Hope Is Born: The Hope Of Christmas

 

Series Summary

The Christmas season is a time of year that can get pretty crazy, and if we aren’t ready for it, it can get out of control pretty quickly. We can get distracted pretty easily. We can lose our focus if we’re not careful.

What we need is a little hope. We live in a world that seems to be falling apart, and we need something to cling to. We need hope.

As we look into the birth narratives found in Matthew and Luke, we see another time when people needed a little hope. We see a nation that was seeking something to cling to in a world that seemed to be falling apart. God seemed distant. He hadn’t been heard from in over 400 years. They needed some hope.

And into the chaos that was their world, God spoke. He spoke through four different angelic announcements that he was offering humanity hope. And then he spoke that hope through the cry of a baby born in Bethlehem. These announcements demonstrate that hope has been offered to us. They demonstrate that God has not turned away. They demonstrate that God is still in control, even in a world that seems chaotic and hopeless. They demonstrate that God is willing to step into our lives and help us. They demonstrate hope.

Hope is born! He was born 2000 years ago, and placed into a manger, in the small town of Bethlehem. If we’re not careful, we could miss it, just like the nation of Israel seemed to miss it so long ago.

God announced that hope would be born, and then he was. God’s plan was in action, to redeem us, to save us, to give us hope. Hope is born!

Sermon Summary

This Christmas Sunday, we take a look at the angels’ announcement to the shepherds in the fields. And the message they bring is one of hope:

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, 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. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12, ESV)

Are you seeking the hope that the Savior brings? Are you seeking the peace that he offers?

Merry Christmas!

Hope Is Born: The Certainty Of Hope

 

Series Summary

The Christmas season is a time of year that can get pretty crazy, and if we aren’t ready for it, it can get out of control pretty quickly. We can get distracted pretty easily. We can lose our focus if we’re not careful.

What we need is a little hope. We live in a world that seems to be falling apart, and we need something to cling to. We need hope.

As we look into the birth narratives found in Matthew and Luke, we see another time when people needed a little hope. We see a nation that was seeking something to cling to in a world that seemed to be falling apart. God seemed distant. He hadn’t been heard from in over 400 years. They needed some hope.

And into the chaos that was their world, God spoke. He spoke through four different angelic announcements that he was offering humanity hope. And then he spoke that hope through the cry of a baby born in Bethlehem. These announcements demonstrate that hope has been offered to us. They demonstrate that God has not turned away. They demonstrate that God is still in control, even in a world that seems chaotic and hopeless. They demonstrate that God is willing to step into our lives and help us. They demonstrate hope.

Hope is born! He was born 2000 years ago, and placed into a manger, in the small town of Bethlehem. If we’re not careful, we could miss it, just like the nation of Israel seemed to miss it so long ago.

God announced that hope would be born, and then he was. God’s plan was in action, to redeem us, to save us, to give us hope. Hope is born!

Sermon Summary

Mary, the mother of Jesus, also received a visit from an angel. Her experience was perhaps the most poignant of all, when she understood just what was to happen. While this certainly could not have been an easy thing to endure, she was willingly obedient to God’s plans. What society probably viewed as an illicit pregnancy was directly from God, and even though Mary wasn’t sure how the plan would work out, and was aware of her own limitations, she was still obedient.

Our circumstances may feel overwhelmingly difficult at times. Maybe we don’t feel like we have what it takes for God to work through us, or in us. But when we rest in the certainty of the hope that we have, we can have confident assurance that God is in control, and will work things out according to his plan.

Hope Is Born: The Legacy Of Hope

 

Series Summary

The Christmas season is a time of year that can get pretty crazy, and if we aren’t ready for it, it can get out of control pretty quickly. We can get distracted pretty easily. We can lose our focus if we’re not careful.

What we need is a little hope. We live in a world that seems to be falling apart, and we need something to cling to. We need hope.

As we look into the birth narratives found in Matthew and Luke, we see another time when people needed a little hope. We see a nation that was seeking something to cling to in a world that seemed to be falling apart. God seemed distant. He hadn’t been heard from in over 400 years. They needed some hope.

And into the chaos that was their world, God spoke. He spoke through four different angelic announcements that he was offering humanity hope. And then he spoke that hope through the cry of a baby born in Bethlehem. These announcements demonstrate that hope has been offered to us. They demonstrate that God has not turned away. They demonstrate that God is still in control, even in a world that seems chaotic and hopeless. They demonstrate that God is willing to step into our lives and help us. They demonstrate hope.

Hope is born! He was born 2000 years ago, and placed into a manger, in the small town of Bethlehem. If we’re not careful, we could miss it, just like the nation of Israel seemed to miss it so long ago.

God announced that hope would be born, and then he was. God’s plan was in action, to redeem us, to save us, to give us hope. Hope is born!

Sermon Summary

Matthew’s nativity account tells of the encounter that Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, had with an angel. He is told that Mary would bear a child, and that he was the son of God, who would bring salvation to mankind. Joseph’s response is immediate obedience. He follows the angel’s instructions, even though it could not have been easy.

His reaction to God’s activity should be our reaction as well. We can learn a lot from the example of Joseph, and we can see how we should respond to God’s work in our lives. And in doing so, we leave a legacy of hope for those who follow us.

Hope Is Born: The Forerunner Of Hope

 

Series Summary

The Christmas season is a time of year that can get pretty crazy, and if we aren’t ready for it, it can get out of control pretty quickly. We can get distracted pretty easily. We can lose our focus if we’re not careful.

What we need is a little hope. We live in a world that seems to be falling apart, and we need something to cling to. We need hope.

As we look into the birth narratives found in Matthew and Luke, we see another time when people needed a little hope. We see a nation that was seeking something to cling to in a world that seemed to be falling apart. God seemed distant. He hadn’t been heard from in over 400 years. They needed some hope.

And into the chaos that was their world, God spoke. He spoke through four different angelic announcements that he was offering humanity hope. And then he spoke that hope through the cry of a baby born in Bethlehem. These announcements demonstrate that hope has been offered to us. They demonstrate that God has not turned away. They demonstrate that God is still in control, even in a world that seems chaotic and hopeless. They demonstrate that God is willing to step into our lives and help us. They demonstrate hope.

Hope is born! He was born 2000 years ago, and placed into a manger, in the small town of Bethlehem. If we’re not careful, we could miss it, just like the nation of Israel seemed to miss it so long ago.

God announced that hope would be born, and then he was. God’s plan was in action, to redeem us, to save us, to give us hope. Hope is born!

Sermon Summary

The first of the angelic appearances in the nativity narrative was to an unlikely individual. Zechariah was a priest in the temple service, and while he was serving in that role, an angel showed up and revealed to him that he and his wife, even in their old age, would have a baby boy who would be the forerunner of the Messiah!

What a surprise! Zechariah was a little skeptical, and as a result, he was struck speechless until his son was born.

This announcement shows us that God has not given up on his people. He was still actively involved in their lives… and ours. While our circumstances may seem like God is distant, he’s not. He’s right in the middle of it all with us, and that’s where he’ll stay.

And even in spite of our circumstances, God can use them to prepare us for his Son. That gives us hope!