Funny: Jon Crist (3.5mins)– Modern Mary & Joseph: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAcxlZdR27U
WELCOME: to Central Church of Christ, not a place, a building, or a religion, but a people called out by God to Show His Love, Tell His Story, and Be His Family. Today’s sermon series is the second message inspired by our Christmas preparations, where we ask the questions, “Do we prepare for the coming of the Christ more than the coming of Christmas? How did God prepare the world for the coming of Christmas!”
“In the beginning was the Word (that’s Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1
1 Peter 1:20 says “(Jesus) was foreknown before the foundation of the world
Galatians 4:4 tells us that “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son”
- Isaiah 7:14 that declared: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
- Micah 5:2 – But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days. - Psalm 72:8-11 – May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth!
9 May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust!
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!
“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary…. And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’ And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy — the Son of God.’” Luke 1:26-27 & 31-35
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
Isaiah 7:14 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” Luke 1:17
Look at all the references to God in this passage Luke 1:26-37 : 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin? 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
THIS PASSAGE SHOW’S A FOCUS ON THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD!
“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38
1 Peter 2:9 says “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.”
“For 2000 years parents and grandparents have passed on the story of Jesus. It has changed millions of lives and the whole world.” Gene Dulin, a preacher and Christian missionary who lived just north of our family in Plainfield, Indiana.