Quote from Forum Archives on December 1, 2004, 2:32 pm

Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>

SERMON SEEDS FOR NOVEMBER 29, 2004

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LOOKING FOR CHRISTMAS IDEAS? THERE ARE NEW IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS IN THIS EDITION.  ALSO, THE LATEST LESSON IN HEBREWS IS ENCLOSED.  

GO TO SERMON SEEDS CHRISTMAS SERMONS FOR LOTS MORE IDEAS FOR INDIVIDUAL MESSAGES AND SERIES.

 

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Isaiah 7:14 etc.

THE BIRTH OF GOD

 

Christmas is the time when we celebrate the birth of God, the Son. He was and is God! John 1:1-2

Old Testament Scriptures tell some things about the birth of God.

 

THE BIRTH OF GOD WHO IS PRESENT

Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

“Immanuel” means “God with us.”

 

THE BIRTH OF GOD WHO IS POWERFUL

Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

THE BIRTH OF GOD WHO IS PERPETUAL (ETERNAL)

Micah 5:2 - But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

 

 

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Matthew 1:18-25

GROWING UP WITH JOSEPH

 

Joseph, the step-father of Jesus, was tested by God through the pregnancy of Mary.  In this passage we learn how trials in our lives will help us “grow up”, as Joseph did.

 

GOD WILL ALLOW EVENTS TO MATURE US

 

GOD WILL SURPRISE US – Vs. 18

 

GOD WILL STRETCH US – Vs. 19

 

GOD WILL SUPPORT US – Vss. 20-23

God sent and angel to appear to Joseph.  God has sent His Word and His Holy Spirit to support us.

GOD

 

GOD WILL EXPECT US TO SUBMIT – Vss. 24-25

 

 

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Luke 2, Matthew 2

THE JOYS OF CHRISTMAS

 

We feel the stress of getting ready for Christmas, but Christmas is a time of joy.

We let the attitudes and actions of others bother us, but Christmas is a time of joy.

We get frustrated with long lines at the stores and the incompetence of store personnel, but Christmas is a time of joy.

We get upset with ourselves when we don’t do what we know we should do, and do things that we shouldn’t do, but Christmas is a time of joy!

 

The Bible is very clear that Christmas is a time of joy.  I want us to see Bible characters who had joy on that first Christmas.

 

THE ANGELS HAD THE JOY OF REVEALING

 

As you know, Jesus was born in Bethlehem to a virgin named Mary.  Joseph was Jesus’ step-father. 

She wrapped Jesus is swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.  There was no room in the inn.

 

Luke 2: 8 – Out on a hillside outside of Bethlehem, shepherds were doing a traditional duty.  They were keeping watch over their flocks.

 

Vs. 9 – An angel appearing out of nowhere would have been startling enough.  But you can imagine the intense light that must have shone round about him, probably lighting up the night sky. The shepherds were terrified.

 

Vs. 10 – The angel brings to them good tidings of great joy.

               If the good tidings had just been for the shepherds or for the people of Israel, it would have still been good tidings of great joy. 

But this message of joy is for the whole world, including you, me, America, and the people of every tongue and nation.

 

Vs. 11 – Notice that the shepherds are told that Jesus was born to them.  He was born for their benefit!

He was born in the “City of David”, David’s home town, Bethlehem.

He was born to be the Savior.  That’s exactly what He did when he died on the cross to pay the debt you owe God for your sins.  The prophet Isaiah speaks of Him as Savior Isaiah 53:3-6.

 

Not only was he born to be the Savior but He was “Christ, the Lord”   

 

Jesus was the promised Messiah, “the anointed one” who was promised in the Old Testament.

Jesus was and is “the Lord”.  He has the authority and power to reign.

 

Vs. 12 – The babe would be tightly wrapped in long strips of cloth called “swaddling clothes”.  He would also be found lying in a manger. As a servant of God, I am sure that it was sheer joy for this angel to reveal this great news.  This was God’s plan, and the angel would rejoice in the plan of God.

 

Vss. 13-14 – As if the message of one angel needed confirmation, and I think because the angels could not remain silent, an angel host filled the sky giving praise to God.

 

THE SHEPHERDS HAD THE JOY OF RECEIVING

 

Vs. 15- 16 

The shepherds decided to do the logical thing.

They decided to go and see this child.

They received the news from the angel as truth and acted on it. They believed what they were told.

 

And they found things to be just as the angels had reported.

You have been told the story of Christmas.

Do you accept the story of Christmas as true?

 

More important, have you received the Lord Jesus as your Savior?  Have you trusted in Him as your forgiveness of sin and your only hope for Heaven? John 1:12, Romans 5:1

 

Vs. 20 – Notice the great joy that led to glorifying and praising God for what they had seen and heard.   

They experienced the joy that was a result of receiving the message of the Angel by faith.

 

THE SHEPHERDS AND ANNA HAD THE JOY OF REPORTING

 

Vss. 17-18 – The shepherds could not keep silent.

They had seen a miracle.

They had seen God’s Anointed One for themselves.

They had something to report and they did.

 

Vss. 36-38 – A very old woman named Anna saw the Lord Jesus and praised God. And she told those who were waiting for the coming of God’s Messiah.

 

Do you think that it was a chore for the shepherds or Anna to report what they’d seen and heard?

Do you think they grumbled about their obligation to share the good news with others?

Do you think that they were afraid of what the ones hearing their message would think or say?

Of course the answer to these questions is a resounding “no”.

Anna and shepherds were so joyful about their own experience that they wanted to report to others!

You realize that one of your obligations as a Christian is to be a “reporter” of the good news about Jesus. Mark 16:1, 1 Peter 3:15

 

We fail to consider witnessing as a joy and a privilege.   

It should be a joy to tell people what has happened to us.

It should be a joy to tell people that there is only one way to Heaven, and you can tell them what it is.

It should be a joy to represent as an ambassador for the one who has done so much for us.

2 Corinthians 5:20  

 

MARY HAD THE JOY OF REFLECTING

 

Luke 2:19 - But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

 

Do you reflect on your joys?

Do you remember with a joy a kindness that was shown you long ago?

Do you remember with joy a past or current friendship?   

Do you reflect on the joys that your children have given you?

Do you reflect on the joys of many years of marriage.

 

Mary thought on all the events of Christmas.

She pondered them. She remembered them.

In fact, I personally believe that Luke’s account of the Christmas story probably came from Mary herself.

She was able to share many years later because she had pondered them in her heart.

 

Have you discovered the joy of reflecting in a Spiritual sense?

The more you memorize and meditate upon Scripture the more joy you will have.

 

And the more you reflect on the Christmas story and what it means to you, the more joy you will have. Jeremiah 15:16

 

THE WISE MEN HAD THE JOY OF RECIPROCATING

  

Matthew 2:1-12 tells the story of the Wise Men who came to visit Jesus.

These mystical men of the east came bearing gifts.

In appreciation for the birth of “The King of the Jews” they brought gifts.

They brought four gifts.

Yes, four!

They brought gold, frankincense and myrrh.

But they also brought the gift of worship.

Matthew 2:11 says they …fell down and worshipped him. 

 

Their worship for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords was the best gift of all.

Do you appreciate what Jesus has done for you?

 

You could never fully reciprocate for what He has done, but there are some things you can do. These things will bring joy.

 

·        Joyfully take the time to worship Him.

·        Joyfully help someone else in need in His name.

·        Joyfully continue to support His church and His missionaries.

 

Christmas is a time of joy.

Bible characters had joy at Christmas.

 

THE ANGELS HAD THE JOY OF REVEALING

THE SHEPHERDS HAD THE JOY OF RECEIVING

THE SHEPHERDS AND ANNA HAD THE JOY OF REPORTING

MARY HAD THE JOY OF REFLECTING

THE WISE MEN HAD THE JOY OF RECIPROCATING

 

 

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Luke 1:26-38 etc.

MARY, MARY, MARY

 

A very common name for women in the New Testament appears to be Mary.  Three of the women named Mary have much to teach us about how to relate to our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

AN EXAMPLE OF LEANING - MARY, MOTHER OF OUR LORD

Mary leaned on God in faith.

Luke 1:26-38 - When Mary was told she would be Mother of the Messiah, she trusted God.

John 2:1-9 - When there was a need for wine at a wedding, she trusted Jesus.

 

AN EXAMPLE OF LOVING - MARY OF BETHANY

Luke 10:28-32 - She sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.

John 12:1-8 - She expressed her love for the Lord by anointing the Lord's feet.

 

AN EXAMPLE OF LIVING - MARY MAGDELENE

Luke 8:1-3 - Here is a woman who was under the bondage of sin.

The Lord Jesus changed her life.

She went on to live for Him.  2 Corinthians 5:17, John 20:11-18

 

Sermon Seeds B9

 

 

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Luke 2:1-13

JESUS CAME

 

JESUS CAME IN DAYS OF STRESS – Vss. 1-3

JESUS CAME IN FULFILLMENT OF SCRIPTURE – Vss. 4-7

JESUS CAME FOR LOWLY SERVANTS – Vss. 8-9

JESUS CAME TO BRING A SONG – Vss. 10, 12-13

JESUS CAME TO GIVE SALVATION – Vs. 11

 

 

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John 1:1-5, 14

THE WORD AT CHRISTMAS

 

Jesus is the “Word”.  As we approach the Christmas Season, meditate on Jesus as the “Word”.

 

THE WORDS’ PREEXISTENCE – Vss. 1-2

THE WORD’S PARTNERSHIP – Vss. 1-2 (With God, as God, in the beginning with God)

THE WORD’S  POWER – Vss. 3-5

THE WORD’S PRESENCE – Vs. 14 (“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…)

 

 

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Hebrews 10:1-18

ONCE, FOR ALL

STUDY #18 IN THE HEBREWS SERIES

(A Complete Lesson)

 

·        How do you feel when you buy something brand new and there’s something wrong with the product?

·        What is frustrating about getting things fixed?

·        Why do things break and wear out?

 

In the Old Testament economy sacrifices were continually offered for sins.  Although they temporarily solved a person’s sin problem, they were not a permanent fix. In Hebrews 10:1-18 we find that Christ is the permanent solution to the sin problem because He is the better sacrifice. He has taken care of the sin problem once, for all!

THE PROBLEM – NEED FOR A BETTER SACRIFICE – Vss. 1-4

V     Vs. 1 – What are some good things about shadows?

V     What is the problem with shadows?

V     The Old Testament sacrifices are but a “pale shadow” of the true sacrifice for sin.  In what ways is it only a shadow?

V     Vs. 2 - How long was a Hebrew “covered” after offering a sacrifice for sin?

V     How is the conscience of a New Testament saint different from the conscience of an Old Testament saint?

V     Vs. 3 – What did the Day of Atonement accomplish for the sensitive soul?

V     Vs. 4 – Why is it not possible for the blood of animals to take away sins?

THE PROVISION OF A BETTER SACRIFICE – Vss. 5-9

 

ü     Vs. 5 – What is the difference between the Old and New Testament sacrifices?

ü     Vs. 6 – How could God say that He had no pleasure in the Old Testament sacrifices when He accepted them?

ü     Vs. 7 – Who is speaking here?  What does He teach us in this verse?  What should motivate us to imitate Him?

ü     Vss. 8-9 – What was taken away?  With what was it replaced?

THE POWER OF A BETTER SACRIFICE – Vs. 10

 

v    What does “sanctification” mean?

v    How did Christ’s death sanctify us?

v    How does our faith sanctify us? Romans 5:1

v    If we are already sanctified, why should we still strive to live holy lives? 1 Peter 1:15-16

v    What is the difference between positional and practical sanctification?

THE PERMANENCE OF A BETTER SACRIFICE – Vss. 11-18

 

ê    Vs. 11 – Why were there no chairs in the tabernacle?

ê    What was discouraging about the repetition of the priests’ duties?

ê    Vs. 12 – Why was Jesus allowed to sit down?

ê    Vs. 13 – Why did Jesus sit down?

 

Psalm 110:1 - The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

   

ê    Vs. 14 – What did Jesus’ one offering accomplish?

ê    Vss. 15-16 – What jobs of the Holy Spirit are seen in these verses?

 

John 14:16-17 - And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

 

John 14:25-26 - These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. [26] But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

 

John 16:12-14 - I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. [13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

 

ê    What excites you about verse 17?

ê    Vs. 18 – What is the difference between remission and covering?

 

 

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