Christmas is More Than A Story

Good morning and welcome.

Here we are the Sunday after Thanksgiving and the Christmas season is in full swing.

I would venture to say that for those who brought their own coffee, some of you have started drinking peppermint or gingerbread flavor.

Even God’s chicken house of Chick-fil-A has started selling their peppermint shakes...

The closer we get to Christmas day, more and more commercials on the radio and television air adds aimed toward softening hearts and providing a warm, sentimental glow of... a massive, collective cultural deception.

Think about it...

Every year, the world tries to trick us.

They try to convince us that Christmas is really about a small-town baker, a visiting CEO, and the critical importance of a town Christmas tree lighting that simply must happen on time.

Think about how many people are duped by The Hallmark Movie Heist.

It's where nothing is ever truly challenging, the biggest crisis is solved with a heartfelt montage, and everything you need for good feelings about Christmas can be found in a perfectly wrapped gift and a snow globe.

But here’s the problem: This comfortable cultural Christmas is built on a handful of charming myths we’re supposed to believe:

Myth 1: The Christmas Spirit is just a warm, general feeling you get from drinking peppermint lattes and listening to Michael Bublé as he comes out of hibernation to sing our favorite Christmas songs.

Did you ever notice your favorite coffee house only offers the peppermint and gingerbread flavors...while supplies last?

What happens to the Christmas spirit when the supplies run out?

Myth 2: The Perfect Christmas is achievable.

Spoiler: It’s not.

It seems inevitable, the perfectly planned Martha Stewart photogenic dinner is always missing that one item that was left in the oven to keep warm or a family member thought bringing a fruitcake instead of the stuffing was a better idea...

If you’re that family member, I’ll do my best to pray for you...

Myth 3: (which is the most dangerous) is You can keep Jesus in the manger, silent and safe, as a beautiful, harmless baby, and never even mention him and still enjoy Christmas.

The world loves this version of Christmas because it’s safe. It’s non-committal.

But that kind of Christmas is disposable.

The joy of Christmas starts when the decorations go up and it ends when the credit card bill arrives.

It seems the spirit of Christmas disappears on Dec 26th when people return their gifts and have to be the first in line no matter who they run over to get there.

What happens to those “feelings” of warmth and love in January when the inevitable storms of life hit—grief, debt, stress, sickness?

When those storms happen, we don't need a seasonal memory of warm fuzzies, we need a lifelong anchor that holds us fast in times of adversity.

If we buy into the world’s view of Christmas and only interact with the myth of Christmas, we will never experience the power of Christ.

If our hope is built on a sentimental story, it will shatter under the pressure of real life.

Every year we have to be intentional to not let the sentimental noise distract us.

One of the ways we can do that is to turn our attention to the one historical, unbreakable truth that changes everything.

Over the next several weeks, we will be diving into a series called: 'Knowing the Real Christ in Christmas.' an expositional treatment of the first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel.

The goal is simple: We want to move past the superficial cultural stories and encounter the real, historical, authoritative Son of God who entered human history.

We are pursuing certainty over sentimentality. We want to focus on the Anchor instead of the ornament.

As believers, we need to be reminded that our faith is anchored in the unshakable historical fact of Christ to moor us against doubt and cultural drift.

For those here today who are still searching, we invite you to examine the evidence for yourself.

We believe the evidence is overwhelming.

Turn with me to Luke 1:1-4.

This text is the most unexpected opening in the Bible, written by a meticulous physician and historian.

We notice Luke does not begin with a baby, but with an academic, legal introduction.

Luke, the physician, is saying, 'I know what’s at stake here.

I'm writing this so you can know the exact truth.'

It’s not about feeling—it's about fact.

Before he ever tells us about angels singing or shepherds running, he takes us into his study and says, in effect, "I’ve looked into this carefully.

I’ve investigated the eyewitnesses. I’ve written it out so that you can know for sure that what you believe about Jesus is true."

Main Point: Christmas is Historical Truth, Not a Fragile Myth

We're putting aside the myths this morning to ask a simple, vital question: How do we know the reality of Christ is actually true?"

This is historical narrative so let’s examine what Luke, the narrator, tells us...

Luke’s Case for Certainty

(Transition): To prove this, Luke gives us three immovable anchors from the first four verses of his book.

Anchor 1: Prophetic Fulfillment and Apostolic Authority (v. 1-2)

Luke 1:1–2 “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,”

(Transition): "Luke starts like a lawyer building a case—he establishes his chain of custody and his theological foundation."

First, look at the word 'accomplished.'

The Greek means more than just 'happened.' It means 'fully established,' or 'carried to the full.'...fulfilled

Theological Depth: Luke is not writing a report about things that just happened; he’s writing about things that were prophetically fulfilled—God’s eternal plan coming to its destined, certain conclusion.

This means Christmas is God fulling His plan to send His Messiah...to fulfill His plan of redemptive history.

You can trust the story because the Faithfulness of God is proven by the certainty of the facts.

Second, he got his information from the most reliable sources:

Eyewitnesses (Au top tēs): The word Luke uses here is the word we get autopsy from...to see with one’s own eyes...The primary sources who literally 'saw for themselves.' (shepherds, townspeople, Mary, other disciples) …

just think about what kind of undertaking this was...Luke could not go to his computer or speak into his cell phone and look it up on Google...

he had to find the real people and interview them...

Servants of the Word (Hupēretēs): This word means 'under-rowers'—the lowest level of slaves on a ship who simply pulled the oar. The Apostles were completely subordinate to the message; they didn't invent the Gospel, they just delivered it.

This anchor means the Gospel is not based on second-hand rumor or opinion; it is based on authorized, first-hand testimony.

(Transition): "But Luke wasn’t content to just collect testimony. A good historian must vet the process. That leads us to the second anchor: Luke's meticulous method."

Anchor 2: Historical Reliability and Divine Order (v. 3)

Luke 1:3 “it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;”

Luke is writing in the formal style of a Greek historian.

He's placing Jesus directly into verifiable world history. He uses two key verbs to describe his effort:

'Investigated Everything Carefully' This verb means 'to follow closely,' or 'to examine with medical precision.'

'In Consecutive Order' (Kathexēs): This is Luke’s promise of divine order—a logical, step-by-step narrative.

(Light Humor/Illustration): "You wouldn’t trust a surgeon who says, 'I sort of looked at your chart, and I’m pretty sure I grabbed the right tool.'

No, Luke is looking at all the early, messy Christian accounts and saying, 'This is an amateur job! We need proper documentation!'

Theological Depth: The orderly account is a theological statement: God is a God of order and reason, not confusion.

Although our lives are always messy, God doesn't want our faith to be a mess;

He gives us a rational, orderly account to steady our mind, reinforcing the reality that God’s truth is knowable.

(Transition): "So we have the right sources, and we have a meticulous process. But what is the purpose of all this academic rigor? That brings us to the most important word—the third anchor: Certainty."

Anchor 3: Spiritual Security and Certainty (v. 4)

Luke 1:4 “so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.”

The Greek word for “exact truth”(pronounced “as fall ya”)means more than just 'accurate.' It means 'safety,' 'security,' or 'unshaken stability.'

Illustration: "Imagine you are sailing through a brutal storm. You don't call the captain and ask, 'How do you feel about our chances?' You ask, 'Captain, is the anchor holding?'

The deeper the anchor digs into the seabed, the more asphaleia (as fall ya) (security) we experience.

Theological Depth: Luke’s purpose is to replace our religious feelings with historical facts.

The certainty of the historical facts of Christ is the foundation for the assurance of our salvation.

Our faith rests on an objective reality that is completely independent of our subjective emotions.

Why Do We Need This Certainty?

(Transition): "Some might be here this morning thinking, 'I’m already a believer. I already trust Jesus. Why do I need to hear about Luke’s meticulous Greek verbs?'

Because God saw fit to include Luke’s message of certainty as a viable defense against the threats constantly eroding our spiritual lives."

1. It Anchors Faith Against Internal Doubt

"Every single believer will face times when our faith feels cold.

We wake up and ask, 'Did I make this all up?'

This is internal doubt, and it’s destructive.

Theological Depth: If our faith is based on subjective feelings, it will fail.

Luke wrote the Gospel so we could bypass our fluctuating emotions and ground our soul in an objective fact.

When our feelings fail, and they will fail, the historical truth of Christ will not.

The certainty of the facts is the guarantee of our faith."

2. It Combats Cultural Drift and Sentimentalism

"The world wants to simplify Jesus.

The 'Hallmark Movie Heist' tries to divorce Christ from history and turn him into a moral example—a baby in a manger you look at once a year for inspiration.

Luke’s emphasis on accomplished forces us to remember: Jesus is not just an example; He is the climax of God’s history.

We are not just inspired by a story; we are bound by a historical act of God.

This historical truth prevents us from drifting into a self-help religion.

3. It Powers Righteous Living

What does Luke's orderly account have to do with us?

Everything.

The assurance for our sanctification (becoming like Christ) comes directly from the certainty of the Gospel.

Theological Depth: We are not trying to save ourself; we are trusting in the One who has already accomplished salvation.

We can rest in the fact that God justified us in in Christ...we are declared righteous...fully righteous in our position with God.

The process of progressive sanctification is the day to day walks of faith in obedience to live out in our practice what we are in position...

The already but not yet...

Already fully righteous in Christ

Not yet fully righteous in daily living

When we are certain of the historical Fact that God came for us, we have the unshakeable security to live for Him,

We don’t have to work for Him to pleased with us because in Christ He is fully pleased with us...

We want to work for Him because we desire, in the depths of our hearts, to please Him...

Regardless of the chaos in our circumstances. Certainty is the root of Christian endurance.

(Transition): Luke did the work. He gave us the sources, the method, and the purpose.

The meticulousness of the doctor proves the trustworthiness of the Savior.

Christ-Connection — Jesus is Our Anchor

"To the unbeliever present: Luke is saying, 'Don't dismiss this as sentimentality; examine the evidence.' The foundation of Christianity is not blind faith; it is historical fact.

To the believer: Our hope is not fragile.

When the 'Hallmark glow' fades, we are anchored.

Let the world chase fleeting feelings and breakable glass ornaments.

We have the exact truth and a genuine, heavy, iron anchor that guarantees our future.

Hebrews 6:19–20 NASB95

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Lesson for Life: Walk by Faith in the Reality of Christ Our Anchor

Our hope is not a ribbon; it is a heavy, iron anchor secured in the unshakeable, historical reality of Jesus Christ.

I want to give you three concrete actions you can take this week to live not by sentimental myth, but by historical certainty."

We Need to Check Our Faith on Facts, not Feelings.

The Principle: When we feel doubt, we must choose to rely on the objective Fact (Luke's account) rather than the subjective Feeling(our current mood).

The Exhortation: We have to stop treating our feelings of faith like a reliable source of information.

When we wake up and our spiritual tank feels empty, we cannot doubt our salvation because we don’t feel saved...we can’t think that God has left when we don’t feel close to Him.

Instead, we run to our real Savior...we cling to Him because we know He lives...we can face all our tomorrows because we know He lives

Actionable Step: Choose one of the Gospels this week (start with Luke!) and read it, asking the question: Is this reliable history? Not, How does this make me feel?

When doubt hits, don't ask, 'Do I love God enough?' Ask, 'Did God accomplish what Luke documented?'

Our confidence is found in the text, not in the tremors of our own heart.

Live the Undeniable Life

The Principle: Because Christ’s life was verifiable history (Luke’s investigation), our life as a follower must be undeniable reality.

The Exhortation: The 'Hallmark Movie Heist' encourages us to wear a mask for a season, hiding our hurts and putting on a sweet performance that doesn't match our private reality.

Luke’s rigorous pursuit of the exact truth demands that we drop the performance.

There should be no gap between the 'Sunday Us' and the 'Monday Us.'

Actionable Step: Identify one area of compromise or hypocrisy in our life this week—a private habit, a resentful attitude, or a lack of integrity in our work—and confess it.

Commit to living a life grounded in truth,

We wake up daily seeking to please God so we choose to display an outward conduct matches the inner security we possess in Christ.

We Need to Anchor Our Anxieties

The Principle: God’s past faithfulness (the promises fully established) is the guarantee of His future care.

The Exhortation: We get anxious about the future because we worry that God will forget His promises or run out of resources.

We worry about our jobs, our health, or our children.

But if God successfully navigated the complexity of prophecy and history to bring His Son into the world exactly as promised, can He not handle the next five years of our life?

Actionable Step: Trade our specific anxiety for a specific declaration of God's faithfulness.

When worry strikes, audibly declare: 'The God who perfectly fulfilled the Incarnation knows my future.

I will stop striving and start resting in the God of Divine Order.'

Let the historical fact of Christmas be the anchor that stops our minds from drifting into fear.