The Story of Christmas #3 - The Problems in the Story
Our December series, "The Story of Christmas," tells the familiar story of Christmas from a variety of perspectives.
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Grace Church holds a Meet & Greet for those who are newer to Grace Church on the 4th Sunday of each month. Our next Meet & Greet will be held on December 22nd following the service in CJ's coffee shop. It is a great opportunity to meet the staff and leadership of Grace Church and learn a little more about the church. It also gives us an opportunity to learn a little about you! Contact Leslie Booher if you have any questions ([email protected]).
If you have interest in sharing Christmas Card greetings with your Grace Church family, you can drop your cards at the Welcome Kiosk now through December 22nd. The Welcome Team will be sorting the cards and distributing them to families on Sunday mornings. Contact Leslie Booher ([email protected]) if you have any questions.
CJ's coffee shop will be open on Wednesday nights 6:00-7:30 pm. This is a great time to invite others and "pull up a chair" to have conversations.
Monday, December 16th - Matt Firman
Tuesday, December 17th - Gary Neff, Clarissa Joppie, Aaron & Karen Smith
Wednesday, December 18th - Nolan Dewey
Thursday, December 19th - Nevaeh Fisher
Tuesday, December 17th - Gary Neff, Clarissa Joppie, Aaron & Karen Smith
Wednesday, December 18th - Nolan Dewey
Thursday, December 19th - Nevaeh Fisher
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It's Christmas time! As Christians, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
When you think of the Story of Christmas, what comes to mind?
As Christians, it may be the key people found in the Biblical account (Joseph, Mary, Jesus) or it may be some of the places associated with the Story of Christmas (Nazareth, Bethlehem, Valley of Jezreel and the Jordan, Beit She'an, Jericho, and Jerusalem). Those are the topics we've covered so far in our series.
When you think of the Story of Christmas, what comes to mind?
As Christians, it may be the key people found in the Biblical account (Joseph, Mary, Jesus) or it may be some of the places associated with the Story of Christmas (Nazareth, Bethlehem, Valley of Jezreel and the Jordan, Beit She'an, Jericho, and Jerusalem). Those are the topics we've covered so far in our series.
Most of us want to have a good time during the Christmas season. Festivities, family, friends, food, fun, and fruitcake. Isn't that what Christmastime means? In Andy Williams popular song, he captures the essence of what so many believe and want from Christmas: "It's the most wonderful time of the year...With the kids jingle belling and everyone telling you be of good cheer...It's the most wonderful time of the year."
But according to a number of mental health professionals, Christmas for many, can be an extremely difficult time. Money worries, health problems, anxiety, unreal expectations, grief, loneliness, difficult family and social relationships, and career uncertainty are just a few of the issues people deal with during this magical season.
But according to a number of mental health professionals, Christmas for many, can be an extremely difficult time. Money worries, health problems, anxiety, unreal expectations, grief, loneliness, difficult family and social relationships, and career uncertainty are just a few of the issues people deal with during this magical season.
This morning as we look at The Story of Christmas, let's think about the Biblical account and see that our main characters also faced a number of similar problems.
Joseph and Mary were people just like us. They had hopes and dreams and many responsibilities. They faced the normal issues of life that many of us do along with some very unexpected and major obstacles.
Joseph and Mary were people just like us. They had hopes and dreams and many responsibilities. They faced the normal issues of life that many of us do along with some very unexpected and major obstacles.
Last week in Luke 2:1-4, we left Mary and Joseph in a quandary.
We learned that Mary is pregnant, and God has created a human life within her. The situation is not easily understood by the two of them, their people, or by people throughout the centuries.
We learned that Mary is pregnant, and God has created a human life within her. The situation is not easily understood by the two of them, their people, or by people throughout the centuries.
Luke 2:1-4
BSB
1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.
2 This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.
2 This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.
BSB
This morning we read a little further in Luke 2:5-7.
Their experience is common to all of us...challenges, roadblocks, pitfalls, detours, troubles, conundrums, and problems.
And as so often the case, problems can dramatically affect us: worry fear, anger, negativity, depression, defeat, and befuddlement.
Their experience is common to all of us...challenges, roadblocks, pitfalls, detours, troubles, conundrums, and problems.
And as so often the case, problems can dramatically affect us: worry fear, anger, negativity, depression, defeat, and befuddlement.
Luke 2:5-7
BSB
5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.
6 While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
6 While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
BSB
The Bible doesn't guarantee anyone an easy ride in life. This is because of our sinful nature and tendencies, the seductive culture in which we live, and the fact that we have a spiritual foe who desires to beat us down and defeat us.
Job wrote about this chapter 5:7 of his book in the Old Testament.
Jesus talks about this in John 16:33b.
Job wrote about this chapter 5:7 of his book in the Old Testament.
Jesus talks about this in John 16:33b.
Job 5:7
BSB
7 Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
BSB
John 16:33
BSB
33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
BSB
Here are a few of the common travel problems from The Story of Christmas found in the first two chapters of Matthew and Luke:
1. They lived in a difficult cultural environment.
2. They resided in an insignificant town and were insignificant people.
3. They started out in life young and with little resources.
4. They shared a common mission that was unimaginable to others.
5. They faced an incredible relational dilemma.
6. They endured a social stigma that would cast a shadow throughout their lives.
7. They experienced an unexpected uprooting of their lives.
8. They struggled to carry out God’s will and to see their child born.
9. They encountered tremendous opposition.
10. They raised God’s Son as though He was their son.
1. They lived in a difficult cultural environment.
2. They resided in an insignificant town and were insignificant people.
3. They started out in life young and with little resources.
4. They shared a common mission that was unimaginable to others.
5. They faced an incredible relational dilemma.
6. They endured a social stigma that would cast a shadow throughout their lives.
7. They experienced an unexpected uprooting of their lives.
8. They struggled to carry out God’s will and to see their child born.
9. They encountered tremendous opposition.
10. They raised God’s Son as though He was their son.
Joseph and Mary may have been exhausted from dealing with all the problems life had presented them. Have you ever felt that way?
We rarely get to choose our problems, but we surely get to choose our response!
Their choices were simple, and today we have the same choices:
They could DIVE (to quit or give up), SURVIVE (to hunker down and wait for the storm to pass), CONNIVE (to manipulate or escape), or THRIVE (to endure, grow from, and to move beyond their circumstances as a better person.) Their story demonstrates that they chose to thrive.
We rarely get to choose our problems, but we surely get to choose our response!
Their choices were simple, and today we have the same choices:
They could DIVE (to quit or give up), SURVIVE (to hunker down and wait for the storm to pass), CONNIVE (to manipulate or escape), or THRIVE (to endure, grow from, and to move beyond their circumstances as a better person.) Their story demonstrates that they chose to thrive.
As we face the problems in life, The Story of Christmas reveals some important lessons that will help us to thrive on our journey.
1. LISTEN to the Word of God and the wisdom of Godly people.
1. LISTEN to the Word of God and the wisdom of Godly people.
2. UNDERSTAND where you are and where God wants you to be.
3. TRUST God with your present and the possibilities of an unknown future.
4. REALIZE that the journey requires preparation and a series of positive steps.
5. JOIN with others who are going in the same direction and for the same reason.
6. BELIEVE that the prize of the journey is worth the pain.
Next week we'll look at the purpose of The Story of Christmas. If you have a family member or friend that needs to hear about the real meaning of Christmas, next week would be a great time to invite them!
