2011-12-03T14:56:00.000-08:00

“Salvation: It’s time to live in love!”
part #4 of the series: The Purpose of Christmas (as revealed by the angels)

Luke 2:11 “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
Matthew 1: 21 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
See also 1 John 4:7-21

1. Christmas is not about getting what we want; it is getting what we need.
2. If we get Christmas right then we’ll get the Lord’s Supper right. They are connected because both deal with our needs.
3. The baby in the manger is the Savior (the solution to sin); the Christ (the promised Messiah); the Lord (the one with ultimate authority)
4. Giving originates in loving.
5. God’s gift of love means our life matters, it is worth redeeming.

Time of Teaching: The Purpose of Christmas (as revealed by the Angels): Luke 2:8-14
Part #3 CELEBRATION: It’s time to party! “good news of great joy for all people”

Other Scriptures to note:
Isaiah 9:1-7 Revelation 5:9 Luke 4:18-19 Luke 1:74-79 Judges 6,7
Galatians 5:1 Matthew 11:28,29 1 Corinthians 15

1. Isaiah links the “dawning of a great light”’ to “increasing joy”. Darkness is the shadow of death and the absence of peace.
2. Liberty of oppression is welcomed with celebration. It means the defeat of enemies (as in Israel’s’ day, from Midian; from the burden of ceremonial law which will be replaced by grace; from anxiety & weariness which will be replaced by rest; from death & Satan which will be replaced by resurrection & eternal life;) so that we might serve God without fear and walk in the paths of peace.

Application:
1. What chains inhibit your joy? What darkness overwhelms you?
2. Can you hear the good news of joy this season?

Conclusion: Our joy starts with the announcement of the Saviour’s birth – but it is not to end there! He is involved in our lives even now. We belong to a great train of Christ followers - through the ages and from diverse cultures - who have embraced the news and wish to congregate to celebrate.

"The joy of God has gone through the poverty of the manger
and the agony of the cross; that is why it is invincible , irrefutable." ~
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Part #2 RECONCILIATION: It’s time to end all conflict! “Peace on Earth”

“3-D” Peace
• With God (Romans 5) ….. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”; “When we were God’s enemies we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son”
• With Others (2 Corinthians 5) ….. “Christ’s love compels us”; “We are Christ’s ambassadors”; “We have this ministry of reconciliation”; “The old is gone, the new has come”
• With Self (Philippians 4:7) ….. “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”

Notes:
1. Jesus The Messiah “will guard our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:79)
2. Those whom Jesus healed or forgave on the basis of their faith could “go in peace” (Luke 7:50, 8:48)
3. James 3:18 = “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness”
4. Jesus, the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) is “our peace” (Ephesians 2:14)

Questions to get us thinking:
• If peace is such a noble estate, why do we seem to constantly fall short?
• What are we doing to promote peace – in our family, community, church, self?
• When have you seen true peace best demonstrated? What does it feel like, look like?
• What peaceful people do you know?
• Is there such a thing as ‘irreconcilable differences’?

Part #1 Advent #1 It’s Time For Good News!

The Christmas story proclaims words of ANGELIC REASSURANCE from multiple locations:
• To Zechariah Luke 1:13
• To Joseph Matthew 1:20
• To Mary Luke 1:30
• To shepherds Luke 2:10

How ready are you to hear good news? What makes us deaf to good news?

Watch for ‘weak links’ in ‘the good news chain’:
PROMISE---HOPE---FAITHFUL, PATIENT ENDURANCE---RECEPTIVITY---RESPONSIBLE & RESPECTFUL RESPONSE

This season, may all of us hear the words the angel said to the shepherds, “do not be afraid; I bring you good news”

Some other verses to ponder:
Isaiah 30:18 “The Lord longs to be gracious to you: he rises to show you compassion. Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Psalm 34:4 “The Lord delivered me from all my fears.”

Romans 15:4 “for everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Isaiah 9:2 “the people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

Hebrews 6:18,19 “it is impossible for God to lie – we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”