Getting This Christmas Right:

The Why's of Christmas

December 2, 2007 - Rev. Rurel Ausley, Rev. Kevin Kelly

Luke 2:1-20 "So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem and Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendent of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth, and she gave birth to a son, her firstborn.

"She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel. There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified.

"The angel said, 'Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide. A Savior has just been born in David's town—a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for—a baby wrapped in a blanket, lying in a manger.' At once the angel was joined by a huge, angelic choir singing God's praises, 'Glory to God in the heavenly highest. Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.'

"As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. 'Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.' They left running. They found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child.

"All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and they let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they had been told." –the Message Bible

Do you find yourself getting to the end of the Christmas season and wondering what just happened? Many will go through this season and not see the real meaning of what is taking place. Demands at work and home will often overshadow what Christmas is all about—God entering our world to be our Savior.

What is the greatest difficulty for you during the Christmas season? Do you struggle to get into the spirit of Christmas? Why or why not?

In today’s sermon, I identified Christmas objects, scenery and elements that can function to remind us to slow down and get this Christmas right. Let’s look at each.

1. How does the Nativity scene remind us of what took place over 2000 years ago in Bethlehem? What is its significance? When you see this scene in someone’s yard, what is your response? What will be your response now that this message has drawn your attention toward the importance of getting Christmas right this year?

2. How can the songs you hear during Christmas serve as a reminder of your need for a Savior? We can call the words, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward all people" the first Christmas carol. What does the Angel's statement reveal to you about Christmas? Do you sense the peace of God in your life during this season? Why? How do we as Christians experience peace? Why does the Angel's message still reverberate in our day even while death, famine, sickness, war, etc. fill the earth?

3. What is your response when you receive a Christmas card in the mail? What will receiving and sending Christmas cards remind you of this year in light of today's sermon? Why is friendship so important? Read John 15:15. Why was Jesus' statement so important to his followers? Why is this statement important to you?

4. What will your credit card remind you of during Christmas? How does money and spending on gifts sometimes rob us of the joy of Christmas? What truth will our credit cards remind us of this year? What debt did Jesus pay for you that you could not pay? How does this make you feel?

5. We all love to receive gifts at Christmas. When you receive a gift, what does that say about you and the person who gave it to you? What will our unwrapping of gifts remind us of this year? What is the greatest gift that we can receive and then offer to others? Read Ephesians 2:8-10. What does this passage reveal about the gift God gives to us? Can we earn it? Why not?

I pray that these Christmas objects, scenes and elements will function as a reminder of what Christmas is all about. I encourage you to take time and ask God to speak to you this Christmas in a way unlike previous Christmas'. Then, make sure that you don't get so caught up in world's version of Christmas that you miss the reason Christmas is so right for us in our lives.