ORDINARY PEOPLE: EXTRAORDINARY GIFT

Introduction

What does this humorous video tell us about the glory of Christmas?

Christ's birth is an extraordinary gift offered to anyone willing to accept it

GOD’S GIFT IS EXTRAORDINARY

Our “Mary” in the video recognized that the Good Shepherd is able to carry her burdens. The Good Shepherd — He not only can carry you…He wants to carry you. The idea that God loves us that much is extraordinary…it is a weighty concept.

Do not allow the frenzy of the season rob you of the glory of Christmas

The Good Shepherd can carry you through the burden that this season can place upon you.

Decorating, shopping, baking, figuring out how to see people during this crazy virus

His desire is for you to encounter Him, first and foremost, this season

He has things in mind for you that you probably are not aware of

God might change your plans in favor of His plans - don’t be surprised

The “Mary” in the video was 31 weeks pregnant — an unexpected blessing.

Two kids in college and one in the womb — this was not the plan Mary and her husband had counted on

Can you imagine the weight of coming to grips with letting go of her plans?

Discover the glory of Christmas by letting go of your plans in favor of God’s plan for your life

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

It is not wrong to plan — it is wise…but be flexible and trust God

Mary’s plans changed drastically that day when the angel of the Lord presented her with a new set of plans for her life…plans that would lead to the glory of that first Christmas in Bethlehem.

Luke 1:26–28 NIV

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary could have argued and worried. She chose to trust and wait on the Lord over the next 9 months to fulfill His plan

Sometimes His plans seem crazy — they are plans for good…to give you a hope and a future. Let Him carry you.

Transition: God’s extraordinary gift includes the wonderful fact that He chose you

GOD’S GIFT: HE CHOSE YOU

God uses the most unlikely people to do the most incredible things

When He uses imperfect people to fulfill His perfect plan, that leads to great glory for Himself

In Genesis 12-22 God calls Abram to leave his country and follow Him to a place He would reveal along the way

The entire book of Exodus is about God using a stutterer named Moses to be the mouthpiece of God before Pharaoh

David is the greatest hero of the faith for many people…but His life has some serious issues

Through the line of David a Savior would be born in the City of David

And then there was Joseph, Mary’s fiance - God used Him!

Matthew 1:18–21 NIV

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

The guy who played “Joseph” in the video was probably nothing at all like the real Joseph in the Bible. Nevertheless, he was similar in the fact that he was not qualified either

Director: “I understand that Joseph is radically under-qualified for all he’s about to encounter. But isn’t this the type of people God uses? The most unlikely folks to do the biggest things. It seems like those are the ones He always picks because He is a God who will never give up on us.”

We are all radically under-qualified to do what God places before us to do - but God will qualify you

Transitional: Not only did God choose you — the same gift is for everyone

GOD’S GIFT IS FOR EVERYONE

God’s gift is for everyone, everywhere, no matter what - even stinky shepherds

Luke 2:8–15 NIV

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

All means everyone

God’s intention is that nobody gets left out

God sent Jesus to be the Savior born to rescue everyone

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

All that know Christ are entrusted with a message to share

The shepherd in the video said, “God asked me to be the keeper of the most important message that’s ever been kept.”

If you know Jesus, you have been entrusted with the most important message in history — (The Great Commission)

The glorious message of Christmas has been entrusted to first century shepherds, 21st century dads, moms, grandparents, children, teens, and people from all walks of life.

Every person that has put his or her faith, hope, and trust in Jesus for salvation has been entrusted and commissioned as ambassadors of Jesus, compelled by His love to share the greatest story ever told,

CHALLENGE

Christ's birth is an extraordinary gift offered to anyone willing to accept it

Will you let the Good Shepherd carry you along the changing landscape of different seasons in your life?

Will you trust Him?

Will you choose to relax and breathe in His presence?

Will you look at the glory of Christmas with new eyes and a lighter heart?

Do you feel radically under-qualified to do what is on your plate, in a way that gives glory to God this Christmas?

Afraid about the future?

Feel inadequate to care for your family like you think you should?

Feel like you are in a dead-end job?

Stretched between caring for kids and aging parents or grandparents?

Feel misunderstood?

Feel burned by something posted or said about you?

Feel in over your head with responsibilities you don’t know how to handle?

You are exactly the kind of person God desires to use for His glory this Christmas season

Don’t give up — He will never give up on you

He is with you and for you

How will you respond to the glory of Christmas?

Who will be the next person you with whom you share such an extraordinary gift this Christmas?