“fear not. church yes!” read luke 2:1-20 and the angel said to them, “fear not, for behold, i...
TRANSCRIPT
“Fear Not. Church Yes!”Read Luke 2:1-20
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.” Luke 2:10-12
[1] FEAR NOT when . . . the authority over you is more and more godless
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. – Luke 2:1
“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 [King] David a Savior, who is Christ [the anointed King of Heaven] the Lord.” - Luke 2:10-11
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the [ultimate] government [of God] will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.” - Isaiah 9:6-7
[1] FEAR NOT when . . . the authority over you is more and more godless
CHURCH YES! . . . the place where The Great King and His greater authority and peace can be found
[2] FEAR NOT . . . when people don’t make room for you
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (v7)
wWhat seemed failure turned into God’s favor on others who need Him!
“[Mary] wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (v7)
“this will be a sign for you [shepherds]: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (v12)
[2] FEAR NOT . . . when people who don’t make room for you
CHURCH YES! The place where there is always room and never hindrances for others to meet Jesus!
How are we making room and removing barriers for 37,000 unchurched around us?
- Slide closer together (in full services)- New life groups for different needs- Praying, giving and serving for the harvest
What you “don’t have time to do” will be the only time you remember about this Christmas three years from now!
[3] FEAR NOT . . . if you’re hungry for a change that you don’t have the answer to
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.” . . .
[3] FEAR NOT . . . if you’re hungry for a change that you don’t have the answer to16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger . . . And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen (v15-16, 20)
[3] FEAR NOT . . . if you’re hungry for a change that you don’t have the answer to
CHURCH YES! The place where hungry people can find the GRACE of Jesus to change
Communion: God’s family meal when you take in “The Bread of Life” again into our hearts
“Jesus, said ‘I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:51
“And Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Lk 22:19
“All of us have sinned and broken God’s law. Jesus Christ rescued us from our stuck, self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember what God’s law says in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”? . . .
. . . That is what happened when Jesus’ body was nailed to the Cross: Your curse died with Jesus on the cross. And now if you have faith, nothing can stop you from receiving the very promise His Spirit in your life and changing into a new person with a new life and new outlook through believing and trusting in Jesus!” (Galatians 3:13-14, paraphrase translation)
Communion: God’s family meal when you take remember what He poured out for you
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Lk 22:20-21