1.4.4. 12.22.2019 When Christmas Comes to town...God Becomes Present (Gloria in Excelsis)

Rival Arrivals

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Entice: Luke begins his "Christmas Story" by introducing the Emperor. Augustus called his Empire "the inhabited world." That should give you some idea of the scope of his ego. Prince of peace. Lord. Son of God. These titles were all used of the Emperor. Little did he know that the bureaucratic process of consolidating and taxing his empire would lead to the Bethlehem birth of He for whom the titles, Prince of Peace, Lord, and Son of God were not pompous, arrogant, propaganda but simple statements of fact.

Entice: Luke begins his "Christmas Story" by introducing the Emperor. Augustus called his Empire "the inhabited world." That should give you some idea of the scope of his ego. Prince of peace. Lord. Son of God. These titles were all used of the Emperor. Little did he know that the bueraucratic process of consolidating and taxing his empire would lead to the Bethlehem birth of the He for whom the titles, Prince of Peace, Lord, and Son of God were not pompous, arrogant, propaganda but simple statements of fact.

Engage: We know this story so well. Some of your earliest memories may be from Church pageants and programs, or around your family celebrations. What we sometimes miss is the contrast between the claims of Caesar and the claims of Christ. Both arrived in Bethlehem during that eventful season. One's arrival was arrogant. The other's humble. One came to elevate himself. The other came to elevate us. One came to impose his will. The other came to surrender His will to the Father. Caesar came in power. Christmas came-Jesus came-in service.

Engage: We know this story so well. Some of your earliest memories may be from Church pagents and programs, or around your family celebrations. What we sometimes miss is the contrast between the claims of Caesar and the claims of Christ. Both arrived in Bethlehem during that eventful season. One's arrival was arrogant. The other's humble. One came to elevate himself. The other came to elevate us. One came to impose his will. The other came to surrender His will to the Father. Caesar came in power. Christmas came-Jesus came-in service.

Luke 2:1–21 ESV

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 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 among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

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When Caesar comes to town...

When Caesar comes to town...

When Caesar comes to town you get what he’s selling. Peace at a very high price. Roads which facilitate commerce and cultural exchange…and which allow his troops to move with greater ease and speed. Caesar brings Governors, good order, taxes. censuses .When Caesar comes to town he stays. He takes. He rules. He bullies. He puts us all in our places. When Caesar comes to town the imperial eagle takes our freedom in the name of order.

When Caesar comes to town you get what he’s selling. Peace at a very high price. Roads which facilitate commerce and cultural exchange…and which allow his troops to move with greater ease and speed. Caesar brings Governors, good order, taxes. censuses .

When Caesar comes to town he stays. He takes. He rules. He bullies. He puts us all in our places. When Caesar comes to town the imperial eagle takes our freedom in the name of order.

When Christmas comes to town...

When Christmas comes to town...

When Christmas comes to town God arrives in person. When Christmas comes to town God approaches us as the Word made flesh. When Christmas comes to town God is born into our history to redeem that history and to redeem us. When Christmas comes to town God comes in Glory, When Christmas comes to town God proclaims release. When Christmas comes to Town God is worshipped. When Christmas comes to town we are liberated from our sins. When Christmas comes to town the cries of the baby echo the beating heart of our creator for His fallen creation.

When Christmas comes to town God arrives in person. When Christmas comes to town God approaches us in the person of the Word made flesh. When Christmas comes to town God is born into our history to redeem that history and to redeem us. When Christmas comes to town God comes in Glory, When Christmas comes to town God proclaims release. When Christmas comes to Town God is worshipped. When Christmas comes to town we are liberated from our sins. When Christmas comes to town the cries of the baby echo the beating heart of our creator for His fallen creation.

Excite: Some will wait for Santa. Others will wait on relatives. Some await the perfect gift. Others anticipate another festive holiday feast. I don't want any of you to be disappointed on December the 25th so let me state this principle of the Gospel very clearly...

Excite: Some will wait for Santa. Others will wait on relatives. Some await the perfect gift. Others anticpate another festive holiday feast. I don't want any of you to be disappointed on December the 25th so let me state this principle of the Gospel very cleary...

Explore: When Christmas really and truly comes to town God comes to town!

Explore: When Christmas really and truly comes to town God comes to town!

Explain: And when God comes to town He bears gifts...

Explain: And when God comes to town He bears gifts...

1. When Christmas comes to town we receive the gift of a

Miracle.

the gift of a Miracle.

Caesar's exploits were the works of armies and PR professionals.

Caesar's exploits were the works of armies and PR professionals.

Jesus' coming was brought about by God's purpose and Spirit at work.

Jesus' coming was brought about by God's purpose and Spirit at work.

2. When Christmas comes to town we receive the gift of

2. When Christmas comes to town we receive the gift of

Messiah.

Messiah.

City of David (Qualifications)

A Savior (What He would accomplish)

Christ (His title)

The Lord (the reality and scope of His reign)

3. When Christmas comes to town we receive the gift of an eternal

3. When Christmas comes to town we receive the gift of an eternal

Message.

Message.

Heavenly Gospel.

Rural rumor.

4. When Christmas comes to town we receive the gift of a

4. When Christmas comes to town we receive the gift of a mission.

Mission.

Let us go and see...

Let us go and see...

Let us go and tell...

Let us go and tell...

Gravitas not Sentiment.

Gravitas not Sentiment.

The traditional sceane Jesus and His folks, surrounded by shepherds fills us with nostalgic sentiment. Ahhh, just look at Him. Maybe we should remember the the tragedy which made it necessary and celebrate His comimg with the somber gravitas due a King coming in His spleandor.

The traditional scene Jesus and His folks, surrounded by shepherds fills us with nostalgic sentiment. Ahhh, just look at Him. Maybe we should remember the the tragedy which made it necessary and celebrate His coming with the somber gravitas due a King coming in His splendor.

When Christmas comes to town peace is won by His piercing. When Christmas comes to town His rustic craddle is replaced by the rugged cross. When Christmas comes to town the one the shepherds came to greet, Himself becomes the sacrificial Lamb. Come! Come All Ye Faithful! Come to the Cradle, come to the Cross, come celebrate the Lamb. Jesus completes God's work of salvation...present among us every year; When Christmas comes to town.

When Christmas comes to town

Our peace is won by His piercing.

When Christmas comes to town

His rustic cradle is replaced by the rugged cross.

When Christmas comes to town

He who shepherds greet, becomes the sacrificial Lamb.

Come! Come All Ye Faithful! Come to the Cradle, come to the Cross, come celebrate the Lamb. Jesus completes God's work of salvation…He is present among us every year; When Christmas comes to town.