Sermon Tone Analysis

Last Sunday of the Year

Matt.

2:2

Matt.

We have had a pretty amazing December haven’t we?

I love how we have been taking time to look at the special season of Advent and trying to slow down all the chaos of this season.

Today is the last Sunday of the year.

2019 has brought lots of blessings and brokenness, but we have sure seen that God is good and that He is still in control.

I know this fact alone helpes me rest well at night.

[Show Christmas Eve Service Welcome video.]

[Optional: Show the Kids’ Advent Series promotional video.

If the children

Jan. - Funerals & Salvations

in your church will be doing the lessons based on the major motion picture The

Star, you may also want to show the weekly movie clip for the whole

Feb. - Celebrated 6 months together

Mar. - ABM - Celebrated - ministry blessings of the previous year

congregation to enjoy together.]

Apr. - Baptism of 5 people

May - Mother’s Day

June - VBS - Refreshing outreach and 35 volunteers!

Father’s Day

Jul. - YB 1 Had 5 of our youth come into a fresh encounter with God

Aug. - Flower Service - honored those who were once part of this congregation

Sept. - Beginning of ministry year - Ladies retreat with a great refreshing time in God’s Presence

Oct. - Solitary Refinemint - persecuted church Supperbowl Outreach voluntering

Nov. - Bless Israel Breakfast & Community Coats Give Away

Dec. - Christmas Banquet & Christmas Pagents and programs

It’s been a year to bring honor and blessing to God.

These are a few highlights and this morning we need to take the time to express out thankfulness for what He has done this year.

What has He done for you?

How would you like to bless Him this coming year or be used?

[Take time to let people share]

Anticipation

It is hard to believe that this year is drawing to an end and we will soon close another Christmas.

Welcome and Merry Christmas!

Tomorrow is the day, the big day,

We had someone in our house wide awake on Wednesday morning at 5:30 am.

Bursting with anticipation of the things awaiting her under the Christmas tree.

Thinking about the level of anticipation and wonder of our precious children on Christmas morning made me think why are we not as children of God waiting with wonder and anticipation of the things that await us in the coming year?

Christmas Day!

As if any of you little ones needed any reminding, right?

We are

This past month we have spoken about the journey and observance of Christmas and focusing and reflecting on Christ’s coming.

We need to be reminded this morning that he is coming again.

His coming to earth that first Christmas long ago was unlike no other event in history.

so glad you’ve joined us this evening to mark this special time.

Yes, we all know

tomorrow is Christmas, but I’d like to point out that tomorrow marks the

I’d like to point out that Christmas marks the culmination of a journey and observance we’ve been taking together over the last

culmination of a journey and observance we’ve been taking together over the last

His eventual triumphant return to earth to complete God’s ultimate work of

month.

Ours has been a journey of Advent as we’ve been focusing and reflecting

on Christ’s coming—His coming to earth on that first Christmas long ago and His

eventual triumphant return to earth to complete God’s ultimate work of

redemption is something that will be something that will overwhelm us as well.

Each week during Advent we have followed the star guiding us toward Jesus

as it guided those wise seekers toward Him long ago.

This morning I would like us to pause and reflect and allow ourselves to be drawn into that story that changed the world on that ancient night and that still continues to this day.

and reflect and allow ourselves to be drawn into that story that changed the world

on that ancient night and that still continues to this day.

Don’t you love a good story?

As Newfoundlanders we love a good tale.

We love hearing stories of God’s goodness and what a difference He has made in our lives.

That is why we have incorporated testimony time in our services.

How many of us have sat around during Christmas and heard tales of Christmases past?

fireplace on Christmas Eve and heard tales of Christmases past?

The traditions

The traditions and family time surrounding holidays can bring that unique opportunity to retell and listen to the stories that form the tapestry of our lives.

and family time surrounding holidays can bring that unique opportunity to retell

and listen to the stories that form the tapestry of our lives.

Throughout the world, stories have been the means of preserving history,

passing along beliefs and values, inspiring, entertaining, and motivating us.

Stories move us.

Shared stories connect us and link us to each other.

They bring

meaning to our lives and help make sense of our experiences.

Good stories are

messy, full of conflict, suspenseful and moving.

They are filled with victory and

defeat, struggle and triumph, fear and courage, conflict and love.

They draw us

into bigger and broader story lines and they make us curious about the

storyteller.

This morning, we gather to tell and retell the story of the most epic journey ever.

tell their stories when they meet up on the trail.

Their stories are as diverse as

the characters who tell them, but they all contain the elements of where they

have been, where they are now, and where they are going.

The epic hike they

are on deserves an epic story to recount its history, the progress made, and the

expectations of what is to come.

And as we gather tonight on the eve of

Christmas, we gather to tell and retell the story of the most epic journey ever.

The story of the journey of God to earth that changed the world forever.

There is

no greater storyteller, with no more powerful story, than God’s story of love and

redemption for the world.

In that spirit, I’d like us to imagine that we are outside, somewhere wild

and open, maybe on a mountaintop, maybe in a sweeping meadow set against a