CHRISTMAS EVE (3 OF 3)
by Craig Smith
Scripture: Matthew 1:18, Matthew 2:11
This content is part of a series.
Christmas Eve (3 of 3)
Series: Christmas
Craig Smith
Matthew 1:18-2:11
Introduction Merry Christmas! Thank you so much for joining us today! We’re so honored to be able to play a part in your Christmas Eve and our hope is that our time together will help you experience some of what was promised to a group of shepherds almost 2,000 years ago. As one historian describes it, while Jesus was being born in Bethlehem, there was a group of shepherds out in the fields watching their flocks and... 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 ‘‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’’ (Lk. 2:10-14) Of all the things that have been in short supply this year, I think peace is probably at the top of that list, isn’t it? Whether it’s what’s going on in the world or in our personal lives, peaceful isn’t how many of us would describe this last year. But I believe...and I think you’re here because you believe...or at least you want to believe...that God’s promise to those shepherds is also God’s promise to us. That the birth of Jesus was -and is - God’s promise of peace. And so what I want to today is just to look at a portion of the Christmas story through the lens of that that promise of peace. I’m going to read a portion of the Christmas story that we find in the Gospel of Matthew. If you want to turn there and follow along, we’re going to start in Matthew 1:18.
Main Body 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. (Matt. 1:18-19) 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to ...
Series: Christmas
Craig Smith
Matthew 1:18-2:11
Introduction Merry Christmas! Thank you so much for joining us today! We’re so honored to be able to play a part in your Christmas Eve and our hope is that our time together will help you experience some of what was promised to a group of shepherds almost 2,000 years ago. As one historian describes it, while Jesus was being born in Bethlehem, there was a group of shepherds out in the fields watching their flocks and... 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 ‘‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’’ (Lk. 2:10-14) Of all the things that have been in short supply this year, I think peace is probably at the top of that list, isn’t it? Whether it’s what’s going on in the world or in our personal lives, peaceful isn’t how many of us would describe this last year. But I believe...and I think you’re here because you believe...or at least you want to believe...that God’s promise to those shepherds is also God’s promise to us. That the birth of Jesus was -and is - God’s promise of peace. And so what I want to today is just to look at a portion of the Christmas story through the lens of that that promise of peace. I’m going to read a portion of the Christmas story that we find in the Gospel of Matthew. If you want to turn there and follow along, we’re going to start in Matthew 1:18.
Main Body 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. (Matt. 1:18-19) 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to ...
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