ADVENT 2006 #2/5

#1 · December 5, 2006, 10:33 am

Quote from Forum Archives on December 5, 2006, 10:33 am
Posted by: bhfbc <bhfbc@...>
ADVENT 2006 #2/5

THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER

December 3, 2006

Text: John 1:1-18

With it lying next to him in bed, Ralphie concludes the movie A Christmas Story saying, the greatest Christmas gift I had ever received or ever would receive. The occasion for Ralphies declaration that it was the best Christmas gift ever? Well, even though it appeared throughout the movie that he would not receive the Christmas present he coveted, Ralphie had received his official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle. Yes, because of the greatest gift ever, this was indeed Ralphies best Christmas ever.

How about you? Are you having your best Christmas ever? Well, we may not know yet if this is our best Christmas ever, but it is certainly a Christmas different from all other Christmases because we are different people than we were last year and previous years. We have all changed, and we are all changing. And because we are changed, this Christmas is different than any other Christmas we have ever experienced.

When we are honest with ourselves, there are really two Christmases that we celebrate: There is the one that happens around us, filled with all the decorations, food, gifts, and other trappings of the season. This is the one that Ralphie was celebrating when he received his official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle. This is the Christmas that most often brings the glitter of excitement to the eyes of children young and old. This is also the Christmas that can also fill us with the burdens of life and drag us down even when contemplating the greatest Christmas gift ever.

There is also the Christmas that happens in us. As I observed earlier, we are inevitably different than last year. Sometimes the differences are minor, and sometimes they are significant. But we have all dealt with events in our lives that bring us to choices that improve us and move us on or mire us and bog us down. Christmas happens around us, and Christmas happens in us. It is the in us location where the real Christmas can be found.

Even when we begin to find the Christmas in us, though, we soon discover that the best Christmas ever is found along two more tracks: The first track is those struggles and changes of life that happen in us. The second track is the real meaning of Christmas; the real story of what Christ has done for us. In order for us to have the best Christmas ever, we must bring these two tracks together. The true meaning of Christmas is found in the fact that God knows us; that God cares about us; that God came to us; that God reconciles us; that God has redeemed us; that God is all powerful and that his power in heaven and earth is revealed to us in the Christmas story. I know that John is not a typical nativity Gospel, but verse 14 stands out to Christians: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

This is the phenomenal statement of the revealed God that immediately causes some to stumble and fall. Contemplate verse 1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Christmas is not about an idea or a philosophy or a theology. It is about Immanuel, which means God with us. It is about a birth through which the Creator of the heavens and the earth enters into the human experience in the most humble manner. Contemplate on it! All of the wisdom of the universe; all of the strength; all of the power that ever was and ever will be was found wrapped in cloths and placed in a manger. This is too big to ever comprehend!

Yet here he is. In spite of all the attempts to stamp out the Light of the world, beginning with King Herods order to kill all the male children two years old and under in the region, Jesus is still with us. The Light still shines in the darkness. In spite of all the attempts to eliminate followers of Christ, the Light still shines in the darkness. The Light has never been put out. There have been bad times when it did not appear that even an ember remained, but when the breath of God blows over what seems to be dead ashes, the flames leap to life. The Light has never been put out.

This is the second track, the real meaning of Christmas, that must be merged with that first track, those struggles and changes of life that happen in us, in order to have the best Christmas. There come times when Christmas is a difficult season and hard to celebrate. What of those facing the difficulties of surgery and other health matters? Those facing the adversity of deployments to combat zones? Those suffering loss of loved ones? Can these people really celebrate Christmas? Can they really have a best Christmas ever? Are there not those whose lives lead them to simply wish that Christmas would pass, and pass quickly? Can they really celebrate Christmas?

The answer is, Yes. When these two tracks are brought together - the track that reminds us of what is happening in us, and the track that leads us to the real meaning of Christmas - then Christmas can be celebrated. It can be done. This Christmas is different because we are different, and it will make all the difference when we allow Christ who makes the difference - who brings light - to make a difference in us.

Christmas is talked about as a birthday celebration. It is about the birth of the baby Jesus, the Christ-child. As lovely as the sentiments are, and the resulting decorations, this is not the best way to celebrate Christmas. Think of how the birthdays of other famous people in history are celebrated. The celebration is always about what they did with their lives. When we celebrate the birthday of George Washington, for example, we do so by talking about the accomplishments of his life; about what he did with his life. We dont talk about the circumstances of his birth. Im not sure any of us really knows the circumstances of Washingtons birth. Celebrating Washingtons birthday has nothing to do with his birth.

Now there is real value in remembering the circumstances of Jesus birth, because those events are testimonies to the fulfillment of Gods promises. In that regard, celebrating the actual events of the birth is worthwhile. Depictions like The Nativity Story are worthwhile. Reading the Scriptures from Matthew and Luke are worthwhile. But these are not complete without celebrating the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and coming reign of Christ.

The central truth of why Jesus came - of what Christmas is - is found in what Jesus wants to do in us. And here we are back to what is going on in us instead of around us. A lot of events were happening around the people of the nativity. But what was really important was what happened in the lives of some of those who experienced the nativity. This is a significant differentiation. The birth of Jesus was celebrated by the shepherds and the Magi because of what they allowed Jesus to do in their lives. The birth of Jesus was not celebrated by King Herod because he allowed the events around him to guide his actions. Jesus birth becomes the celebration of our best Christmas ever by what we allow him to do in us.

Lets read John 10:10-11. Who is Jesus that we should want him to do anything in us? The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. An abundant life, as many other translations render it, is the promise of Christmas.

According to the Bible, there are three levels of life. There is human life which makes up who we are. Human life is what we think, say, act, and do. The Bible acknowledges that we have life, but that there is more to life than just being alive.

There is eternal life. We will experience a life that is thus far a mystery to us. We are given a soul which will not end with this life. Neither human life nor eternal life are matters of choice; all of us have them. They simply are.

There is abundant life. Here is where the majesty of the true Christmas is found. In our very creation, God grants to us both human life and eternal life. He also promises to give to those who have human life and the gift of eternal life the promise of an abundant life in the here and now. God keeps His promise and makes this gift available to each of us, but it is up to us to accept the gift, open it, and actually apply it in our lives. The Greek term for abundant is a mathematical term, meaning surplus. In the Latin, the term has to do with rushing, running water. God gives us an overflowing supply, a mighty river of life that comes to us by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The celebration of Christmas is the celebration of the fullness of Christs life. At Christmas we should all sing Away in a Manger and remember that Jesus came for us. But we should also sing Beneath the Cross of Jesus, for his birth only foreshadows his life, ministry, and death on the cross, the reality of being the good Shepherd.

The celebration of Christmas is the celebration of all of the life of Christ; of all it meant; and of all it means. When we keep the whole story of Christs life together, then it becomes the best Christmas ever!

Ralphie celebrated his best Christmas ever because he got his official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle. And if he had not gotten it, he might not have called it his best Christmas ever. In fact, Ralphie was not at all thrilled with the pink bunny pajamas that he received. That is what the Christmas around us can do to us.

Christmas in us, though, is allowing the real story of Christmas and the life of Christ to bring change in us. This is the kind of Christmas God wants us to have. Celebrate His full life and find life that is full. In the process, we will experience the best Christmas ever.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Rev. Charles A. Layne
First Baptist Church
Bunker Hill, Indiana
-- To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: abesermons-unsubscribe@welovegod.org   

Posted by: bhfbc <bhfbc@...>

ADVENT 2006 #2/5

THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER

December 3, 2006

Text: John 1:1-18

With it lying next to him in bed, Ralphie concludes the movie A Christmas Story saying, the greatest Christmas gift I had ever received or ever would receive. The occasion for Ralphies declaration that it was the best Christmas gift ever? Well, even though it appeared throughout the movie that he would not receive the Christmas present he coveted, Ralphie had received his official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle. Yes, because of the greatest gift ever, this was indeed Ralphies best Christmas ever.

How about you? Are you having your best Christmas ever? Well, we may not know yet if this is our best Christmas ever, but it is certainly a Christmas different from all other Christmases because we are different people than we were last year and previous years. We have all changed, and we are all changing. And because we are changed, this Christmas is different than any other Christmas we have ever experienced.

When we are honest with ourselves, there are really two Christmases that we celebrate: There is the one that happens around us, filled with all the decorations, food, gifts, and other trappings of the season. This is the one that Ralphie was celebrating when he received his official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle. This is the Christmas that most often brings the glitter of excitement to the eyes of children young and old. This is also the Christmas that can also fill us with the burdens of life and drag us down even when contemplating the greatest Christmas gift ever.

There is also the Christmas that happens in us. As I observed earlier, we are inevitably different than last year. Sometimes the differences are minor, and sometimes they are significant. But we have all dealt with events in our lives that bring us to choices that improve us and move us on or mire us and bog us down. Christmas happens around us, and Christmas happens in us. It is the in us location where the real Christmas can be found.

Even when we begin to find the Christmas in us, though, we soon discover that the best Christmas ever is found along two more tracks: The first track is those struggles and changes of life that happen in us. The second track is the real meaning of Christmas; the real story of what Christ has done for us. In order for us to have the best Christmas ever, we must bring these two tracks together. The true meaning of Christmas is found in the fact that God knows us; that God cares about us; that God came to us; that God reconciles us; that God has redeemed us; that God is all powerful and that his power in heaven and earth is revealed to us in the Christmas story. I know that John is not a typical nativity Gospel, but verse 14 stands out to Christians: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

This is the phenomenal statement of the revealed God that immediately causes some to stumble and fall. Contemplate verse 1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Christmas is not about an idea or a philosophy or a theology. It is about Immanuel, which means God with us. It is about a birth through which the Creator of the heavens and the earth enters into the human experience in the most humble manner. Contemplate on it! All of the wisdom of the universe; all of the strength; all of the power that ever was and ever will be was found wrapped in cloths and placed in a manger. This is too big to ever comprehend!

Yet here he is. In spite of all the attempts to stamp out the Light of the world, beginning with King Herods order to kill all the male children two years old and under in the region, Jesus is still with us. The Light still shines in the darkness. In spite of all the attempts to eliminate followers of Christ, the Light still shines in the darkness. The Light has never been put out. There have been bad times when it did not appear that even an ember remained, but when the breath of God blows over what seems to be dead ashes, the flames leap to life. The Light has never been put out.

This is the second track, the real meaning of Christmas, that must be merged with that first track, those struggles and changes of life that happen in us, in order to have the best Christmas. There come times when Christmas is a difficult season and hard to celebrate. What of those facing the difficulties of surgery and other health matters? Those facing the adversity of deployments to combat zones? Those suffering loss of loved ones? Can these people really celebrate Christmas? Can they really have a best Christmas ever? Are there not those whose lives lead them to simply wish that Christmas would pass, and pass quickly? Can they really celebrate Christmas?

The answer is, Yes. When these two tracks are brought together - the track that reminds us of what is happening in us, and the track that leads us to the real meaning of Christmas - then Christmas can be celebrated. It can be done. This Christmas is different because we are different, and it will make all the difference when we allow Christ who makes the difference - who brings light - to make a difference in us.

Christmas is talked about as a birthday celebration. It is about the birth of the baby Jesus, the Christ-child. As lovely as the sentiments are, and the resulting decorations, this is not the best way to celebrate Christmas. Think of how the birthdays of other famous people in history are celebrated. The celebration is always about what they did with their lives. When we celebrate the birthday of George Washington, for example, we do so by talking about the accomplishments of his life; about what he did with his life. We dont talk about the circumstances of his birth. Im not sure any of us really knows the circumstances of Washingtons birth. Celebrating Washingtons birthday has nothing to do with his birth.

Now there is real value in remembering the circumstances of Jesus birth, because those events are testimonies to the fulfillment of Gods promises. In that regard, celebrating the actual events of the birth is worthwhile. Depictions like The Nativity Story are worthwhile. Reading the Scriptures from Matthew and Luke are worthwhile. But these are not complete without celebrating the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and coming reign of Christ.

The central truth of why Jesus came - of what Christmas is - is found in what Jesus wants to do in us. And here we are back to what is going on in us instead of around us. A lot of events were happening around the people of the nativity. But what was really important was what happened in the lives of some of those who experienced the nativity. This is a significant differentiation. The birth of Jesus was celebrated by the shepherds and the Magi because of what they allowed Jesus to do in their lives. The birth of Jesus was not celebrated by King Herod because he allowed the events around him to guide his actions. Jesus birth becomes the celebration of our best Christmas ever by what we allow him to do in us.

Lets read John 10:10-11. Who is Jesus that we should want him to do anything in us? The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. An abundant life, as many other translations render it, is the promise of Christmas.

According to the Bible, there are three levels of life. There is human life which makes up who we are. Human life is what we think, say, act, and do. The Bible acknowledges that we have life, but that there is more to life than just being alive.

There is eternal life. We will experience a life that is thus far a mystery to us. We are given a soul which will not end with this life. Neither human life nor eternal life are matters of choice; all of us have them. They simply are.

There is abundant life. Here is where the majesty of the true Christmas is found. In our very creation, God grants to us both human life and eternal life. He also promises to give to those who have human life and the gift of eternal life the promise of an abundant life in the here and now. God keeps His promise and makes this gift available to each of us, but it is up to us to accept the gift, open it, and actually apply it in our lives. The Greek term for abundant is a mathematical term, meaning surplus. In the Latin, the term has to do with rushing, running water. God gives us an overflowing supply, a mighty river of life that comes to us by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The celebration of Christmas is the celebration of the fullness of Christs life. At Christmas we should all sing Away in a Manger and remember that Jesus came for us. But we should also sing Beneath the Cross of Jesus, for his birth only foreshadows his life, ministry, and death on the cross, the reality of being the good Shepherd.

The celebration of Christmas is the celebration of all of the life of Christ; of all it meant; and of all it means. When we keep the whole story of Christs life together, then it becomes the best Christmas ever!

Ralphie celebrated his best Christmas ever because he got his official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle. And if he had not gotten it, he might not have called it his best Christmas ever. In fact, Ralphie was not at all thrilled with the pink bunny pajamas that he received. That is what the Christmas around us can do to us.

Christmas in us, though, is allowing the real story of Christmas and the life of Christ to bring change in us. This is the kind of Christmas God wants us to have. Celebrate His full life and find life that is full. In the process, we will experience the best Christmas ever.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Rev. Charles A. Layne
First Baptist Church
Bunker Hill, Indiana

-- To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: abesermons-unsubscribe@welovegod.org