I Wish It was Christmas All Year Long

John 1:40 CSB

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed him.

INTRO—

“I wish it was Christmas all year long!” … (Sawyer Brown)

Many (most?) of us feel this way—at least as far as the joy, fun, giving, …& receiving goes.

How about the Wise Men’s nearly two-year Christmas focus (Matthew 2.1-12)?

Christmas, biblically, always involves the presence of (focus on) Jesus.

We also enjoy the simple focus on the “big truth(s)” of the Bible—Jesus, salvation, eternal life.

Soooo, how do we get an ongoing Christmas focus? Part of it goes like this…

1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”

“DO EVERYTHING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD”

AND…who made/makes this happen? JESUS!

JESUS’ CALL [John 1.40-50]

LIKE THE DISCIPLES

[[John 1:40–41 “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed him. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated “the Christ”),” [CONTEXT: Andrew & Peter]

Andrew listened to John, who spoke of Jesus (the Messiah)…Andrew told Simon, and Jesus said…]]

John 1:42 “and he brought Simon to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated “Peter”).” [PETER]

Jesus impacts people — FOR LIFE…FOR EVERY DAY!

John 1:43 “The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and told him, “Follow me.”” [PHILIP]

Jesus called his early disciples, “on the way.” (He met them where they were…to lead them where he wanted them to go.

[[John 1:45–46 “Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him. “Come and see,” Philip answered.”

[CONTEXT: Philip & Nathanael]]]

John 1:47–50 “Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered. “Rabbi,” Nathanael replied, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!” Jesus responded to him, “Do you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.””

Jesus even called some ‘not-so-ready-to-go’ types.

**CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR LONG REQUIRES RESPONDING TO THE CALL OF JESUS.**

JESUS’ COMMITMENT [John 14.1-7]

BY HIS WORD

[[John 14:1 ““Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

[CONTEXT: Jesus comfort & command] — Why do we so often reject either of these?]]

John 14:2–4 “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.””

These are some amazing promises!!

AND LOOK! — It’s not just Christmas-All-Year-Long…IT’S CHRISTMAS FOR ETERNITY!!

[[John 14:5 ““Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?””

I am VERY thankful for Thomas (the courage to admit he didn’t know it all)

The confession of incompleteness (weakness), earns Jesus’ reply…]]

John 14:6–7 “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.””

A reply of patient presence with his child!!!

**CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR LONG COMES WITH JESUS’ PROMISE(S) TO US!**

JESUS’ CARE [John 17.20-23]

JESUS’ PRAYER (for his people…all of us!; …and for the record, the entirety of John 17 is amazing, comforting truth/care!!)

John 17:20–23 ““I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.”

Jesus’ care ((for his disciples—all the way to us—)) is not diminished by circumstances (…not dependent on favorable, calm circumstances).

“May they also be in us…” (Christmas all year long…every day long…all life long!!)

NOTICE: Jesus’ emphasis is for his people in the plural, too.

**CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR LONG IS JESUS’ DESIRE FOR HIS PEOPLE…TOGETHER!**

OUR RESPONSE [1 Corinthians 11.23-26]

GOD’S PEOPLE (Always)

[This passage may seem a bit weird as an example of the response we need to have in order to have Christmas all year long, but hear me out…]

[[1 Corinthians 11:23–25 “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.””

An intentional, repeated emphasis on the beautiful redeeming act of Jesus for the lost = seeing the cross (The cross…which is not possible without the manger).]]

1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

“For as often as you…” [We know/believe that this worship observance should be often repeated!]

To not participate in this act of worship (and any regular corporate worship) is—I believe—forfeiture of the experience of Christmas all year long!

LISTEN: If we are unwilling to do/live the basic commands of our LORD (Communion, Giving, Assembling…), why would we ever expect to be blessed with the clarity of Jesus’ presence with us every day…all year long? [[I mean…if I wanted to live with my wife every day but refused to do anything in keeping with a commitment to grow, develop, or strengthen that relationship…ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?]]

**CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR LONG COMES WITH A SIGNIFICANT, ALL-IN, COMMITMENT ON OUR PART!**

CONCL—

Colossians 3:23–24 “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.”

WE cannot be a people who want the pay-off of the blessings of God’s presence, etc., without totally investing in the pay-in of Christ-honoring commitment with our daily lives.

As we end this year…looking forward to God’s work in our lives—personally and as a church—let’s renew (refocus) our commitment to closely follow our LORD through each and every day he gives to us.

INVITATION:

Salvation

Following

Celebrating

***NEW SERIES: “GALATIANS: Grace is Good”

1 Corinthians 11:26 CSB

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.