Christmas Eve at LHF

Intro

STORY

TRANSITION:

Subject: How should we respond to the glory of Jesus?

Central Theme: The best response to the glory of Jesus is to be devoted to Him.

OR: When you see Jesus for who He is, you want to devote your entire self to Him.

How have you responded to encountering Jesus?

4 Responses to Jesus:

I will serve You

Luke 1:26–38 ESV

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Will you welcome Jesus into your life, no matter what the cost?

Will you serve Him, or serve yourself?

ILLUSTRATION: Residents choosing to serve Jesus in ministry

STORY: Leaving PA to move to MI

I have no room for You

Luke 2:1–7 ESV

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The word translated as inn means “lodging place”. Sometimes it refers to a guest room. Because Joseph’s family was from Bethlehem, it’s likely that is the case here.

The innkeeper/relative had not experienced seeing the angel. They didn’t know Jesus was the Messiah.

And they responded to the imminent birth of the Savior of the world by closing their door to Him and His family.

Have you welcomed Jesus in? Does He have permission to dwell in your heart?

Or have you shut out your Savior?

Have you allowed Him into your home? Or are there some things in life that you have kept closed to Him?

Revelation 3:20 ESV

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Will you invite Him in?

I’m going to tell everyone about You

Luke 2:8–18 ESV

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

The shepherds saw the angels and visited the baby Jesus.

They couldn’t hold in what they had experienced!

Some of you might be holding back what you have experienced in Jesus.

There are people who would be amazed by Jesus if you just told them your story.

It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you should be ready to tell them why you believe in Jesus.

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Always be ready to tell your story

STORY

I’m thankful for You

Luke 2:25–38 ESV

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

These two senior saints had a deep connection with God. Anna fasted and prayed. Simeon received revelation from the Holy Spirit. They were prophets who were waiting for God’s promised Messiah.

And because they saw not with their natural eyes but with the Spirit, they knew who Jesus was. They knew that He was the Messiah who would save God’s people.

And they responded by thanking God for Jesus.

How many of you are thankful for Jesus today?

Do you tell Him?

Do you tell others how thankful you are?

Do you need to remember what He has done and experience more of His glory?

Closing

What do I want them to do/think/say/feel?

Christmas Eve Sermon ideas

1. The values of Christmas: humility, generosity, grace/truth, and evangelism

2. Mary: let it be to me according to Your word

Luke 1:26-38, 39-45, 46-56

“Hasten the coming of the Lord”, 2 Pet. 3:9, 12, Mt. 24:14

Surrender to God’s supernatural plan

Trust that God is with you

Trust that God can do the impossible

Trust that God will do what He has promised

Be humble enough to serve God

3. John the Baptist—prepare the way of the Lord

Second coming

Prepare the way

3 Traits of Advent Messengers

Speaking God’s message

Humble

Awake

Faithful

Humility: I must decrease, I am not worthy to serve Him

Jesus will baptize with the HS and fire—judge the world

Stay awake (Mk 13:32-37)

Stay faithful—look at His works, remember, don’t get offended at God (Mt. 11, Lk. 7)

Joyfully proclaim the good news: Rejoicing about Jesus (John 3:29), Preach the gospel of repentance (John 3:36, Mt. 3:1-2, Lk. 1:4), Behold the Lamb of God

Ambassadors 2 Cor. 5:20 -

Like the shepherds

4. Responses to Jesus (Lk. 1-2)

Mary - I will serve you

I am your servant, let it be

Innkeeper - I have no room for you

No room

Shepherds - I’m going to tell everyone about you

Told others about Jesus

2 Cor. 5:20

Simeon & Anna - I’m thankful for you

Praise God and proclaim what Jesus will do