How to Experience the Nativity Story

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Experience the Nativity Story

Luke 2

 

How to Experience the Nativity Story

 

1. __________________ the Nativity Story

 

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Luke 2:10-12 NIV

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 NIV

 

2. __________________ the Nativity Story

 

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Luke 2:16-18 NIV

Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings.

1 Cor. 9:22-23 NLT

My Commitment:

 

During the Experience the Nativity emphasis:

£  I will attend and invite others to attend The Nativity Story (Friday night, Dec 1) 

£  I will hear all 4 messages in the series, Experience the Nativity

     (Sundays, Dec 3-24)


Intro:

Introductory comments about how the Christmas season is already here:

The Nativity Story Movie provides us a Great theme this year for Christmas…Nativity

The word Nativity…

comes from a Latin term nativitas that simply means birth.

If you look the word up in a dictionary you will find this entry:

birth or origin, especially the place, process, or circumstances of being born

We all know the moment, when a child is born, pictures are taken.

Emails are sent. Was it a boy or a girl?

Women want to know how much did the child weigh, how long it is, first and middle name along with its social security number…women want all the facts…and men usually remember whether it is a boy or girl!

But everybody celebrates a nativity… the birth of a baby…

I think my whole family came from Kentucky and was in the waiting room when Lisa gave birth to our first little baby!!!

Why?

(They had never seen a baby born in a hospital) no….They were there to celebrate with us the birth of our first baby.

Today we want to talk about The Nativity Story…Christ’s birth.

If we aren’t careful the Christmas story can lose its meaning.

Watch and Listen as the Nativity Story is told though the eyes of a wondrous child…

·    The Christmas Story Video (through the eyes of a wondrous child)

How can we experience the wonder of The Nativity Story this Christmas?

How to Experience the Nativity Story

 

1. Personalize the Nativity Story

 

In Luke 2:10-12 we find the angel’s message to the shepherds …

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Luke 2:10-12 NIV

The appearance of a real angel to shepherds was unbelievable. 

In the eyes of many, an angel would never appear to a shepherd.

Why?

Shepherds were outcasts in Israel.

Their work not only made them ceremonially unclean, but it kept them away from the temple for weeks at a time so that they could not be made clean.

Shepherds would seldom be found praising and worshipping God; as a result they were looked upon as anything but worshippers.

Their reputation was lowly at best, and religious people snubbed and ignored them.

They were despised because they were unable to attend services and to keep the ceremonial laws of washing and cleansing.

They were alienated from people and from God.

But God’s message from the example of the shepherds is:

God meets us where we are.

There is no place we can go where God won’t find us…even out in a dark lonely field.

Some of you think you are so far gone, God doesn’t even know your address.

You feel somehow that God might be able to work in other people’s lives…but He couldn’t possibly draw close to you.

Let me set your heart at ease…God loves you and He knows your address.

God’s message found the Shepherds out in a lonely field and it will find us today if we will listen.

What is the message?

Luke 2:10-11

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Luke 2:10-12 (NIV)

You don’t have to be afraid…you don’t have to be alienated anymore… because Jesus is Savior and Lord!

God is speaking that same message to us this morning!

It is a message that is personal:

Notice the personal nature of the message:

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Like the shepherds we can rejoice that Jesus came to the earth for each of us to be our personal Savior.

John 3:16 says…

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 NIV

Whoever means…You can put your name in John 3:16.

"For God so loved Rick that he gave his one and only Son, that if Rick believes in him, Rick shall not perish but have eternal life.”

I have personalized John 3:16!!

Have you??

We celebrate the personal relationship with Christ at the Lord’s supper…

It is a time to get personal with the Lord.

To remember that He came for me…

To remember that He gave His life for me…

To remember that He conquered death for me…

To remember that He is coming again for me…

Have you personalized these truths?

Before we take part in the Lord’s Supper...I want to invite you to personalize these truths.

Prayer:

Lord’s Supper…


How to Experience the Nativity Story

 

1. Personalize the Nativity Story

 

2. Proclaim the Nativity Story

Back to the Shepherds in Luke 2:16-18:

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

 Luke 2:16-18 NIV

These shepherds are good examples for us to imitate today.

They received by faith the message God sent them and then responded with immediate obedience.

After finding the Baby, they reported the good news to others.

I love that line in v. 17:

When they had seen him, they spread the word…

For some reason, shepherds were not permitted to testify in court, but God used some humble shepherds to be the first human witnesses that prophecy had been fulfilled and the Messiah had been born.

Telling others about the Savior is a great responsibility as well as a great privilege, and we who are believers must be faithful to spread the word…and to be his witnesses.

There is a story told about a man who was accused of some wrongdoing and was brought before a judge. 

When the judge asked if he had an attorney to represent him, the man answered, "No, I can't afford one." 

The judge replied, "Well don't worry about that.  I'll appoint a lawyer to represent you, and I will choose a real good one." 

"I appreciate that, Judge," answered the man. 

"But if you really want to appoint somebody to help me, what I need most is not a real good lawyer, but several real good witnesses!" 

A good witness is one who knows something firsthand through their experience, and who can bring the truth to the light.

God doesn't need a couple good lawyers defending Him and trying to prove Him to lost humanity. 

But what He needs is a couple good witnesses that are willing to tell what He has done for them. 

It's called "Evangelism" ... the telling or announcing the gospel or good news of Jesus Christ.

If you personally know the Lord…it the greatest thing that has ever happened to you.

My own testimony…I came to know the Lord personally at the age of 23…after years of wandering around without purpose or meaning in my life…weighed down with guilt hopelessness…I came to know Christ!!!

It was like night and day…My life changed.

God gave me meaning, hope and direction.

I looked forward to life…

I realized for the first time God loved me and I started loving other people.

When Jesus becomes your Savior You will want to share the good news…

I received an email a few weeks ago that blew me way …

What's going on? I haven't seen you in a long time. This is Kevin Courtright from Sears, remember?

 

I was actually doing a Bible Study and it was talking about people that influenced you in your life.

 

I thought about the early days at Westgate Baptist Church and you came to mind. I have 3 kids now,2 boys 13 and 5 and a girl 10.I am still married to Karla, for almost 16 years now, and going to Northwest Bible Church in Hilliard.

 

 I am the Parts Mgr at Germain Lexus Of Dublin and Karla stays home with the kids.

 

 Looks like you’re doing well. Karla ran across your site a few months back and said look who this is. Oh well I have to be up at 5:00 am so I will talk at you later.

 

Kevin

 

Kevin was a young man that I worked with at Sears distribution…

God gave me the privilege of helping Kevin come to Christ

You never know how God might use you if you will tell others the story…

Paul put it his way…

Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings.

1 Cor. 9:22-23 (NLT)

In Kevin’s case…common ground was sports…baseball cards!!!

I started collecting baseball cards as a result of finding common ground with Kevin…I didn’t even like baseball that much…football and basketball!!

But through that friendship, Kevin came to know Christ as his Lord and Savior…and now he has a family and they are going to church!!!

I can’t wait to have lunch with Kevin in a couple of weeks….

God has some Kevin’s waiting for you…

God wants you to find common ground with them…so that you might bring them to Christ!!!!!!

This Christmas we have a great opportunity to find common ground with people…through the movie...the Nativity Story

You want to find common ground with your family and friends?

Take them to the Nativity Story this Friday night…

Watch this trailer….

Why not take someone to the Nativity Story this Friday night…

buy them some popcorn…

Then talk to them later about the movie...invite them to church…we are going to begin a series of messages on the Nativity Story next week!!

I hope you will:

·    Personalize the Nativity Story this Christmas

·    And Proclaim the Nativity Story this Christmas

To help you do that would you be willing to make some commitments?

My Commitment:

 

During the Experience the Nativity emphasis:

£  I will attend and invite others to attend The Nativity Story (Friday night, Dec 1) 

£  I will hear all 4 messages in the series, Experience the Nativity

     (Sundays, Dec 3-24)

Take out your Commitment card…

·    Personalize the Nativity Story…I will be here…grow in God’s Word…hearing the story and applying the story

·    Present the Nativity Story …I will tell others about Jesus by inviting them to the movie

Prayer:


 


 

Like the shepherds….

Christmas...The pastor of a church in California put a sign in front of his church during the advent season that said, "Jesus is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas." He received a complaint from a woman in the community who took exception with the message. She closed the conversation by saying, "I don't think the church should try to drag religion into every holiday."

There is a story told about a man who was accused of some wrongdoing and was brought before a judge.  When the judge asked if he had an attorney to represent him, the man answered, "No, I can't afford one."  The judge replied, "Well don't worry about that.  I'll appoint a lawyer to represent you, and I will choose a real good one."  "I appreciate that, Judge," answered the man.  "But if you really want to appoint somebody to help me, what I need most is not a real good lawyer, but several real good witnesses!"  (source: James W. Moore, "When You're a Christian, the Whole World is from Missouri")

A good witness is one who knows something firsthand through their experience, and who can bring the truth to the light.

God doesn't need a couple good lawyers defending Him and trying to prove Him to lost humanity.  But what He needs is a couple good witnesses that are willing to tell what He has done for them.  It's called "Evangelism" ... the telling or announcing the gospel or good news of Jesus Christ.

The word for evangelize ... euaggelizo ... means to announce good news; to declare glad tidings of the gospel. 

It is never used to refer to, a conference, rally, or program ... as well meaning as all those might be to our understanding and motivation of evangelism. 

To evangelize lends itself to what is being said.  What are we saying?  The words we say are powerfully important, for with them we can bring someone to a knowledge of Christ or with them drive further away from the good news of the kingdom.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-4  For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. 4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.


BE

These shepherds are good examples for us to imitate today.

They received by faith the message God sent them and then responded with immediate obedience.

After finding the Baby, they reported the good news to others, “glorifying and praising God.” They took the place of the angels! (Luke 2:13–14)

Then they humbly returned to their duties, new men going back to the same old job.

For some reason, shepherds were not permitted to testify in court, but God used some humble shepherds to be the first human witnesses that prophecy had been fulfilled and the Messiah had been born.

Telling others about the Savior is a solemn obligation as well as a great privilege, and we who are believers must be faithful.

LAB

After their anthem of praise, the angels returned to heaven (see also 24:51; Acts 1:11), and the shepherds wanted to go and see this wonderful thing that has happened. They hurried into the village of Bethlehem to find the baby.

2:17-18 The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said—thus becoming the first witnesses of the gospel message. They told about the child and all that the angels had said about him, and all who heard . . . were astonished. Most likely, the “everyone” and “all” refer to the people at the inn. Everyone was astonished at the shepherds’ story.

LAN

What a birth announcement! The shepherds were terrified, but their fear turned to joy as the angels announced the Messiah’s birth. First the shepherds ran to see the baby; then they spread the word. Jesus is your Messiah, your Savior. Do you look forward to meeting him in prayer and in his Word each day? Have you discovered a Lord so wonderful that you can’t help sharing your joy with your friends?

Lord’s Supper…
Concl:

As the hymn What Child Is This exclaims in answer to the question, “This, this is Christ the king, whom shepherds laud and angels sing.”

This is a story about a king sent from God — One who was born for God, born to bring light, born to die, born to serve, and born to bring peace to those who embrace the Birth, the Nativity.

Have you personalized The Nativity Story?

Will you share it with others?

Celebrating the Birth

Two women who were having lunch in an elegant hotel were approached by a mutual friend who asked the occasion for the meal.

One lady replied, "We are celebrating the birth of my baby boy."

"But where is he?" inquired the friend.

"Oh," said the mother, "you didn't think I'd bring him, did you?"

What a picture of the way the world treats Jesus at Christmas.
Source unknown

ILLUSTRATION

Baby Jesus Stolen from Nativity Scene  Send to printer

Topics:  Advent; Christ, birth of; Christmas; Jesus Christ; Materialism; Presence of God; Secularism; Skepticism

Filters:  Stories

References:  Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:8-20, 3 John 1:1-14

Tone:  Warn

Dorothy Rodefeld of Madison, Wisconsin, is known as the "light lady" to her neighbors because of the elaborate Christmas displays she has featured on her 1861 farmhouse since 1998. However, on December 1st of 2005, her nativity scene was robbed.

Among the missing items were a shepherd and a wise man; however, the loss of baby Jesus and his manger were particularly painful to the elderly widow. Rodefeld's grandson had built the manger out of wood salvaged from a granary that had once been part of the family's original homestead.

"They pulled the light right out of Jesus," Rodefeld lamented, adding, "That's the one thing they took that really meant something to me."

ILLUSTRATION

Toys for Tots Rejects Jesus Doll  Send to printer

Topics:  Advent; Beliefs; Children; Christ, only Savior; Christmas; Culture; Fun; Giving; Government; Holidays; Jesus Christ; Persecution; Play; Religion; Secularism; Tolerance; Youth

Filters:  Free; Pop Culture; Stories; Youth & Children

References:  Isaiah 53:3, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-20, John 14:6, John 15:20, Acts 4:12, Revelation 3:20

Tone:  Neutral/Mixed

As stated on the Toys for Tots website: "The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November, and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted." That being the case, it was surprising when the charity rejected a donation of 4,000 new, unwrapped toys heading into the 2006 Christmas season.

What was the reason for this rejection? The toys in question were battery-operated, talking representations of Jesus Christ. According to the website of the dolls' manufacturer, One2Believe, the button-activated, bearded Talking Jesus doll is dressed in hand-sewn cloth outfits and sandals. It also recites Scripture verses, such as, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" and "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Bill Grein, vice president of the Toys for Tots program, said the charity chose to reject the dolls for several reasons. First, as a government entity, the Marines "don't profess one religion over another," Grein said. "We can't take a chance on sending a Talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family."

He also added that, "Kids want a gift for the holiday season that is fun."

Thankfully, this particular Christmas story does have a happy ending. About a week after his initial decision to reject the toys, Mr. Grein sent the following e-mail to their manufacturer: "Having reconsidered your kind offer of several thousand dolls last week, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation would like to receive them. We believe that with some effort we will be able to find homes for them all."

ILLUSTRATION

Mother Forgets Birthday Boy  Send to printer

Topics:  Advent; Christ, birth of; Christmas; Church; Church, health of; Church, mission of; Communion; Distractions; Forgetfulness; Forgetting; Holidays; Love for Christ; Sacraments; Secularism; Traditions; Waiting on God; Worship

Filters:  Stories; Youth & Children

References:  Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 2:1-23, Matthew 15:7-9, Luke 2:1-52, Luke 11:42, John 4:23-24

Tone:  Warn

The party on June 3, 2006, was for Michael Emmanuel, Jr. It was his sixth birthday, and friends and family were celebrating at the local Chuck E. Cheese in Boca Raton, Florida.

The party itself went just fine. The problem came when it was over. All the children and adults climbed into three different vehicles and headed home. Everyone, that is, except Michael.

Apparently, the 6-year-old returned to the play area, and when the party-goers departed, he was left behind. Employees found Michael wandering around the restaurant at 10 p.m. and called the police.

Michael's mother had assumed that her son was staying with his grandmother, and didn't even realize he was missing until the next morning. Unfortunately for Michael (and his mother), it is possible to have a joyful celebration and still forget the guest of honor.

"Mother Forgets Child at 6th Birthday Party," CBS4.com (6-5-06); submitted by John Beukema, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania


 

It is a message of peace:

The angels said in v.14

14 "Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Because Jesus came to be our Savior we can have peace with God.

The birth of Christ speaks loud and clear: When you embrace Jesus, you don’t have to be alienated anymore…you don’t have to be afraid.

You see my friend what you need to hear today is:

·    Jesus will save you

Jesus is within your reach…no matter how far you have strayed from God.

That was the testimony of the shepherds when they personally found the Savior.

Notice what they said in v.20:

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:20 (NIV)

That can be your testimony today…by turning to Jesus.

This Christmas we have a great opportunity to get a picture of what the 1st Christmas was like…in the movie The Nativity Story.

Last Tuesday night I had an opportunity to see it…and felt like I was transported back to the 1st century.

Watch trailer….


    B. He Came to Die for Every Person

Hebrews 2:9; Hebrews 2:17

    1. All have sinned – Romans 3:23

    2. The gift of God is eternal life- Romans 6:23

    3. Christ died for us – Romans 5:8

    4. There is only one way of salvation- John 14:6

Jesus was God, and God is infinite. Because God is infinite, His death would be infinite. His death would be so infinite that it would be one-on-one death for every person who ever lived.


He Came Down So That We Could Go Up

Hebrews  2:10

When we accept what He did on our behalf, and receive Him as our personal Savior and acknowledge that His work on the cross is our only hope of going up - to heaven, at our death, and up to an abundant life while on earth. We accept His forgiveness of our sins and are born into the family of God, as we trust Him eternally.


Conclusion:

The nativity is about Almighty God sending His one and only Son down to this earth. This is His gift to us, not for Christmas, but for eternity. He doesn’t want us to admire it, anymore than we would merely admire a gift given from a loved one. He doesn’t want us to merely acknowledge His gift. He wants everyone; He wants you, to receive His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, by inviting Him into your life.  If you have never received Jesus Christ into your life, I encourage you to pray this prayer:

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot measure up to Your perfect standard. I fall short. I understand the wages for that is death.  I thank You that You sent Jesus Christ to pay the penalty that I couldn’t pay. You sent Him to be my substitute, my Savior, and You want to give me the gift of eternal life, through Him.  I receive Jesus Christ as my Savior. I accept Your gift to me. I invite Him into my heart. I ask Him to forgive my sin. And I acknowledge that as He comes into my heart, I become a part of His family and that because He came down, one day I shall go up.

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