Praise Be To The Lord Series

Praise Be To The Lord

Christmas Playlist

Dismiss Grove KIDZ

NOW – for the month of December we are in this series of conversations that we are calling, ‘Christmas Playlist’

BECAUSE - as we saw last week songs have been a part of Christmas from the very beginning.

YES – joyfully singing is the natural response to the wonder and mystery of Christmas.

Immanuel, God with us.

NOW – this morning we are going to look at another song from God’s Christmas Playlist, this one is written by guy who did not write his first song until very late in life…

BUT BEFORE – we go there, I thought we would a little Christmas Song Trivia.

I will read the question and then all the answers...

And after I do that... should your choice.

Keep your own score.

#1

In which country was ‘Silent Night’ composed?

a. England

b. Austria

c. France

(Austria in 1816)

'b'

#2

Where do the kings say they come from in We Three Kings?

a. Europe

b. Egypt

c. The West

d. The Orient

'd'

#3

The carol God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen promises tidings of what to its listeners?

a. Comfort and Warmth

b. Comfort and Joy

c. Rest and Relaxation

d. Pleasure and Rest

'b'

#4

What was the first Christmas song to be broadcast on the radio?

a. O Holy Night

b. Silent Night

c. Joy to the World

'a'

Holy Night in 1906... A Canadian inventor created the first radio broadcast in 1906. He read passages from the bible and played ‘O Holy Night’

#5

Who kept time with the little drummer boy?

a. Lamb and goat

b. Goat and mule

c. Goat and Ox

d. Ox and Lamb

'd'

#6

Who spoke to the little lamb in “Do you hear what I hear”

a. Bright moon

b. Shepherd boy

c. Night wind

d. Mighty king

'c'

#7

In angels we have heard on high, who echoes the angels joyous strain?

a. Shepherds

b. Stars

c. Wind

d. Mountains

'd'

#8

How many total gifts are given in the 12 days of Christmas?

a. 246

b. 364

c. 78

d. 424

'b'

#9

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas with every...

a. Christmas song I sing

b. Christmas gift I wrap

c. Christmas card I write

d. Christmas pie I eat

'c'

#10

In what year did “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” first appear?

a. 1677

b. 1739

c. 1812

'b'

AGAIN – songs and Christmas just seemed to go together… and I have no doubt that there will be more songs on the way…

BUT – to be honest I am starting to become partial to the songs of God’s Christmas Playlist…

LIKE – Mary’s song of praise from last week…

A songs that magnifies the Lord,

proclaiming the good news of…

• God’s Care – B/S God takes takes notice of, pays attention to who you… God is mindful of you.

• God’s Might – B/S... Nothing is impossible for Hi

• God’s Mercy - He delights in showing us mercy

• God’s Way - He champions the cause of the weak and humble.

• God’s Promises - and MGCC, when it comes to God’s promises, He keeps them. (John 14:1-3)

OKAY – let’s do this... the second song God’s Christmas Playlist, Luke 1:68-79, ‘Praise Be To The Lord,”

And we will attack this conversation the same way we attack last week’s conversation, first the ‘Writer’ and then ‘the song.

I. The Writer

NOW BEFORE – we begin unpacking what we read in Luke chapter 1 about the writer, we need to look at some words from the prophet Malachi…

Because Zechariah’s back story actually begins over 400 years before he was born.

YEAH – I know a lot of you woke up this morning and were wanting to hear a word from Malachi… well hear it is I didn’t want to disappoint you.

UNDERSTAND MGCC – our God is a sovereign God.

He rules over all: times, nations, languages, cultures, races, classes, and genders of people.

AND - He is working out everything according to his plan.

LISTEN - whatever God says will happen: has happen and will always happen. IN FACT - throughout Scripture we see God predicting and declaring the future in advance through His prophets.

AND - one of those occasions is in the last book of the Old Testament, the Book of Malachi chapters three and four.

AND LISTEN - this word from God in Malachi will be ‘the final word’ that God will speak to His people until we pick up the story in Luke chapter one (400 years later).

SO… - in Malachi 3:1, we see the beginning of Zechariah’s backstory as the sovereign King of the universe says,

Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.