This Christmas

The Christmas Story

In Song…

We came today to celebrate the real meaning of Chrismas. For many, the focus will be on the trimmings of Christmas shopping, decorating, cooking and the giving and receiving of gifts. So we came this afternoon as a reminder that Christmas is about Chirst!

We in the houshold of faith love to think of Jesus Christ as a baby in a manger. While the birth of Christ is a special and miraculous event, that’s not the whole story, the central truth of the Christmas story is this: the Child of Christmas is God with us!

Christmas is not just about the Savior's infancy; it is about His deity. The humble birth of Jesus Christ was never intended to conceal the reality that God was being born into the world.

But the modern world's version of Christmas does just that. And consequently for the greater part of humanity, Christmas has no legitimate meaning at all. Thus Christmas has been reduced to Santa Claus, reindeer, and credit cards!

I wonder for a moment if we could once again turn our attention to what it means for God to be born in a manger. How does one explain the Almighty stooping to become a tiny infant? Our minds cannot begin to understand what was involved in God's becoming man.

Nor can anyone explain how God could become a baby. Yet He did. Without forsaking His divine nature or diminishing His deity, He was born into our world as a tiny infant.

He was fully human, with all the needs and emotions that are common to us all. Yet He was also fully God--all wise and all powerful.

For nearly 2,000 years, debate has been raging about who Jesus really is. Cults and skeptics have offered various explanations. They'll say He is one of many gods, a created being, a high angel, a good teacher, a prophet, and so on. The common thread of all such theories is that they make Jesus less than God. But the biblical evidence is overwhelming that this child in the manger was the incarnation of God.

Isn’t it amazing how God used ordinary world events to fulfill His Plan of Salvation?

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

1. Go tell it on the mountain page 92 key of C

Go tell it on the mountain

Over the hills and everywhere

Go tell it on the mountain

That Jesus Christ is born

While shepherds kept their watching

Over silent flocks by night,

Behold throughout the heavens,

There shone a holy light:

Go, Tell It On The Mountain,

Over the hills and everywhere

Down in a lowly manger the humble

Christ was born, and brought us God's

Salvation that blessed Christmas morn'

Go tell it on the mountain

Over the hills and everywhere

Go tell it on the mountain

That Jesus Christ is born…

Narrative:

You see it was this natural event that forced Joseph to go to Bethlehem, from Galilee out of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David…

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)[1]

2. O little town of Bethlehem #90 in the key of C

O little town of Bethlehem

How still we see thee lie

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary

And gathered all above

While mortals sleep, the angels keep

Their watch of wondering love

O morning stars together

Proclaim the holy birth

And praises sing to God the King

And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him still,

The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem

Descend to us, we pray

Cast out our sin and enter in

Be born to us today

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell

O come to us, abide with us

Our Lord Emmanuel…

Narrative:

Next we find the most unlikly place for the birth of the King of Kings!

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

3. Silent Night

Silent Night! Key of C

Silent night, holy night!

All is calm, all is bright.

Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.

Holy infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!

Shepherds quake at the sight.

Glories stream from heaven afar

Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,

Christ the Savior is born!

Christ the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night!

Son of God love's pure light.

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

��Narrative:

Next there was an unbelievable appearance of a real angel to ordinary shepards.

Closer to the time of Jesus, when urban life was more developed, shepherds may also have lived in or near villages. They had the right to let their flocks feed in the nearby pastures and would have been hired by landowners who needed help to harvest their fields. When food supplies got scarce near the villages, shepherds would move their herds to mountain pastures in the hot summer, or to warmer valleys in the winter.

A shepherd’s life was not easy. Shepherds spent most of their time outside watching over the herd, no matter what the weather. They often slept near their flock to protect it from robbers or wild animals. The shepherd’s tools and weapons were a rod, a staff, and a sling. Each night, the shepherds would gather their flocks into places called “sheepfolds.” These could be stone walls made by the shepherds or natural enclosures, such as a cave. Shepherds used their rod to help count their animals each evening when they brought them into the fold and again in the morning when they left for the pastures.

The angel’s appearance: Reflected the glory of the Lord

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.

b. His message: Was reassuring—good news

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.

1) A proclamation: The Messiah’s birth

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

2) A charge: Visit the child

3) A sign: The location & dress of the child

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

4. Oh come all ye faithful

# Oh, come, all ye faithful, Page 93

Joyful and triumphant!

Oh, come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold him,

Born the King of angels;

Oh, come, let us adore him;

Oh, come, let us adore him;

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Christ, the Lord.

2. — Sing, choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation;

— Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!

Glory to God,

Glory in the highest;

Oh, come, let us adore him;

Oh, come, let us adore him;

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Christ, the Lord.

3. — Yea, Lord, we greet thee,

Born this happy morning;

— Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n.

Son of the Father,

Now in flesh appearing;

Oh, come, let us adore him;

Oh, come, let us adore him;

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Christ, the Lord.

Narrative:

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

5. Hark the herald angels sing

Hark the helrald Angels sing key of C#

Hark! the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled

Joyful, all ye nations, rise,

Join the triumph of the skies;

With th' angelic host proclaim,

"Christ is born in Bethlehem."

Hark! the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ, by highest heav'n adored:

Christ, the everlasting Lord;

Late in time behold him come,

Offspring of the favored one.

Veil'd in flesh, the Godhead see;

Hail, th'incarnate Deity:

Pleased, as man, with men to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel!

Hark! the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail! the heav'n born Prince of peace!

Hail! the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings,

Risen with healing in his wings

Mild he lays his glory by,

Born that man no more may die:

Born to raise the sons of earth,

Born to give them second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Narrative:

The excited shepherds seeking evidence

a. They immediately decided to visit

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

b. They rushed to see

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

c. They excitedly shared the message

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

d. They caused a stir

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

6. Jesus O what a wonderful Child

Jesus, Jesus

Oh

What a wonderful child

Jesus, Jesus

So lowly meek and mild

New life, new hope

New joy He brings

Won't you listen

To the angels sing

Glory, glory, glory

To the new born King

Jesus, Jesus

Oh

What a wonderful child

Jesus, Jesus

So lowly meek and mild

New life, new hope

New joy He brings

Won't you listen

To the angels sing

Glory, glory, glory

To the new born King

He was herald

By the angels

Born

In a lowly manger

The virgin Mary

Was His mother

And Joseph

Was his earthly father

Three wise men

Came from afar

They were guided

Bby a shining star

To see King Jesus

Where He lay

In a manger

Filled with hay

Jesus, Jesus

Oh

What a wonderful child

Jesus, Jesus

So lowly meek and mild

Oh new life, new hope

New joy He brings

Won't you listen

To the angels sing

Glory

To the new born King

Oh, Jesus

Jesus

Mary's baby

Lamb of God

Heavenly Child

Jesus

Jesus

I Love Him

Oh, Jesus

All Mighty God

King of kings

Oh Jesus

Oh Jesus

Oh, oh, oh, Jesus

Wonderful

Wonderful one

Oh, oh

Oh, Jesus

Oh, Jesus

Son of God

Oh, Jesus

Glory

To the new born King

Yeah

7. This Christmas

Hang all the mistletoe

I'm gonna get to know you better

This Christmas

And as we trim the tree

How much fun it's gonna be together

This Christmas

Fireside is blazing bright,

We're caroling through the night

And this Christmas will be

A very special Christmas for me

Presents and cards are here

My world is filled with cheer and you

This Christmas

And as I look around,

Your eyes outshine the town they do

This Christmas

Fireside is blazing bright

We're caroling through the night

And this Christmas will be

A very special Christmas for me, yeah

Shake a hand, shake a hand now

Emm, fireside is blazing bright

We're caroling through the night

And this Christmas will be

A very special Christmas for me, ye

[1] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). The Gospel according to Luke (p. 34). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.