Christmastime...
Welcome to our December 2009 sermon series...
"CHRISTMASTIME...exploring the magic of the season"
Even people who typically would never darken the door of a church feel a little bit more inclined to do so this time of year.
It's a great opportunity to just 'go for it' and invite them out.
Here's what they (and you) can expect:
ALL CHRISTMAS CAROLS, ALL MONTH LONG.
Our worship sets (four songs in total) each week will consist of only Christmas Carols...and the classic ones. This is great for introducing 'new folk' to your church 'cause they'll actually know the songs and should be able to sing along even if the whole 'singing in public' thing is a little strange to them at first.
We'll spend four weeks in the book of LUKE, hitting the 'high points' of the Christmas Story.
WEEK ONE: (December 6th) "MOTHER'S OF MESSIAH"
Jim Cantelon, (100 Huntley Street) will introduce us to some of the WOMEN who were part of Jesus' genealogy, taking some time to examine their 'unusual stories' and connecting their stories to yours with the emphasis being that even if you think you're not 'a fit' for Jesus or His family, you very well might be. Regardless of your past.
Your passage:
"1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ."
-Matt 1:1-16
WEEK TWO: (December 13th) "A PROMISE OF PEACE"
Pastor Todd will explore the prophecy of Zacharias, father of John the Baptist--cousin and immediate forerunner of Jesus the promised Messiah. Particular emphasis will be put on the fact that Zacharias' prophecy still rings true for us, that the peace that was prophesied to come in Jesus was (and is) OUR PEACE and the only hope for peace the World has.
Your passage:
"67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
-Luke 1:67-79
WEEK THREE: (December 20th) "A CHILD IS BORN"
A classic Christmas sermon from the actual Christmas Eve passage to start your Christmas Week off right. (Is that enough Christmas for you?) You'll want to bring friends and family out to this one.
Your passage:
"8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them."
-Luke 2:8-18
WEEK FOUR: (December 27th) "THE LIGHT IN OUR DARKNESS"
Preaching from one of his all-time favorite passages, Pastor Todd will introduce us to 'Simeon the Saint' and will do his best to blow the roof of the building as he examines the great hope Simeon found--and that we find--in Jesus the new born King. This week will be a great kick-off for the beginning of the New Year.
Your passage:
"22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."
-Luke 2:22-32
