The Right Christmas - Sermon preached by Stephen Kennedy

The Right Christmas

Matthew 1:21

I asked the question last week; “What does Christmas mean to you?” To some people it means hard work. To some people Christmas means a visit home. To some, Christmas means bad memories. They talk about Christmas liquor, they connect whiskey with the blessed Name of the Saviour. But Christmas means everything to the real Christian. It means that God has given him the best Christmas gift that even God could give. Now, if we are to have a "right Christmas," certain things must be placed in that Christmas. Let us follow the Gospel story and see what a "Right Christmas" means.

I)                   The right Christmas means Christ is Worthy. Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. What deep descent—from the heights of glory to the depths of shame. Cradled in a cattle trough. Wrapped in swaddling clothes of poverty. No room for Him who made all rooms! No place for Him who made and knows all places!

A)    Make room for Him in your Hearts. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

B)    Make room for Him in your Heads. Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  Always thinking of Jesus.

C)    Make room for Him in your Homes. Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

II)                The right Christmas means Christ is Worshipped. Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

A)    Worship Him as King. Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Here we see the wise men coming to bring their gifts to Jesus. And what were the gifts? They brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. Each gift was a gift of value. Are we giving ourselves? Are we giving our time and our talents and our money to Him. Here we see the wise men coming to bring their gifts to Jesus. And what were the gifts? They brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. Each gift was a gift of value. Are we giving ourselves? Are we giving our time and our talents and our money to Him.

1.      Gold speaks of His Kingship.

2.      Frankincense speaks of His Godhead.

3.      Myrrh speaks of His Death.

III)             The right Christmas means Christ is Witnessed. Luke 2:15-17 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. The long night of waiting is over, the angel has brought the gladdest and sweetest message the world ever heard. In fact, the world has never been the same since then. But men are still in the darkness of sin.

A)    Tell others about His Grace. 2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

B)    Tell others about His Goodness. Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

C)    Tell others about His Gift. John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

IV)             The right Christmas means Christ is Wanting. Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

A)    He wants to be your Servant. Philippians 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

B)     He wants to be your Saviour. John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Let us do these four things, let us make room for Jesus in our hearts and lives; let us bow down and worship Him; let us bring our gifts unto him; let us tell others the sweet old story of Jesus and His love.