Celebrating a Christ-centered Christmas
2003 Advent Series
Luke 3:1-8, 21-22
December 14, 2003
Purpose: In order to have a Christ-centered Christmas, we must repent, serve, and share especially in the midst of this chaotic holiday season.
Introduction – Some struggle in the preparation for Christmas.
My example - I strgulled with the newsletter articles that were conflicting.One talked of my disdain for this holiday…the other said “let Christmas come” even in the midst of the disdain.
EVERYONE EXPERIENCES Christmas a little differently than others. Here are some quotes I found from women authors...
"Evidently, Christmas was an unmitigated joy only for the people who inhabited department-store brochures and seasonal television specials. For everyone else the day seemed to be a trip across a mine field seeded with resurrected family feuds, exacerbated loneliness, emotional excess, and the inevitable disappointments that arise when expectations fall far short of reality." --Joyce Rebeta-Burditt, THE CRACKER FACTORY
"Like everyone in his right mind, I feared Santa Claus. --Annie Dillard, TEACHING A STONE TO TALK
"I can understand people simply fleeing the mountainous effort Christmas has become. ... But there are always a few saving graces and finally they make up for all the bother and distress." --May Sarton, JOURNAL OF A SOLITUDE
"There are few sensations more painful, than, in the midst of deep grief, to know that the season which we have always associated with mirth and rejoicing is at hand." --Mrs. Sarah J. Hale, TRAITS OF AMERICAN LIFE (1835)
"I do hope your Christmas has had a little touch of Eternity in among the rush and pitter-patter and all. It always seems such a mixing of this world and the next -- but that after all IS the idea!" --Evelyn Underhill, in Charles Williams, ed., THE LETTERS OF EVELYN UNDERHILL
There is no doubt that many struggle with this holiday!
We began to heal this struggle when we put Christ at the Center of our Christmas. But, how is it done?
I. To have a Christ-centered Christmas – we must first repent.
We don’t have to go looking far to find things needing repentance in our society…broken homes, the increase of violence in our neighborhoods and dishonesty in our
workplaces. We see a lack of integrity in public life, the slow slide of the church into adopting the ways of the world, the decay of sexual immorality…and the list could go on…”
But John came with a simple message….REPENT!!! He didn’t say look at my clothes, comment on my style, search my biographical details for my University pedigree.
He said…just listen to what I’m saying…lose sight of everything else except this simple message.
For us, repentance can be as simple as realizing that the way we have been doing it isn’t working.
It’s realizing that God has a better plan than we do.
It’s recognizing that we often move from thing to thing, place to place, void of direction or vision.
It’s stopping for a moment, and saying, “God this is more about you than it’s about me. It’s your guidance I need, not anyone else’s, including my own."
John said, “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (v.8) To have a Christ-centered Christmas – we must first repent.
II. To have a Christ-centered Christmas – we must be willing to serve.
John’s quote from Isaiah in verses 4-6 is filled with instructions to serve…
– “prepare ye the way”
- “make straight the paths”
- “fill in every valley”
- “level every mountain”
- “straighten the crooked roads”
- “smooth the rough spots”
- why: so all mankind will see God’s salvation!!!
Thank God, we all don’t have to be John the Baptists…locust and honey is not my idea of a good Christmas meal. But, as Christians, we can serve others by imitating the way Christ served us.
- We can give baskets of food, and Christmas gifts, to those who need it.
- We can invite over neighbors and those who may not be able to be with family during the season.
- We can shovel a sidewalk or driveway or two, when no one is looking.
- We can be that shoulder when someone needs to cry, that friend who is willing to listen, that coworker who works with others, that boss that actually cares for his employees and shows it.
To have a Christ-centered Christmas – we must be willing to serve.
III. To have a Christ-centered Christmas – we must be willing to share.
From verses 10-11 we see the people, after repenting, wondering what to do next.
John told them ---SHARE--- “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”
Is that not the real reason behind this holiday? God shared his son. (vs. 21-22) “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Maybe John 3:16 could read for God so loved that world that he shared his Son... (maybe that’ll be in the GBV - the Greg Buchner version :-) )
Dr. James Moore wrote about Christmas sharing when he said…
“If you want to give your loved ones a great Christmas present this year, share with them the gift of Christian Hope. On page after page of the New Testament we find it; the Good News that God will win, that nothing can defeat Him; that ultimately God and goodness will have the victory and that when we put our hope in Him, nothing, not even death, can separate from His watchful care, His love, and His triumph.
Once each year, Christmas comes along to renew our hope and to remind us that the darkness of this world cannot overcome the Light of the world.”
To have a Christ-centered Christmas – we must be willing to share.
Conclusion – In my research for this Christ-centered series I came across this poem which I rewrote slightly. I hope that this will help us think on repentance, serving, and sharing during this holiday...
The Time Before Christmas
‘Twas the time before Christmas, and all through the town, not a sign of Baby Jesus was anywhere to be found.
The people were all busy with Christmas time chores,
Like decorating, and baking, and shopping in the stores.
No one sang, “Away in a manger no crib for a bead…”
Instead, they sang of Santa dressed-up in bright red.
Mama watched her Martha Stewart, Rover sat in papa’s lap,As hour upon hour, the presents they’d wrap.
When what from the TV did they hear? Except an ad which told of a big sale at Sears.
So away to the mall, they all flew like a flash…
Buying things on credit with very few paying in cash.
And as they made their way home, from their trip to the mall. Did they think about Jesus…unfortunately, not at all.
Their lives were so busy, with their Christmas time things. They just plain forgot to remember Christ Jesus, the King.
The Christmas cards needed to be sent, and there were cookies to bake. There was no time to celebrate the one who died for their sake.
To pray to the Savior…they had no time to stop. But they found plenty of time to shop ‘til they dropped.
On Walmart, on K-mart, on Target, on Penny’s.
On Hallmark, on Zales, with a quick lunch at Denny’s.
From the big stores downtown, to the stores at the mall. They would dash away, dash away, dash away all.
But amidst all the clatter, all the busyness forlorn,
Someone began to think about that child that’d been born.
Was it Jerusalem…no. Nazareth was not the place.
It was in Bethlehem where salvation began for the human race.
Jesus’ eyes how they twinkled. His Spirit how merry.
His love…how enormous. All our burdens he’ll carry.
So, instead of hanging lights that will flash and lights that will twirl, Let us take a moment, this season, to invite the Light of World.
For it’s His birthday that we celebrate, it is His birthday we claim. Let’s put Christ back at the Center of Christmas, let’s give Christ all the fame.
Closing Prayer
Will you join me in prayer?
Heavenly Father,
We hear the voice of your prophet John. In the midst of these busy and hectic days, help us to repent, to serve, and to share, the true hope of Christmas.
We want to be excited. For some, we want to regain that sense of joy that we lost some time ago. For others, we want some answers, some ways to fill-in the potholes we find in life. For still others, we long for simpler days, less chaotic schedules, and quality times with family and friends.
Lord, we turn to you. And if there is anyone within our midst who has not felt the saving grace of your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we ask that your forgiveness and leadership will come into their lives upon their asking, so that they may not only celebrate this season, but the eternal celebration that will share with you and with all those who believe.
In the name of Christ we pray…Amen.
#249 – There’s A Song in the Air.
Benediction
As we leave this place,
May God the Father, create a new Spirit within us.
May Christ the Son, be at the center of our celebration.
And may the Holy Spirit, continue to give us Christmas hope, long after Christmas has passed. Amen.
Sermon.com Note: If for any reason you did not find this sermon helpful, please let me know by contacting me at gb@clergy.net. Your input will help me personally and my congregation as I continue to learn. Thanks and God bless.
