Intro: Christmas
today costs more and more, but each one family, person is different. Christmas costs just as much as you are willing to give.
Luke 2:1
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be
taken of the entire Roman world.
2 (This was the first census
that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3 And everyone went to his
own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from
the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David,
because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5 He went there to register
with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6 While they were there, the
time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a
son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was
no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds
living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord
appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
terrified.
10 But the angel said to
them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be
for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David
a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ {[11] Or Messiah. "The
Christ" (Greek) and "the Messiah" (Hebrew) both mean "the
Anointed One"; also in verse 26.}the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to
you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company
of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the
highest,
and on earth peace to men on
whom his favor rests."
15 When the angels had left
them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go
to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us
about."
16 So they hurried off and
found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him,
they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18 and all who heard it were
amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured up all
these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been
told.
I. Why
does the Prince of Peace divide into two groups? Those
who gave, those who took or withheld. The
presence of the Prince causes people to make decisions.
A. Those who gave
- as we give gifts today for Christmas.
1.
Mary and Joseph - to fulfill God's plan Mary was willing to
carry the
only begotten Son of God. Joseph
was willing to put aside his pride.
They were willing to stay in Egypt as God said.
What have we
given of ourselves to fulfill God's plan?
2.
Wise Men - Good Stewards - Gave of themselves to fulfill God's
perfect plan for them. They
gave of their time - to come -
gifts - to honor. (Acts 20:35) Jesus
said - more blessed to
give than receive.
3.
Shepherds - Gave up complacency on the hill.
To honor the child
in a stable.
B. Those who took or
withheld from God at Christmas
1.
Innkeeper - God knocked on his door but he had no room - no
compassion - withheld his room from God - Have we
allowed Him in?
2.
Herod - The Prince draws you closer to Him or you retreat deeper
as you give or take. Herod
took the lives of babies in
rejection of God.
II. Who
paid the most of Christmas' cost?
A.
God gave His only Begotten Son for you
B.
Jesus gave His throne in heaven - His life on earth
C.
Jesus gave us His life as a payment for our sins… remember Barabas.
III. Have
you withheld your heart
from God? Have you
retreated from God's love Receive God's Gift into your heart - the
Son. What have you given to
Christ? Christmas is the birthday
of the King.
IV. Have
you become God's servants as Mary and Joseph?
Give
the gift of your service.
VII. The
Best Gift you can give your family is God's love through you.
Top Ten gifts to the give the
King…
- Your
love and devotion
- Your
life
- Your
time
- Your
talents
- Your
treasures
- Your
pride
- Your
dreams.
- Your
retirement / future
- Your
sin
- Your
faith