treats people.
4. See how He loves.
4. See how He loves.
5. See how He expects His people to live.
5. See how He expects His people to live.
C. You want to know how God feels about something?
C. You want to know how God feels about something?
1. See how Jesus reacts to pain.
1. See how Jesus reacts to pain.
2. See how Jesus reacts to those who don’t have a thing.
2. See how Jesus reacts to those who don’t have a thing.
3. See how Jesus reacts to those who seek Him out.
3. See how Jesus reacts to those who seek Him out.
4. See how Jesus reacts to people who have nobody’s interest but their own.
4. See how Jesus reacts to people who have nobody’s interest but their own.
5. We can know and see God in this baby born in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ.
5. We can know and see God in this baby born in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ.
V. Jesus came for us.
V. Jesus came for us.
A. To all who believe in Him, He gives us the right to call ourselves “children of God.”
A. To all who believe in Him, He gives us the right to call ourselves “children of God.”
1. Jesus came to show us God.
1. Jesus came to show us God.
2. And He came to deliver us to God.
2. And He came to deliver us to God.
3. When we believe in Him, we become children of God.
3. When we believe in Him, we become children of God.
B. There’s a lot more to this baby’s story.
B. There’s a lot more to this baby’s story.
1. He grew up.
1. He grew up.
2. He taught the ways of God.
2. He taught the ways of God.
3. He lived a life free of sin.
3. He lived a life free of sin.
4. He died on a cross for the sins of others: you and me.
4. He died on a cross for the sins of others: you and me.
5. He rose alive from His grave 3 days later.
5. He rose alive from His grave 3 days later.
V. When we bring together the entire story of this baby born that first Christmas, we see the total picture.
V. When we bring together the entire story of this baby born that first Christmas, we see the total picture.
A. Jesus came to set us free.
A. Jesus came to set us free.
1. To set us free from our past.
1. To set us free from our past.
2. To set us free from our addictions.
2. To set us free from our addictions.
3. To set us free from our temptations.
3. To set us free from our temptations.
4. To set us free from our sin.
4. To set us free from our sin.
B. The Word became flesh to save all who believe.
B. The Word became flesh to save all who believe.
1. You may get some wonderful Christmas presents this week.
1. You may get some wonderful Christmas presents this week.
2. But they will never be greater than the present you got over 2000 years ago.
2. But they will never be greater than the present you got over 2000 years ago.
C. God came to bring you life.
C. God came to bring you life.
1. A forgiven life.
1. A forgiven life.
2. And an eternal one.
2. And an eternal one.
Rob Westbrook, Sermon Outlines for Busy Pastors: Christmas Sermons: 21 Complete Sermon Outlines for Christmas (WORDsearch, 2013).