9.30am Christmas Day 25 December 2007
Readings: Isaiah 52:7-10; Luke 2:8-14; Titus 2:11-14; John 1:14, 16-18
Welcome, Light Candle, Prayer
This is Isaiah's last Sunday before he leaves us. It's been really great to have him with us over this period leading up to Christmas. He has one final message for us especially appropriate for Christmas Day.
Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10
Isaiah's reading spoke about "good news," "good tidings," and "shouts" and "songs of joy." He also said, "...all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God." That's very impressive. Let's see if this morning we can find out what it's all about.
Three clues, but I need five children to help me. Are there any children who would be willing to help me find out what this "good news" is all about?
1. Now all this happened a long time, so I think we'll find the first clue near an old and special book. (A-N-G-E-L) Let's hear what the Bible has to say about where an angel comes into the story.
Reading: Luke 2:8-14
Songs: "Hark the herald angels sing"
"It came upon a midnight clear" (verses 1&4)
"Silent Night" (Verses 1&2 with clarinet solo in between verses)
The shepherds first saw one angel, and later what could have been thousands of angels because it was "a great company of the heavenly host." That must have been very scary. It was just as well God sent only one angel first...
Listen again to the message of the angel to the shepherds. "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." Note that the angel used several of the words that Isaiah mentioned in his message, words like "good news" and "joy" and "all." But it's what follows that's the really important part. The angel said, "Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." "...a Saviour has been born to you." Now that's really "good news." (Sunday's message) God sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world, to be your Saviour and mine. The key question as you celebrate Christmas this year is, have you received him as your Saviour? What greater way to celebrate his birth than to accept him as such today.
2. I need four children to help me with the next clue. It has something to do with gifts. Where might we find gifts on a day like today? (Looking for response, "Beneath the Christmas tree.") Is there a Christmas tree here today? (Sends children off to get the four gifts under the tree.)
Would you like to open them for me? (Children open them and find four scrolls and work out word - 'S-T-A-R.')
Let's hear what the Bible has to say about a star and where that fits into the 'good news.'
Reading: Matthew 2:1-2, 9-10
Matthew tells us, "When they saw the star, they were overjoyed." That is, they were thrilled and excited. They had known immediately they first saw the star, maybe months before, that this was no ordinary star. Only the coming of someone very, very special, like an important king, would have a star as bright as this one to tell of his birth. What's really impressive about these wise men is that they were willing to make the long and dangerous journey across the deserts, bringing costly gifts, to honour this new king. They didn't delay but set off straight away to get there when they did, as they wanted to be among the first to come and worship him. We call these men 'wise' and so they were, because they sought and found the king. It's been truly said, "wise people seek Jesus still." You are wise too if you do what these wise men did, offer Christ your worship, acknowledge him as king, and discover in him the reason why the message of Christmas is 'good news.'
Song: "The Reason Why"
Jesus has come to set you and I "free." This reminds me of what Jesus said, "If you keep on obeying what I have said ... you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."[1] That's surely good news.
So far we've found out that the shepherds 'saw' the angels and that's how they found Jesus. The wise men or magi 'saw' a star that led them to Jesus. There is still one more clue that'll help you and I to see what the 'good news' about this baby really is, why it's so important that we know. Five helpers. Clue - 'Look under the stable.' Have we got a stable anywhere here? Can you find anything? G-R-A-C-E
That's not an easy word to understand, but 'grace' means something that we do not deserve. There's nothing we can do to earn it because it's a gift that God in his kindness has given us. It's a word that's mentioned in our final two readings.
Readings: John 1:14, 16-18
Titus 2:11-14
John tells us that Jesus is "full of grace and truth," and that "From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another." That is he continues to do kind, undeserved things for us non-stop. The only words that I can think of come near to describing God's kindness is that it's extravagant, extreme, beyond what we could ever imagine. God is so good.
Note the word "all" again. It was in the reading Isaiah brought to us, as well as in the message of the angel to the shepherds. It is here in John, and the reading from Titus also used it, along with 'grace' and the word "appeared." It said, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people." And then it goes on to talk about how we should live in the light of this truth, living "godly lives" and being "eager to do what is good."
So the angel and the star help us to see in Jesus God's grace, God's kindness. He sent his Son to be our Saviour. This is the good news that Isaiah was referring to when he gave his message centuries before Jesus came to earth at the first Christmas. We all need to heed Paul's words when he said, "As God's co-workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For ... I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation."[2]
Songs: "Our God reigns"
"Open our eyes, Lord."
"O come all you faithful"
Benediction