Honoring Christmas All Year Long
Luke 2:8-20 – 8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. (New Living Translation)
▸ Trust God to _______________________ the past
1. You can _____________________ your past
2. You can _____________________ your past
John 8:32 – “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (New Living Translation)
3. You can let God redeem your past
Acts 3:19 – Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sins. (New Living Translation, 1st ed.)
Isaiah 43:25 – “I – yes, I alone – will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.” (New Living Translation)
▸ Make Christ the ____________________ of the present
1. You can follow your own _____________________
James 1:14-16 – 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. 16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. (New Living Translation)
2. You can let others _____________________ your life
3. You can choose the freedom of __________________ Christ
Colossians 3:17 – And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (New King James Version)
▸ Follow Christ ______________________ into the future
1. You can _____________________ the future
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 – 9 So our aim is to please him always, whether we are here in this body or away from this body. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies. (New Living Translation, 1st ed.)