God

Merry Christmas everyone! What a great day to be in church celebrating the birth of Jesus Christmas on a Sunday. It hasn’t happened since 1994 and won’t happen again until 2011. So, it is a special day and we’re glad you can all be with us here at Life Church.

On that first Christmas night, an angel appeared to some shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus. After that angel had given his message, Luke tells us that, NLT Luke 2:13-14 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others– the armies of heaven– praising God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.” Notice that phrase, “peace on earth.” Somehow the birth of Jesus had to do with bringing peace on earth. Notice that Jesus doesn’t bring peace on earth to everyone, but to all whom God favors. I want to be one for whom Jesus brings peace, so I need to learn what I must do to receive God’s favor for my life.

Seven hundred and forty years before Jesus’ birth, the Hebrew prophet Isaiah said, NLT Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The last title of Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He is the King destined to bring peace on earth for all those willing to receive it.

Today I’ve entitled my message “Jesus – The Peace of God.” The picture shows a dove carrying an olive branch and comes from the book of Genesis. When God judged the wickedness of the world with a flood, Noah was rescued and a dove brought him an olive branch signifying that God’s judgment was over and peace had come. Peace is something we all yearn for.

Peace is the absence of conflict and the presence of harmonious relationships. We want to be at peace with ourselves, we want to have peace in our hearts and not be torn with inner conflicts. We want peace in our families, not squabbling or quarrelling. We want peace in our world. We hate to hear of killings, wars and conflicts. Those desires were put in our hearts by God who said in NIV Psalm 34:14b Seek peace and pursue it.

People everywhere want peace in the lives, families and world, but many do not know where to find this peace. So where can we find peace in today’s world of conflict? How can we pursue peace for our families and ourselves?

To hear more about this topic, listen to my December 25, 2005 message entitled Jesus – The Peace Of God

Well, Christmas is only 7 days away. This year, it falls on a Sunday. That hasn’t happened since 1994. And yes, we will have a Christmas service at Life Church right here at 10 am. What better time to have a Christmas service then on Christmas? Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus, not about trees, not about red suited men with white beards and reindeer, not about gift giving or even about time with your family. The true meaning of Christmas is about Jesus.

This year, the controversy about saying Merry Christmas versus Happy Holidays has grown even more heated. Of course, the reason is that a small minority wants to remove every reference to Jesus from public view everywhere. We are supposed to be sensitive to those of different faiths. Schools in St Louis no longer can call a party a Christmas party, they must call it a Winter party. What muddle-headed thinking! Historically, Christmas did not begin to celebrate winter, it’s reason was to celebrate the birth of Christ, you can’t change that now.

Don’t hide the name of Jesus this Christmas, stand up for what you believe. Jesus was born, not to be ignored, but to rule and reign as a King. It’s time for believers to follow their King, not the culture of society. 740 years before the birth of Jesus, the Hebrew prophet Isaiah prophesied NIV Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign forever. Isaiah prophesied that one day a child would be born to be king, but not just any king. This child would be king of a kingdom what would never end, an eternal kingdom.

Why did the wise men or magi come to see Jesus? NIV Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” The magi came to worship Jesus, not as a baby but as a King. Jesus came to be king of a kingdom that would last forever. His kingdom is not a physical place it is the realm in which he reigns.

I’ve called today’s message “Jesus: The Reign of God.” What does the fact that Jesus came to be the king of an eternal kingdom have to do with you, living in St. Louis in the 21st century? It has a great deal to do with you, it has to do with the true meaning of Christmas. It has to do with how the true meaning of Christmas can guide and encourage you all year round. It means that you can have hope for a great future when you put your trust in the one that Christmas is all about. If you put your trust in the wrong place, your hope and your life will be shattered.

How can you have an unshakeable hope of a bright future? Only by putting your trust in something that is unshakeable, that will not disappoint you, that will not let you down. NIV Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. The kingdom that Jesus reigns over cannot be shaken, it cannot be destroyed and it will not disappoint us. We can put our trust in Jesus and His kingdom and have lives filled with hope.

To hear more about this topic, listen to my December 18, 2005 message entitled Jesus – The Reign Of God

For children, Christmas is an especially wonderful time. Trees, gifts, Christmas carols, cookies and a story of a baby. A little boy and girl were singing Silent Night in church the Sunday before Christmas. As they got to the end of the song, the boy finished with the words “sleep in heavenly beans.” His sister elbowed him in the ribs and whispered, “No, it’s not sleep in heavenly beans, it’s sleep in heavenly peas.” As adults, sometimes we get so stressed out with the hustle and bustle of Christmas, the song might as well end in beans or peas instead of peace.

Our family was getting ready to order a toy on the internet, but before we could click the submit button, they were all sold out, everywhere, on December 5. We celebrate Christmas by giving gifts to one another because God gave us His greatest gift, the person of Jesus, born as a baby 2000 years ago. This Christmas, in the midst of all your gift giving and receiving, don’t forget to give Jesus a gift, it’s His birthday after all.

Our message series this December is called “The True Meaning of Christmas.” The true meaning of Christmas has to do with Jesus. His birth was prophesied 740 years before it happened by the prophet Isaiah. NLT Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Each title represents one aspect of the true meaning of Christmas found in Jesus. One of the titles of Jesus is Everlasting Father.

What does a father do? He tenderly, faithfully and wisely guides, provides and guards His children. He does so by being there for His children. A father’s presence gives hope, a father’s presence gives meaning to His children. Today, the title of my message is Jesus: The Presence of God. Let’s think back again at that first Christmas night some 2000 years ago. What does the Christmas story tell us about Jesus coming as the presence of God?

The Bible tells that there were shepherds watching their flocks that night. NIV Luke 2:8-9 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Last week, we focused on the angels who representing the power of God come to earth in the baby Jesus. Today I want to focus on the shepherds.

Shepherds at the time of Jesus were despised by people everywhere. They were regarded as notorious robbers and cheats on the level with tax collectors. One writing of the time said, “No position in the world is so despised as that of the shepherd.” Shepherds were discriminated against in courts and routinely deprived of civil rights. On top of being regarded as social outcasts, their job was difficult, lonely and dangerous. It was a job for those who could not find any other job. It was a hopeless job. Yet it was to shepherds that angels appeared to announce the birth of Jesus. Why do you think the angels appeared to the shepherds?

To hear more about this topic, listen to my December 11, 2005 message entitled Jesus – The Presence Of God

Well, it’s December already, Christmas is just a few weeks away. Cards are being sent, gifts are being purchased, Christmas trees are being decorated and lights are going up on stores and houses. There are cookies to bake, parties to attend and the list could go on and on. December goes by in a flurry, so much to do, so little time to even sit down and think. Little time to reflect on what it’s all about, what is the True Meaning of Christmas. So in the midst of the hustle and bustle, in the midst of hitting the malls and decking the halls, we’re going to take some time in the month of December to think about The True Meaning of Christmas.

The true meaning of Christmas is centered in the person of Jesus born as a baby. NLT Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Each title represents one aspect of Jesus Christ: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.

Today we’re going to look at Jesus as Mighty God and I’ve entitled today’s message “Jesus: The Power of God.” Look back at that first Christmas night some 2000 years ago. The Bible tells us in Luke 2 that there were shepherds watching their flocks that night. Perhaps one shepherd was on watch and the others sleeping. Suddenly an angel appeared in blazing brilliance, waking them all.

We tend to think of angels as nice little cupids but in the Bible anyone who ever sees one is terrified. Angels are incredibly powerful and awesome creatures. Angels have learned that the first thing to say to people is “Do not be afraid.” NIV Luke 2:10-11 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Why were these angels so excited about the birth of Jesus? Those angels knew Jesus, He had lived with them in heaven before His birth on earth. Those angels knew the power of Jesus, He had far greater power than they.

That baby was Jesus who had created the universe and sustains it. NLT Hebrews 1:2-3 Through the Son he [God] made the universe and everything in it. [The Son] sustains the universe by the mighty power of his command. Now at the birth of Jesus, the power of God was breaking into human history in the form of a baby. The power to bring about change, to bring peace, to give hope was present in that tiny baby. For you see, the baby Jesus was God Himself becoming human, fully God yet fully man. That’s what the angels were excited about.

Many people think that Jesus was just a good teacher, but Jesus did not leave that option open. If you are a rational person and you examine the historical record, you cannot come to that conclusion. Jesus said and did too many crazy things if He was not God. He forgave sins, He welcomed worship, He claimed to be God, He promised to rise from the dead, He claimed to have been alive 2000 years previously and the list goes on and on. Besides His words, He backed up His claims with miracles of many kinds and ultimately rose from the dead.

If Jesus is indeed God, which He is, then that fact of monumental consequences for us. It means that the power of God has come to our world in the person of Jesus. We need God’s power to live in today’s complex hostile world. God’s power gives us hope that things can change both in our lives and in the lives of those around us. This Christmas, how can you tap into the power of Jesus to bring about change in your life?

To hear more about this topic, listen to my December 4, 2005 message entitled Jesus – The Power of God