River Church NOLA
Sunday, Dec 21
  • Hark The Herald Angels Sing (Hark The Herald)
  • O Come All Ye Faithful
  • O Holy Night
  • Great Are You Lord
  • What A Glorious Night
  • Come On Ring Those Bells

  • What is your best Christmas memory or gift ever?

    While you think about that, here are some of mine growing up.
    Our church Live nativity scene.  If it was cold, the ladies would have some wonderful hot chocolate ready in the fellowship hall.  It was fun.  Then on Christmas eve we would all go out of the church with candles and stand in front of the Nativity and sing a Christmas song.
    The year my mom and Dad built an entire campsite in my brother’s and my room without waking us up.
    Seeing which cousin would call the earliest to see what Santa brought.
    JOKE – There are 3 brothers who wanted to get their elderly mother the perfect Christmas present.  All 3 were very wealthy. 
    The 1st brother said, “Mom has lived in that same home for years.  I’m spending lots of money to buy her a new home.”
    The 2nd brother said, “Mom’s eyesight is failing.  I’m spending lots of money to get her a chauffeur and limousine to drive her wherever she wants to go.”
    The 3rd brother said, “Mom loves to read the Bible, but with her failing eyesight, can’t do that any longer.  I’ve spent lots of money to have some Bible College professors take a year to train a parrot to memorize all of the words of the Bible.  Every day Mom can just listen to that parrot quoting the Word of God.”
    A week after receiving the Christmas gifts, the Mom called each of the 3 sons.  To the first son she said, “I thank you for the new home, but it’s really too big for me.  I want to return to my old home.”  To the 2nd son she said, “I really don’t like that chauffeur or the limousine he drives.  I’d rather call a taxi cab to transport me around.”  To the 3rd son she said, “That chicken you sent me became the most delicious Christmas meal that I’ve had in a long time.”

    Christmas is an event that occurred 2025 years ago in a small town called Bethlehem.

    It happened there because Caesar ordered a census so he could raise taxes and everyone had to go back to their place of birth and Joseph was from Bethlehem.  While it happened 2025 years ago, nativity scenes still stop traffic today.
    Trinity Nativity

    Why is Christmas the most celebrated holiday on the planet?

    Why does it shut down work for days and schools for weeks?  Why do people gather for parties at home, at work and at church?  Why do we give gifts for Christmas? It’s certainly not because it’s winter, as some try to remake it.

    Why is Christmas the most celebrated holiday on the planet? Jesus birth was the most significant event in human history

    BC & AD … if you write a check it has how many years months and days after the birth of Jesus on it. 
    This morning, we want to learn how we can have the Best Christmas Ever… even in 2020. 
    We can have the Best Christmas ever by understanding some of the reasons for the season… and we will do that by understanding three words… rejoicing… redemption… reconciliation
    Let me give you some reasons for Christmas

    1. We Celebrate Jesus Birth.

    When Jesus was born, there were shepherds in the fields watching over their sheep and an angel gave them this announcement.
    Luke 2:8–10 NLT
    8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.
    Think about it.  Christmas is actually a birthday party for Jesus.  BTW, we will have Jesus’ birthday cake & Christmas Cookies at church Wednesday for our Christmas Eve Service.  The angel brought the shepherds and us… good news that would bring great joy.
    We have the rejoicing thing down.  There are more parties at Christmas than at any other time of the year.  The problem is that most of the time, we leave out the guest of honor.  It’s His birthday.  That’s why we say Merry Christmas.  Parties are great… they actually have a party in heaven every time someone repents and is born again. 
    So Christmas is a time of celebrating…
    Why do we celebrate?

    We celebrate at Christmas because God loves us.

    John 3:16 NIV84
    16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
    God loves each one of us and created us to have a relationship with Him.
    John 17:3 NLT
    3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
    He loves us even when we do not deserve it. 
    God’s love for you is based on who he is, not on your actions.

    We celebrate at Christmas because God is always with us.

    Matthew 1:23 NLT
    23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ ”
    Write that down.

    Immanuel: God is with us!

    Hebrews 13:5 NLT
    5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
    He said He will never leave us. 
    How many of you have ever felt abandoned?  Maybe through divorce… death… quarantined?
    God will never abandon you.  If you are feeling that way, it may be that you are not plugged in. 
    God doesn’t want you to be lonely.  Remember he said it’s not good for man to be alone in Gen. God will be with you no matter what you no matter what you are going through.  You are never alone.
    If you are lonely this Christmas, you need to turn to Jesus and his family… experience that relationship with Jesus this Christmas.

    We celebrate at Christmas because God is for us and not against us.

    He wants you to succeed.  Morris Bart used to say, I’m on your side.  Listen to me.  God is on your side.
    John 3:17 NLT
    17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
    A lot of people believe that God sent Jesus to tell us what we are doing wrong… to condemn us. They carry around tons of guilt and shame....
    Jesus did not come to condemn the world … you and me… He came to save us.  He loves you… he is with you always… And He is always for you… 
    He came to save the world and our job after we become followers of Jesus is to point people to Him. 
    So that’s the first purpose… to rejoice at the coming of Jesus.   It’s great news and it brings joy… no matter who you are or where you are from.

    2. We are thankful that Christmas brings redemption.

    Luke 2:11 NLT
    11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
    If we did not need a Savior, God would not have sent one.

    What dos it mean to be redeemed?

    It means to be saved.

    Saved - Rescued, delivered, set free, released

    A little girl in a car seat one time leaned out of the window and yelled, “Oh God, get me out of this.”  How many of us have been in a situation where we cried out… God help me?  You needed God to save you from something…

    Redemption means we are rescued from our sins.

    He rescues you from your past, your sin, your worry, depression, selfishness, self pity...
    Jesus rescues us from our sin.  Look what the Angel told Joseph.
    Matthew 1:21 NLT
    21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
    Jesus will save people from their sins.

    What is sin?

    You know the list… don’t lie, don’t steal… don’t cheat. But is that all?

    Sin is an attitude

    It’s saying to God, “I don’t need you in my life.  “I can do just fine without you.” 
    Before you look horrified, we have all had this attitude at one time or another in our lives.

    Sin separates us from God

    This is why God had to send a Savior.  We were separated from God by our sin.  Everyone of your problems is a result of sin… yours or someone else’s.  Sin causes confusion in your life… guilt… shame … bitterness… resentment… anxiety… fear… depression.... fear of death… stress… emptiness… separation…
    Jesus came to set you free from all of that… to set you free from your sin.  Truth be told,  most of us are our own worst enemy.  We cause most of our own problems and often we wish we could change but we can’t.  Paul couldn’t.
    Romans 7:24–25 NLT
    24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
    Most of us have felt this way at one time or another.  Most of the time it’s because we are looking to fill that empty spot in all of the wrong places.  marriage… divorce; get a job… change jobs; have kids… get the kids to move out …  We look in all the wrong places.

    Redemption comes from a relationship with Jesus.

    We are redeemed for a reason.

    2 Timothy 1:9 GNB
    9 He saved us and called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace by means of Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
    Each one of us was created by God for a purpose… a reason.
    John 10:10 NLT
    10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

    We are redeemed by God’s grace.

    Some one said,

    Grace is God’s riches at Christ’s expense

    Ephesians 2:8–9 NIV84
    8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
    We cannot do anything to save ourselves… to earn our way into heaven.  You simply cannot be good enough.  But you don’t have to.  Redemption or Salvation is a free gift from God.

    Have you ever wondered why we give gifts at Christmas?

    We give gifts because God gave Jesus. 
    God wants to save everyone… he wants to save you, but you have to stop trying to save yourself.  You have to give up. 
    Lifeguard … wait until the person gets too tired to keep fighting and gives up, then you can go save them. 
    God wants to save you but you have to give up…

    3. Christmas is for reconciliation.

    Reconciliation brings peace… check this out.
    Luke 2:13–14 NKJV
    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, goodwill toward men!”

    What is reconciliation? It’s when a relationship is restored

    There will never be peace in the world until there is peace within the nations… not within the nations until there is peace in our communities… not with our communities until there is peace in your families… not within your families until you have peace in your heart.
    Where do you need peace this Christmas? Let’s look again at the three kinds of peace Jesus brings.

    Three Kinds of Peace Jesus Brings.

    Jesus gives us peace with God

    If you are living without God in your life, you are at war with God.
    Romans 5:1 NLT
    1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
    If you have not made peace with God, I hope you will today.  You will be happier and one day, you will have to face him one day.

    Jesus gives us the peace of God

    The peace of God comes to us when we make peace with God.  Stress goes down… things don’t upset you as much… Not as angry as usual...

    Jesus brings peace with each other

    Luke 2:13–14 NLT
    13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
    Jesus offers peace on earth.  If everyone was loving and following Jesus, there would be no crime… no wars… no ugly politics… no cancel culture… no sin…
    Jesus not only want to bring peace on earth, but he wants you and I to help with that…
    Matthew 5:9 NLT
    9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
    Jesus wants to use us to make peace with others.  He wants you and I to be peacemakers.  And Christmas is the perfect time to show love and grace to others because Christmas reminds us of the mercy and Grace that’s been shown to us. 

    Who do you need to rebuild relationships with this Christmas season?

    You may say that you can’t do that.  The person has hurt you too much… they took advantage of you.  Guess what you are right.  You can’t forgive someone with your own power, but you don’t have too.  Jesus will give that power to you… you just have to let him.
    Conclusion
    I want you to realize that this Christmas,
    you can rejoice because God loves you, is with you and is for you.
    You can experience redemption because Jesus was born into our world.  He saved us from our sin by his grace for a purpose. 
    You can have peace with God, the peace of God and peace with others through Jesus Christ. 
    If I were to give you a Christmas present and you never opened it, it would be worthless because you never opened it or used it. 
    Jesus is God’s gift to you and to me. 
    Acts 10:35 NLT
    35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.

      • Luke 2:8–10NIV2011

      • John 3:16NIV2011

      • John 17:3NIV2011

      • Matthew 1:23NIV2011

      • Hebrews 13:5NIV2011

      • John 3:17NIV2011

      • Luke 2:11NIV2011

      • Matthew 1:21NIV2011

      • Romans 7:24–25NIV2011

      • 2 Timothy 1:9NIV2011

      • John 10:10NIV2011

      • Ephesians 2:8–9NIV2011

      • Luke 2:13–14NIV2011

      • Romans 5:1NIV2011

      • Luke 2:13–14NIV2011

      • Matthew 5:9NIV2011

      • Acts 10:35NIV2011

  • Joy To The World (Antioch)
River Church NOLA
robert@riverchurchnola.com
504-578-8317
https://riverchurchnola.com
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