Sermon Notes

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Love – Luke 1&2 – December 24, 2017 | Love – Mary / Shepherds Motive Matters – Something that causes a person to act • Crime Committed = Motive is the ‘why’ à Brian Maggard “heart” I believe motive matters to the Lord Christmas – Whether or not Christians should celebrate Christmas has been a point of contention for centuries • Paganism = bells / candles / holly / yule holiday was a pagan day – winter solstice - Candles = light coming into the world - Stars = Star of Bethlehem guiding the wise men - Motive Matters - Political = ‘happy holidays’ – commercialism & greed • Could be used to communicate the real ‘meaning for the season’ - Motive Matters There is no legitimate scriptural reason not to celebrate Christmas. At the same time, there is not Biblical mandate to celebrate it either… personal conviction à No matter where you land – Motive Matters So… if motive matters, what is the ‘why’ for Christmas? - Let’s look at what the angel’s said| Father Himself To Mary à young à un-wed à woman who found favor

(1:26) In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was joseph, of the house of David and the virgin’s name was Mary. And He came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what kind of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give Him the Throne of His Father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His Kingdom there will be no end.” First: ‘Why Christmas’ 1. Establishment of an eternal Kingdom Physical – Iron Fist Spiritual – Heart of Love • His Appointment = Son of the Most High Military Dictation Shepherd – Humility & Meekness









Domination-shake nations Benevolent-Heal brokenness

• His Authority = Israel’s throne forever à Kingdome that will never end - Some good rulers / some bad – the answer to Messianic prophecy = perfect ruler • His Divinity (34) Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin (35) and the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” Establishment of an Eternal Kingdom = contradictory Ladies & Gentlemen = there have been countless: Leaders | Dictators | Presidents | Warlords | Tyrants - There is only one perfect, Eternal King The King is God in the Flesh

- There is only one King to whom I pay homage… honor I express publically He is King… is He your King? It was a King born in that barn… to that poor young family… in a meaningless city

[Read Luke 2:1-7] What did the angels say to the Shepherds And in the same region there were shepherds, keeping watch over their flock by night, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the Glory of the Lord shone around them and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, ‘fear not, for behild, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’ Motive Matters – God’s motive in Christmas is love – our rescue. Christmas is the… 2. Arrival of our eternal Savior Born this day in the city of David a Savior Christmas is not about family – not everyone has a family that brings them joy Christmas is not about presents – not everyone gets presents or even likes presents Not: Santa / elves / Grinch / Rudolph / frosty Traditions come and go | presents are today’s ‘hot item’ & tomorrows trash * The coming of the King who saves us from our darkness… lasts forever When the angel told of the Savior coming… he was saying: Born to you this day is the image of the invisible God, first born over all creation in Him all things were created, He is the heir of all things, and He upholds all things by the power of His voice – That is who is born this day! He will become the curse for sin and trade His righteousness as a ransom for all who come to Him by faith. Reconcile all things. Make peace through His blood shed on the cross • He will be perfect in our place That is who lays in swaddling cloths in the manger • He will suffer in our place • He will overcome death in our place • He will prepare a place for us in Heaven Motive matters – before the creation of time “Let us create man in our own Image” - They will rebel against our Holiness - Then I will trade my holiness for their rebellion. I will save them from themselves! à Forgiveness is not automatic à Gospel Christmas is the: • Establishment of an eternal Kingdom • Arrival of an eternal Savior à Watch this story ‘the Shepherd’ with the motive of Christmas in mind