The Key to Christmas

Places we look for the key.

Pious Posturing (v. 1-3)

Sprite - “Image is Everything”

Refer to Luke 11 - Woes on Pharisees.

If we look right we must be right.

Are people surprised that you attend church?

We can be more like chameleons than Christians - blending in instead of standing out. (Mt. 5 Salt & Light)

Power (v. 4-7)

The need for proper fear.

If we have proper fear we have proper perspective.

Gladness and Fear

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

We have become so accustomed to the idea of divine love and of God’s coming at Christmas that we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God’s coming should arouse in us. We are indifferent to the message, taking only the pleasant and agreeable out of it and forgetting the serious aspect, that the God of the world draws near to the people of our little earth and lays claim to us. The coming of God is truly not only glad tidings, but first of all frightening news for everyone who has a conscience.

Notice v 7. - Just told we should fear God. Jesus then instructs, “Fear not.”

Profession (v. 8-12)

A seeming expectation of being brought before the magistrate (v. 11)

A clear command against anxiety about this matter. (v. 11b)

Possessions (v. 13-21)

v. 15 - Life does not consist of our possessions.

“Don’t own so much clutter that you will be relieved to see your house catch fire” -Wendell Berry

What is said of the man in this story?

The neighbors vs. God

The great tragedy is not what he left behind but what he had to face…an eternity without Christ.

“Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth 'thrown in': aim at Earth and you will get neither.” C.S. Lewis, The Joyful Christian

We get so worried about the means that we forget the meaning. There is a great difference in making a living and making a life.

The Place We Should Look for the Key (v. 32-34 & 54-56)

The great promise (v. 32-34)

The Father is pleased to give us the kingdom.

Don’t be afraid if the “keys of the world” have disappointed - this key will not disappoint.

Some think God is too stingy, when, in fact, it is that we are too easily satisfied. We get distracted from the Creator by the creation.

The idea of exchanging keys.

How radically our lives would change by one simple act.

This is, in fact, God’s offer today. “Give me everything you have and I will give you everything I have.”

Let’s be clear, wanting the kingdom is NOT wanting some piece of heavenly real estate, it is longing for the company of the king.

The key to Christmas is the key for which we are all desperately looking. It is the key to God Himself, and that, after all, is the gift He is pleased to give us.

His pleasure and our treasure must match up.

We must decide (v. 54-56)

Some things are obvious.

“Horse tails” = rain in 3 days

“Thunder in Feb = Frost in April

Jesus says, “What a tragedy that you are so good at reading the signs but you are unable to discern the present moment.”

Don’t disregard this moment. Don’t disregard any moment - but especially this one. You are now responsible for what you have heard. It will not do to stand before God and say, “I didn’t know!”

Where is your heart? (v.34)

God’s heart is here.