Christmas 2025

2022 - The Heart of Christmas

2023 - The Prophecies of Christ's Birth

2024 - The Wonder of the Coming of Jesus

2025 - The Cast of Christmas Angels and the Birth of Jesus

Start practicing Silent Night (Heavenly Peace)

Michelle - Christmas Canon

This year is so-o-o different for me.

I am only preaching ONE Christmas message this year.

In 2021

I preached on the Promises of Christmas: The promise of Peace, Joy and Love — all fulfilled in Jesus

In 2022

I preached a series about the Heart of Christmas (again, Joy, Peace and Love at the Heart of Christmas)

Last year, in 2023:

I preached on the Prophesies of Messiah’s First Coming: Born the Lion of Judah, Born of a Virgin, Born to fully reveal God

So, this year, let’s look at just one aspect of the Christmas account.

I asked Logos AI what the greatest aspect of the incarnation and it said:

The incarnation, considered one of the seven greatest events in the history of the universe, is a profound doctrine in Christian theology. It refers to God, in the Person of the Son, fully identifying Himself with humanity by becoming human. This event is described as the greatest miracle of all God's works, where the divine nature united with human nature in the person of Jesus Christ. The incarnation demonstrates God's immeasurable love, as He became a kinsman of the human family to lay down His life for their redemption from sin. It encompasses three key aspects: the form of humility (exemplified by Christ's birth as an infant), the proof of love (shown through His sacrificial death), and the sacrament of redemption (displaying divine power in creation, renewal, and eternalization). The doctrine is rooted in biblical passages such as John 1:1,14, which describe the eternal Word becoming flesh and dwelling among humans. Despite its complexity and the challenges it poses to human understanding, the incarnation remains a cornerstone of Christian faith, affirming that in Jesus Christ, God has come to humanity in the flesh.

December 15, 2013 AM

Is There Any Wonder?

Subject: Worship

Subject 2: Fear of God

Synopsis: As we consider the incarnation of the Son of God may we once again be filled with awe and wonder that He would dwell among us.

Text: John 1:14

I. Introduction

A. Next week the choir will be ministering in song during our morning service.

1. The songs are some wonderful arrangements of the familiar and the new.

2. To me, the signature song that the choir will sing asks the question:

i. “Is there any wonder?”

B. To me this is a valid question, because Christmas 2013 is being observed:

1. In a technologically advanced world.

C. We’ve gone beyond Technicolor to high definition, high resolution, 3D.

1. We’ve gone beyond stereo to surround-sound with THX.

2. We’ve gone beyond the standard-sized movie screen to IMAX.

D. Every sense that we have seems to be stretched to the limit:

1. If it’s going to register in our brains…

2. It will have include visuals that seer our retinas

3. It will have to blare at us with fidelity that was unparralled just a few years ago.

4. It will have taste so intense that we think our taste buds are about to be raptured.

5. And the smell will have to be so exquisite that any more would cause our noses to fall off our face.

E. Now I recognize:

1. That some of us have gotten older and that our senses tend to be a little worn out from years of use.

F. But I think the greater problem is that advertisers and manufacturers have so inundated us with a stronger, bigger, better, more intense experiences…

1. And maybe everything before tends to seem so… ordinary … by comparison.

G. And maybe, just maybe, we have begun to feel that way about the birth of Jesus.

1. Somehow we have lost the wonder, the mystery, the awe that should always accompany our thoughts of the incarnation.

H. Our text this morning:

1. John 1:14 (NASB95) And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

2. Eugene Peterson in his Message translation says it this way: John 1:14 (The Message) The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.

II. He Dwelt Among Us

A. Jesus dwelt among us.

1. He moved into our neighborhood.

B. That is the true Christmas story

1. Not Santa Claus, or presents, or even Christmas light,

2. But rather the wonder that … Jesus came.

3. That ought to inspire excitement and awe right there!

C. Author and pastor Leith Anderson writes about how that :

1. Several years ago he visited Manila in the Philippines and was taken, of all places, to the Manila garbage dump where he saw something beyond belief.

2. [He saw] Tens of thousands of people making their homes on that dump site.

3. They constructed shacks out of the things other people have thrown away.

4. And they sent their children out early every morning to scavenge for food out of other people’s garbage, so they could have family meals.

5. People have been born and grown up there on the garbage dump.

6. They have had their families, their children, their shacks, their garbage to eat, finished out their lives, and died there without ever going anywhere else, even in the city of Manila. It is an astonishing thing….

D. Amazing, [he says], but not as amazing as the journey from heaven to earth.

1. From glory to the human wasteland that we call home.

E. The Son of God made that journey, and he knew what he was doing.

1. He knew where he was going.

2. He knew what the sacrifice would be.

F. He journeyed from heaven to earth on a mission to save the human race.

1. He came to the dump to live among us and to die a substitutionary death — to die in our place so that we can have life.

2. He rose from the dead and has ascended to the Father where He makes intercession for us.

G. But the thing is …

1. He came!

H. Jesus came to this earth.

1. He came as a baby in a manger.

2. He came to illustrate the Kingdom of God.

3. He came to institute the Kingdom by dying on the Cross.

4. He came to illuminate our need for the Kingdom and our utter inability to grasp it apart from coming through Him.

I. He came to be the sovereign King of the Kingdom.

1. He came to make us children of the Kingdom with all of the privileges of royalty.

J. He put on the robes of flesh and … He came.

1. He lived among us.

K. Incredible!

1. Awesome!

III. Became Flesh

A. But in order for us to truly appreciate that He came and moved into the neighborhood we have to try to understand what our text is saying when it says: “the Word became flesh.”

1. I say try, because this is truly inconceivable to us.

2. We just don’t have the capacity.

B. We could talk about a comparison:

1. What if we went from being humans to being a slug?

C. But we still can’t grasp even that comparison.

1. We just don’t have the capability.

D. But we must accept it even if we don’t understand it.

E. That the Son of God became flesh is not an optional belief:

1. 1 John 4:2-3 (NASB) By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

F. Jesus willingly laid aside the prerogatives of divinity to become Emmanuel, God with us.

1. Philippians 2:3–11 (NASB95) Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

G. The Word became flesh

IV.The Glory

A. And we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of God.

1. We need to pray for a fresh revelation of glory.

B. That as we see the glory of the only begotten of God we would be able to tell others like the shepherds did on the night of His birth:

1. Luke 2:16–18 (NASB95) So they [the shepherds] came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

2. All who heard it wondered…

C. Let’s pray for a fresh outpouring of the glory of God upon His church.

1. Not just this church, but every church that exalts Jesus.

D. Let’s pray for a fresh outpouring of glory such as happened:

1. On Wednesday August 17, 1727 when the Moravian colony in Germany was overwhelmed and filled with the Spirit at their communion service.

i. Their leader, 27 year old Count Nicholas Zinzendorf, said it was like being in heaven.

ii. That month they began a continuous prayer meeting called the Hourly Intercession with people praying in teams for an hour at a time day and night.

iii. That non-stop prayer meeting went for 100 years.

iv. Within 25 years they had sent out 200 missionaries, more than all the Protestants had done in two centuries.

v. Why?

vi. Because the Glory of God came down.

2. David Brainerd, missionary to the North American Indians from 1743 to his death at 29 in 1749 saw a powerful visitation of God in October 1745.

i. Whole communities were changed by the power of the Spirit.

ii. Crime and drunkenness dropped, idolatry was abandoned and marriages repaired.

iii. Why?

iv. Because the glory of God came down.

3. From October 1904 Evan Roberts in his twenties, formerly a miner and blacksmith, saw God move powerfully during the Welsh revival in answer to his and others' persistent prayers.

i. 100,000 were converted in Wales during 1904 and 1905.

ii. Churches filled from 10 a.m. till after midnight every day for two years, bringing profound social change to Wales.

iii. Why?

iv. Because the glory of God came down.

4. The Holy Spirit fell dramatically on a small prayer group of 8 people in Argentinain 1948, and their church immediately exploded with many signs and wonders and healings.

i. Some converts in that move of God were in Bible College in June 1951 when the Spirit fell on them there.

ii. The college prayed for 4 months with intense weeping, and many astounding prophecies including that the largest stadiums in Argentina would be filled soon for Christian meetings.

iii. That happened in 1954 with the visit of Tommy Hicks.

iv. The largest stadium seating 110,000 was filled for weeks as 300,000 made commitments and hundreds were healed each night for three months.

v. Why?

vi. Because the glory of God came down.

5. God moved upon the mountain town of Soe in Timor on Sunday September 26,1965.

i. That night people heard the sound of a tornado wind and flames above the Reformed Church building prompted police to set off the fire alarm.

ii. Healings and evangelism increased dramatically.

iii. Hundreds of thousands were converted.

iv. About 90 evangelistic teams were formed which functioned powerfully with spiritual gifts.

v. The first team saw 9,000 people converted in two weeks in one town alone.

vi. In the first three years of this revival 200,000 became Christians in Timor, and on another small island where few had been Christians 20,000 became believers.

E. Let’s pray in a fresh revelation of God’s glory.

1. And then let’s tell of it as people listen in wonder at what God is doing.

V. Conclusion

A. Folks, the birth of Jesus should inspire wonder, amazement and awe in our lives.

B. That God would become flesh.

1. That He would dwell among us.

2. That He would reveal His glory.

VI.Invitation

A. Have you experienced that wonder?

1. Jesus wants to give you more than an intellectual experience.

2. He wants to fill your soul to overflowing with wonder and awe.

B. How do you receive that experience?

1. Through repentance

2. Through surrender.

C. Have you done that?

D. Maybe you did at one time,

1. But your relationship with God has grown stale and lifeless.

2. How does that happen?

3. Through neglect.

4. Hebrews 2:1-3a (The Message) It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift off. 2 If the old message delivered by the angels was valid and nobody got away with anything, 3 do you think we can risk neglecting this latest message, this magnificent salvation? …

E. Maybe that describes you:

1. You have neglected this magnificent salvation brought to us because the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.

2. Repent and let God give you a refreshing this morning.

VII.Altar

A.

https://learnthebibleinayear.com/07-25-22-lesson-206/

. . . the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.

Luke 2:6-7

Mary found herself in labor, then her water broke. Like many before and since, she gasped in pain and pushed with all her might. Joseph watched as Jesus crowned and slipped into his waiting hands. Then he placed the baby in his mother’s arms, and Mary cradled Jesus to her breast. Her little Messiah began to nurse, and the love she felt for him can hardly be imagined.

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! (Isaiah 49:15), said God.

It would have been easier for Mary not to love her nursing baby than for God not to love us. The amazing thing about the Savior’s birth is not that Mary loved Jesus, but that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Book in Logos: C is for Christmas

Great Preaching On: Christmas

10 Unexpected Christmas Sermon Texts Worth Using—and More

Christmas is upon us, and like last year, the world is—different. Yet students are still coming home for the holidays, and families are (mostly) still gathering. Amid the uncertainty, people are looking for comfort and even direction. It’s a vital time for solid, gospel-focused preaching.

Below we offer some unexpected Christmas texts worth using—plus some tips for how Logos can help you discover new Christmas sermon ideas. Plus, we’ll share why recording and archiving your Christmas sermon should be top of mind.

Start below with 10 unique Scripture passages to consider for your message—or hop to one of the following:

2 ways Logos can help you discover fresh Christmas sermon ideas

3 reasons why you should record your sermon this Christmas

10 unexpected Christmas sermon texts worth using

https://www.logos.com/grow/min-christmas-sermon-ideas/

While the Matthew and Luke narratives are timeless Christmas sermons waiting to be preached, numerous other passages in Scripture can draw out themes and nuances often neglected.

Here are 10 to use as a starting point.

3. Exodus 1:1–2:10

There are striking parallels between Moses’ infancy and Jesus’. Both are born in humble circumstances. Both escape murderous plots of evil rulers. Both grow up to lead their people out of captivity. This passage can help your congregation appreciate the way the Bible holds together, as well as see God’s sovereign hand in preserving a mediator for his people.

4. Exodus 16

This is the narrative of God providing manna and quail for Israel as they wander in the desert. God sends bread from heaven, and in John 6 Jesus explicitly refers to this story and calls himself the “bread of life.” God sent eternal bread to hungry wanderers in the form of his Son, making this Exodus event a rich foreshadowing. You can capture the imagination of a congregation—and follow the homiletical example of Christ himself—by drawing parallels between the physical hunger of Israel in the desert and the spiritual hunger of all those without Christ.

6. 2 Samuel 7

In this famous covenant God makes with David, God promises that his offspring’s throne will be established forever. Eventually, the kingdom divides and falls, and by the time Jesus comes riding into Jerusalem on a donkey—several hundred years and two exiles later—the throne is still not established. So when the crowds shout “Hosanna to the Son of David!”, they are heralding this covenant: they are hoping for a king. Joy is bursting from under sorrow long-held because Hope has come. The incarnation offers the same “thrill of hope” today.

7. Psalm 27

At the end of this psalm, David writes, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Christians today can repeat these words only because Christ has come and has promised to come again. Like Anna and Simeon, who in their old age finally beheld the hope they waited so long for (Luke 2:22–38), those who hope in Christ will not be disappointed.

8. Isaiah, various

Isaiah is chock-full of references to the coming Messiah. Chapter 7 speaks of a virgin who will conceive and bear a son, whose name will be called “Immanuel”—God with us. Chapter 9 provides a brief portrait of this Son-King, and it continues throughout Isaiah, such as in chapters 11, 40–43, 49, and 58. Preachers could do a tour through Isaiah to fill out the portrait of the Messiah and then juxtapose the majesty described there to the humility displayed in the manger, leading to a reflection on God’s wisdom in working mightily through humble means.

9. Angel appearances

Another interesting choice would be to preach on various angel appearances in Scripture. From the beginning of Old Testament history to its end—from Abraham to Daniel—angel appearances tend to coincide with God’s revelation and rescue. So when angels burst onto the scene in Luke and Matthew, we know from past behavior that God is up to something big, something miraculous and merciful. Preaching through some of these angel appearances would build that sense of anticipation and provide texture to Jesus’ birth story. Consider Genesis 16, 19, 21, and 31–32; Deuteronomy 33:2 (see Ps. 68:17; Acts 7:53; and Gal. 3:19); 1 Kings 19; and Daniel 3 and 6.

10. Matthew 1:1–17 (plus vv. 18–23)

Jesus’ family tree is a bit scandalous—and the attention is justified. For one, it’s not common for genealogies in patriarchal societies such as Israel’s to mention women. It’s even more surprising, then, that when Matthew does, it’s to bring up memories that any family would rather forget, such as incestuous rape (Judah and Tamar, v. 3), prostitution (Rahab, v. 5), and adultery and murder (David and the wife of Uriah, v. 6). What’s the point of recalling such a sordid past? It’s probably to remind readers of God’s power to work beauty from ashes, to bring redemption from a family—and to the family—that desperately needs it. The genealogy provides an excellent opportunity to proclaim how the incarnation means all our stories can be rewritten in Jesus.