Anyone ever feel any tension with the Christmas season?

• Gifts? Busy schedules? Family dynamics? Prioritizing God?

REVIEW

• A Simple Christmas – seeking to cut through the chaos so we can maintain a heart of worship amidst all the busy and pressure and crazy
• Last week – the reminder to choose Humility and reject Entitlement

Simple Christmas: A Simple Message….Simple but not Easy

The simple message: God sent Jesus to save us! (John 3:16)       Simple but not easy.

1. His Message of His Son – human but Divine

John 1:17-18 ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. NIV

• The Word was God (John 1:1) …Became flesh…full of grace and truth (v 14)…through Jesus Christ…who is himself God (v. 17-18)

His Divinity verified by:

• The supernatural in the present – Virgin Birth and Angels speaking
• The supernatural in the past – Fulfilled prophecy (1-Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14), 2-Bethlehem of Judah (Micah 5:2), 3- Ancestry (Abraham & David’s descendant (Genesis 12:3; Isaiah 9:7))

2. His Message of Peace on earth – but not completely

Luke 2:13-14  Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” NLT

• Peace on earth – John 14:27 – not the world’s kind of peace but His kind – Philippians 4:7 – Inner peace that guards our hearts and minds
• The enemy is still working – used Herod to massacre all boys 2 and under in Bethlehem (Matt 2:16-18)
• Our world is still broken and we still have our sinful nature (1 John 2:15-17)

3. His Message of Forgiveness – but confession required

Matthew 1:20-21 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. ²¹ And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” NLT

• In order to be saved we must first confess that we are sinners (1 John 1:9) and in need of saving – meaning, we cannot save ourselves (Romans 6:23)
• Even after we confess and turn to Him, we still struggle with sin (Romans 7:14-25) but we need to remember that there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ (Romans 8:1)

4. His Message to the Nations – but someone must tell them

Luke 2:28- ²⁸ Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, ²⁹ “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. ³⁰ I have seen your salvation, ³¹ which you have prepared for all people. ³² He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” NLT

• God’s salvation through His Son Jesus is for all people – a Light to the nations
• But someone must tell the nations (Romans 10:14) so they can confess Him as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10)

5. His Message of Immanuel – with us but not controlling

Matthew 1:22-23 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: ²³ “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

• Immanuel – God with us (Isaiah 7:14) – His reassurance for us to carry out His mission (Matt 28:18-20)
• His presence partnered with our availability and obedience results in His work (Col 1:28-29)

The simple message: God sent Jesus to save us! ……………Simple but not easy.

Application

1- His Message of His Son – Do you believe? Have you trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior?

2- His Message of Peace – What areas of your life are creating anxiety? Turn those over to Him (Phil 4:6-7)

3- His Message of Forgiveness – Have you confessed? Then you’re forgiven! Now forgive others (Eph 4:32)

4- His Message to the Nations – How are you going to share His Message through your actions and words?

5- His Message of His Presence – What area of your life are you still relying on yourself, rather than His ability?

For Small Group Discussion

Opening Question: Have you ever been astonished by something?

Main Point: God used simple, ordinary people in the Christmas story. God wants to use us in His continuing story today.

Main Scripture: Luke 2:15-20

Head Questions

• How did the shepherds respond to what they heard?
• How did their response demonstrate faithfulness?

Heart Questions

• How did you respond when you heard first about Jesus? Did it sound like good news to you at the time?
• Who have you shared the good news with in the past? How did they respond?

Hands Questions

• Who do you know that needs to hear about Jesus this Christmas season?
• How are you centering your Christmas celebrations around the simple message of Jesus’ arrival?

Tips and Resources: Advent Calendar. Pray about people to invite to services, or Christmas dinner.

For more sermon resources, podcasts, and other tools go to:  https://realliferesources.org/current-series/ (www.realliferesources.org)