The Wise Men - Sermon preached by Stephen Kennedy. 12/22/2013

The Wise Men

Matthew 2:1-12

I)                   They were wise because they were Watching for Jesus. Vs. 1-9

A)    Christ’s star fulfilled the Scriptures. Numbers 24:15-17 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

B)    Christ’s star provided the way to the Saviour. Vs. 9. John 12:35-36 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

C)    Christ’s star brought hope to a lost Society. Luke 2:10-12 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

II)                They were wise because they were Worshiping Jesus. Vs. 2, 10-11

A)    They worshiped Him with Gladness. Psalm 148

B)    They worshiped Him with Gifts. Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

III)             They were wise because they Walked with Jesus.  Vs. 12

A)    They were Sensitive to the Lord.

B)    They were Submissive to the Lord. Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Most Famous Star - Sermon preached by Stephen Kennedy on Dec. 15, 2013

Most Famous Star

Matthew 2:9-10

I)                   The Christmas Star shines of God’s Glory.

A)    God’s Glory is reflected in History. His Story

B)    God’s Glory is reflected in Harmony. Psalms 19:1. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

C)    God’s Glory is reflected in Hearts. Exodus 40:34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

D)    God’s Glory is reflected in Heaven. Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

II)                The Christmas Star shines as God’s Guidance.

A)    God’s Guidance gives Light. Isaiah 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

B)    God’s Guidance gives Liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

C)    God’s Guidance gives Loyalty. Psalms 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

D)    God’s Guidance gives Love. Ps 23

III)             The Christmas Star shines as God’s Gift.

A)    God’s Gift is Unmerited. Romans 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. God's love came to us when we did not deserve it, before we could ever possibly hope to earn it, and it opens up to us the possibility of new life. You don't have to bring flowers to God to win his love. God loved us before we deserved it. God's gift of love in Christ is Unmerited.

B)    God’s Gift is Unparalleled. The gift of salvation in Jesus Christ has no counterpart or equal in history. It is unparalleled.

1.       No other religion has a risen Saviour.

2.       No other religion has a perfect Lord.

3.      No other religion has a loving God who seeks man. In other religions the direction is always from man to God. The God of Christianity, on the other hand, is a God who seeks man.

C)    God’s Gift is Uncontainable.  2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. When a person is right with God and in touch with this unspeakable gift, he will not be able to be quiet about it.

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.

What is the Meaning of Christmas? - Sermon preached by Stephen Kennedy, Dec. 1, 2013

What is the meaning of Christmas?

Gal 4:4-5

I)                   It means Prophecy was fulfilled.

A)    Prophecy concerning Place of His birth. Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

B)    Prophecy concerning Purpose of His birth. Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

C)    Prophecy concerning Pedigree of His birth. Genesis 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

II)                It means a Prince was born.

A)    Heir to the throne of Israel. Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

B)    Heir to the throne of Heaven. Luke 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

C)    Heir to the throne of my Heart. Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

III)             It means Peace has come.

A)    The Angels rejoiced at His coming. 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.

B)    The Shepherds rejoiced at His coming. Luke 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

C)    Simeon rejoiced at His coming. Luke 2:28-32 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

IV)             It means Provision was given.  

A)    He came to seek the sinner. Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

B)    He came to save from sin. Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

V)                It means a Path was made.

A)    A path was made by Christ’s Love. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

B)    A path was made by Christ’s Loyalty. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

C)    A path was made by Christ’s Life. Galatians 1:3-4 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: