Sermon Tone Analysis

There’s something I don’t understand about Christmas.

Why do we wrap gifts?

I don’t understand, and I certainly don’t understand paying folks to wrap them.

Trust me, the person you are giving a gift to is not interested in your wrapping.

Now, they may placate you by noticing the wrapping and telling you how pretty the bow looks, but in the end they are going to tear it off.

Wrapping paper and all the accompanying accessories are a camouflage that disguises what people are really interested in.

We get all hyped and geeked when we see people wrapped well.

They drive a well-wrapped car; they live in a well wrapped neighborhood.

They work at a well-wrapped job, they wear well wrapped clothes, and they have well-wrapped money.

But God wants to know what the wrapping is covering.

He’s interested in knowing what is on the inside.

This morning - Christmas morning - I desire you to know that The Christ of Christmas still wants to know you, not the wrapping - not the masquerade - He came that you may know Him, therefore, that He may know you.

The Proclamation of His Coming.

Luke 2:8–10 (CSB)

8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.

9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:

It was proclaimed by the Prophets.

Jesus is found all through the OT - it is called a Christophany .

The pre-incarnate Christ appearing to persons in the OT.

(Listed on this outline, but not mentioned are several examples of Christophany.)

One of the most heart-stirring pictures on all of scripture to me is the account of Abraham and Issac.

The laying down of every worldly desire to be obedient to God.

Then we see God (our provider) Jehovah Jireh.

It is faith that knows God will provide, it is faithless & futile to try to help God along the way.

If you want God’s hands on it - take your hands off of it.

A KID wanted ten things for Christmas.

His parents bought nine things but all

the kid could talk about on Christmas day was the one thing he didn’t get.

Because he thought his parents were going to get that one gift for him, he figured that they were just mean and didn’t love him.

He focused on what he couldn’t have and forgot about the nine other gifts under the tree that reflected the goodness of his mom and dad.

Is there some restriction in your life that is all you can think about?

Is there a restriction that you can’t get off your mind?

You may know that God has said to you about a certain thing, “You can’t have that.”

Don’t focus on the one restriction.

Focus on all the good things God has already provided

God continues to provide in the sending of Christ Jesus.

The lamb that takes away the sin of the world.

It was proven by the angels.

This is the confirmation that the OT prophecies.

Micah 5:2

The angels brought two important things to the scene.

Good Tidings

the angels is announcing the good news that Jesus has come, they announce His birth.

Great Joy

The joy which if for all people.

It is not just for a few, it is for all people.

The good news (or) gospel of Christ is for all, and salvation brings great joy.

The Light has come (John 1)

The darkness cannot stand against the light.

(John 1)

The word is now made flesh (John 1:14)

Jesus brought us the grace upon grace that is needed for salvation.

Eph 2:8-9

The Purpose of His Coming

What if I told you that everything Christ Jesus did while on earth with us, every healing, every miracle, every lesson, every sermon, every event was leading to His ultimate purpose.

we are all looking for purpose in life, our meaning for being.

There’s even a book titled “The Purpose Driven Life” - We want to find our purpose.

What if I were to blow your mind this morning and tell you, that you can look everywhere for purpose, but until you come fully to Christ you will have no purpose in life worth living.

We were in need of the savior.

Jesus came to seek and save each and every person that will humbly call on His name and proclaim Him the Lord of their life.

Jesus came to:

Seek - You and Me (will you be found)

Save - We must admit we need the savior.

Christ jesus is our only hope.

(romans 1)

Was grace that found me, I, a sinner lost, undone.

Twas grace unbound me, of Christ Jesus, God’s own son.

and now i live with grace upon grace, each day is sweeter with Jesus by my side and though the flesh a foe - I onward go towards the king that saved my soul - Oh happy, happy day that Jesus found me, by his grace unbound me, now heaven is in sight, I live in love and joy bright because the savior sought me and bought me, loves me and keeps me.

He came to me - So that I may come to Him.

The Price of His Coming

A LITTLE boy knelt at his bed and said his bedtime prayers.

“Lord, please bless Mommy, and Daddy, and Auntie, and Uncle.

Lord, give us a good day today.

And please give me a bicycle for CHRISTMAAAAAAS!”

The boy’s mother heard him yelling and wondered at his behavior.

She

walked into the room and said, “Son, son, you don’t have to scream.

God can hear you.”

The boy looked up with big eyes and said, “Mama, I know God can hear me,

but Grandma can’t hear very well and she’s got the money for the bike.

When it comes to gifts - the greatest has already been given.

JESUS!

If you have ever loved - you know that love comes with a price.

We often overlook the price of love.

There is the risk of loss, the risk of hurt, the risk of death, the risk of broken hearts - JESUS EXPERENCED ALL (rejections, denial, betrayal, loss, hurt, even death) BUT YET HE LOVED US ENOUGH TO GIVE HIS LIFE.

Jesus is the payment for our sin.

The Shepherd's proclaimed that Jesus had come, they worshipped him, they told others.

I want you to notice something very vital: They worshipped.

The angels worshipped (13-14)

Mary worshipped - (19) she kept these things in her heart.

Worship starts in the heart.

Luke 1:46-47

We see that Mary not only worshipped Jesus, but declared him her savior, and declared herself as lowly.

True worship begins in realizing who God is and what we are not.

There is no place for pride, nor arrogance in the platform or worship.

Worship this Christmas!

The shepherds were proclaiming the truth of Phil.

2:5-11 , as they went and told others, after they worshipped - The one has come that at the mere mention of His name: every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

It cost the love of the Father.