After Christmas, Then What?

 Intro:

     A.   How many have ever looked in a mirror?  Everybody?

 

     B.   There are two possible results that take place when we           look in a mirror!

          1.   Either we will stop, look, and make the necessary                changes!

          2.   Or we will glance and go on not making any

              changes!

 

     C.   James noticed this and wrote something about his

          observations in our scripture for this morning!

 

     D.   I have entitled the message, “After Christmas, Then What?

Well we really aren’t after Christmas since we are still

in the 12 days of Christmas, but let’s reflect this morning

on, “What are we going to do with Christmas? After

Christmas, then what?

 

                            Prayer

                         James 1:22-25

 

I.   How does this tie in with Christmas?

     A.   James was saying, when people look into the Word, one

          of two possible results will take place!

          1.   Some will look into the Word and let it sink into                their hearts and make the necessary changes!

          2.   Others will glance into the Word and walk away not               letting it change their lives!

     B.   The world as a whole glances into the Word at least

          once a year, and that is at Christmas time!

          1.   Let's look at what we see as we glance into the

              Word at Christmas time!

          2.   Let's ask ourselves if we are going to let God

              make the needed changes or are we going to walk

              away, forgetting what we have seen?

 

II.  What do we see as we glance into the Word at Christmas time?

     A.   We see a love for other people.

          1.   We see more acts of charity at Christmas time more               than any other time of the year!

          2.   The Salvation Army has their bell ringers out at

              the shopping places.

          3.   Churches help the less fortunate.

          4.   Individuals help other people.

          5.   Different agencies help needy families during

Christmas each year!

          6.   All because people are compelled by Love as they

              realize that some people won't have much for

              Christmas, the Love we see in the Word!

 

     B.   We see generosity!

          Even though Christmas is already a rather expensive

          time of the year, we see people digging a little deeper

          to help someone in need!

 

     C.   We see people making sacrifices!  Not only of their

          money but also of their time and talents to help

          others.

          1.   Volunteering at help organizations.

          2.   Caroling.

          3.   Wishes of good cheer.

          4.   Gathering toys for kids who might not have much

Christmas.

 

     D.   We see all these things because as we glance into the

          mirror of God's Word we see a God that did all these

          things for us, and we realize our need to do it for

          others.

 

     E.   As we glance into the Word at Christmas, we see a God

          who cared enough for us to leave the splendor of Heaven

          to be born a human.

          1.   In a stable    (Not a fancy Inn, not even a cheap                              Inn.)  Sacrifice!

          2.   To be raised a carpenter's son.

              a.   not a King's son.

              b.   not the son of a priest.

              c.   but a peasant.

          3.   To show us how to live!  As we look at Christ's

              life, we learn how to care and love people.

          4.   And to later die and make a way for us to be put

              back in relationship with God!

              a.   so we don't have to die spiritually and be

                   eternally separated from God.

              b.   but we can be justified: made just-as-if we

                   haven't sinned in God's eyes!

              c.   because of God's grace!

 

III. What is going to be the result of our looking into the Word

     this Christmas?

     A.   As we look at what God has done in the life of Christ

          are we going to let it make us into a more loving,

          caring, and generous person all year long? 

 

          Or are we going to walk away from this Christmas

          unchanged, not really caring for other people until we           glance into the Word again next Christmas?

 

     B.   As we look at what God did for us through Jesus and

          the new life God offers us because of Jesus, are we

          going to walk away from this Christmas and not let God

          make the changes that need to be made?

 

Conclusion:

     A.   After Christmas, Then What?

 

     B.   Reread James 1:22-25.

 

     C.   What will we do this Christmas?  Will we walk away

          unchanged?

 

     D.   As we encounter Christ at the table this morning, we can

give Christ our hearts and our lives!  We can commit to

Christ!  We can yield those areas of our lives where we

haven’t let Christ live and love through us!

 

     E.   As we look into the mirror this Christmas, let’s not walk

away unchanged!

 

                      Prayer of Confession

Celebration of Communion

 

 

Celebrating Christmas!

 Christmas Eve!

Prayer

Luke 2:1-20

 

I.  I want to reminisce a little about Christmases past.

 

    A.  I can remember waiting with anticipation for Christmas as a child.

         1.  December was one of the longest months.

         2.  Our neighbors would have a birthday party for Jesus.

         3.  We let it be known what we wanted for Christmas.

         4.  We waited. . . .

         5.   We decorated with a Silver Christmas tree and a color wheel.  I think the silver

               represented ice on an ever green tree!

 

    B.  Here are some of the traditions around Christmas that I grew up with.

         1.  I’m sure my parents told us about the true meaning of Christmas.  They were Christians.

         2.  My grandmother wrote us letters and notes about it.  Usually in or on whatever she got

              us for Christmas, there was a message about it being Jesus’ birthday!

         3.  We had the Birthday Party for Jesus next door.

         4.  The Church taught us about the meaning of Christmas.

         5.  At school plays, we sang Christian Christmas songs, maybe even had a manger scene.

         6.  For our family Christmas, we got up and opened gifts.

         7.  Dad always Ho! Ho! Ho! a little bit.  Which I didn’t understand, but I later have come to

              understand it was a subtle hint!

         8.  We watched Christmas shows like Rudolph the Red nosed reindeer, Frosty the

              Snowman, and It’s a Wonderful Life.

         9.  Mom fixed a Christmas meal that usually included ham and a lot of pies.

        10.  It was a special time and holds many special memories.

        11.  But as I think about it today, I think it is even more important to incorporate some  

                traditions into our home Christmas that show the real meaning of Christmas.  Why?

                Let’s look at that.

 

II.  What about Celebrating Christmas today? 

 

      A.  It is a different time.

            1.   Our country is becoming more and more pluralistic.

2.   Our kids and grandkids get more and more different messages about Christmas than 

                  in times past.

            3.   We can’t count on our kids or grandkids hearing the true meaning of Christmas at

                  school or on the T.V.

            4.   We need to do something to make sure our children and grandchildren really know

                   what Christmas is about.  We can’t just rely on the church to do that.  If we don’t

                   endorse what the church says, our children may question which of the opposing

                   stories they are hearing about Christmas is true.

 

     B.    I challenge you to incorporate some traditions into your family Christmas to do that, if

             you haven’t already.  Suggestions:

            1.   Read the Christmas Story in Luke 2 and the part about the Magi in Matt. 2 and use a

                  small nativity to move the characters as you read it.  Or Let them dress up and be the

                  characters and move around as you read it.  (You could dress them in robes and a

                   towel on their heads)

           2.    Have a birthday party for Jesus.

           3.    Talk about the meaning of the Christmas decorations.

                  a.  Evergreen reminds us that Jesus brings everlasting life.

                  b.  Lights remind us Jesus is the light of the world.

                  c.  Stars remind us of the star that led the Wisemen.

                  d.  Angels remind us of the angels that proclaimed Jesus’ birth to the shepherds.

                  e.   Candy canes remind us of the shepherd’s staffs.

                  f.   My kids left cookies and milk for Santa and a note; Santa always wrote back and

                        said something about the true meaning of Christmas and why he gave gifts!

                  g.   Any ideas you have??

 

III.   Christmas starts tonight!

 

         A.   You have 12 days until Epiphany to celebrate!  That is the Christmas season.

 

         B.    You don’t have to do it all tonight or in the morning.

 

         C.     Things tend to settle down after Christmas day;  that gives you an opportunity to

                  plan something through this time when things are not so busy to reinforce what

                  Christmas is about.. 

                  1.  We still have the 12 days of Christmas.  The secular Christmas has not encroached 

                        on that because they can’t sell anything during that time!

                  2.   Leave the tree up.

                  3.  Take the opportunity to continue the Celebration of Christmas with your children

                        or grandchildren, and talk about why we’ve done what we’ve done.

 

        D.    I invite you to kick off the celebration of Christmas with me, as we hear a selection of

                Christmas music, by coming up and bringing your Christmas offering, and pick up a

                 candle.

                   1.    After you have returned to your seats, we will sing “Silent Night” as we pass a

                          flame that represents Jesus being the light of the world through the congregation!

                   2.    What began as that small baby that we are celebrating tonight has spread

                           throughout the world.  Thanks be to God!

 

Candlelight service

God is With Us!

 4^th Sunday of Advent!

 

Introduction:

A.        Well, Christmas is almost here!

 

B.        We’ve been concentrating on getting ready for the 2^nd coming of Christ!  After all, how can we really celebrate the 1^st coming until we are ready for the 2^nd Coming?

 

C.        As we shift to the 1^st coming, what does this baby born in Bethlehem bring to us?  After all, that is what Christmas is about!

                                                                        Prayer

Matt. 1:18-25

 I.          Jesus brings hope!

 

A.        Hope of forgiveness and a home in Heaven.

 

B.        Hope to a world that was lost and had no hope.

 

C.        The Jews were growing weary waiting for the promises of salvation to be

fulfilled.  They were expecting an Earthly Kingdom.  In Christ we

understand a promise of eternal blessings and hope for a life of purpose today.

 

1.         Many are struggling today with loss of hope!

 

2.         I think there is more loss of hope this year than just about any Christmas I can

remember.  Maybe, we relate more to the time of Christ than we have in recent years!

 

3.         Jesus brings hope to those who have lost hope!

 

II.        Jesus brought purpose!

 

A.        He brought meaning to the Lives we live.

 

B.        People are searching for meaning outside of Christ, and many are coming up empty. 

 

C.        One of the three leading causes of death in adolescence is suicide.

 

D.        If we can share Christ's love and help someone along the way our lives have meaning. 

 

            1.         Jesus give us purpose.

 

            2.         We can share God’s love; we can be a light shining in the darkness!

 

            3.         The Wesleyan message is very much about sharing the love of God!

                       

                        a.         I was asked this week why as a Methodist I felt I was right?

                        b.         I told him I do not believe we are right in the sense that we are the only way!

 

                        c.         I quoted to him John Wesley, “In Essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, Love!”

 

                                    d.         I am a Methodist because of the stress on the essentials and freedom to let

people search out the non-essentials.  We don’t have to agree on everything! 

We need to agree on the essential elements of Christianity, and we need to

share the love of God in all things and with all people!

 

                                    e.         I hope you are in agreement on that!  I offer that as an explanation when

someone asks, “Why Methodist!”

                                   

 

III.       Jesus brought Love!

 

A.        Christ's coming, for the purpose for which he came, showed us Love at it's fullest!

"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life

for one's friends." John 15:13 (NRSV)

 

B.        Christ showed us how to Love others with his life!

Notice:  Matt. 9:36-38    & Matt. 20:30-34.

 

He was moved with compassion!

 

            C.        Be moved with compassion to act as you see the injustice of the day!

 

IV.       This little baby of which we are celebrating his birthday on Christmas really changed things!

 

A.        Nothing has influenced and changed our world as much as Christ!

 

B.        Our calendar years are numbered based on Christ.

 

C.        Our concept of Love comes from Christ.  Christ's love was a sacrificial Love.

 

D.        Our concept of helping others in need comes from Christ.  Christ was

always helping others when he himself had the need of rest.

 

E.         Our concept of human worth comes from Jesus.  Jesus loved the little

children and loved and was there for the outcasts of society.

 

F.         The Bible has been the moral standard for centuries.

 

V.         Lastly, but not least.  Jesus is God with us!

 

            A.        You want to understand God?  Look at the life of Jesus!

                       

                        1.         Jesus loved the poor!

 

                        2.         Jesus loved the outcasts of the religious world of the day!

 

                        3.         Jesus loved the social outcasts!

 

                        4.         Jesus loved the outsiders!  The Samaritans!  The immigrants, if you will!

 

            B.        Jesus showed us a God who hurts with us! 

 

            C.        Jesus showed us a God who rejoices with us!

 

            D.        Jesus showed us a God who is with us!

 

Conclusion:  Where would we be if it were not for Christ?

 

A.        Don't forget so fast to give credit where credit is due!

 

B.        Let's remember Christ this Christmas.

 

C.        If you don't know the forgiveness of sin and hope found in Jesus Christ that I have

described, won’t you accept and trust in what God has already done for you in sending Christ as we encounter Christ at the table today?  As you take of the elements physically, you can

be taking Christ into your heart Spiritually if you so desire.  God has done what needs to be  done for you to have a new start in Christ!  If you do make a first-time commitment,                                 let me know so I can help you with your new walk in Christ!

 

I can’t think of a better way to start off this Christmas season!

 

            D.        If you have resisted the God who is with us, you can encounter that God at the table!  You can

yield to that God to be more like the God revealed to us in Jesus Christ!

 

 

Prayer of Confession

Celebration of Communion