Sermon Notes from "Gospel Realized"
Introduction:
Merry Christmas! Today as I begin, we are going to watch a video of kid’s
telling the Christmas story.
Review-
A Church community-God’s
plan to redeem, restore, reconcile the world in Christ through the church. A
community not alone
Empowered by the Holy Spirit-It’s
not pull yourself up by your bootstraps, do more, try harder, but be changed
from the inside out. It’s all about Him.
Transformed-Not
self-help, self-esteem, leadership principles, steps or tips to improve
yourself , but look up and see how God begins to change you by Holy Spirit. See
Romans 12:2 & 2 Corinthians 3:18-18 And
we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being
transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this
comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
By the gospel—today’s
passage is Read Luke 2:8-20
The
Gospel (vs. 10-11)
·
What is the gospel? It can be used as an adjective—gospel music,
gospel conference, gospel curriculum. It
often is used as a noun such as prosperity gospel or social gospel. Many use
the word to describe religion (be good), politics (how you vote), philosophy,
it’s door to door or shouting on street corners, culture (Starbucks cups), how
we live (WWJD), American Dream, something shared at end of a sermon to get
people saved, the start of the Christian life then move on to something deeper.
The gospel is not any of these on their own or at all. In our text today, we will see what the
gospel is.
·
Vs. 10-Do not be afraid. This phrase or
similar phrases “do not fear” or “fear not” appear about 100 times in the
Bible. This is a great way to start
because if an angel appeared to me, I would need to be told “do not be afraid”.
·
Vs. 10-I bring you good news-Greek word
evangelizo-where we get our English word evangelism-verb-proclaim
or announce good news-the noun is translated “gospel”. This concept included a
messenger returning from battle to share “good news”.
·
Vs. 10-Great joy-because of the message of
good news. Remember joy is not just happiness as we discussed in our study of
Philippians. Joy is not based on
circumstances, but instead on who God is. it can’t be manufactured, it’s
something God does in us for his glory.
·
Vs. 10-For whom? All people. This good
news was not just for the Jews but for Gentiles too. This would have been very confusing for the
Jews because they were expecting a King to deliver them from oppression from the
Romans.
o
Now let it be understood, that this joy
was common to all people, because it was indiscriminately offered to all.[1]
This was fulfillment of God’s promise to his people.
·
Vs. 10-Who
o
Savior-The
name Jesus literally means Savior. This baby is described in this way in Matthew
1:21-21 She
will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people
from their sins.”
o
Christ-not
Jesus last name, but actually a title. It signifies his office as anointed
Savior and alludes to his spiritual qualifications for the task of saving his
people. The Greek word Christos,
translated from Hebrew Messiah”[2]
o
Lord-From
Hebrew word, Adonai, supreme in authority, respectful title-Master, Sir
Them
Mary
& Joseph (vs. 4-7; 19)
·
Vs. 4-7-Mary & Joseph travel from
Nazareth to Bethlehem because Joseph is from the line of David fulfilling the
prophecy of Micah 5:2-But you, O
Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from
you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming
forth is from of old, from ancient days. &
Isaiah 11:10-10 In
that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him
shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
·
Why a manger? No room in the inn. But was God doing something as well?
Something unexpected, showing this Savior would be for all people not just the
rich (palace), available to all
·
Vs. 19-Pondered in her heart
Shepherds
& Angels (8-9, 13-20)
·
Shepherds-
o
vs. 8-watching their flocks
§ God
chose shepherds, persons of humble rank, and of no account among men. Here the
reason and wisdom of the flesh must prove to be foolishness[3]
§ The
Gospel of Luke teaches us that God can take obscure and poor people and use
them to transform the world.[4]
o
Vs. 15-17-Let’s go and see
§ Saw
what angels told them about-Mary, Joseph, Baby & spread the word
o
Vs. 20-Glorifying and praising God
·
Angels-
o
Vs. 9-Appeared & glory shone around
them
§ But
here is a heavenly host, with one voice bearing testimony to the Son of God.[5]
o
Vs. 14-Praised God-“Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace to man on whom his favor rests.
§ that
the earth is at peace, when men have been reconciled to God, and enjoy an
inward tranquillity in their own minds. [6]
§ The
angels speak of peace as a free gift, and flows from the pure mercy of God[7]
Us
Like Mary, Joseph, Angels
& Shepherds, we too are transformed by the gospel.
·
What is the gospel?
o
The saying itself, “Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners,” is a compact statement of the gospel.[8]
From 1 Timothy 1:15
·
Why is the Christmas story good news today
for believer and unbeliever?
o
Baby Jesus vs. Santa Claus
§ Relationship
not Rules-God With Us, God For Us
§ not nice/naughty lists, “sees you when you’re
sleeping, He knows if you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.” Or
get coal in your stocking.
o
Good News vs. Good Advice
§ Gospel-Christ
died for sinners-that’s you and me-Romans 5:8- but God shows his love
for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
§ Law
(Not under law bc Christ fulfilled the law)
§ Believe
o
Human Beings vs. Human Doings (Bethany in
Go Deeper Hour shared human cliche)
§ Who
You Are (Child)
§ What
You Do (Worker)
o
Transparent vs. Pretending
§ (Safe
Place to be real, Broken)
§ (Got
it together)
Closing:
Advent
Wreath (Peace, Hope, Joy)
Love-Why?
Because He loves you.
[1]
Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on a
Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Vol. 1, pp.
115–116). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[3]
Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on a
Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Vol. 1, p.
113). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[5]
Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on a
Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Vol. 1, p.
119). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[6]
Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on a
Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Vol. 1, p.
120). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[7]
Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on a
Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Vol. 1, p.
121). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[8]
Knight, G. W. I. (1995). 1-2 Timothy/Titus. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 1103). Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
Comments
Post a Comment