Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Passage:

Luke 2:1–20 (NLT)

1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.

4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home.

He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.

5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.

7 She gave birth to her firstborn son.

She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.

9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them.

They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them.

“Don’t be afraid!” he said.

“I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.

11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem!

Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph.

And there was the baby, lying in the manger.

17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.

20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.

It was just as the angel had told them.

Focus Statement

Through the gift of Jesus Christ, God makes the IMPOSSIBLE

forgiveness and salvation

POSSIBLE

Point of Relation

When I was growing up, I was like most boys in that I wanted a girlfriend and...

Given my not being a very popular kid in school, I never really had many.

Yet, I think what I really wanted was a companion, a best-friend, someone to share and receive love with...

And we all know THAT kind of a romantic relationship in 7th through 12th grades...is not really likely to happen.

Maturity levels and life-experiences change and those relationships mostly remain as memories from the past…fond or otherwise.

Miraculously, though, just a relatively short time after graduating, I met Bernadette...

who literally was a gift from God to me.

In Bernadette,

I have a best friend, a partner, the mother of our children and just a wonderful person all around.

I consider myself such a blessed person because of Bernadette and my children and family.

Things to Consider

Have you received an impossible gift or given an impossible gift?

What feelings did that stir up for you?

Maybe impossible means extremely generous, something you thought would never be possible, something completely unexpected.

You might think of different ways a gift could be seen as “impossible”.

What Scripture Says

God gives the impossible gift of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus.

Through the gift of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ,

we now have the realized hope of lives filled with peace, hope, love, and joy.

FIRST: God brings the gift of life in the midst of the mundane and routine.

During the chaos of the census,

Jesus enters the world.

Just like during our current chaotic reality,

GOD IS WITH US!

Just like during the mundane routines of our lives where we forget who we are and WHOSE we are:

GOD IS WITH US!

So often we romanticize the story of that first Christmas

because our perspective allows us to see it

as a time when God did something new and incredible.

However, if we really think about what was happening in the world and in the lives of Mary and Joseph,

there was nothing that made their circumstances any more likely to receive God’s gift than ours.

They faced a lot of real-life challenges.

God does the seemingly impossible for us here and now too,

by giving us the gift of new and eternal life no matter what our circumstances.

That is the point – God gave of Godself to give us the impossible gift of divine presence here in the middle of our mundane, routine, and sometimes chaotic lives.

SECOND: As we are reminded in John 3:16,

God loves the world so much that God gave God’s son.

What is God asking us to give?

The shepherds and the angels could not wait to share the news of Jesus’ birth.

In response God’s impossible gift of God’s own self in Jesus,

they gave their testimony of what they saw

so that all they met would be able to “be amazed” (vs 18)

and share in the gift too.

How do we tell others about God’s gift of Jesus?

Pause

THIRD:

Mary pondered,

the shepherds proclaimed,

Joseph was silent.

They all responded in different ways to this seemingly impossible gift.

This gives us permission and space to respond differently too.

Some of us might be more contemplative at Christmas times,

where others are celebrating loudly,

and yet others might not have anything to say at all.

God’s gift does not depend on our response; it will always be there.

I want to encourage you to reflect on how you are receiving and responding to God’s gift of Jesus in this season.

Pause

What This Means for You

Have you struggled with responding to an unexpected gift?

Did you share it on social media or send pictures to family and friends?

This gift of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ

is being offered to you.

How will you respond?

Will you accept this gift?

Will you share this gift?

How will you share it?

For example, you can invite someone who is alone to join you for Christmas.

You could share with people the reason for your joy,

Through Christian-centered Greeting Cards...

Though hugs...

Through sharing your faith story with others...