Rev. David Holwick Christmas Eve
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey (well-received)
December 24, 2003
Matthew 2:9-12
WHY ALL THE HASSLE?
I. Hassles of shopping at Ledgewood Mall.
A. Overcrowded stores and streets.
1) Compounded by snowed-out weekends.
2) Today on Route 10...
I am going straight through, but have a red light
and have to stop at the Hess Station jughandle.
Traffic is backed up in the intersection.
The sideways traffic has a green light, but can't move
because of one car in their way.
A young man in an extended pickup moves up, honking his
horn.
The blocking person inches forward (rather than letting
him through.)
She is obviously terrified.
Fortunately, no guns are drawn...
B. Extra-tough period for pastors.
1) Doubled-up sermons and bulletins.
2) Christmas caroling at four nursing homes (including a wrong
one). Two hours for three people.
C. Is it worth the hassle?
II. Why do we go through all this?
A. The official reason: Jesus is the reason for the season.
1) Support - more people go to church services like this.
2) Against - we put much more emphasis on us than God.
a) Consider Christmas gifts.
1> They drive the U.S. economy, are worth billions.
2> Who got gifts at the first Christmas? Only Jesus!
b) We are more charitably-minded this time of year, but
we still come out ahead ourselves.
B. Other possible reasons for the season: (based on reality)
1) Gift-giving is fun.
a) It's not a bad idea to give things to others.
1> Even non-christians have adopted the idea.
b) Generosity, by itself, is worth celebrating.
2) Family gatherings and expressions of love.
a) We shouldn't need excuses to get everyone together,
but we do.
b) My own dad is coming up in two days; many of you have
relatives in your home right now.
1> Are you hosting relatives you would like to ship
back? (don't go there...)
c) Even in imperfect families, the meals and traditions
serve a purpose of binding us together.
3) Parties and celebration.
a) There are more than you can handle: home, work,
neighborhood.
b) Lots of decorations and special touches.
c) Beautiful music and special programs.
4) Whatever reason you want to provide.
a) I have always loved Christmas, even though I was not
always religious.
b) Christmas kind of justifies itself.
III. There can be more to Christmas.
A. Even religiously, Christmas is more than the birth of Jesus.
1) The gifts were incidental.
2) The key was their joy.
a) God came to save the world.
b) It is something to get excited about, any time of the
year.
B. God became one of us, so we could have a relationship with him.
1) It cost him dearly...
There is a story circulating on the internet about a woman who was
out Christmas shopping with her two children.
After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything
else imaginable, and after hours of hearing both her children
begging for everything they saw on those many shelves,
she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids.
She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season.
Overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming,
every church service..
Getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping
list...
Making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the
pressure of catching up with everyone who sent us a card while
we didn't send them one, till now...
Finally the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd
in the elevator.
She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with
her and all the bags of stuff.
When the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and stated,
"Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found,
strung up and shot."
From the back of the car everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond,
"Don't worry, we already crucified him."
#11666
C. Enjoy the traditions, parties, gifts and gatherings.
D. But get to know Jesus.
1) Commit yourself to him as your Lord and Savior.
2) And honor him every day of the year, not just December 25.
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
The internet article "The Purpose Of Jesus Christ - Christmas
Notwithstanding," by William R. Cunningham provided the main idea
behind this sermon. #26306: http://www.pursuingthetruth.org/sermons/~
files/purposeofchristchristmas.htm, December 24, 2000.
#11666 "Who Started Christmas?" email submitted by Sgt. Ross Corbett,
Knoxville, Tennessee, on December 5, 2003. Original source
is unknown.
These and 25,000 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://illust.holwick.com
=========================================================================
Summary of Cunningham article
=============================
I. The real reason for Christmas:
A. By our actions:
1) Sell stuff.
2) Attend church, celebrate, family stuff.
3) Jesus wouldn't make the list.
B. Christmas is certainly a happy time of year.
1) Family dinners and gatherings.
II. The biblical reason for Christmas.
A. We celebrate the birth of Jesus.
1) (He is the only one who got the gifts.)
2) However, the season is far more than that, at least how
we practice it.
B. It is better to recognize the purpose of Jesus, in spite of
Christmas
1) The birth of Christ.
a) (so why do we spend so much on other people?)
b) Are we re-inacting God's gift-giving?
2) Gift giving and family gatherings.
a) More given now that at any other time of year.
b) Churches and charities capitalize on our generous
spirits.
c) We tolerate obnoxious family members.
3) Party time.
III. Make Jesus the focus of your life.
A. Not just at Christmas.
