Christmas 2012Christmas 2012

The Gift Is…Generous

"Here in my car"Here in my carI feel safest of allI feel safest of all

I can lock all my doorsI can lock all my doorsIt's the only way to live in cars"It's the only way to live in cars"

- Gary Numan- Gary Numan

God gave it to meGod gave it to meSo I could give it awaySo I could give it away

God's best giftsGod's best giftsAre Are inconvenientinconvenient

But worth itBut worth it

The Gift was designedThe Gift was designedto be Given Awayto be Given Away

It doesn't work right…It doesn't work right…

It doesn't work right…It doesn't work right…

And we And we knowknow it it

Every single:Every single:

CultureCulturePeople-groupPeople-group

VillageVillage

Touched or UntouchedTouched or Untouched

Why do we need Christmas?Why do we need Christmas?

Why do we need Christmas?Why do we need Christmas?

Wrecked…Wrecked…

For as by the one man's disobedience For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the many were made sinners, so by the the one man's obedienceone man's obedience the many the many

will be made righteouswill be made righteous- Romans 5:19- Romans 5:19

God creates a peopleGod creates a people

Hopes + Dreams= The PromiseHopes + Dreams= The Promise

Zechariah and ElizabethZechariah and Elizabeth(Like Abraham and Sarah)(Like Abraham and Sarah)

Zechariah and ElizabethZechariah and Elizabeth

Mary and JosephMary and Joseph

It's an It's an excitingexciting time! time!

In those days a decree went out from In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the should be registered. This was the

first registration when Quirinius was first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be governor of Syria. And all went to be

registered, each to his own town.registered, each to his own town.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to to

the city of David, the city of David, which is called which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house Bethlehem, because he was of the house

and lineage of David, to be registered and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,with Mary, his betrothed,

who was with child.who was with child.

Prophecy: Prophecy:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among though you are small among

the clans of Judah,the clans of Judah,out of you will come for meout of you will come for me

one who will be ruler over Israel, one who will be ruler over Israel,whose origins are from of old,whose origins are from of old,

from ancient times” from ancient times”- Micah 5:2 (Jer. 23:5- David)- Micah 5:2 (Jer. 23:5- David)

- Not easy- Not easy- Not convenient- Not convenient

- Not just about Mary and Joseph- Not just about Mary and Joseph

And while they were there, the time came And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and to her firstborn son and wrapped him in wrapped him in

swaddling cloths and laid him in a swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger,manger, because there was no place because there was no place

for them in the inn.for them in the inn.

The Gift is about moreThe Gift is about moreThan just Mary and JosephThan just Mary and Joseph

And in the same region there were And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping shepherds out in the field, keeping

watch over their flock by night.watch over their flock by night.

And an angel of the Lord appeared to And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone them, and the glory of the Lord shone

around them, and they were filled around them, and they were filled with great fear.with great fear.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of for behold, I bring you good news of

great joy that will be for great joy that will be for allall the people." the people."

For unto you is born this day in the city For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, of David a Savior, who is who is

Christ the Lord.Christ the Lord.

And this will be a sign for you: you will And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby find a baby wrapped in swaddling wrapped in swaddling

cloths cloths and and lying lying in a manger.”in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host a multitude of the heavenly host

praising God and saying,praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest, and “Glory to God in the highest, and

on earth peace to men on earth peace to men on on whom his favor rests”whom his favor rests”

Peace on earth?Peace on earth?

Goodwill towards men?Goodwill towards men?

"…I bring you good news of great joy "…I bring you good news of great joy that will be for that will be for allall the people." the people."

"on earth peace to men "on earth peace to men on on whom his favor rests"whom his favor rests"

The Gift was designedThe Gift was designedto be Given Awayto be Given Away

When the angels went away fromWhen the angels went away fromthem into heaven, the shepherds them into heaven, the shepherds

said to one another, said to one another,

“Let us go over to Bethlehem “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, and see this thing that has happened,

which the Lord has made which the Lord has made known to us.”known to us.”

And they went with haste and found And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby Mary and Joseph, and the baby

lying in a manger.lying in a manger.

And when they saw it, And when they saw it, they made they made knownknown the saying that had been told the saying that had been told

them concerning this child. them concerning this child. And all who And all who heard itheard it wondered at what the wondered at what the

shepherds told them.shepherds told them.

But Mary treasured up all these But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. things, pondering them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising Godglorifying and praising God for all for all

they had heard and seen, they had heard and seen, as it had been told themas it had been told them

- Luke 2:1-20- Luke 2:1-20

The Gift was designedThe Gift was designedto be Given Awayto be Given Away

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, behold, wise men wise men from the east came from the east came

to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and For we saw his star when it rose and

have come to worship him.”have come to worship him.”

Gentile Persian PriestsGentile Persian Priests

Herod the king heard this, he was Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

and assembling all the chief priests and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired and scribes of the people, he inquired

of them where the Christ of them where the Christ was to be born.was to be born.

They told him, They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:for so it is written by the prophet:

‘‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least Judah, are by no means least

among the rulers of Judah; foramong the rulers of Judah; forfrom you shall come a ruler who willfrom you shall come a ruler who will

shepherd my people Israel’”shepherd my people Israel’”

They knowThey knowDo they go?Do they go?

They knowThey knowDo they go?Do they go?

It's not enough to knowIt's not enough to knowWe gotta be willing to goWe gotta be willing to go

To JesusTo Jesus

Then Herod summoned the wise men Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them secretly and ascertained from them

what time the star had appeared. And what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, he sent them to Bethlehem, saying,

“Go and search diligently for the child, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring and when you have found him, bring

me word, me word, that I too may come and that I too may come and worship him.”worship him.”

After listening to the king, they went on After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that their way. And behold, the star that

they had seen when it rose went they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When the place where the child was. When

they saw the star, they rejoiced they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.exceedingly with great joy.

And going into theAnd going into the house house they saw the they saw the child with Mary his mother, child with Mary his mother, and they and they

fell down and worshiped him.fell down and worshiped him. Then, Then, opening their treasures, they offered opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and him gifts, gold and frankincense and

myrrh. And being warned in myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they a dream not to return to Herod, they

departed to their own country departed to their own country by another wayby another way

- Matthew 2:1-12- Matthew 2:1-12

2 Years Down the Line2 Years Down the LineAnd entertaining Gentiles?And entertaining Gentiles?

The Gift was designedThe Gift was designedto be Given Awayto be Given Away

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man whose name was Simeon, and this man

was righteous and devout, waiting was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the for the consolation of Israel, and the

Holy Spirit was upon him. Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the And it had been revealed to him by the

Holy Spirit that he would not Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had see death before he had

seen the Lord's Christ.seen the Lord's Christ.

And he came in the Spirit into the And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought temple, and when the parents brought

in the child Jesus, to do for him in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he according to the custom of the Law, he

took him up in his arms and took him up in his arms and blessed God and said…blessed God and said…

““Lord, now you are letting your Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,servant depart in peace,

according to your word; according to your word;for my eyes have seen your for my eyes have seen your

salvation that you have prepared salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your and for glory to your

people Israel.”people Israel.”

And his father and his mother marveled And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And at what was said about him. And

Simeon blessed them and said Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother…to Mary his mother…

““Behold, this child is appointed for the Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will a sign that is opposed (and a sword will

pierce through your own soul also), pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from so that thoughts from

many hearts may be revealed.”many hearts may be revealed.”

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of

Asher. She was advanced in years, Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven having lived with her husband seven

years from when she was a virgin, and years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she then as a widow until she

was eighty-four.was eighty-four.

She did not depart from the temple, She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night worshiping with fasting and prayer night

and day. And coming up at that very and day. And coming up at that very hour hour she began to give thanks to God she began to give thanks to God

and to speak of him to all and to speak of him to all who were waitingwho were waiting for the for the redemption of Jerusalemredemption of Jerusalem

- Matthew 2:25-38- Matthew 2:25-38

God's best giftsGod's best giftsare are inconvenientinconvenient

But worth itBut worth it

The Gift was designedThe Gift was designedto be Given Awayto be Given Away

Mary's little boyMary's little boy

Doesn't belong to her aloneDoesn't belong to her aloneBut to a waiting worldBut to a waiting world

Israel produces the SaviorIsrael produces the Savior

But doesn't get to keep himBut doesn't get to keep himFor Herself aloneFor Herself alone

Disciples are taughtDisciples are taughtNot for themselves aloneNot for themselves alone

But for a waiting worldBut for a waiting world

Our world is wreckedOur world is wrecked

It doesn't work rightIt doesn't work right

"…and on earth peace to men on "…and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests”whom his favor rests”

The gift brings peace-The gift brings peace-The beginning of restorationThe beginning of restoration

IF it is shared…IF it is shared…

Why did God call you?Why did God call you?Save you?Save you?

Give you New Life?Give you New Life?

Not for you aloneNot for you alone

The Gift was DesignedThe Gift was Designedto be Given Awayto be Given Away

The Culture WarThe Culture War

And the Gospel of Jesus ChristAnd the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Disciples: Disciples: "We gotta fight…for our right"We gotta fight…for our rightto Manger Scenes"to Manger Scenes"

Disciples: Disciples: "Personal Lord and Savior""Personal Lord and Savior"

We'reWe're Disciples Disciples

- Taught to be sent- Taught to be sent

- Living it to be seen- Living it to be seen

- Put in place to share- Put in place to share

$59.1 Billion= Black Friday Weekend$59.1 Billion= Black Friday Weekend

$423 per person$423 per person

None of those giftsNone of those giftsChange hearts and livesChange hearts and lives

Like JesusLike Jesus

Gatherings= live itGatherings= live itQuiet times= pray itQuiet times= pray itSpirit leads= share itSpirit leads= share it

Ask God for:Ask God for:OpportunitiesOpportunities

Boldness and the Right WordsBoldness and the Right Words

As a ChurchAs a Church

Christmas OfferingChristmas OfferingIn order to Give the GiftIn order to Give the Gift

To our Wrecked WorldTo our Wrecked World

Q and AQ and A

5 Frogs5 Frogs4 Decided to Jump off the Fence4 Decided to Jump off the Fence

How many are left?How many are left?

Deciding and DoingDeciding and DoingAre two different thingsAre two different things