This Christmas
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The Christmas Story
In Song…
We came today to celebrate the real meaning of Chrismas. For many, the focus will be on the trimmings of Christmas shopping, decorating, cooking and the giving and receiving of gifts. So we came this afternoon as a reminder that Christmas is about Chirst!
We in the houshold of faith love to think of Jesus Christ as a baby in a manger. While the birth of Christ is a special and miraculous event, that’s not the whole story, the central truth of the Christmas story is this: the Child of Christmas is God with us!
Christmas is not just about the Savior's infancy; it is about His deity. The humble birth of Jesus Christ was never intended to conceal the reality that God was being born into the world.
But the modern world's version of Christmas does just that. And consequently for the greater part of humanity, Christmas has no legitimate meaning at all. Thus Christmas has been reduced to Santa Claus, reindeer, and credit cards!
I wonder for a moment if we could once again turn our attention to what it means for God to be born in a manger. How does one explain the Almighty stooping to become a tiny infant? Our minds cannot begin to understand what was involved in God's becoming man.
Nor can anyone explain how God could become a baby. Yet He did. Without forsaking His divine nature or diminishing His deity, He was born into our world as a tiny infant.
He was fully human, with all the needs and emotions that are common to us all. Yet He was also fully God--all wise and all powerful.
For nearly 2,000 years, debate has been raging about who Jesus really is. Cults and skeptics have offered various explanations. They'll say He is one of many gods, a created being, a high angel, a good teacher, a prophet, and so on. The common thread of all such theories is that they make Jesus less than God. But the biblical evidence is overwhelming that this child in the manger was the incarnation of God.
Isn’t it amazing how God used ordinary world events to fulfill His Plan of Salvation?
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
1. Go tell it on the mountain page 92 key of C
Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens,
There shone a holy light:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Down in a lowly manger the humble
Christ was born, and brought us God's
Salvation that blessed Christmas morn'
Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born…
Narrative:
You see it was this natural event that forced Joseph to go to Bethlehem, from Galilee out of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David…
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)[1]
2. O little town of Bethlehem #90 in the key of C
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel…
Narrative:
Next we find the most unlikly place for the birth of the King of Kings!
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
3. Silent Night
Silent Night! Key of C
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
��Narrative:
Next there was an unbelievable appearance of a real angel to ordinary shepards.
Closer to the time of Jesus, when urban life was more developed, shepherds may also have lived in or near villages. They had the right to let their flocks feed in the nearby pastures and would have been hired by landowners who needed help to harvest their fields. When food supplies got scarce near the villages, shepherds would move their herds to mountain pastures in the hot summer, or to warmer valleys in the winter.
A shepherd’s life was not easy. Shepherds spent most of their time outside watching over the herd, no matter what the weather. They often slept near their flock to protect it from robbers or wild animals. The shepherd’s tools and weapons were a rod, a staff, and a sling. Each night, the shepherds would gather their flocks into places called “sheepfolds.” These could be stone walls made by the shepherds or natural enclosures, such as a cave. Shepherds used their rod to help count their animals each evening when they brought them into the fold and again in the morning when they left for the pastures.
The angel’s appearance: Reflected the glory of the Lord
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
b. His message: Was reassuring—good news
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
1) A proclamation: The Messiah’s birth
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
2) A charge: Visit the child
3) A sign: The location & dress of the child
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
4. Oh come all ye faithful
# Oh, come, all ye faithful, Page 93
Joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels;
Oh, come, let us adore him;
Oh, come, let us adore him;
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord.
2. — Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation;
— Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!
Glory to God,
Glory in the highest;
Oh, come, let us adore him;
Oh, come, let us adore him;
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord.
3. — Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
— Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n.
Son of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing;
Oh, come, let us adore him;
Oh, come, let us adore him;
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ, the Lord.
Narrative:
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
5. Hark the herald angels sing
Hark the helrald Angels sing key of C#
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ, by highest heav'n adored:
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the favored one.
Veil'd in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail, th'incarnate Deity:
Pleased, as man, with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail! the heav'n born Prince of peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Narrative:
The excited shepherds seeking evidence
a. They immediately decided to visit
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
b. They rushed to see
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
c. They excitedly shared the message
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
d. They caused a stir
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
6. Jesus O what a wonderful Child
Jesus, Jesus
Oh
What a wonderful child
Jesus, Jesus
So lowly meek and mild
New life, new hope
New joy He brings
Won't you listen
To the angels sing
Glory, glory, glory
To the new born King
Jesus, Jesus
Oh
What a wonderful child
Jesus, Jesus
So lowly meek and mild
New life, new hope
New joy He brings
Won't you listen
To the angels sing
Glory, glory, glory
To the new born King
He was herald
By the angels
Born
In a lowly manger
The virgin Mary
Was His mother
And Joseph
Was his earthly father
Three wise men
Came from afar
They were guided
Bby a shining star
To see King Jesus
Where He lay
In a manger
Filled with hay
Jesus, Jesus
Oh
What a wonderful child
Jesus, Jesus
So lowly meek and mild
Oh new life, new hope
New joy He brings
Won't you listen
To the angels sing
Glory
To the new born King
Oh, Jesus
Jesus
Mary's baby
Lamb of God
Heavenly Child
Jesus
Jesus
I Love Him
Oh, Jesus
All Mighty God
King of kings
Oh Jesus
Oh Jesus
Oh, oh, oh, Jesus
Wonderful
Wonderful one
Oh, oh
Oh, Jesus
Oh, Jesus
Son of God
Oh, Jesus
Glory
To the new born King
Yeah
7. This Christmas
Hang all the mistletoe
I'm gonna get to know you better
This Christmas
And as we trim the tree
How much fun it's gonna be together
This Christmas
Fireside is blazing bright,
We're caroling through the night
And this Christmas will be
A very special Christmas for me
Presents and cards are here
My world is filled with cheer and you
This Christmas
And as I look around,
Your eyes outshine the town they do
This Christmas
Fireside is blazing bright
We're caroling through the night
And this Christmas will be
A very special Christmas for me, yeah
Shake a hand, shake a hand now
Emm, fireside is blazing bright
We're caroling through the night
And this Christmas will be
A very special Christmas for me, ye
[1] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). The Gospel according to Luke (p. 34). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.