Location, Location, Location !

At this moment we are located in the church. Preparations (the action or process of making ready or being made ready for use or consideration.) are close to completion.

You are in church and celebrations are underway.

I suspect gifts are purchased and may already be wrapped.

food is prepared or will be finished tomorrow.

The hustle abustle

WE: IDENTIFICATION (MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU STRUGGLE)

It may be difficult to to keep everything going. Rest will come tomorrow even when you have finished for the day. The question I have to ask you will you have missed Christmas.

In order to answer the question you will have to look at the locations of Christmas and what they mean?

GOD: ILLUMINATION (THE GOAL IS TO RESOLVE THE TENSION

I. The Location of the people who received this message.

A. Mary and the Angel

a. six months after Elizabeth became pregnant with John the Baptist

b. angel explains birth by holy spirit, Mary agrees

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[e] will be called holy—the Son of God.

36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (ESV)

B. Mary and Elizabeth

...when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

YOU: APPLICATION (TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO AND WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD)

42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy (ESV)

C. Joseph and an Angel (ESV)

a. Angel guides Joseph to take Marry as his wife

D. Rome unaware

a. tax time

E. Mary Joesph and a manger

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b] who was with child.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.[c]

F. Shepherds, Angels, and people in the area.

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!”[d]

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

II. Your location today

A. Message

B. Messengers

C. Events Life, death, and resurrection