Youth Christmas Message

Intro:

How many of you are familiar with the Christmas story? Like, when Jesus was born and the surrounding events? Most of us are…

Another question: Have you seen It’s a Charlie Brown Christmas? What’s the big question Charlie Brown asks? “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

And then Linus says, “Sure Charlie Brown. I can tell you what Christmas is all about.” And Linus quotes the following from the book of Luke...

Luke 2:8–14 ESV

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. 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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

The answer to Charlie Brown’s question is that Christmas is all about the Jesus. When the Son of God, humbled Himself and took on human flesh, and came to the earth born as a baby. We can even go a little deeper and say Christmas is also good news because Jesus the Savior was born. And some of us even know that He’s the Savior because He’d eventually die on a Cross for the sins of the world. Many of us understand this about Christmas… you may even be saying in you head, “Yes, I know. I’ve heard this 10,000 times.” But I’d like to share something today - about Christmas - that many people don’t know...

Christmas is for YOU!

Did you know it was all for YOU? Like, Christmas, the reason why it happened, the reason it exists at all… is for YOU. What do I mean? I mean that YOU were on God’s mind when He came up with this plan to save the world. Like God - looked thru time - and saw YOUR life, when YOU’D be born, what YOU’D look like, what YOU’D do - and thought, “I love them. And they I worth it. I must save them.” And Jesus coming to earth on that first Christmas is part of that plan. YOU are part of the reason for the season.

Now, you might be thinking...

“Nah, that’s not true. God doesn’t love me.”

Or, “God doesn’t even know me.”

Or maybe you’re thinking, “If you knew the things I did, I do, I think… you wouldn’t say that! There’s no way Christmas is for ME.. And if God exists, and He knows all of those things, then He gave up on me a long time ago.”

Guess what… what God also knows is we’d have trouble believing this was all for US. Which is why the Christmas story includes something very specific, but also something that often gets overlooked.

Who were the first people to hear the angels’ message that Jesus was born? The shepherds! But why? Right place, right time? No. This is strategic. God did this on purpose!

You see, shepherds were considered dirty. They were low class. Some were criminals who couldn’t get a job doing anything else. Don’t believe me? Why do you think they were so afraid when the angels first showed up?

Yes, it’s obviously because it would be super intimidating to see this supernatural angelic being appear out of nowhere.

But it’s also likely that these shepherds thought, “Oh snap. What I did finally caught up with me. And now, the angel of the Lord is here to kill me, in judgment, for all of my sins!”

Which makes sense why the angel replies...

Luke 2:10–11 ESV

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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

He’s like, “I ain’t here for that. In fact, I’m not here to judge at all! Instead, I’m here to give you good news! A Savior has come! And, He’s here for YOU!”

The reason why the angels came to the shepherds first is because God wanted everyone to know they were included.

If the news of Jesus came to the emperor first, the people may think the good news is only for the rich and elite.

If the news came to the Pharisees, then the good news is only for the religious.

If the news came to the wisemen first, then maybe it’s only for the intellectuals.

But God made sure His message of good news (the gospel) came to the lowest of lows first, so that EVERYONE knew this was for THEM… from the bottom-up!

And 2000 years later, the good news of the Christmas story is still for everyone. It’s for YOU! And this Christmas, no matter who YOU are, what YOU’VE done, what YOU’VE thought… this message is coming to YOUR ears, right now, because Jesus wants YOU to know it was all for YOU.

He loves YOU. He values YOU. He’s ready to forgive. He wants to spend eternity with YOU. That’s why He came. He came for YOU!

… but, as beautiful and amazing as that is, God has also given us something else. HE GAVE US A FREE-WILL. That means He allows us to CHOOSE. We have the ability to say YES or NO to JESUS.

We can hear the good news and say, “Fairytales. Garbage. No thanks.”

Or, we can hear it and say, “I need this. I need to be saved. I need Jesus. He came for me… and I’m ready to receive Him.”

Tonight, as we celebrate Christmas together as a Youth Group, I want you to remember that this is for YOU. He is for YOU. But, will YOU be for Him?

Response:

Some of you have already chosen to give your life to Jesus as Lord and Savior. You may be thinking, “What should I do with this message?” Two suggestions for you:

Go tell somebody else the good news. This is news God wants us to spread! Tell a friend that Christmas is all about them! That Jesus came to save them because He loves them!

But also, rejoice! Truly enjoy Christmas for what it is. Be like the angels, who, when they thought about the good news of Christmas, bursted into praise and said...

Luke 2:14 ESV

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

But for anyone here who has not decided to have Jesus as Lord and Savior… let me suggest this: Think about what was said tonight.

Before you go to bed, lay down in the quietness of the night and remember, “Christmas is for ME. Jesus is for ME.” And see how God speaks to your heart.

And when you’re ready, surrender your life to Him. Tell him... in fact let’s all close in prayer together, and if you need to pray this for the first time right now… DO SO… in your heart…say...

“God, I’m sorry for my sin. Honestly, my soul knows there is reason to be afraid about the judgment that’s coming because of my sin. But I thank you that Christmas tells me I don’t need to be afraid, because the good news has come. And that good news is if I turn from my sin and put my faith in Jesus, I will be forgiven, get a new life, and spend forever in heaven. I ready for that. In Jesus name, amen.”

Merry Christmas everyone.

Read Luke chapter 2 (give Bibles). You guys are kinda at that age when you may not have a paper-bible. If you do, it’s probably a kids one. Here’s my gift to you. And if you don’t need it, consider giving it to a friend or family member who does.