How to Celebrate Christmas

In 1871Charles Spurgeon said, We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas… because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Saviour

While the Bible does not command us specifically to celebrate the birth of Christ, as a culture, we’ve set aside an entire month called “Christmas.” How do we rightly celebrate Jesus’ birth during this holiday season?

The entire sermon is avaialble here

Read Luke 2:1-20 (click here to read online)

The angel of the Lord declared this event to be:

• Good News of Great Joy!

So why wouldn’t we celebrate it?

If God saw fit to send an angel - and as we’ll see in a couple of verses a multitude of the heavenly host to announce something - the coming of the Messiah, 

It’s absolutely appropriate for us to celebrate it

2,000 years later - it’s still good news

No greater news has ever been proclaimed

It’s still the source of great joy

• For All the People!

Ever wonder why Christmas is so all-encompassing even everyone wants to make it about everything BUT Christ? Because from the very beginning it was to be for all the people. 

This doesn’t mean that all the people will be saved, but it does points to the universal proclamation of the gospel.

• It’s About Jesus! (vv. 11-12)

With all the “stuff” of Christmas, we need to intentionally plan to keep it about Jesus. Think through it on the front end

• The Purpose of Christmas (vv 13-14)

Glory & Peace

The whole purpose of literally everything is to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31, Psalm 96)

One of the primary ways we can glorify God in our daily lives is to point to Jesus, speak about Jesus, and obey Him.

Peace means peace with God

You can have peace with God through repenting of your sin and trusting in Jesus alone for salvation.

Don’t be someone who professes to know God, but by [your] works they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and unfit for any good work.

As we move into the Christmas season

Remember, refocus on the message of the gospel and whether or not you’re in Christ.

Click here for an explanation of what it means to repent of your sins and trust in Jesus. 

The Pattern/Example (15-21)

Follow the example of the Shepherds

They went in a hurry

And they were loud about the message.

All who heard it marveled at the things which were told them by the shepherds

Be like the shepherds - everyone should know what you’re all about.

Also be like Mary, who

was treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Treasure the Christmas story

Treasure the reason for the Season

It’s absolutely ok to enjoy the “stuff” of the season as long as what you’re treasuring is Jesus Christ - who was born to die so that you might have life by trusting in Him.

Two final thoughts:

1. Use this time as a gospel reminder.

Plant in your head and heart the phrase;
Born to die that we might have life by trusting in Him

How can you use this season as an opportunity for evangelism?

Pick up some of the little “Christmas Cards” in the foyer. Attach them to a small ornament, candy cane, etc. and hand them out everywhere you go. 

2. Don’t just celebrate the incarnation one month a year. 

It’s an every day thing. Celebrate the gospel daily. 

Be intentional

Think through it

You do that for presents, decorations, travel, food, budget, vacation days, etc.

Do it for the spiritual aspect of your life as well. as well. 

Celebrate and share the gospel continually during the Christmas season and beyond.

That’s how you should celebrate Christmas

Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob

A High View of God's Word...

2 Timothy 3:16-17 is about a high view of God’s Word, It's connected directly to 2 Timothy 4:1-2, the first implication of that. 

A high view of God’s Word leads directly to a high view of preaching. 

View the Sermon HERE

The Sermon Subtitle:

Priorities of a Faithful Pastor

There are implications for believers within the instructions to pastors. 

1. Serious about Preaching

Preaching is the most profound responsibility that a pastor has.

If the preacher is to be serious about preaching

You must be serious about preaching

How to be serious about preaching:

A. Be in church. In the service. 

Unless you’re providentially hindered, you should be in church on Sunday mornings. 

B. Come Prepared

Get plenty of sleep. Read the passage ahead of time. Pray. Be on time. Sit strategically. 

C. Bring Your Bible

Follow along in the Bible you use devotionally. Make notes - highlight - underline.

D. Engage &

E. Follow Up

Take Notes is extremely helpful. As you go through your week, refer back to your notes as you strive to apply the sermon and prepare for the next Sunday. 

2. Preach the Word

The central command: Preach the Word. It’s the most important a pastor does. It’s also of critical importance for every believer. 

Also - the entire Bible is important. There is no “unhitching” from the Old Testament. 

If you’ve never read through the entire Bible, you need to start on that path today. 

3. Broad in Scope

…be ready in season and out of season

This points to regularity and consistency. 

Be ready to bring God’s Word to bear on any situation.

Here’s the question: Are you a student of theology?
We’re all theologians. Are you a good one, or a bad one?

You need to know the basics of the Christian faith - AND be growing in your knowledge of the Bible

4. The Role of the Word

Reprove - STOP! That’s sin

Rebuke - You need to go that way instead

Exhort - let me help you get there - I’ll walk alongside you.

God’s Word is:

5. Incredibly Important

because people are wanting to have their ears tickled…

Every single one of us has this tendency. We want to hear what we want to hear. 

The more you listen to the lie, the harder it becomes to accept the truth. 

6. A Steady Disposition

sober in all things

Reminder of 1 Timothy 3 - an overseer must be temperate, sensible, respectable…

A pastor must not be someone who reacts harshly

Not quick to anger, constantly irritated,  aggravated, or easily frustrated

He must be level-headed, well balanced, stable, and consistent

That should be everyone’s goal.

7. A Costly Thing

A faithful ministry that’s not costly - does not exist.

When you’re faithfully following Jesus

Radically obedient to a passionate pursuit of knowing Him and making Him known….

It will mean difficulty, struggle, trials, tribulation. 

8. A Gospel Task

Do the work of an evangelist 

Every church everywhere on every Sunday

Needs to hear the gospel.

The Gospel is that God is redeeming the world through Christ and that He calls everyone everywhere to repent of their sin and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. 

Each of us has sinned against God, breaking His law and rebelling against His rule. The penalty for our sin is death and hell. 

BUT because of His great love, God sent His Son, Jesus, who lived, the perfect, obedient life God requires and that we could not. He died on the cross in our place enduring the punishment that we deserved. 

On the third day, Christ rose bodily from the grave and now reigns in heaven. He offers forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life in God’s presence to everyone who repents of their sin and trusts in Him alone for salvation.

The call right now is:

repent and believe in the gospel

trust in, rely on, and cling to Christ

The final thing Paul says to Timothy:

9. Committed to Completion

Paul says fulfill your ministry

We don’t always know what the fullness of our calling is, so we stay steadfastly committed to serving Jesus as passionately until He calls us home.

May we all faithfully pursue having a high view of God, His Word, and preaching for the sake of our own sanctification. 

Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob