This morning I want to share what I call "The Christmas Story As You Have Never Heard It." Often, when we think of the “Christmas story” we start somewhere in the middle or near the end. However, the story has its roots and its beginnings long before what we call the traditional story. The “Christmas story” does not begin in the city of Bethlehem, nor does it begin in with a couple named Joseph and Mary. The “Christmas story” actually begins before the creation of the universe. I Peter 1:18-20 says, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you . . . ” The “Christmas story” has its “beginning” in a garden, the garden of God which was “planted . . . eastward in Eden.” And we know the names of the couple in this garden. They were Adam and Eve. In this brief message we will see:

I. THE PRELUDE.

II. THE PRESENTATION (OF THE STORY)

III. THE POSTLUDE.