Embracing The Christmas Spirit

What this episode covers

Outline with blanks Completed Outline Luke 2 8-14 Scroll to 30:44 for the beginning of the sermon. Luke 2:8-14 We’re going to read some scripture this morning, and this is from Luke chapter two, familiar portion of scripture at Christmas season, verses eight through 14. This is what Dr. Luke writes about that night when Christ was born. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were terrified. And the angel said to them, do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. And this will be a sign to you; you will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company, the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest heaven. And on earth, peace to those on whom His favor rests. Well, this morning we’re going to think about embracing the Christmas spirit. And I don’t know about you, if you’re feeling the Christmas spirit or not. Sometimes we do and sometimes we don’t, depending on where we are in our life circumstances. I don’t know if you had to read the famous work by author Charles Dickens called A Tale of Two Cities. Very familiar book. And here’s what the opening line of Dickens writes in A Tale of Two Cities. It was published in 1859, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. And Charles Dickens writes, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Now the rest of the quote is this. It was the age of wisdom; it was the age of foolishness. It was the epoch of belief and the epoch of incredulity. It was a season of light and a season of darkness. It was the winter of despair. We had everything before us; we had nothing before us. We were all going to heaven, we were all going to hell. Charles Dickens is writing about the current situation. The aristocracy of the French people were living in luxury and privilege while the normal people, the peasants in that time and age, were struggling under crushing poverty, oppression, and starvation. And so, Dickens says, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I want you to know this morning that sometimes that phrase describes Christmas. I don’t know where you are in your Christmas journey and your life circumstances. For many people, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. But I also want you to know that for many, many people, Christmas is one of the hardest times of the year. It can be the best of times; it could be the worst of times. It’s the most wonderful time of year when we’re surrounded by family from perhaps near and far, when we’re enjoying good health, when we’re gainfully employed, when we get that Christmas bonus or love gift from the congregation. The wonderful blessings of children and how children and grandchildren just seem to bring the magic of Christmas to us during this season as well. But I want you to know it also can be the worst of times. Families that are separated, servicemen and women all around the world that are thousands of miles from home at Christmas time, people that are struggling with their health, with unemployment, with relational stress that kind of bubbles to the top at Christmas time, people who are missing a loved one for the very first time at Christmas season. I remember the Christmas of 1979, long time ago. My mom was a pastor’s wife, developed cancer in her 40s, at the age of 50 in October of 1979, passed away. I remember celebrating Christmas with our family that Christmas season, two months after my mom passed away. And believe me, we were not in the Christmas spirit. It was just a matter of going through the motions and of getting through Christmas. So, I don’t know where you are this morning,

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