Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION:

What defines a true celebration of Christmas?

Christmas is a an odd holiday because it is a Christian holiday in which most Americans celebrate,

ironically without Christ.

In irony, they celebrate Christmas of a Christ

they don't believe in

and some even hate.

The lost world

puts up Christmas lights,

Christmas trees,

they bake yummy cookies,

they gather with family,

and exchange gifts.

They Sing Carols without Christ.

Sadly all while missing the greatest gift they could ever receive.

All while celebrating a Christmas without Christ.

However,

The Christmas for the Christian is distinctly different.

While the tree is the center of Christmas for many,

Jesus Christ is the center of the Christian's Christmas.

It is one of the many ways stand out in this world.

The Christmas story is about God meeting our greatest need in our darkest hour through a baby named Jesus.

Why should Jesus be the center of our Christmas?

John 1:1-3

Why should Jesus be the center of our Christmas?

Every one of us need Jesus to be the center of our Christmas

And John gives us 3 reasons why we need that.

CLARIFICATION:

The Gospel of John is different from Luke and Matthew in how it introduces us to Jesus.

Luke and Matthew introduces the Jesus by giving us the story of his birth.

John introduces us to Jesus by describing him as the Word.

How do we know that the word described in this passage is in fact Jesus?

Look a little farther down in your Bibles,

because John clearly links Jesus as the word that he's describing in these verses.

I love the way DA Carson describes John’s use of the Word,

In short, God's "Word" in the Old Testament is his powerful self-expression in creation, revelation and salvation, and the personification of that "Word" makes it suitable for John to apply it as the title to God's ultimate self-disclosure, the person of his own son.

(D.A. Carson, PNTC)

John powerfully describes Jesus as the Word in which he discloses his own son.

Why does everyone of us need Jesus to be the center of our Christmas?

It is because

The first reason -

First, because of -

1) The Godship of the Word - The Reason Jesus Matters.

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ILLUSTRATION:

I am going to pick on the Army this Christmas

The common mistakes of the Army is to confuse an army captain with the Navy Capt.

The Navy Capt.

calls up an army officer,

says I am Capt.

so-and-so, please call me back when you can.

Too often that army officer will neglect that Navy Capt.,

until he gets a nasty gram and realizes that a captain in the Navy is equivalent to a colonel in the Army.

Many times in life,

our priorities are set based on who someone is.

An army officer might ignore an army captain,

but he will regret ignoring a Navy Capt.

In many ways it's that way with Jesus.

Certainly every life is precious,

but at the same time many babies are born.

Why do we celebrate this one?

Why does this one demand our attention?

Because of who he is.

(ESV)

1) The Godship of the Word

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

This text teaches us that –

a) He was before the universe was created.

Jesus pre-existed the

creation of the stars,

and the forming of the ocean...

He preexisted everything that was made.

(ESV)

1) The Godship of the Word

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

b) He Existed in the Presence of God.

What this passage teaches is that alongside the God the father,

was the Word.

To be with God is to have a close relationship with God.

One of the reasons Israel Knew that the Lord was there God was

because the glory cloud was in the camp.

God's presence with Israel assured them that they had a relationship with God.

The Word was in close fellowship with God.

The word was in close fellowship with God.

Now the next point

- We can almost build a case for it without John saying that the Word was God.

If the word preexisted creation,

and was in close relationship with God,

… Then you would have to conclude that the word is God.

c) He was and is God.

(ESV)

1) The Godship of the Word

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Jesus was neither a good person nor a crazy man… Jesus was God.

Jesus was neither a good person nor a crazy man… Jesus was God.

CAVEAT:

Not a God like Jehovah's Witnesses's say,

this text clearly communicates that he was the God.