First Sunday after Christmas: Holy Family- The Missing God

Icebreaker: Have you ever gotten lost as a child (or lost your own child) in a public place? How long did it take to realize, and what was the panic like?

Text: Read Psalm 139:7-10. Is it actually possible to "lose" God? If He is everywhere, what does it mean when we feel like He is missing?

Thought: On Sunday, we will see Mary and Joseph travel a whole day without realizing Jesus wasn't with them. How easy is it to go a whole day (or week) in your life assuming God is "in the background" without actually speaking to Him?

B. Social Media Teaser

Visual: A split graphic (keeping the high-contrast/comic style). Left: A chaotic, crowded ancient marketplace/caravan with people talking. Right: A wide shot of a small boy standing alone in a massive, silent temple.

Text: "You can travel a long way thinking God is with you, only to realize you left Him back at the start. This Sunday: The danger of assuming Jesus is in the caravan. #TheUnveiling #FirstWords #YearC"

PHASE 2: THE SERVICE

(Liturgy, Preaching, & Response: Sunday Morning Order of Service)

1. THE WELCOME SCRIPT

(Set the tone: The Day After Christmas)

"Merry Christmas! Or, perhaps I should say, welcome to the day after. It is December 26th. The boxes are opened, the paper is torn, and for many of us, the exhaustion is setting in.

"But today, we are going to see a story that fits this exact moment. We are fast-forwarding 12 years from the manger to see what happens after the Christmas excitement fades. We are going to see a moment where the most faithful people on earth—Mary and Joseph—got so busy with their journey home that they lost track of Jesus.

"It is possible to handle holy things all week and yet completely leave Jesus behind. Before we rush toward the New Year, let's stop and make sure we aren't walking alone. Let's worship the God who is waiting for us to find Him."

2. THE OFFERING SCRIPT

(Theme: "The Father's Business")

"In our text today, we are going to hear the very first recorded words of Jesus. When His parents finally find Him, He says, 'Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?'

"Even at twelve years old, Jesus understood that His life had a purpose: to build, serve, and honor His Father's House.

"That is what the offering is. It is us joining Jesus in the 'Father's Business.' When you give to the local church, you aren't just paying a light bill; you are ensuring that the Father's House remains open, active, and ready for the lost to find Him in 2028. Let's give today with that same sense of purpose."

Prayer:

"Father, we want to be about Your business as we head into this New Year. We ask that You take these resources and use them to build Your House. Keep us focused on what matters to You. In Jesus' name, Amen."

3. THE PREACHING CHEAT SHEET

(Core Sermon Content)

BOTTOM LINE: Don’t assume Jesus is following you; make sure you are following Him.

HOOK: The "Home Alone" nightmare. The feeling of panic when you realize the child is gone.

MAIN POINT: We often lose God’s presence not because of sin, but because of presumption. We assume He is in the caravan.

POWER IN THE TEXT:

The Drift: They went a "day's journey" before checking. You can go a long way on autopilot.

The First Words: Jesus unveils His identity: "I must be in my Father's House."

MAIN TO-DO: Go back to the last place you saw Him.

CLOSING LINE: "Jesus isn't lost. You are. Go back to the Father's House."

4. FULL STICKY SERMON OUTLINE (Expanded)

I. ENGAGE: The Nightmare (The "Home Alone" Moment)

The Scenario: "Imagine the scene. It’s Passover. Millions of people in Jerusalem. The caravan is packing up. Chaos, noise, camels, cousins. Mary thinks Jesus is with Joseph. Joseph thinks Jesus is with Mary. They walk for 20 miles—a full day’s journey—talking, laughing, planning."

The Drop: "Then, the sun sets. They set up camp. And the question floats across the fire: 'Where is Jesus?' The blood drains from their faces. The panic sets in. They didn't lose Him because they were wicked people; they lost Him because they were presumptuous."

II. TENSION: The Spiritual Drift

The Modern Parallel: "This is exactly how we start the New Year. We have our 'caravan' moving. We have our 2028 goals, our gym memberships, our budgets. We start walking. We assume, 'Of course God is with me; I'm a Christian.'

The Hard Truth: "You can walk a long way into the New Year on spiritual autopilot. You can go weeks without actually consulting the King. You aren't in rebellion; you're just in a drift. The scariest thing about spiritual distance is that it happens while you are busy doing 'good' things."

III. TRUTH: The First Unveiling (Luke 2:41-52)

A. The Search (vv. 43-46):

"They go back. They search for three days. Notice where they looked: 'among relatives and acquaintances.' We always look for God in our comfort zones—our friends, our traditions, our past experiences. But He wasn't there."

B. The Unveiling (v. 49):

"They find Him in the Temple. Mary says, 'Your father and I have been anxious.' Jesus responds with the First Words of the New Testament: 'Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?'"

The Shift: "He gently corrects her: 'Joseph is my earthly father, but I have a Heavenly Father.' He unveils His allegiance."

The "Must": "The Greek word is dei—it is necessary. Even at 12, Jesus was driven by a divine necessity. He wasn't wandering; He was focused."

C. The Submission (v. 51):

"This is the shocker. He is God. He knows more than the rabbis. But verse 51 says He 'went down with them and was submissive to them.' He spends the next 18 years in silence in Nazareth. He proved that you don't need a platform to be faithful. You just need to be where the Father puts you."

IV. APPLICATION: The U-Turn

Stop Assuming: "Stop assuming God is blessing your plans just because you wrote them down. Stop the caravan. Check the camp. Is He here?"

Go Back: "If you feel distant from God today, the solution isn't to run faster into 2028. The solution is to go back to the last place you saw Him. Was it in prayer? Was it in generosity? Was it in a moment of surrender you walked away from? Go back there."

Define Your "Must": "Jesus had a 'Must.' What is your 'Must' for this year? Is it to make money? To get fit? Or is it: 'I must know my Father'?"

V. INSPIRATION: The Hidden Years

"Most of Jesus' life was lived in 'Nazareth'—the boring, mundane, hidden years. Some of you feel stuck in a boring season. You feel hidden. Remember: Jesus grew in 'wisdom and stature' in the hidden place. God isn't missing in the mundane. He is growing you there."

5. THE CONNECTION CARD STRATEGY

(Spoken after the sermon)

"If you realized today that you've been walking in the caravan without Jesus—if you’ve been running on autopilot—don't let this moment pass.

"On your card, there is a box that says 'The U-Turn.' Checking that means: 'I’m stopping the caravan. I’m going back to the Father.' Maybe that means recommitting to church, or starting a daily prayer time.

"Also, if you are in a 'Nazareth' season—feeling hidden and unseen—check the box 'Pray for Patience.' We want to pray that you grow in this season rather than rushing out of it."

6. COMMUNION SCRIPT

(Transition to the Table)

"When Mary and Joseph lost Jesus, they found Him in the Father's House. Years later, we lost Jesus again—at the Cross. But three days later, He wasn't lost; He was risen. And because of that, the door to the Father's House is open to us.

"Jesus said, 'I must be in my Father's house.' He went there so that we could come home.

"As you take the bread, thank Him for doing the Father's business on your behalf. As you take the cup, thank Him that He never loses you, even when you lose track of Him."

7. THE CLOSING SCRIPT (Benediction)

(Dismissal)

"As you leave today and head back into the start of your year, remember the 12-year-old Jesus. He didn't rush. He knew who He was, and He knew whose He was.

"Don't let the speed of 2028 steal your peace. You don't have to be famous to be faithful. You don't have to be loud to be heard.

"Go back to your Nazareth. Be faithful in the small things. Be about your Father's business. You are loved, you are found, and you are sent."

PHASE 3: POST-SERVICE

(Response & Discipleship: Sun-Wed)

A. Connection Card Follow-Up Templates

For "The U-Turn": "I saw you marked 'The U-Turn' on Sunday. That is a brave admission. It’s easy to drift; it takes courage to stop and go back. I’m praying for you this week—that as you seek Him, you will find Him quickly."

For "Pray for Patience": "I saw you asked for prayer regarding patience in a 'hidden' season. Remember, Jesus spent 30 years in obscurity to prepare for 3 years of ministry. God is not wasting your time. He is building your character. We are praying for strength for you today."

B. Social Media Recap

Monday:

Visual: A photo of a busy highway blurred out, with a clear focus on a Bible or a quiet chair in the foreground.

Text: "You can go a full day's journey into the New Year and realize you left Jesus back at the start. Don't assume He's in the caravan. Stop. Check. Abide. #TheMissingGod #TheUnveiling"

Wednesday:

Visual: Text on screen: "I MUST be about my Father's business."

Text: "Jesus had a 'Must.' Do you? What is the one non-negotiable for your life this year? Let's make it the Father's House. #Priorities #Luke2"

Related Media

Related Sermons

Earn an accredited degree from Redemption Seminary with Logos.