This is the last sermon in the series 'Our definition of Christmas'.  The sermon focusses on Luke 2:8-20 (details around the night that Christ was born).

This sermonette was shared during our Christmas Cantata that was led by our children. The sermon is based on Matthew 18:3-4 and it helps us pick lessons from our children so that we may become what Matthew 18:3-4 challenges us to be.

This is continuation of the sermon series: Our definition of Christmas. The sermon is based on Zecharia's story and his reaction when he received the news of the declaration of the soon to be birth of his son, John.

This sermon explores the origin of Christmas and what Christian's response to its origin and how it is celebrated should be.

This sermon continues with the Samaritan woman's story and out of it we draw three key things that can help us effectively share the gospel. This is by using

1. Their Story-find out who they are and appreciate their why. Acknowledge their reality because that is important to them. It is where you begin to extend love to them.

2. Your Story-you are the best placed person to tell your own story. This is who I am and this is what Jesus Christ means to me and this is who I have become.

3. God’s Story- “God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor. 5:21

This sermon covers the five Reasons why people do not share the gospel

1. It is for the experts: evangelism is only for those who have the gift of evangelism, or for pastors and other professional Christians. You don’t feel like you are capable of sharing the gospel. You outsource it to the pastor. You bring your unbelieving friends’ and family to your pastor to do it when you actually are to be doing it yourselves.

2. We live in a bubble: Simply put, a lot of Christians don’t know any unbelievers. it’s easy to go through life without having close relationships with any of them. Church has become a social club. This can and has resulted in Christians living an isolated existence causing an us vs them mentality. The Christians develop a sub-culture and talk christianese, and are almost hostile to the unbelieving world out there. They become the enemy.

3. We Are Impatient: Conversion and belief take time We are in too much of a hurry to get results. Like things we put in the microwave, we want to see immediate results. When we do not see them, we get discouraged or we dismiss the unbeliever as too hard to reach and declare them demon possessed. We treat the unbeliever as a project and not as a person who has questions and needs to process things.  (Eg. Dad praying 1982-2015)

4. There is a cost: I am persuaded that we do not teach it enough that following Jesus is a big deal. Philippians 1:21. This faith journey with Christ is actually not an easy sell. It can cost you reputational or relational damage. That is why many do not go that route. Instead, you pander up. I must say, we do not confront you people with the reality that following Christ will cost you. You have been taught that God is all about you and your personal wellbeing of good health, material blessings and favour and prosperity. So, when it comes time to paying the price and share the gospel, many of us simply are not willing to lose our reputations to tell the truth that “if anyone would want to come after me, they must first deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me”. Lk. 9:23

5. We don’t know that we don’t know: I am willing to do a quick survey on the exercise we did at the onset of telling the Gospel story in 60 seconds. I will not be surprised that a majority of you regular churchgoers did a less than average job at clearly articulating the Gospel message to someone.

Here are the five graces of giving

1. Grace of the Word of God: vs. 6 “…whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, whoever sows generously will also reap generously”. There are other principles that are at work in our world. What goes up must come down; gravity which is a law of nature. What goes around comes around; that is a life principle. Haba na haba, hujaza kibaba; an economic principle. Here, Paul suggests to his readers that Giving is a God principle that plays out throughout scripture. Paul also uses this same principle in Galatians 6:7. We also see it in Prov. 11

2. Grace of Freedom: vs. 7 “each one should give what they have decided in their heart to give; not reluctantly or under compulsion…” In other words, you have already been released from the routine and obligation of giving. Why? God does not need your gifts. Rom 8:32 “…He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things”? In other words, we cannot out-give God. So, let us give as an expression that this is not a burden but an expression of the abundance of God’s providential love through Christ Jesus

3. Grace of Joy: vs.7b “…God loves a cheerful giver”. Joy is not a feeling but a state of the heart. It comes from the place of assurance and contentment in God. Tim Keller says that “Joy is not based on your circumstances” (scripture calls us to rejoice in our hardships and sufferings [Jam. 1:2-3]). “…what the world calls happiness is getting control of your life so that you keep your circumstances favourable.” In contrast, joy is a state of being, and a result of total peace and assurance in Christ who is all sufficient has all the control and one can rest assured in God.

4. Grace of Provisions:  vs. 8-11 “ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work”. It is said, nature abhors a vacuum. Likewise, with God like we say in Kenya, “anytime is time is tea time” for God, any time is provision time”. God looks for opportunities to give 2 Chr. 16:9 “ For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…” Likewise, we too need to recognize that our ability to produce is not for ourselves but for the benefit of others.

5. Grace of Service: vs. 12-14 “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.” Paul is saying that giving is a service or an act of worship. In other words, it points people towards Christ. Jn. 12:32 “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself”

This sermon covers several things that parents, and future parents should strive to ensure their children have.

Since on earth we will face many tribulations, this sermon seeks to help us navigate them in such a way that they will not crush us.

This sermon covers the beatitudes. It addresses the posture of our hearts as required by God and the rewards that these have.