From Chains to Change

Texts: Luke 2:8–11; John 1:10–18 Big Idea: Redemption is at the heart of the Christmas story. Application: To be a Scrooge is to be transformed by Christ—redeemed in your past, present, and future.

Text: Luke 2:8-11

Luke 2:8–11 KJV 1900

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

John 1:10–18 KJV 1900

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Introduction

Every Christmas season, we return to familiar stories—nativity scenes, carols, and classic holiday films. One story that seems to rise above the rest is Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. It tells of Ebenezer Scrooge, a cold, lonely, hardened man who is miraculously transformed into a generous friend and loving neighbor.

What makes Scrooge’s story so powerful is not just the change—it’s how the change comes about. He is forced to confront his past, face his present, and look honestly at his future. The painful truth becomes the doorway to his transformation.

But as compelling as Scrooge’s story is, it is not the greatest Christmas story ever told. The greatest story is the story of God stepping into the world—God with us—bringing redemption, restoration, and reconciliation.

The Bible is not merely a collection of disconnected stories. It is one unified metanarrative—one thread of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Every page points to a God who pursues, a God who rescues, a God who redeems.

A.W. Tozer once described the miracle of the incarnation like this:

“If you had seen eternity walking on baby, rubbery legs… you would have run and picked Him up… That was eternity walking in flesh. It was God Almighty come to live among us… to redeem us and give us eternity.”

What an image. Eternity… wrapped in flesh. God… stepping into our story. Redemption… coming to earth.

And just as Scrooge experienced a life-changing encounter, Christmas invites each of us to a life-changing encounter with the Redeemer Himself.

I. THE CONDITION OF MAN — SCROOGE’S HEART MIRRORS OURS

(John 1:10–11; Luke 2:8–11)

When we meet Scrooge at the beginning of the story, we meet a man who is spiritually representative of humanity without Christ.

A. A Life of Isolation

Scrooge is wealthy but lonely. Successful but empty. Surrounded by people but disconnected from them…

Mark 8:36 KJV 1900

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Scripture tells us that apart from Christ, we are “without hope and without God in the world.

The second characteristic of the Day of the Lord is isolation.

James Montgomery Boice

Scrooge wasn’t just lonely—he was spiritually isolated. James Montgomery Boice says that one mark of God’s judgment is isolation. God lets every false support collapse so we see our need for Him. Scrooge had to be isolated before he could be transformed.”

That’s how God often works. He brings us to a moment of isolation to bring us to a moment of redemption.

“The Day of the Lord isolates a person—not to destroy them, but to expose their need for a Savior. Christmas is God’s answer to that isolation. Emmanuel—God with us—means God steps into our loneliness with redemption.”

Even the shepherds in Luke 2—forgotten, overlooked outcasts—received the good news first. God’s good news comes to the isolated…

B. A Life of Insensitivity

Scrooge’s heart is cold and unresponsive…

John says of Christ, “He was in the world… but the world knew Him not.”

Sin doesn’t just separate us from God—it numbs us to His presence and blinds us to His truth.

This is not ignorance—it’s insensitivity. The world saw Him, but refused to recognize Him. They heard Him, but didn’t listen to Him. They encountered Him, but weren’t moved by Him.

Sin doesn’t just separate—it desensitizes.

It dulls our conscience.

It numbs our compassion.

It hardens our affections.

It blinds our spiritual vision.

Scrooge didn’t wake up cold-hearted; he grew hardened.

Ephesians 4:18–19 KJV 1900

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

meaning: they’ve lost sensitivity to the things of God.

Insensitivity is not just a character flaw—it is a spiritual crisis.

C. A Life of Insecurity

Scrooge is confronted with his past regrets, his present failures, and his future destruction. Many people today carry the same burdens:

Shame from the past

Brokenness in the present

Fear of the future

Before Scrooge could be changed, he had to see himself honestly. And before we can experience redemption, we must face the truth of our condition.

“God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there.” - C.S. Lewis

The good news is that God does not leave us in the condition we’re in—He steps in.

II. THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH — GOD’S HEART REVEALED TO US

(Luke 2:10–11)

The great historic doctrine of the church is that the Son of God became a real man—not just someone who only appeared to be a man. When he was born, God the Son placed the exercise of his all-powerfulness and all-presence and all-knowingness under the direction of God the Father. He did not give up those attributes, but he submitted their exercise in his life to the Father’s discretion. Though he was sinless, he had a real human body, mind, and emotions—complete with their inherent human weaknesses

A. A Saving Announcement - (Vs. 10-11)

“I bring you good tidings of great joy…” Christmas begins not with rules, religion, or rituals—but with redemption.

This first angel brought good tidings (literally it means that they preached the gospel) to these shepherds, who were regarded as social outcasts…

The primary work of Christ in redemption is to justify, sanctify and ultimately to glorify a company of persons salvaged from the ruin of the human race.3

A. W. Tozer

A Savior has come. Redemption is not something we achieve; it is something God provides.

B. A Sovereign Availability - (Vs. 11)

“Unto you is born this day…” The angel didn’t say “unto the deserving” or “unto the spiritual elite,” but unto you.

“As a class shepherds had a bad reputation…More regrettable was their habit of confusing ‘mine’ with ‘thine’ as they moved about the country. They were considered unreliable and were not allowed to give testimony in the law courts.” - Leon Morris

God did not come to impress the world… He came to men the world counted out…

Shepherds were everyday people—common laborers working the night shift.

Sheep get lost. Shepherds look after the lost. And humanity is spiritually lost.

What’s the message?

Luke 19:10 KJV 1900

10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

The shepherds—who cared for wandering sheep—become the first to hear about the Good Shepherd who came to rescue wandering souls.

Redemption is wide open. Grace is for everyone—for every Scrooge-hearted soul that needs saving… God prioritizes the humble…

C. A Stunning Approach - (Vs. 11b)

“…a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

“They announced the birth of a Savior, which was (and is) exactly the need of mankind. We don’t need another advisor, a reformer, or a committee, but a Savior.” - David Guzik

The King of heaven came wrapped in rags, lying in a manger. He didn’t come to scare us, but to save us. He didn’t come to condemn us, but to call us. He didn’t come as a judge with a gavel, but as a Savior with grace.

Christ came close so He could redeem up close.

Scrooge’s problem was that he could not change himself. He needed intervention… Humanity’s problem is the same—we need divine intervention. And Christmas is that intervention.

If Christ came to us, then Christ can change us. And that change is at the heart of Christmas.

III. THE CHANGE OF THE REDEEMED — GOD’S WORK IN US

(John 1:12–18)

When Scrooge wakes up on Christmas morning, he is a different man… Joy replaces bitterness. Generosity replaces greed. Compassion replaces coldness.

Christ brings a far greater transformation.

A. A New Position - (Vs. 12)

“As many as received Him… He gave them the right to become the children of God.”

Colossians 3:2–4 KJV 1900

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

We aren’t just forgiven—we’re adopted. We don’t just get cleaned—we get claimed.

B. A New Power - (Vs. 12b)

God gives every believer a new heart and new desires. Grace replaces greed. Generosity replaces selfishness.

Ezekiel 36:26 KJV 1900

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Scrooge became a giver. Christ makes us more than givers—He makes us reflect the Giver.

C. A New Prospect - (Vs. 16)

John writes, “Of His fullness we have all received.” That means:

Our past is forgiven.

Our present is transformed.

Our future is secure.

Redemption doesn’t just give us a new start—it gives us a new story.

So how do we live out this redeemed, renewed, Christlike life during this Christmas season?

🎁 APPLICATION — HOW TO BE A CHRISTLIKE S.C.R.O.O.G.E.

Here’s the redeemed version of “Scrooge,” provided by Hope Media Group:

S – Sacrifice & Surrender How can I follow Christ’s example of sacrificial giving?

C – Connect Who can I connect or reconnect with this season?

R – Remember Redemption Begins with Forgiveness Who needs your forgiveness—or your apology?

O – Open Heart Am I willing to receive what God wants to do in me?

O – Open Mind Am I teachable, humble, growing?

G – Give Peace and Joy Who needs encouragement, peace, or kindness from me?

E – Enrich the Environment How can I add value everywhere I go?

Summary: A redeemed Scrooge is a reflection of Christ.

CONCLUSION — FROM CHAINS TO CHANGE

Scrooge’s story ends with joy, laughter, generosity, and transformation. Our story can too—but not through fear, effort, or guilt. True transformation only comes from the Redeemer born in Bethlehem.

Christmas declares that:

My past can be forgiven.

My present can be transformed.

My future can be secure.

Redemption is the heart of the Christmas story. And the Redeemer is here.

🙏 INVITATION

If you don’t know Jesus: Receive the Savior who came for you.

If you do know Jesus: Let His redeeming power reshape your past, transform your present, and secure your future.

Closing Prayer: “Lord Jesus, redeem what I have broken, restore what I have lost, and remake who I am. Make me new by Your grace, and let Your redemption shine through me this Christmas. Amen.”