12/22/10 SENIORS MEETING...
I. CHRISTMAS ANTICIPATION
II. CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR ALL
OVERVIEW
I. CHRISTMAS ANTICIPATION.
After Adam's sin, God promised new start (Ge. 3:15).
Throughout O. T. God promised His Son; telling the place, time, circumstances, of the miracle of virgin birth.
Tragedy struck & shrouded the dream for 400 years.
Dream restored through Christmas events (Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Magi).
Recounted quick overview of entire story.
II. CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR ALL.
I. CHRISTMAS ANTICIPATION
As soon as Adam sinned, God declared His plan to rescue mankind. The plan was to send His Son, who would be the Seed of the woman (Ge. 3:15), indicating a virgin birth.
From the time of Eve, God's people have been looking for the Man-Child, God promised. (Ge. 4:1).
As early as Job (time of Abraham) men were looking for a resurrected Savior (Jb. 19:25).
The Promised One would be the Son of God (Ps. 2:7).
He would be in the linage and house of David (Is. 9:6-7)
He would be born of a virgin (Is. 7:14).
He would be born in Bethlehem (Mi. 5:2).
He would rule the world (Ps. 2:1-12).
Israel Anticipated the coming Messiah.
But rebellion in Israel and Judah separated them from God. There came a time when God no longer spoke to them as he had before, entering 400 years of silence (from Malachi to time of announcement in Temple).
The loss of a loved one can overshadow the anticipation of a special day.
The death of a loved one around a birthday can make future birthdays sad.
400 years of sadness, disappointment.
Then God clearly and often. The following accounts are not all of the events.
God told a priest, named Zacharias (who was aged) that he and his wife Elisabeth would have a child, who would prepare the way for the Lord (Lk. 1:11-17).
Magi from the east (scholars from Persia) discovered that the King of the Jews was to be born (Mt. 2:1-3).
An angel told Mary that though she was a virgin, she would miraculously conceive a Child, Who would be the Son of the Highest (Lk. 30-35).
God sent an angel to tell Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife (who seemed to be pregnant by another man), since the Child she carried was from God (Mt. 1:18-21).
The Holy Spirit told Elisabeth that Mary carried the Son of God (Lk. 1:41-44).
Mary gave birth to the Babe, in Bethlehem of Judea (Lk. 2:4-7)
An angel, accompanied by a host of heavenly creatures, announced the birth of the Christ Child to shepherds (Lk. 2:8-14).
The shepherds celebrated the first Christmas with Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus (Lk. 2:15-16).
The shepherds told the good new of Messiahs birth (Lk. 2:17-19).
The Magi arrived from the east, seeking Jesus, in order to worship Him (Mt. 2:1-12).
King Herod sought to kill the infant King (Mt. 2:12-18).
This is the story of the delivery of God's Gift of love and salvation.
II. CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR ALL..
We open our gifts one at a time, but imagine the excitement of opening a large box, to find a special gift surrounded by other wrapped gifts. After opening the main gift of a computer and monitor you open other gifts that have controllers, wireless equipment, games, utilities, graphic pads, smart phones, printers, sound equipment, assorted hardware and software.
After a person accepts the Gift of Christ he then finds other gifts that come with the main Gift. Here are some of the gifts we receive from God, along with the Gift of His Son: Peace, Love, Joy, Hope, Eternal Life, Salvation, Forgiveness.
Also, as you open the gifts that God gives you, notice that there are gifts He has given you to give to others.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
From the time of Eve, God's people have been looking for the Man-Child, God promised. (Ge. 4:1).
As early as Job (time of Abraham) men were looking for a resurrected Savior (Jb. 19:25).
The Promised One would be the Son of God (Ps. 2:7).
He would be in the linage and house of David (Is. 9:6-7)
He would be born of a virgin (Is. 7:14).
He would be born in Bethlehem (Mi. 5:2).
He would rule the world (Ps. 2:1-12).
Israel Anticipated the coming Messiah.
But rebellion in Israel and Judah separated them from God. There came a time when God no longer spoke to them as he had before, entering 400 years of silence (from Malachi to time of announcement in Temple).
The loss of a loved one can overshadow the anticipation of a special day.
The death of a loved one around a birthday can make future birthdays sad.
400 years of sadness, disappointment.
Then God clearly and often. The following accounts are not all of the events.
God told a priest, named Zacharias (who was aged) that he and his wife Elisabeth would have a child, who would prepare the way for the Lord (Lk. 1:11-17).
Magi from the east (scholars from Persia) discovered that the King of the Jews was to be born (Mt. 2:1-3).
An angel told Mary that though she was a virgin, she would miraculously conceive a Child, Who would be the Son of the Highest (Lk. 30-35).
God sent an angel to tell Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife (who seemed to be pregnant by another man), since the Child she carried was from God (Mt. 1:18-21).
The Holy Spirit told Elisabeth that Mary carried the Son of God (Lk. 1:41-44).
Mary gave birth to the Babe, in Bethlehem of Judea (Lk. 2:4-7)
An angel, accompanied by a host of heavenly creatures, announced the birth of the Christ Child to shepherds (Lk. 2:8-14).
The shepherds celebrated the first Christmas with Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus (Lk. 2:15-16).
The shepherds told the good new of Messiahs birth (Lk. 2:17-19).
The Magi arrived from the east, seeking Jesus, in order to worship Him (Mt. 2:1-12).
King Herod sought to kill the infant King (Mt. 2:12-18).
This is the story of the delivery of God's Gift of love and salvation.
II. CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR ALL..
We open our gifts one at a time, but imagine the excitement of opening a large box, to find a special gift surrounded by other wrapped gifts. After opening the main gift of a computer and monitor you open other gifts that have controllers, wireless equipment, games, utilities, graphic pads, smart phones, printers, sound equipment, assorted hardware and software.
After a person accepts the Gift of Christ he then finds other gifts that come with the main Gift. Here are some of the gifts we receive from God, along with the Gift of His Son: Peace, Love, Joy, Hope, Eternal Life, Salvation, Forgiveness.
Also, as you open the gifts that God gives you, notice that there are gifts He has given you to give to others.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
