Church of The Open Door Sermons

Getting Ready for Christmas

“Are you ready for Christmas?”

Luke 2:6-7

Getting ready for Christmas…

…starts with understanding the first Christmas

Jesus was born far away from home.

Jesus was born in humble circumstances.

Jesus was born when people’s lives were crowded.

…then moves to understanding who Jesus is

Jesus was a baby who was also Savior

Jesus was a son who was also Messiah

Jesus was a visitor who was also Lord

…and ends with the proper celebration of Jesus

Receive Jesus as Savior who will save you from your sins

Follow Jesus as Messiah who will give your life purpose

Surrender to Jesus as Lord and live your life for Him

https://opendoor.tv/how-to-connect-with-god-through-the-word-and-prayer-an-introduction-to-daily-devotions/

Getting Ready for Christmas

Luke 2:1-6

“God’s Christmas Details”

 

Why does Luke record the kinds of details he does about Jesus’ birth?

They aren’t details of God’s direct

They aren’t details of the labor and delivery.

They aren’t details of the setting.

To show us God was working:

through secular events for His sovereign purposes.

Common language

Current circumstances

Leadership decisions

Life situations

God is working out His purposes in our world.

through biblical prophecies for His salvific purposes.

Jesus fulfills Scriptural heritage of Messiah

Jesus fulfills prophetic birthplace of Messiah

Jesus fulfills kingly lineage of Messiah

God is working to save us and sanctify us.

through specific details for His strategic purposes.

The right place

The right people

All at the right time

God draws people to the right place at the right time.

God is working out His purposes in our lives with perfect timing. Trust Him.

Sermon Notes

Getting Ready for Christmas

“Speak Up”

Luke 1:67-80

Luke tells the story of God getting ready for Christmas

By showing how God was moving in people’s lives

But they’re all speaking about Jesus

Zechariah receives his voice and praises God

He’s excited about the birth of his son, John

But his message is speaking all about Jesus

The Holy Spirit begins a new era of filling people

To speak a message from God

To speak about Jesus

God is telling a story in your life

So He fills you with His Holy Spirit

So you will speak about Jesus!

May we live full of the Holy Spirit and speak about Jesus wherever we go!

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Spirit-led Servant/Living Surrendered

Sermon Notes

Getting Ready for Christmas

“Jehovah Is a Gracious Giver”

Luke 1:57-66

God’s grace is a gift greater than any thing we could ever receive at Christmastime.

Elizabeth & Zechariah receive from Jehovah, the gracious gifts of:

• A promise fulfilled

• Time

• A name

• Obedience

• Presence

• Atonement

The greatest gracious Gift God has given is the sending of His one and only son, Jesus as our atoning sacrifice for whom John was going to prepare the way:

“Here he is, God’s Passover Lamb! He forgives the sins of the world!” John 1:29 (MSG)

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Trustworthy Steward of God’s Resources/Living Surrendered

LifeGroup Questions

Begin Life Group with prayer – invite the Holy Spirit to speak and move among you.

Ice breaker: What was the best gift you most remember getting on Christmas from your childhood? What made it so special?

As you reflect on the last series “Promises that changed the world” what promises do you recall hearing that mean the most to you and why? Look back in your notes or on the website, it’s ok!

Share a moment in your life when God gave you the gift of time (waiting) but at the time it felt like anything but a gift!

Have you ever been at odds with family & friends like Zechariah & Elizabeth experienced? What happened? Did your “No” stand or did you give way to the group’s opinions? Why?

Read Joshua 1:8-9 aloud. As God encourages Joshua to take up the leadership after Moses’ departure, He gives some commands and a promise. What are they? How does this moment in Joshua’s life relate to Z & E’s journey and to yours?

Finally, close your time in prayer together. Where do you need strength, courage, determination to say ‘no’ to people and ‘yes’ to God? Recall from our weekly devos James 5:13-16 before you pray.

Sermon Notes

Getting Ready for Christmas

“Called by Name”

Luke 1:57-66

Names are essential to our identity.

Naming reveals authority and intimacy.

• To know who we are.

• To know whose we are.

God cares about your name because God cares about your call.

• To hear it.

• To believe it.

• To follow it.

A good name is born when you believe a good God has called you by name.

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Trustworthy Steward of God’s Resources/Living Surrendered

LifeGroup Questions

As a group, share your FULL names. What stories/family heritage surround your name?

Try to name many of the significant characters in the Bible. Was there a meaning attached to their name? Did God rename them? Why?

Naming reveals authority and intimacy. Are there names others have given you (or maybe you’ve given them to yourself) that you’ve given authority in your life? *Think lazy, bad mom/dad, failure etc.What needs to change to have a “good” name?

John’s name is significant because his call was so important. How has God’s call on your life changed your name (reputation/character)?

Read Mark 2:13-17. Who has Jesus come to call (name)? How is this good news? How should this shape our call?

As a group, conclude by surrendering your name to God’s call.

Sermon Notes

Getting Ready for Christmas

“The Birth of John the Baptist”

Luke 1:57-66

Why is Zechariah’s mouth only opened after he confirms John’s name? God wants to teach him about faith and trust!

In the midst of difficulty:

Don’t ask why? Rather, ask what?

Embrace difficulty:

Don’t waste an opportunity to grow your faith!

Why the name John?

Zechariah = God remembers.

Elizabeth = God promises.

John = Grace and Mercy.

What legacy will you leave behind?

The response to the birth of John? Joy & Curiosity!!!

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Trustworthy Steward of God’s Resources/Living Surrendered

LifeGroup Questions

Icebreaker: What is your favorite part about getting ready for Christmas?

Agree or Disagree: Sometimes God creates difficult situations in order to grow our faith in Him.

Be honest: Do you tend to learn more from success and comfort, or from failure and difficulty? Why do you think that is?

Read James 1:2-4. Have difficult situations had this kind of impact on your faith?

Spent a moment taking an internal inventory: Have you given up hope in Jesus’ return? What role does anticipating Jesus play in your life?

Do you live your life with the joy and curiosity of seeing God at work? Why or why not?

Sermon Notes

The Promises that Changed the World

“The Promise of Blessing”

Luke 1:39-56

There’s a difference between the knowledge of blessing and the joy of blessing.

How Mary responded; she trusted God by:

acting on what she heard.

She sought out others who were close to God.

believing what she heard.

She believed God would fulfill His promises to her.

Blessing comes from believing.

How Mary rejoiced; she thanked God for:

seeing her

saving her

blessing her

doing great things for her

showing her mercy

humbling the proud and exalting the humble

keeping His promises

Experiencing God’s joy comes from believing and acting on God’s promises!

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Trustworthy Steward of God’s Resources/Living Surrendered