From The Manger To The Cross

As the angel appeared to the unsuspecting shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone  around them, they were shocked—sore afraid. I would be pretty scared too—probably trembling. 

Luke 2:10-11 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.

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 Savior is born. That ought to be our message all through the year. 

God help us to tell a lost and dying world about a living, loving Saviour who can give them grace, peace, hope, blessings, joy and salvation. 

Here’s the good news: From the manger to the cross to the tomb to His triumphant resurrection—Jesus is Lord and Savior to all who believe.

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed permission. 

Bethlehem

It was in Bethlehem that Ruth the Moabitess found redemption, and David was anointed King over Israel, 1 Sam. 16:1-13.

But Bethlehem witnessed the most amazing miracle the world has ever seen at the birth of Jesus, the very Son of God—God in the flesh, Luke 2:1-20.

The Prophet Micah first told us Jesus would be born at Bethlehem. 

Micah 5:2 But thou, Beth-lehem 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.

Though He will be born in Bethlehem, He is eternal. 

In 1867 Phillip Brooks wrote a special biblical song we sing at Christmas time.

“O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.—Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.—Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;—The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,—While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.—O morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth,—And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth!

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;—Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.—We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;—O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!”

Jesus came to this earth in the fashion that He did because He loved you and me and wanted to give His life a ransom for our sins. 

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed permission. 

The True Glory Of Christmas

That God stepped out of eternity into time is mind-boggling. 

That the undeserving shepherds first received the Announcement of the birth of the Christ-Child is more than my mind can grasp. 

But the Creator, with all His deity, humbling Himself to be laid in a manger is unthinkable. 

The precious baby Jesus sleeping quietly in a farm animal’s feeding trough—imagine that. 

We find the true glory of Christmas in the words of the angel who visited the shepherds on that Judean hillside. 

Luke 2:10-11 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.

No matter what we may make of it, Christmas will always be about the Baby born in Bethlehem—our Savior. 

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed permission. 

What A Lovely Name

Luke 1:30-31 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

What a lovely name, the name of Jesus. At the mention of that name hell trembles—Satan flees—sin is defeated—captives are delivered—fear gives way to peace—hopelessness is swallowed up in victory—the blind see—and the dead live.

At the name of Jesus drunkards are made sober—harlots are made pure—addicts are delivered from addictions—the lost are saved—and new life begins. 

The name of Jesus marks the difference between Heaven and Hell—life and death—hope and despair—sin and salvation—judgment and forgiveness—and between the grace of God and His condemnation.

Many have shared that name, but there is only one Jesus Christ, and He is KIng of Kings and Lord of Lords. Alone. Forever.

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed permission. 

The Greatest Gift

This child born in Bethlehem was no ordinary baby. The Angelic Announcement gave proof, Matt. 1:20-23. 

All through His life Jesus proved He was literally God in human flesh, John 1:1,14. 

He taught like no other. He healed, He preached, He loved, He reached out. His life was one miraculous event after another. But none of those events qualified Him to be Savior. 

When John 3:16 tells us that God "gave His only begotten Son", that’s the precise meaning. He gave us the greatest gift ever. 

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.

The cradle was the first stop on the road to Calvary. It was there that Jesus surrendered His life—a bloody sacrifice for sin on a cruel cross—to become our Savior, bringing Salvation to all who believe. 

Do you want to give something to Jesus for Christmas? Give Him your heart. 

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed permission. 

The Real Hero Of Christmas

According to history, there were three theories surrounding Mary's pregnancy.

A. The baby was Joseph's.

B. The baby belonged to Mary's secret lover.

C. Mary had been raped by a Roman soldier.

Any of these situations would bring shame on Mary and Joseph, yet Joseph went ahead and married Mary. 

Matthew 1:24-25 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Doing God’s will isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but it’s always the right thing to do. 

Eventually, Mary delivered her baby. On that great night, Joseph did as he had been commanded when he took his Creator into his arms and called his name JESUS.

This year in Christmas plays and programs all around the world Joseph will take a back seat to shepherds, wise men, animals and other characters. 

But he is the real hero of Christmas, because of the lessons he teaches us about obedience and surrender to the will of God. 

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed permission. 

Believers And Christmas

Though we allow ourselves to get caught up in the hustle and bustle this time of year, most believers understand something of the true meaning of Christmas.

•  We know that Jesus was God in human flesh.

•  We know that when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, God stepped out of eternity and entered time.

•  We know that Jesus was a great teacher, healer, and miracle worker.

•  We know that Jesus came to earth to die for our sins on the cross.

• We know that He rose again from the dead and ascended back to heaven to make intercession for His people and to prepare a place for us there.

•  We know that all of this, and more, is the true meaning of Christmas.

•  We know that the real gift of Christmas is Christ Himself. 

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.

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed permission.