The STORY Of Christmas

Every Culture has it’s Stories What matters Who or what holds value\importance How to fit in Etc The stories that we believe in have REAL IMPACTS in our life Forms our value system Forms our identity Forms our morality   We are in the middle of a “STORY REWRITE” in our culture Forcing you to choose which story to be a part of This week, our song is… Go Tell It on the Mountain Go Tell It on The Mountain 1 While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night, behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. 2 The shepherds feared and trembled when lo, above the earth rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth. 3 Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born, and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn. [Refrain] Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills, and ev’rywhere; go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. SONG HISTORY: Born Pre Civil war in the spiritual songs of enslaved African-Americans Similar to “Swing low sweet chariot Sung at Christmas time Later publish by John Wesley Work Jr in Late 1800s   Based on this passage… Luke 2:8-20 8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors! 15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told. 1: Christmas Tells Us God’s Story Luke 2 13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors! This is GOD’S STORY This is HIS WORLD We are HIS PEOPLE We should think of it this way… Christmas is FOR us, but it’s not ABOUT us It’s the moment in time what God chose to put on flesh and become one of us Philippians 2:5-11 5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Christmas is the TURNING POINT in the STORY It’s about Christ coming as KING God coming to us, not him being separated God is CLOSE, not far away   But it’s all GOD, the whole thing Again Christmas is FOR us, but it’s not ABOUT us   A song like “Go Tell It On The Mountain” understands this It’s all about Jesus There’s no “ME” in it There is a lot of “ME” in our Christmas, which makes Christmas… Cheap Selfish Uninteresting How can we help change that? By remembering… Christmas is FOR us, but it’s not ABOUT us But there is something else that this Story and this Song teaches us Not only does Christmas tell us God’s Story, but… 2: Christmas invites us into God‘s story The Christmas Story in an INVITATION   Invitation into something BIGGER than yourself Invitation to get past yourself Past your problems Past just your wants and desires Invitation to be a part of GOD’S STORY There are MANY way for us to be involved in that story, but the most fundamental is… BY TELLING THE STORY Luke 2:17 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. If you truly understand the story, it compels you to tell anyone and everyone The power of a song like “Go Tell It On The Mountain” Written and Sung by enslaved people who understood their story as part of a much LARGER story They understood Christmas far more than we do The Christmas story tells us what REALLY MATTERS People Especially those who are often on the “OUTSIDE” of who we think is important Christmas is an INVITATION to see the heart of our GOD What matters to HIM The lengths that He is willing to go for us So what is the STORY OF CHRISTMAS? Christmas is FOR us, but it’s not ABOUT us The Christmas Story in an INVITATION To be a part of what KING JESUS is doing in the world