Lessons and Carols from the Christmas Story

The Light and Peace through a New Kingdom

What We Learn: From this lesson

we learn God is still in control of the light. In the very beginning of the Bible God said, let there be light and light burst forth into the darkness. Even though the people walk in darkness there is still light bursting forth. In fact, 1 John says that God is light. Later, we will read from John one about Jesus being the light.

God is in control. Isaiah speaks of the reign that God will establish through Jesus, a government of peace, not only of peace but of one that uses the materials of war as fuel for fires of peace and not destruction.

What changes in our lives:

Even in the darkest times of our lives, we can still find the light. God is still bringing light into our dark world !

We also can trust that God is in control right now, in this very moment God is on the throne. We know that if God is on the throne we can know that even in this choatic world peace will come.

The Promised King from the Stump of Jesse

What We Learn: God is a god of promises. This prophecy that Isaiah spoke occured hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus. Yet, this prophecy provided hope for the people of God even in Isaiah’s day with all the trouble that they faced politically and spiritually!

What changes in our lives: We all have had people in our lives that have broken promises that theyve made to us. We have also experienced the heartache of breaking a promise that weve made to someone else, but promises with God are different. He is a promise Keeper!

The angel’s Mary: Faith Over Fear

What We Learn: God can do an amazing thing through a poor Girl in a backwater town. God said, I give you a son through miraculous means. And mary’s response was simple, Let all that you said be done. I am the Lord’s Servant!

What changes in our lives: That God can use anyone for his plan and purposes if they are willing! If God could uses Mary, God can use you too!

Mary also teaches us about faith as I shared last sunday, When the angel came to mary, what is the first thing that he said to her? Do not be afraid! Dont be afraid. Three simple words that are often easier said than done. Growing up my mom used to say, i hear you talk the talk but can you walk the walk. There are many things we can be fearful of, but what Mary teaches us is that faith (trust and allegence to God) triumphs over fear.

Mary and Joseph: Trust in God’s Timing

What We Learn: God can uses even the government to bring about his plan! The census was a massive inconvenience for everyone, but for mary and Joseph who were several month pregnant this was a massive change of plans. This wasnt just a change of who we are going to visit over the holidays (our plans have changed several times), but a overhaul of Mary and Joseph’s lives. Yet, God used the census to put Mary and Joseph right where they needed to be on the day of Jesus’ birth.

What changes in our lives: We can apply this to our lives in the a similar way. When there is a detour in our plans that God’s still working. So when we are running late to the next family gathering or part of dinner gets burned, we can know that God knows whats happening. We can trust in his “big picture” timing for all things!

Shepherds: Good News shared with the Lowly

What We Learn: God speaks to the people others reject. Shepherds were part of the lowest rank in society. Most people avoided shepherds because they lived with their animals out in the fields and quite frankly they probably smelled like their animals too! This is something you can literally tell just by standing next to a person. In fact, there are several farmers that work with cows that come into saylors. Yet, God chose shepherds to be the audience of a heavenly chorus of angels. Think about that, angels are the most magnificent creatures humans have ever seen and God chose shepherds to hear the good news of Jesus’ birth. Not the King. Not ceasar, not the religious elite, but shepherds out in a field.

What changes in our lives: If God can reaveal such great news to shepherds, how much more can he share with you or I? But you might be thinking God’s not going to appear to me out in the middle of a field on a random night. Well, I have two answers for you! First the shepherds probably though the same thing! Second, We have God’s word right here in the Bible we can hear from God through the Holy Spirit any time we open up this book!

The Magi: Hope for Outsiders and the Seekers

What We Learn: People who arent even considered God’s chosen people are able to recognize when God is working. The magi are not jewish they are foreigners who studied the stars not religion. Yet, not only did they Get to meet Jesus before most other people, God spoke directly too them in a dream.

What changes in our lives: We all have someone in our lives that doesnt know Jesus or has wandered off from the faith. Maybe its a son or daughter, brother or sister, a friend. Someone that you love dearly. But the Magi give us hope in the reality that even the most far off people who are gazing at stars can find their way to Jesus. The magi went looking for a king, but what they found was Jesus the savior of the whole world. I want to pause for a moment and pray for the people in our lives that dont know Jesus this morning, the outsiders the seekers, that God would draw them to him, lets pause together and pray silently.

Transition: The last lesson comes from the Gospel of John, my favorite Gospel. The author opens his text with a similar opening to the Pentateuch…… in the beginning.

The Gospel: God wrapped in Flesh dwells among us!

What We Learn: The word- logos- or the greek understanding of Divine reason or intelligent design. This logos was with God and is God. It was through this being that the entire world was made. In this being is light and life. John is painting a picture of the supreme God, Yaheweh. The God above all other Gods. In verse 14, John writes that the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. The literal text is the word tabernacled among us. Pointing us back to the old testament where God camped out with his people in the tabernacle.

What changes in our lives: God is not detatched from humanity, but he atttached himself to us by becoming like us. Philipians 2 says that He took on our likeness. This means that God not only looked like us, but He lived like us. God understands us. I still have yet to wrap my head around this completely, but the God of the universe knows what its like to be human. To feel pain, sorrow, loss, love, joy, happiness, anger, rage, depression, and hurt. He knows all of it. God took on flesh in the person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and that same man promises to always be with us, to never leave us or forsake us, and offers us eternal life if w e trust in him. Thats good news if I have ever heard good news church! God is with us, and He will be with us! Christmas is the time not for us to remember Jesus’ birth but it is the beginning of his life with his people for all eternity.

Wrapping up:

What was one thing you learned from the Lessons and Carols service this morning? could be from a scripture, a song, or the reflection I just gave.

Who is one person you can share Jesus with this christmas season? Share that Jesus is with us. He gets us deeply. and He will never leave us or forsake us!

Would you pray with me?

Here these Good Words on Christmas Eve: May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ child. Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless you now and forever. Love you Church! Merry Christmas!!!!