1. A Little Christmas Town What is Christmas All About? December 15, 2013

2. A Little Christmas Town Matthew 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 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 take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

3. A Little Christmas Town Matthew 1:18-25 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"-which means, "God with us." 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

4. A Little Christmas Town Introduction It’s not about the presents, hype, commercialism. Family getting together, creating memories, sharing. We know it’s about more than that Joseph and Mary are betrothed to be married They had carried themselves in integrity What’s the impact of this news to their relationship? What can we learn from looking at their response?

5. A Little Christmas Town Christmas is about Supernatural Birth Natural birth is normal course of life God created With entrance of HS, we step into the supernatural When we rely on the natural to define our future, we are limited to natural things. When we rely on God to birth the supernatural, anything is possible Reference to our own spiritual birth, born again Supernatural birth is indicative of reliance on Holy Spirit to do impossible & the improbable

6. A Little Christmas Town Christmas is about God’s reassurance and direction Joseph needed reassurance from God Joseph didn’t embrace Mary’s pregnancy with faith God reassures us that He is in control We are prone to fear and doubt Joseph also hears a directional prophetic word v.21 God will strengthen us with His word Ps 119:28 When we get stuck, God is working & can change everything

7. A Little Christmas Town Christmas is about God Becoming One of Us God with us, what a glorious message God looked at us and knew we needed saving From this moment on, God lived as a human being among His people Pray this prayer and take confidence Heb 4:14-16

8. A Little Christmas Town Christmas is about Our Response to God’s Initiative Joseph obeyed the word of the Lord Do you ever think about the impact of your obedience? What could it mean not just to you? What about the impact of your disobedience What could that mean to you, family, world?

9. A Little Christmas Town Conclusion Christmas is about:  Supernatural birth  Reassurance and Direction  God becoming one of us  Our response to God’s initiative Don’t let this Christmas season pass without meditating on these truths