Christmas Is In The Heart, Not In A Tree (2)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Christmas Is In The Heart, Not In A Tree
Christmas Is In The Heart, Not In A Tree
Thus saith the Lord,
Learn not the way of the heathen,
And be not dismayed at the signs of heaven;
For the heathen are dismayed at them.
For the customs of the people are vain:
For one cutteth a tree out of the forest,
The work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
: 2-3
Thus saith the Lord,
Learn not the way of the heathen,
And be not dismayed at the signs of heaven;
For the heathen are dismayed at them.
For the customs of the people are vain:
For one cutteth a tree out of the forest,
The work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
They deck it with silver and with gold;
They fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
Introduction:
Introduction:
On way to church, we past a Christmas tree farm. You can take your family, and pick your own tree and cut it down yourself.
The Christmas tree is an important symbol to most people, it certainly adds quite a bit of spirit to the home, and the grandkids love it:
It’s a blast watching our kids, change the ornaments around so, theirs would be in front of their siblings. It brings back memories of Christmas past.
Let me say at the onset, there is certainly nothing wrong with having a Christmas tree.
The only thing that would make it wrong is if you were to worship it as an idol.
My message this morning has to do with what Christmas is and what it is not.
Allow me to mention a few things as we look at our outline this morning:
I. My first point is: “Christmas IS NOT IN A TREE”
I. My first point is: “Christmas IS NOT IN A TREE”
A. For most people, the Christmas tree, the lights, the tinsel, and all the things that go along with decorating for Christmas…these things are much of what makes Christmas important to people.
B. Of course we as Christians know that when the last of the tree lights our taken down, we have something far more important that remains with us throughout the year. We have the Light of the World!
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
II. My second point is: “Christmas Is Not In The Gifts We Exchange With One Another”
II. My second point is: “Christmas Is Not In The Gifts We Exchange With One Another”
I have a confession to make, I like opening presents…the more the better, and being the pastor I should get more.
It does have to be a whole lot, but just the anticipation of finding out what is inside of a package…that’s a lot of fun.
If your children were like mine.
as soon as you left the house they were under the tree unwrapping a end so they could see what they where getting.
I sometimes triple wrap things just to aggravate them.
The sad truth of the matter is that most people think Christmas is just about giving and receiving a gift:
Illustration: “Our whole society is focused on the celebration of Christmas. With the excessive commercialism which begins in our country immediately after Halloween (Once it start the day after Thanksgiving), with the secular gaiety and extravagant glitz, with the efforts to sanctify profit making as the “Reason for the Season.”
Christ is often ignored. The mystery of God-in-the flesh tends to become a mere stimulus for our economy.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 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.
The tragedy of all tragedies would be this: That any man, women, boy or girl opens all their gifts this Christmas and neglect the most important gift of all, Jesus:
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
: 16
III. My third point is: Christmas Is Not A Religious Celebration
III. My third point is: Christmas Is Not A Religious Celebration
I want to remind you, there were religious people who crucified Jesus!
Religion never saved anyone.
The world doesn’t mind a little religion at Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving.
As long as we keep Jesus Christ out of the picture.
As long Jesus is made to be just some mythical, impersonal charter.
Many well-meaning people will experience the religion of this holiday without ever having experienced Jesus Christ.
Quote: “Ready or Not: “The Return of Christmas”
“S
“Society has never really wanted the incarnation. “Our Emanuel, God with us .” Society wants the cute religious stuff, rustic stables, adoring shepherds, fluffy white sheep, cows, donkeys, holy family, the infant Jesus, gift bearing wisemen, Christmas star, angels, Santa, reindeer’s, fir trees, holly, and presents. The pagan stuff they will retain. The marketplace will also retain some of the traditional hymns, but in upbeat arrangements that removes them from the realm of traditional worship.”
Jesus is not interested in religion or traditions.
He only interested in whether you know Him or not.
One can certainly celebrate religious aspect of Christmas without including Jesus Christ!
Most will, but Christmas is not a religious celebration.
IV. My fourth point is: Christmas Is In The Heart
IV. My fourth point is: Christmas Is In The Heart
For our heart shall rejoice in him,
Because we have trusted in his holy name.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in him, and I am helped:
Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth;
And with my song will I praise him.
: 7
For our heart shall rejoice in him,
Because we have trusted in his holy name.
Create in me a clean heart, O God;
And renew a right spirit within me.
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies,
And that seek him with the whole heart.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
We know that a heart without Jesus Christ is spiritually dead.
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
,
Ezekiel 36
2. The reason most people see only the commercial side of Christmas is that their heart has never been changed toward Christ:
Illustration: Do you remember how it was before you became a Christian? We sang all the Christmas carols right along with everyone else. We attended the school Christmas programs, set up the manger scene at home, but we only went through the motions. When Christmas was over, our thoughts of Jesus Christ were put away in a box of tinsel. Why? Our hearts were spiritually dead! (Aren’t you glad Jesus changed your Heart?)
3. The joy of Christmas is in the hearts of every child of God.
a. Our hearts are no longer dead.
b. We have been given light.
c. The Son of God has shined light in our hearts.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
: 6-7
Quote: “He who has not Christmas in his heart, will never find it under a tree.”
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
: 16-19
As I Close: Remember, Christmas Is In The Heart; Not In A Tree
As I Close: Remember, Christmas Is In The Heart; Not In A Tree
I want to ask you to come up front this morning:
If you have never invited Jesus Christ into your heart.
Maybe you have allowed your heart to become cold.
I want you to come and pray for your love ones who are unsaved.
Maybe this Christmas will be the Christmas they come to Jesus!