1. God with the Shepherds: “Good News of Great Joy”
Luke 2: 1-20, p. 945
THANKSGIVING

2. Christmas ... A happy time ... Once the essential shopping is done!
The three stages of man:
He believes in Santa Claus
He doesn’t believe in Santa Claus
He is Santa Clause
For many, Christmas doesn’t live up to its media hype
A Plantation Christmas by Julia Peterkin ...

3. 1. Good News of Great Joy A Saviour has been born.
What is the same thing happened here today?
Many have driven our need of a saviour right out of our conscious minds!
BUT ... Our world is full of lonely, hurting, sad, empty people
We need RESCUE ! We need a SAVIOUR !

4. 2. Peace
Peace ... The presence of well-being, harmony, plenty, security.
God has acted to establish peace on the earth.
The joke about the parable of the good Samaritan –
Who is the victim? Who needs help? Who needs to be saved?
We ALL do ! ! !
John 12:25 (TNIV)
25 Those who love their life will lose it, while those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

5. 2. Peace . . . We all need rescue –
To be made right with God
To be made right with ourselves
To be made right with others
It all starts with a baby born in Bethlehem
It starts with us getting ourselves right with God
It flows out into peace with ourselves and with others.
John 12:25 (TNIV)
25 Those who love their life will lose it, while those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

6. 2. Great Joy
The story is so contrary to how many humans understand God
The “Ice Maiden” found in the Peruvian Andes
The Christmas story turns our wrong thinking on its head.
God reaches out in rescue.
God comes to humanity to save us.
At Christmas God comes to us with an offer of Peace and Great Joy.
“Christianity Explored” Starts Wednesday January 26th at 6.30 pm.
John 12:25 (TNIV)
25 Those who love their life will lose it, while those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.