Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRO—

[[WUV/Intro— “Christmas Time is Here” from Charlie Brown Christmas”; 1965…Charlie Brown and Friends shared with the world their Christmas Special (Celebration)…]]

“Christmas Time is Here!” (…and this song [which MercyMe included in their first, & best, Christmas album]…)—

Christmas time is here / Happiness and cheer / Fun for all that children call / Their favorite time of year

Snowflakes in the air / Carols everywhere / Olden times and ancient rhymes / Of love and dreams to share

Sleigh bells in the air / Beauty everywhere / Yuletide by the fireside / And joyful memories there

Christmas time is here / Families drawing near / Oh, that we could always see / Such spirit through the year

Yes, Christmas Time is HERE! (Everyone having a good day so far?)

I am glad you all chose to include time with your church family as part of your Christmas Day celebration!

Worship…because of what God shares with us about that first biblical Christmas…and that first biblical Christmas Day…

THE Christmas Story

[We begin about 4, or so, months before Christmas Day]

Matthew 1.18-23 “The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit.

So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.

But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.””

[Now to Christmas Day!]

Luke 2.1-7 “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered.

This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

(To tell us more about the first people outside of Jesus’ family to hear that Jesus had been born, I’ve invited our friend, Linus, to share with us.) <VID: Linus sharing the true meaning of Christmas>

Luke 2.8-14 “In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.

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

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: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!”

[The second (or third) group of people—who traveled a long, long way to celebrate Christmas (about two years after that first Christmas Day!)—the Magi…]

Matthew 2.1-2 “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?

For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.””

Matthew 2.9-11 “After hearing the king, they went on their way.

And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising.

It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was.

When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy.

Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him.

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

[Good news of great joy…for all people…a Savior born for us…who is Christ (The Messiah) the Lord!…— WHY?]

CONCL—

[[VID— Linus’ blanket and the renewed little tree…just needed a little love!]]

LOVE…

John 3.16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3.16-18 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.”