Christmas Contrasts

Slide 2: 

CHRISTMAS CONTRASTS Heritage Place Church of Christ Dr. J. Wayne Kilpatrick December 19, 2010

Slide 3: 

God’s ways are certainly not our ways, are they? Luke 2:8‑15 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

Slide 4: 

and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly a great company

Slide 5: 

of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." NIV

Slide 6: 

Matt 2:1-12 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.“ 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem

Slide 7: 

with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6 "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

Slide 8: 

for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me,

Slide 9: 

so that I too may go and worship him." 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and

Slide 10: 

worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. NIV

Slide 11: 

The story of the wise men is also a story of love and worship and adoration. Matt 2:16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. NIV

Slide 12: 

First of all, I think that God chose to announce to the shepherds and the wise men the wonderful news of the coming of Jesus because they were prepared for that event. GOD CAN WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARED TO RECEIVE HIS MESSAGE

Slide 13: 

Who understood the idea of sacrifice better than shepherds?

Slide 14: 

The wise men were also prepared.

Slide 15: 

But King Herod wasn’t ready.

Slide 16: 

Christmas is almost here. Are you prepared? THEY WERE WILLING TO TAKE A JOURNEY OF FAITH TO SEE JESUS

Slide 17: 

Shortly after the angels went back into heaven they said to one another, "Let’s go to Bethlehem & see this thing that has happened."

Slide 18: 

How about those wise men?

Slide 19: 

It was a journey of faith, you see. But for Herod there was no faith. "Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him."

Slide 20: 

Before Christmas will ever be real to us, our journey must be a journey of faith too. THEY WERE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE AND MAKE THE SACRIFICE

Slide 21: 

Think about the shepherds. The wise men paid a price, too. But not Herod.

Slide 22: 

Christmas means surrender.

Slide 23: 

Christmas means giving. Not just brightly wrapped gifts to people that we love, but giving ourselves. Some of us may be like the shepherds.

Slide 24: 

Others may be more like the wise men. Unfortunately, there are many like Herod. Into which category do you fall? Who best represents you?