The Savior Has Come!
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Pre-Sermon: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” Ending
Opening ILL: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
“I’ll be Home for Christmas popularized by Bing Crosby in 1943, is sung from the perspective of a soldier off at war longing to be home with his family for the holidays. It became one of the most requested songs at Crosby’s many USO shows throughout World War II and remains a favorite to this day.
Transition: What if I were to tell you that Christmas is more about leaving home than going home
Christmas is the celebration of Jesus, God the Son, who left home in heaven to die so that we might go home to heaven to live.
The most famous verse in the Bible
VBS
Signs at ball games
T-Shirts
Not usually thought of as a Christmas verse
A summary of the Gospel, the good news that Jesus came to save a lost and dying world.
John 3:16–18- 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:16–18- 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
GOD LOVED THE WORLD- Not just the righteous and devout
Sinners like you and me
God does not love us because of who we are, but despite who we are because of who he is
16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
IN THIS WAY: HE GAVE...SON- More than sentiment or technicality, but proven with action
1. To be born in manger
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
INTO THE WORLD- the dirty, sinful, messy, broken world
2. To die on a Cross
CONDEMNED ALREADY- Our brokenness is the reason he had to come
12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
ETERNAL LIFE- life of abundant joy and immeasurable blessing in the presence of God forever
EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES- all inclusive statement with only the condition of faith
BELIEVES- more than intellectual agreement, trust and commitment to Christ as Lord
BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BELIEVED IN… THE ONLY SON OF GOD- not taken the only way of salvation
Not good deeds, intentions, or religion, only Jesus
Conclusion
Conclusion
God sent Jesus to save a lost and broken world from His own righteous judgment.
Jesus left home in heaven to die so that we might go home to heaven to live.
That’s something worth celebrating!
Closing ILL: Forget the Reason
A mother was having a gathering to celebrate the birth of her newborn son. She invited a bunch of friends over to celebrate his arrival. She welcomed her guests, and they all had a great time celebrating, eating, and drinking.
After a while, one of the ladies said, “Well, bring the baby out. Let us see it.”
The mother went to get the baby from his crib—he was nowhere to be found. She started to panic and feel fearful. Suddenly, she remembered that the baby was still at her parents’ house, where she had left him that morning. She and the guests had been having so much fun they had forgotten what the party was about in the first place.
During the Christmas season, many people get busy with celebration and forget that the birth of Jesus Christ is the reason for celebration.
Do you know Jesus?
The difference between judgment and salvation is faith.
‘Believe’ is used 3 times in these 3 verses.
God wants to save you.
Though the death and resurrection of Jesus, God can save you.
The power of the cross and resurrection
You must believe and trust in Jesus as your Lord.
Gospel Invitation
