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Advent 2014

Christmas Night (Luke 2:8-21)

This is a familiar passage to many of us, and at the end of this Advent series, we'll look once more at the events of Christmas night. How and why did the people celebrate Jesus' birth, and how do we consider the good news of Christmas today?

Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2:22-38)

(A) Simeon’s example: Jesus is worth waiting for (v.22-32)

(B) Anna’s example: Jesus is worth consecrating yourself for (v.36-38) 

(C) Joseph and Mary’s example: Jesus is worth being heartbroken for (v.33-35)

 

The Forgotten Story of Christmas (Matt 2:1-12, 16-23)

Christmas is a time of great festivities and joy for many. Many of the songs speak about hope and joy. Yet, if we look at the world, sometimes it doesn't seem like peace prevails.  Are we just being hopelessly naive and oblivious to the suffering of the world? 

Today's passage takes us to a part of the Christmas story that we sometimes forget exist.

The Little Town of Christmas (Luke 2:1-7)

(A) The Practical Reality: A Roman Census (v.1-3)

(B) The Divine Reality: God Fulfilling His Word (v.4-6) 

(C) The Gospel Reality: Fullness of God in a Manger (v.7) 

 

 

The Christmas Announcement and Song (Luke 1:26-56)

(A) A troubling Christmas announcement: Mary struggles and responds by faith (v.26-38)

(B) A joyful Christmas announcement: God’s word is proven true (v.39-45) 

(C) A Christmas song of faith: faith that leads to joy and worship (v.46-56)

 

The Christmas Prophet (Luke 1:1-25, 57-80)

This week we focus our attention on the Christmas prophet, the forerunner to Jesus. We begin in the first chapter of Luke. Where are we in the whole story of the Bible? These events mark the end of the silence between the end of the Old Testament and beginning of the New. After a 400 year period of silence, God was beginning again His work to bring about the fulfillment of His promises first made in the OT.

The Christmas Family (Matt 1:1-25)

(A) The Christmas Family in Macro: A bunch of the worst sinners, spiritually and socially (v.1-17)

(B) The Christmas Family in Micro: Through Jesus, forgiven sinners are restored to God (v.18-25)