Searching for a Beautiful Tree…

Some trimming required……

Putting up the lights…

Some assistance required……

So that your house can be seen from space…

Playing in the Snow…

Choosing the Perfect Gift…

Preparing a Delicious Dinner…

Spending quality time with Family…

Some who are easily excited… SQUIRREL!

Others are a bit embarrassing…

Others who may not be around much longer… Some who may not be around much longer… Others who may not be around much longer…

Others you can’t seem to get rid of…

Others you can’t seem to get rid of…

Getting frustrated that Christmas isn’t quite what you hoped for…

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8 ESV

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 ESV

The Relevance of Christmas: God Came to Earth “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped…” v 5-6a

The Relevance of Christmas: God Came to Earth “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:1-3

The Relevance of Christmas: God Came to Earth “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

The Relevance of Christmas: God Came to Earth We worship a Triune God: God the Father God the Son God the Holy Spirit

The Relevance of Christmas: God Came to Earth “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

The Relevance of Christmas: God Came to Earth “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:15-16a

The Relevance of Christmas: God Came to Earth Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” John 14:9

The Relevance of Christmas: God Came to Earth “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

The Reality of Christmas: God Became a Man “[Jesus] emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself…” v 7-8a

The Reality of Christmas: God Became a Man He was born like us: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5

The Reality of Christmas: God Became a Man He grew up like us: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52

The Reality of Christmas: God Became a Man He was tempted like us: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

The Reality of Christmas: God Became a Man He was tempted like us: “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.” 1 Peter 2:21

The Reality of Christmas: God Became a Man He suffered like us: “Jesus wept.” John 11:35 “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” Matthew 26:38

The Reason for Christmas: Jesus Came to Die “[H]e humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” v 8b

The Reason for Christmas: Jesus Came to Die To Demonstrate God’s Love: “[B]ut God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

The Reason for Christmas: Jesus Came to Die To Demonstrate God’s Love: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

The Reason for Christmas: Jesus Came to Die To Demonstrate God’s Love: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

The Reason for Christmas: Jesus Came to Die To Pay for Our Sins: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” “The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 3:23; 6:23

The Reason for Christmas: Jesus Came to Die To Pay for Our Sins: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree (Cross), that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

The Reason for Christmas: Jesus Came to Die To Pay for Our Sins: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

The Reason for Christmas: Jesus Came to Die To Pay for Our Sins: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

The Reason for Christmas: Jesus Came to Die To Pay for Our Sins: “[B]ehold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21

The Result of Christmas: Jesus Is LORD! “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” v 9-11

The Result of Christmas: Jesus Is LORD! “Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power… by the resurrection of the dead.” Romans 1:4

The Result of Christmas: Jesus Is LORD! God’s Response to Jesus: 1)To Exalt Him: “Therefore God has highly exalted him…” v 9

The Result of Christmas: Jesus Is LORD! God’s Response to Jesus: 1) To Name Him: “Therefore God has…bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” v 9-11

The Result of Christmas: Jesus Is LORD! B. Our Response to Jesus: 1) I acknowledge He really is God: He is more than a rabbi or a prophet. He is Lord!

The Result of Christmas: Jesus Is LORD! B. Our Response to Jesus: 2) I believe He is in control: He is sovereign over every situation and circumstance. He is Lord!

The Result of Christmas: Jesus Is LORD! B. Our Response to Jesus: 3) I surrender my life to Him: He has the right to call the shots in my life because as God He came, died for me, and rose again. He is Lord!

The Result of Christmas: Jesus Is LORD! “[I]f you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

The Result of Christmas: Jesus Is LORD! C. Creation’s Response to Jesus: “Therefore God has highly exalted him… so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” v 9-11