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Christmas sermons

Discussion in 'Pastoral Ministries' started by Mexdeaf, Nov 27, 2007.

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  1. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    Looking for some fodder for Christmas sermons. I am sure that most of us could use a fresh thought or two.
     
    #1 Mexdeaf, Nov 27, 2007
  2. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    I'm thinking something along the line of "If Jesus had not Come" The text would be that we would still be under the law.
     
    #2 Salty, Nov 27, 2007
  3. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    I know what you mean. After 10 Christmases in the same church, I have done just about everything. I'm at home now and will give you some things I've done tomorrow if you'll share some of yours.
     
    #3 Tom Bryant, Nov 27, 2007
  4. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    His is a wonderful life

    Here's one of my favorites- might preach it again this year.

    "His is a Wonderful Life"

    [FONT=Times New Roman,Times]Text: Luke 2:1-20[/FONT]


    I. The Christ of Christmas past

    A. Lying in a manger- Luke 2:1-7. 'A miracle on 34th street in Bethlehem'
    B. Sought by humble shepherds and wise men- Luke 2:8-20; Matthew 2:1-12
    C. Praised by angels from Heaven- Luke 2:13,14
    D. Died to save "Scrooge"- Luke 19:1-10

    II. The Christ of Christmas present

    A. Seated at the right hand of God- Ephesians 1:19-23
    B. Sought by sinners seeking eternal life- Acts 16:30-32; 17:11,12
    C. Praised by those who know Him as Savior- Hebrews 13:15
    D. Coming for the saved "Scrooge"- John 14:1-6

    III. The Christ of Christmas future

    A. Seated on the Great White Throne- Rev. 20:11
    B. Will judge the unsaved "Scrooge"- Rev. 20:11-15
    C. Praised for eternity by the saints- Rev. 19:1-6
    D. Will give us a REAL Christmas- Rev. 21:3-7; 22:1-5
     
    #4 Mexdeaf, Nov 27, 2007
  5. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    'Searching for the perfect gift'

    Here's another...

    "Searching for the 'Perfect Gift'"

    Introduction: Do you have all your shopping done yet?
    There are some folks that are hard to shop for-
    - You have no idea what they need or want
    - You don't know what size or color
    - They are just plain picky



    But, God knows exactly what we need. He gives us good and perfect gifts. Just to help us keep our spiritual perspective in these last days leading up to Christmas let us be reminded of some of God's gifts to us.
    I. The gift of the Savior- Luke 2:11 "Unto YOU"
    If there ever was a gift where "everyboby needs one", "one size fits all", or "you can't do without it", this is it.
    A. It was a promised gift- Gen. 3:15
    B. It is a perfectly timed gift- Gal. 4:4
    II. The gift of salvation
    A personal relationship with the living God-
    John 3:16
    Eph. 2:8,9
    Rom. 6:23
    III. The gift of the Holy Spirit- John 14:16-18, 26
    A. An indwelling Person
    B. An empowering Person
    C. An educating Person
    IV. The gifts of grace-
    A. Giving- II Cor. 8:19
    B. Serving- Eph. 3:7,8
    V. What do you do with a gift?
    I suppose every parent has had the experience of searching for some special gift for their child and then after all that effort seeing the child spend more time playing with the box the gift came in than the gift itself. The feeling you have at that time approximates the feeling God must have about some of His children with their attitude towards His gifts to us.
    A. Thank God for it- II Cor. 9:15
    B. Use it- I Tim. 4:14
    C. Share it- II Tim. 1:6,7
    D. Add to it- II Peter 1:2-8

    Conclusion: It was the week before Christmas. Parking spaces were hard to come by. There were long lines, crowded stores, rude people, and grossly inflated prices. In one long checkout line, one man was heard to say, "They should kill the guy who started Christmas." One wise and godly woman in the line said, "They did- they hung Him on a cross." Therein lies the REAL Christmas story.
     
    #5 Mexdeaf, Nov 27, 2007
  6. PastorSBC1303

    PastorSBC1303 Active Member

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    This year I am doing a 4 part series around Christmas. I do not have all the details worked out yet, but it is going to go something like this:

    "Personalities of Christmas"

    Dec. 9: Mary -- Luke 1:26-56

    Dec. 16: Joseph -- Matthew 1:18-25

    Dec 23: Jesus -- Luke 2:1-20

    Dec 30: Simeon & Anna -- Luke 2:21-38
     
    #6 PastorSBC1303, Nov 27, 2007
  7. TomVols

    TomVols New Member

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    I like to use the Lectionary. Don't know why Baptists and evangelicals find that to be anathema, but it leads people to the Word and leads pastors to be exegetes, preparing us for the reason why Christ came in the first place. Use it for the seasons, like Christmas, Easter, etc. You will not be sorry. I'll share some seed thoughts later.
     
    #7 TomVols, Nov 27, 2007
  8. TomVols

    TomVols New Member

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    You stole one of my series :)
     
    #8 TomVols, Nov 27, 2007
  9. TomVols

    TomVols New Member

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    Have you done everything? Really done everything? Have the people caught everything? Just thoughts. Don't shirk from familiar passages. Familiarity can breed contempt in the complacent,and there will always be new ground to spade.
     
    #9 TomVols, Nov 27, 2007
  10. PastorSBC1303

    PastorSBC1303 Active Member

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    I have never used the Lectionary, but I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on it.

    :saint: Oops, my bad.
     
    #10 PastorSBC1303, Nov 27, 2007
  11. Ulsterman

    Ulsterman New Member

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    Based upon the fact that many people travel at Christmas I preached a series entitled "Great Christmas Journeys" covering:

    1. The Journey of Mary to visit Elizabeth
    2. Mary & Joseph's Journey to Bethlehem
    3. the Journey of the Magi
    4. The Ultimate Journey - Jesus' Journey from Heaven to Earth.
    5. The Flight Into Egypt.
     
    #11 Ulsterman, Nov 28, 2007
  12. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    This year will be

    NO ROOM FOR JESUS Luke 2:7

    Following a Star Mt. 2:1&2
     
    #12 LeBuick, Nov 28, 2007
  13. bobbyd

    bobbyd New Member

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    My four Sunday AM will be:
    1. The First Christmas Carol, Luke 1:46-55
    2. Is there a Vacancy?, Luke 2:1-7
    3. Some Assembly Required, Luke 2:8-20
    4. An Angelic Song, Luke 2:14

    i'm also touching on various characters related to the Christmas story on Wednesday nights...tonight is Zechariah.
    And on Sunday night's i'm doing a series called "Christmas in the Real World"
     
    #13 bobbyd, Nov 28, 2007
  14. Major B

    Major B <img src=/6069.jpg>

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    #14 Major B, Nov 29, 2007
  15. pocadots1990

    pocadots1990 Member

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    Here is a nice illustration to use especially for Christmas. I preached from Luke 2:1-20 "Mary Wrapped a Present to the World."

    My wife wrapped a Christmas present for me and then I showed the unwrapped gift to the church. Then I told them here is a gift, just come up and take it. I had different reactions from the congregation. One part of them laughed at the illustration, the bulk of the people sat there staring out in space, and one man came forward to get the gift. It took someone about a minute to come up.

    The point with all of this is that God gave us a free gift (Romans 6:23) now we have a choice about what we do with that gift. I pointed out some reactions I saw to say this is exactly how other people react. There was an unsaved teenager there and her mom told me that she understood this message loud and clear.

    Different type of illustration to use. This definitely caught people off guard.
     
    #15 pocadots1990, Nov 30, 2007
  16. Circuitrider

    Circuitrider <img src=/circuitrider2.JPG>
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    Here is one of my favorite messages at Christmas on Joseph. Interestingly enough we do not have a single word from Joseph recorded in Scripture. Another fact about him is that God gave him four commands each one in a dream and he fully obeyed. Of course he is real importance as the legal line of Jesus from David comes through Joseph.

    1. Marry Mary - Matt 1:19-25
    * Don't divorce her
    * Don't fear to marry her

    2. Escape to Egypt - 2:13
    * A logical choice - close but of Herod's jurisdiction
    * A temporary solution

    3. Head for home - 2:19-20
    * A challenge to return
    * A change of circumstances - Herod was dead

    4. Go to Galilee - Matt 2:22-23
    * Nazareth - their former home
    * Identify themselves as despised people

    While God spoke to Joseph in his sleep through dreams, according to Peter we have a "more sure word of prophecy" --- the written Scriptures

    :thumbs:
     
    #16 Circuitrider, Nov 30, 2007
  17. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    Those are all good ideas- keep'em coming!
     
    #17 Mexdeaf, Nov 30, 2007
  18. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    Finally hit me at 3:30 a.m. in Mexico- I am going to preach about the shepherds with the theme of 'Everybody needs somebody to tell them that God loves them'- or something along that line.
     
    #18 Mexdeaf, Dec 1, 2007
  19. Rhetorician

    Rhetorician Administrator
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    Kenotic Passage

    Gentlemen:

    Have you ever heard (used?) Philippians 2:5-11 as a Christmas message? The "Self Emptying of Christ," the "Kenotic Passage," "The Humiliation of Christ," or "The Incarnation?" Now that is a message that you can really get your teeth into and that probably not many have heard.

    The only draw back is this: it will be a lot of work to dig it out of the Greek Text and commentaries and such. And not many will want to do that! Most want a "sugar stick" or some simple outline from "Handfuls on Purpose!" It is a whole lot easier to preach someone else's material than it is your own.:laugh:

    Enjoy!

    sdg!:thumbs:

    rd
     
    #19 Rhetorician, Dec 3, 2007
  20. tank1976

    tank1976 New Member

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    I am using Luke 2: 8-14, but I am going to put a little diferent spin on it.

    Everytime I read this verse it reminds me of " A Charlie Brown Christmas."

    At the end of verse 14 Linus says, " That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown."

    I am going in the direction of what is Christmas about? Really about?

    I want to have fun with it, but also glorify the Lord and clearly share the Gospel.

    I will be preaching this message in the next week or two.

    I pray that God is working in this message and the hearts of all who hear it. That we would truly know what Christmas is about.
     
    #20 tank1976, Dec 4, 2007
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