Sermon, Dec. 20, 2009: “What Christmas Reveals to Us about God”

Hey, sorry for the delay in getting the sermons here on the site. The holidays were extra busy! Anyway, here’s the one from December 20. I hope it’s a blessing to you. The sermon notes follow.

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What Christmas Reveals to Us about God”

The Christmas story—Mary giving birth to a baby boy who was really God in human flesh—is a favorite of almost everyone. (Even people who don’t follow Jesus!) It reminds us that Jesus was a human being, just as we are. He came to earth to die for my sins, so I could live.

Christmas also tells us some wonderful things about God. Today, let’s look at what the birth of the Son of God shows us about our heavenly Father.

1. God’s timing is perfect (Gal. 4:4-5)
**1st: God is in control of history: God made sure that Jesus would be born at the right time & in the right place.
fulfilled prophecy
spread of the gospel (Rom. 15:19, 24)
God used the mighty Roman empire to accomplish His will.

**2nd: Jesus came at the right time—we were powerless to do anything to save ourselves. (Rom. 5:6-8, Is. 9:2)
Jesus is the ultimate proof of God’s love (Eph. 2:4-5)

2. God cares about outsiders/people the world has forgotten.
The first 2 groups He told about Jesus’ birth were not “important,” “respectable” folks.
Shepherds (Lk. 2:8-10) People thought shepherds were dishonest & untrustworthy.
Wise Men (Mt. 2:1-2) Magi (Wise Men) were priests in an eastern religion. They studied stars for news of important events.
Ministry of Jesus reveals His love for people that society rejected: women/disabled/poor/Gentiles
When God saves us, He changes us from outsiders into His family (Eph. 2:19, 1 Peter 2:10)

3. God uses small things to change the world
Mistake of the Wise Men: they expected the King of the Jews to be born in a palace.
God doesn’t work the way we do! (Micah 5:2, Luke 2:7)
God takes small things & makes them great. (Examples: Gideon, Abraham, Moses, 12 disciples, 120 in upper room at Pentecost)
In Bible, God used little things (in the world’s eyes) to accomplish great things. He still does! (1 Cor. 1:26-29)

Application: What does this mean for me?
1. You can trust God to handle your “stuff.” It makes no sense to keep trying to do things your way—God is able, and willing, to work in the hardest places of your life.

2. There’s nothing too small/insignificant for God to save & use. In fact, He specializes in using people/families/churches that others have given up on.

3. God made the birth of Jesus known—to shepherds and Wise Men. They came to Jesus to see what God was doing. God is still at work—His work in us begins when we come to Jesus.

Questions
1. Are there areas in your life where you are trying to fix things yourself? This is the time to give up control of your life & turn to Jesus. He is the King—the only One who can lead us.

2. Are you willing to trust God to use you for His work? Mary was. Joseph was. Are you?

3. Are we ready/willing to proclaim Jesus as loudly and clearly as the angels did that night?