Finding love in the Chaos of Christmas

The First Christmas was

“One Big interruption

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Mary -angel; Joseph-angel; Shepherds- many angels

“The birth of Jesus was a big interruption”

Have you ever been interrupted? At first you got a little bent out of Shape because of the interruption?

But afterwards you found that the interruption was the best thing that had ever happened to you?

What are some interruption:

It is something in which disrupts the continuances

Something that makes you stop>

“Interruptions are inevitable. It’s just the way life works. But, I keep asking myself, why is it that they come at such inopportune times?” (joe Stowell)

When interruptions come, stop resisting. Surrender and start looking for the hand of God as you serve Him obediently in spite of the uncertainty that is staring you in the face.

I’ve often wondered: What if Noah had said, “I don’t do boats!”

or if Moses had complained, “I don’t do crowds!”

or if Job had insisted, “I don’t do suffering”

or if Mary had declined, “No thanks, a virgin birth is too great a risk”

or, ultimately, if Jesus had said, “I don’t do crosses!”?

Trust Him. He knows what He is doing with your life”(Stowell)

John 3:1–17 ESV

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

It was at night and Jesus is irrupted. By one of The religious leaders named Nicodemus. Jesus stops and Has a

John 3:16–17 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:16-17

Joh

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

1 John 4:7 ESV

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

Hebrews 6:17 ESV

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Christmas time for many can feel more like a bad interruption. Many hope to just get to Dec 26th.

Christmas maybe hard this year for you. It may look more like this story:

“You might relate to the jalopy. The car clattered down the freeway, one door missing, hood dented, needing paint. On the loosely hanging bumper was this sticker: “Honk if anything falls off.” Max L.

Mark Nepo in his wonderful The Book of Awakening. Maybe these delays and interruptions that interfere with and disrupt our very important schedules, instead of being life’s little and frustrating interruptions, maybe they are Divine interventions…messages from beyond…or, perhaps God’s invitation to pause…to slow down…to pay attention…to reflect…to enter into the very Presence of God.

What if, my friend, you were to practice this day viewing every delay, every interruption, even traffic jam or even the wait at the restaurant for a table…what if, you decided to enter into the flow and, instead of reacting, you slowed down? You paused? You paid attention to your surroundings? You entered into the moment? Read more at They offer you the opportunity to actually slow down. Feel your heart beat! How are you breathing

1. Life’s little interruptions are portals into the present moment. Be present now! Be in the room

Stop being preoccupied with the past. Think on it and then give it to God.

2. Life’s delays can be occasions to connect with others.

3. They are Divine reminders that the Divine Presence is with you…and with you always. Much of the displeasure we feel at many of life’s disruptions stems from our disconnected feelings with the Source of Life itself.

Christmas could be more like a bad interruption for you this year. You’re just trying to keep it all from falling apart

Reminder: The first Christmas was a big interruption

For Mary and all her family,

But that first Christmas interruption was originated by God, at the right time.

The first Christmas gift God gave to us

came covered inside an interruption. Yes.

The first Christmas gift was an interruption from God.

Some of the best gifts come in times of the worst interruption.

The gift is the greatest picture of love that the world has ever seen.

That first Christmas was God displaying his love for us “in Christ”.

Start the study: of “the love of God”

God “so” loved,

God loves us “so much” that he gave.

In Christ God is spelling out his love for us,

In a language, we can understand.

Christmas is God’s gift to everyone that will receive Christ.

Question: What do you want for Christmas?

“All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth”

One gift everyone needs, and it was given by God in great Amounts.

Love, Forgiveness for sin

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Roman 3:23,

“Everyone has a need for forgiveness”

The first Christmas gift from God was a savior of the world. On that first Christmas day forgiveness was made possible to all that would receive it.

There was no longer a need to sacrifice animals at the temple. The perfect Lamb from God was going to carry all of the sins of Mankind. Forgiveness was available

Romans 8:3 ESV

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

,

Romans 8:31–32 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

,

32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

“What do you need for Christmas”?

God knew what we needed for Christmas.

Forgiveness for our sin problem.

God’s creation is separated from him because of our sin problem.

How wonderful at this blessed Christmas season to think that the greatest Gift ever given was unsolicited; we didn’t ask for it, but "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" ().[1]

Point: what did God’s gift of Love bring to this world?

Forgiveness and care

Today at Christmas time we see people caring for those that are having troubles. Those that are unable to give to their kids, those that are in the military stationed away from their families.

The world still demonstrates more love at Christmas time than any other time in the year.

How is love shown during Christmas?

The same way God did it. God gave to those who are perishing.

Examples of people

Showing their love for one another.

During the Christmas season

Christmas time is still known for giving.

1914 Christmas Eve truce between Germany and British troops.

There are some amazing acts of giving during the Christmas time.

Angel tree, Salvation Army kettle, toy run, NFL teams, companies giving to employees, visits to hospital, shoebox ministry, united way, red cross, usps operation Santa,

Families showing love

Husband /wife -

Parents /kids -

Grandparent/grandkids -

Friend/friend –

God so loved that he gave you a gift

How do you know that God loves you?

Look at the baby in the manager

Born during an interruption in the lives of Mary and Joseph

Call his name Immanuel God with us

Can you trust God’s love?

, “trust in the Lord with all of your heart”

The continuing effects of God’s love gift

, Jesus the same yesterday and forever”

Times change, styles change, attitudes and tastes change, history and math books change. Nearly everything we know of changes. But Jesus Christ is God’s unchanging Gift[2]

The kicker!

God gave the gift. But you must receive the gift.

Today will you take the gift that God has given?

How do we receive the Love gift?

WE neither earn it or steal it or it is given to us and we receive it.

Heaven can’t be earned, and we can’t steal it, therefore it is a gift we must receive the gift.

The first Christmas gift.

Jesus Christ.

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

Will you take the Christmas gift that God gave to you?

Jesus Christ

God with us “ Imma

[1] Curtis Hutson

[2] Curtis Hutson