It's a Family Affair

Introduction:

Christmas is a family affair.

Some of you have family in town.

Some of you have family coming.

Some of you are counting down until your family goes back home.

Transition to the Text: As we talk about prophecies related to the coming Messiah, one thing that the OT talks about it how the Messiah will gather people from every tongue tribe and nation. That’s God’s people come from every family on Earth. The Jewish people did receive special status in God’s plan, but Jesus said, he had sheep that were not of this fold.

God’s plan included more than just the jews. They were this great big family. And...

Introduce:

Authentic Principle: Christmas is about bringing all of God’s family together.

Read:

John 12:32 ESV

32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

Isaiah 66:18 ESV

18 “For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory,

Revelation 5:9 ESV

9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

Authentic Principle: Christmas is about bringing all of God’s family together.

John 12:32 ESV

32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

1. Jesus’ sacrifice invites all people into God’s family.

Explanation: In the OT, God promised to Abraham that in him all the people’s of the world would be blessed. Whether Abraham knew exactly what that would mean we don’t know.

But we do know that the fulfillment of that promise is the cross of Jesus. The blessing was in God sending his son.

The cross breaks down the walls of the world that separate us in our little groups.

People are now invited to come as they are. Jews and gentiles alike.

Illustration: There are few things that can get the family all together. We usually get together at Holidays. But a lot of times, we still remain divided.

One thing that can help us unite as family is a funeral. Funerals have a way of helping us put aside our differences and until as family. Now Jesus’ funeral was his glory. And as he said in John 12:32

John 12:32 ESV

32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

When Jesus died, he drew all people to himself. And he made a family for himself. Of which we are a part.

Application: Because of the cross, we get to be a part of Jesus’ family.

Isaiah 66:18 ESV

18 “For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory,

2. All people are invited to see Jesus’ glory.

Explanation: Being in any family comes with family privileges. You can be privileged to know family secrets. You can share in family joy. You can even borrow your rich uncles beach house from time to time.

Being part of the family of God has it’s own privileges. In this case we get to see Jesus’ glory.

Now when Jesus was born in a manger, His glory was veiled in human flesh. Isaiah 53:1-2

Isaiah 53:1–2 ESV

1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.

Jesus’ glory was hidden from everyone. And it is revealed only to those who are His and to those who know where to look.

When you see Jesus’ glory, it’s not necessarily related to his appearance. Though when Peter, James and John saw Jesus on the mountain, they saw a bright light.

But Jesus’ true glory is the cross where He claimed victory over sin and death and purchased for himself people from every tongue tribe and nation.

Illustration: I love the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. And there is that iconic scene where they have to pick which is the holy grail. The nazi’s pick the most beautiful cup they can find and their faces melt off. Indi chooses a humble cup of a carpenter

Application:

Revelation 5:9 ESV

9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

Revelation 5:10 ESV

10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

3. All people are invited to worship the King.

Explanation: It’s helpful sometime to keep the end in mind. Heaven is going to be awesome because it will be with our true family. All those who are a part of the family of God.

There will be no one missing. And together we will spend eternity in true worship of the King.

How does John know that they are from every tongue tribe and nation? Because he sees their individual identities. He sees that race and cutlure and language aren’t done away with.

These are things that are good and pleasing.

Illustration: I love story of the grandmother who thought she was texting her grandson to make sure he was coming to thanksgiving. And the young man who received the text was not her grandson but jokingly asked if he could have a plate.

She was a white grandmother and the young man was african american. She invited him to thanksgiving that year and 6 years later he hasn’t missed one yet.

Anyone can be family.

Application: It’s easy to focus on biological family and miss the great big family connected by Jesus. Is there room at our tables for more than our biological family? What does that look like in your life.

Who can you begin to see as family!

Response: Are you a part of the family of God?

Summation:

Authentic Principle: Christmas is about bringing all of God’s family together.

1. Jesus’ sacrifice invites all people into God’s family.

2. All people are invited to see Jesus’ glory.

3. All people are invited to worship the King.

Response: Are you a part of the family of God?

Closing Illustration:

I remember watching a pretty popular TV show where some Friends were throwing another friend a bridal shower for her upcoming wedding. And as the party is going on and everyone is having fun, they look around and realize: where’s the bride to be?

In the hustle and bustle of planning this elaborate bridal shower, they forgot to invite the bride. It’s funny because it’s outlandish. Would literally never happen.

But that’s exactly what many do with regard to Christmas.

We have these elaborate family traditions. From starting to decorate to taking decorations down (hopefully by easter).

To what you eat on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. To whose house we go to first. To watching the NBA’s slew of games.

But it’s amazing to me that we can have these huge family affairs and even in Christian families, outside of a Christmas Eve service (if we can fit it in) and whichever Sunday is closest to Christmas, how is your Christmas any different that the someone who’s in it for Santa and presents.

As Christians, lets consider how we can truly make Christmas all about Jesus.

Let’s pray.

Week 17 of 2020-2021 Sermon Series: Family Traditions: It’s a Family Affair

John 12:20-32; Isaiah 66:18; Revelation 5:9-10

Authentic Principle: CHRISTMAS is about bringing all of God’s FAMILY together.

1. Jesus’ SACRIFICE invites all people into God’s FAMILY.

2. All PEOPLE are invited to see Jesus’ GLORY.

3. All PEOPLE are invited to WORSHIP the King.

Response: Are you a PART of the FAMILY of God?

Opening Discussion:

What makes someone family? How important is your family to you life? How do you involved family around the Christmas season?

Sermon:

How are the Greeks, who want to see Jesus, connected to the family of God?

Why is it important to understand that Jesus died to make a family made up of people from every, tongue, tribe and nation?

How does Isaiah’s prophecy show God’s plan was always to create a family from every tongue, tribe and nation? Why do you think that the Jewish people got this so wrong?

How does John describe the results of the cross in Revelation 5:9-10?

What are some observations you can make about the description of the worship in Revelation 5:9?

Application:

Have you ever assumed that someone wouldn’t be interested in Jesus? Why is this the wrong attitude?

How can knowing that Jesus is the savior of the whole world motivate us to share the gospel with as many people as possible?

How can seeing ourselves as part of God’s plan which began long before Jesus help us to see ourselves as part of a bigger story and a bigger family?

When we consider what heaven will be like, how can we bring a little bit of heaven into our present day Christmas traditions?

How would your life be different if you saw yourself as part of the big family of God?