Keeping Christ Central in Christmas Celebrations
Summary
In this message, I emphasize the importance of keeping Christ at the center of our Christmas celebrations. The power of Jesus' blood is still relevant today, offering healing, salvation, deliverance, and freedom. The chaos and confusion in our world often stem from rejecting Jesus as King. To truly celebrate Christmas, we must allow Jesus to overrule us, guide us, and be the ultimate authority in our lives. Without this, our celebrations are merely parties, not true Christmas celebrations.
The wise men sought the King, while Herod felt threatened by His presence. Many today want the holiday without acknowledging Christ's lordship, leading to division and conflict. The phrase "peace on Earth, goodwill to men" is often quoted, but the full message includes "with whom He is well pleased." True peace and goodwill come from pleasing Jesus and making Him the focus of our lives.
Religious leaders in Jesus' time knew the scriptures but missed the opportunity to meet the Savior. They had knowledge but lacked a relationship with Jesus. The written word should lead us to the Living Word, deepening our walk with Christ. Without this connection, the Bible becomes just another book. The religious leaders didn't seek Jesus because they didn't recognize their need for Him. Jesus came to address sin and offer salvation, and without acknowledging this, we miss the true meaning of Christmas.
The wise men traveled great distances to find Jesus, recognizing His worth. In contrast, many today won't make the effort to truly celebrate Him. Understanding Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords should inspire us to prioritize Him in our celebrations. This Christmas, let's make a big deal about Jesus, recognizing the power of His blood and the hope it brings. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's will and open ourselves to the fullness of His blessings.
Key Takeaways:
1. Christ at the Center: To truly celebrate Christmas, Jesus must be the King and ultimate authority in our lives. Without His lordship, our celebrations are empty and lack the true spirit of Christmas. [00:58]
2. Peace and Goodwill: The promise of "peace on Earth, goodwill to men" is contingent upon pleasing Jesus. True peace and harmony come from aligning our lives with His will and making Him the focus of our celebrations. [03:07]
3. Knowledge vs. Relationship: Knowing the scriptures is not enough; we must let the written word lead us to a deeper relationship with the Living Word, Jesus Christ. Without this connection, we miss the true essence of Christmas. [08:59]
4. Recognizing Our Need: The religious leaders missed Jesus because they didn't see their need for Him. Acknowledging our need for Jesus to address sin and offer salvation is crucial to experiencing the true meaning of Christmas. [11:52]
5. The Journey to Jesus: The wise men traveled great distances to find Jesus, recognizing His worth. We should be willing to make an effort to prioritize Jesus in our celebrations, understanding His significance as King of Kings. [14:09]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - The Power of Jesus' Blood
- [00:27] - Chaos from Rejecting the King
- [00:58] - True Celebration of Christmas
- [01:47] - Jesus as King and Ruler
- [02:33] - Peace on Earth with Whom He is Pleased
- [03:38] - Pleasing Jesus for True Peace
- [04:31] - Missing Christmas: The Religious Leaders
- [06:30] - Prophecy Fulfilled in Bethlehem
- [07:24] - The Inerrancy of Scripture
- [08:39] - The Written Word vs. The Living Word
- [09:37] - The Purpose of Scripture
- [11:34] - Recognizing Our Need for Jesus
- [13:25] - The Wise Men's Journey
- [14:40] - Making a Big Deal About Jesus
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 2:1-12
- Micah 5:2
- John 5:39-40
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Observation Questions:
1. What actions did the wise men take to find Jesus, and what does this reveal about their understanding of His significance? [13:25]
2. How did Herod and the religious leaders react differently to the news of Jesus' birth, and what does this indicate about their priorities? [04:31]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the phrase "peace on Earth, goodwill to men" and how is it often misunderstood? [03:07]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between knowing the scriptures and having a relationship with Jesus? [08:39]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might the wise men have been willing to travel great distances to find Jesus, and what does this suggest about their faith and priorities? [14:09]
2. How does the sermon explain the chaos and confusion in the world as a result of rejecting Jesus as King? What implications does this have for individuals and society? [00:27]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that true peace and goodwill are contingent upon pleasing Jesus? How does this challenge common perceptions of peace? [03:07]
4. What does the sermon imply about the dangers of having knowledge of the scriptures without a relationship with Jesus? How can this be avoided? [08:39]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current Christmas traditions. How can you ensure that Christ is at the center of your celebrations this year? [00:58]
2. Consider the phrase "peace on Earth, goodwill to men." How can you align your life with Jesus' will to experience true peace and harmony? [03:07]
3. Think about your relationship with the Bible. How can you move beyond simply knowing the scriptures to developing a deeper relationship with Jesus? [08:39]
4. Identify an area in your life where you might be resisting Jesus' authority. What steps can you take to allow Him to guide and overrule you? [00:58]
5. The wise men recognized Jesus' worth and made significant efforts to find Him. What practical steps can you take to prioritize Jesus in your daily life? [14:09]
6. Reflect on a time when you may have missed an opportunity to deepen your relationship with Jesus. What changes can you make to avoid missing such opportunities in the future? [08:39]
7. How can you make a "big deal" about Jesus in your life, not just during Christmas, but throughout the year? What specific actions can you take to demonstrate His significance in your life? [14:40]
Devotional
Day 1: Christ as the Ultimate Authority
To truly celebrate Christmas, Jesus must be the King and ultimate authority in our lives. Without His lordship, our celebrations are empty and lack the true spirit of Christmas. When we allow Jesus to guide us and be the central figure in our lives, we experience the fullness of what Christmas is meant to be. The wise men sought Jesus as King, while Herod felt threatened by His presence. This contrast highlights the importance of recognizing Jesus' authority and embracing His rule in our lives. By doing so, we transform our celebrations from mere parties into meaningful expressions of faith. [00:58]
Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV): "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself resisting Jesus' authority? How can you invite Him to be the King in that area today?
Day 2: True Peace through Pleasing Jesus
The promise of "peace on Earth, goodwill to men" is contingent upon pleasing Jesus. True peace and harmony come from aligning our lives with His will and making Him the focus of our celebrations. Many people desire the holiday spirit without acknowledging Christ's lordship, leading to division and conflict. By seeking to please Jesus, we open ourselves to the peace and goodwill that He offers. This Christmas, let us strive to align our actions and intentions with His desires, experiencing the true peace that comes from a life centered on Him. [03:07]
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
Reflection: Consider a situation in your life where you lack peace. How can you align your actions with Jesus' will to invite His peace into that situation?
Day 3: From Knowledge to Relationship
Knowing the scriptures is not enough; we must let the written word lead us to a deeper relationship with the Living Word, Jesus Christ. The religious leaders in Jesus' time had knowledge but missed the opportunity to meet the Savior. This serves as a reminder that intellectual understanding without a personal relationship with Jesus is insufficient. The Bible should guide us to a closer walk with Christ, transforming our knowledge into a living, breathing relationship with Him. Without this connection, we miss the true essence of Christmas. [08:59]
James 1:22-24 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like."
Reflection: How can you move from simply knowing about Jesus to experiencing a deeper relationship with Him today?
Day 4: Recognizing Our Need for Jesus
The religious leaders missed Jesus because they didn't see their need for Him. Acknowledging our need for Jesus to address sin and offer salvation is crucial to experiencing the true meaning of Christmas. Many people today are content with the holiday festivities but fail to recognize their need for a Savior. By admitting our need for Jesus, we open ourselves to the transformative power of His salvation and the true joy of Christmas. Let us not miss the opportunity to embrace the Savior who came to address our deepest needs. [11:52]
Romans 5:8 (ESV): "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to acknowledge your need for Jesus' salvation and guidance?
Day 5: The Journey to Jesus
The wise men traveled great distances to find Jesus, recognizing His worth. We should be willing to make an effort to prioritize Jesus in our celebrations, understanding His significance as King of Kings. In a world where convenience often takes precedence, the journey of the wise men reminds us of the importance of seeking Jesus with intention and purpose. This Christmas, let us be inspired by their dedication and make a conscious effort to prioritize Jesus in our lives, recognizing the hope and power He brings. [14:09]
Matthew 2:10-11 (ESV): "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to prioritize your journey towards Jesus, making Him the focus of your Christmas celebrations?
Quotes
So don't you leave Christ out this Christmas in fact make a big deal about him because that blood still has healing power that blood still has saving power that blood still has delivering power that blood still has Freedom Power that blood can overcome the worst thing you are facing today. [00:00:16]
If Jesus can't overrule you, you're not celebrating Christmas. If Jesus can't silence you when he speaks, you're not celebrating Christmas. If Jesus can't tell you no when you think yes, you're not celebrating Christmas. If Jesus can't boss you around, you're not celebrating Christmas. [00:58:23]
Tell Jesus he's your king, he's your ruler, he's the final say so over your life. Now you're ready for a holiday. So you're not ready for a holiday just cuz you got off of work, you're not ready for a holiday just because the food is in the oven, just because the family is coming over. [01:43:00]
Peace on Earth and Good Will to men you going to hear that all holiday season peace peace on Earth Good Will to men but they going to leave something off because Jesus said they going to be peace on Earth and Good Will to men with whom he's well pleased. [02:48:48]
You cannot displease Jesus and get the benefits of his throne. Doesn't work that way. Well there's another group that missed Christmas, the religious folk, the folk who went to church. How can you go to church and miss Christmas? [04:16:28]
They knew the Bible but they never went to Bethlehem. It's better to know less and go to Jesus than to know more and stay away from Jesus because the purpose of the written word is to lead you to the Living Word. [09:09:59]
Unless your knowledge of the Bible leads you to a deeper walk with the Savior, then the Bible will be of no value to you. They knew the Bible but they never went to Bethlehem. It's better to know less and go to Jesus than to know more and stay away from Jesus. [08:55:40]
The reason that they didn't go see Jesus is they didn't think they had a problem that Jesus needed to solve. In other words, they didn't understand why Jesus came. He came to deal with sin and to provide Salvation. And if you don't understand that's why he came, then you missing a party. [11:37:60]
The wise men came, Jesus was a toddler in a house, not a baby in a Manger. But if you don't read the scripture, you're going to be fooled by nativity scenes. He was a toddler in the house so if they saw the star when he was born but they couldn't get to him until he was a toddler. [13:31:44]
They figured Jesus was worth the journey. We won't even go down the street to celebrate Jesus when they cross continents to get to him cuz they knew who they were dealing with. When you understand he's the king of kings and the Lord of lords, then you're willing to be convenience for that party. [13:57:60]
Make a big deal about Jesus this Christmas because that blood still has healing power, that blood still has saving power, that blood still has delivering power, that blood still has Victory power, that blood still has Freedom Power, that blood can overcome the worst thing you are facing today. [14:37:20]
If I were you and you were me, I'd make a big deal about Jesus. If God gets excited about the big deal you make about Jesus, I'm telling God right now you going to have a lot to be excited about cuz it's going to be Jesus in the morning, Jesus at noon time and Jesus when the Sun goes down. [14:57:20]
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