Sermon Tone Analysis

It’s Not Secular - It’s Sacred

Christmas is celebrated the world around - What a glorious time of year.

probably the most celebrated of holidays in our culture...

It is a time of sweet memories from the past - and a time to make and enjoy the blessings of the present.

But this celebration - Christmas - is a special day that is celebrated not only by the believers of Christ - but is also celebrated by a secular society that has no time for our Christ and the celebration of his coming to earth.

This morning, I want to remind you - that even though Christmas is celebrated by the believers and unbelievers alike - that Christmas is not Secular...

It’s Not Secular - It’s Sacred

Pray:

Is it Merry Christmas, or happy holiday -

Is christmas about:

People

parties

presents

Is christmas about:

Lights

Laughter

Love

Dining

Desserts

Decor

Most Christmas customs and family activities are secular in nature.

For instance, the most popular Christmas movies are for the most part secular: It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story, and Miracle on 34th Street.

None of them are religious per se.

And the most popular Christmas songs are secular as well: According to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, these are the Top 10 most-performed “Holiday” songs for the first five years of the 21st Century:

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) – Mel Tormé, Robert Wells

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Ralph Blane, Hugh MartinWinter Wonderland – Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith

White Christmas – Irving BerlinLet It Snow!

Let It Snow!

Let It Snow! – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer – Johnny Marks

Jingle Bell Rock – Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe

I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram

Little Drummer Boy – Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone

You may have noticed that not one of the top nine is the least bit religious in nature.

Randy K. Hammer...https://randykhammer.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/a-sacred-or-secular-christmas/

Our society is moving farther and farther from the Sacred to the Secular....

Not only is our society more secular -

Believers are becoming more secularly minded -

Based on the influences they have had in their lives...

Education

Ideology

World view

To the Christian - this time of year - that we stop and celebrate the coming of the Savior:

It’s not about:

Shopping

Santa

It’s about a Savior and His Salvation - he so freely offers as a gift.

It’s Not Secular - It’s Sacred

1. Shining Signal

We will never see the Lord without the response to the light He gives...

Jesus said

b. God manifests himself and His plan to us:

1.

His Creation:

2. His Son

3. His Written Word

jn1.1

jn

4. Hearts of Man

God is light -

* Shining Light

2. Sounding Servant

the angel of the Lord -

adf

The Angel of the Lord...

Proclaiming the Message of the Master...

Declaring the Good News...

The Savior is coming....

What Great News -

Gospel - good news...

* Shining Signal

* Sounding Servant

3. Searching Shepherds

Whether they left their sheep or brought them with them - we do not know - but what we know - is that:

these shepherds… Sought the Savior....

The shepherds sought the Savior - by the light given to them

The wise men would seek the Savior - by the light given unto them

Anyone who comes to Christ - will find him -

not on their own…

not in their own way

not is their own power

not in their own ability or intellect

You will find the Lord - when you follow the Light He Gives!!!!

The Lord sought them out first....

Our Calvanist friends have this wrong -

They believe that the good Lord has predestined some for eternal life and other’s for eternal damnation -

My bible says:

And in the final invitation of the Bible:

* Shining Signal

* Sounding Servant

* Searching Shepherds

4. Savior & Salvation

have you found the Savior????

Christmas is about Christ -

April 23, 1983 - on a sunday night at an old fashioned altar - I accepted Christ as my personal Savior.

I am on my way to heaven

I know the Lord Jesus as my Savior and my friend

My life has been transformed -

Because of a secular holiday?

No - because of a Suffering Savior… who willingly became the Gift of Eternal life for all who would receive him...