3rd Sunday of Advent!
Intro:
A. What is Christmas to
you? (answers from Congregation)
Possible answers: Love, gifts, family, Christ.
B. All these things point
back to one thing: Christ!
1. Love because in
Christ we see God's Love
extended to humankind.
2. Gifts because
Christ was God's gift to us.
3. Family because
God created families and he sent
Christ into the world as a part of a family!
Trans:
Let's
look at the Christmas story and then ask ourselves; what would Christmas be
without Christ?
Prayer
St. Luke 2:1-20
I. What would Christmas be without Christ?
A. It would be a day
without love because Christ showed us how to love!
1. No love for
family.
2. No love for
friends.
3. Children were
possessions; women were
possessions!
4. The world didn't
understand love as we do before
God revealed it to us through Christ!
B. It would be a day
without gifts because gifts are a
celebration of God's gift to humankind!
C. It would be a day
without the Christmas tree because
the Christmas tree points to Christ!
1. Evergreen
represents everlasting life that we have in Christ.
2. The lights remind
us that Jesus is the light of the world.
3. The star reminds
us of the star that led the wisemen.
4. The angel reminds
us of the angel that proclaimed the glorious news to the shepherds.
5. All the different
crismons on our tree remind us
of Christ!
D. It would be a day
without singing and praise because there would be nothing to sing and praise
about.
E. It would be a day
without Santa Claus because after all Santa Claus is believed to be a good
person that gives gifts and that comes right back to the reason we give gifts.
II. What is Christmas because of Christ?
A. It is a time of
celebration such as we have in verse
20. Don't let the carols loose their meaning!
B. It is a time of Love,
family, and friends.
C. It is a time of
exchanging gifts. It is a time of
giving!
D. It is a time of
remembering God's ultimate gift and what Jesus (God's gift) means to us!
E. It is a time of
singing & praise!
III. After we realize that everything of importance
points to
Christ,
let's determine to keep Christ in Christmas as we shift our minds toward
thinking of Christ coming into the world that first time!
A. Take time to read
the Christmas story: Luke 2:1-20 this Christmas! Maybe take a nativity set and
move the characters around while you read.
B. In your families
Christmas, make it a special time of
remembrance by teaching the symbolism of Christmas in your
home. Gather your family around and talk
about:
1. the meaning of
the lights.
2. the meaning of
the evergreen.
3. the reason we
exchange gifts.
4. the reason we
sing carols.
C. Don't let the
commercialization of the modern day Christmas rob you and yours of the real
meaning of
Christmas.
D. For children you
could capture the meaning of Christmas by planning a Birthday party for Christ
sometime during the 12 days of Christmas, between Christmas day and Epiphany!
E. Do something to keep
Christ in your Christmas.
Conclusion:
A. One of the best ways
for us to keep Christ in our
Christmas
is to make sure we have Christ in our hearts.
B. As we encounter
Christ in communion, let Christ in, draw closer. There is not a better way to prepare for the
celebration of Christmas this year! If
you make a first time commitment, let me know so I can help you with your new
journey in Christ!
Prayer of Confession
Celebration of Communion
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