CHRISTMAS: THERE’S A BETTER WAY
December 14 & 15, 2024 // Pastor Mike Berry
1. CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 2:1–14, ESV
2. JESUS IS GOD, HE IS
OMNIPOTENT - JESUS IS ALL
OMNISCIENT - JESUS IS ALL
OMNIPRESENT - JESUS IS ALL
OMNIBENEVOLENT - JESUS IS ALL
OMNIFICENT - JESUS HAS
“may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:18–19, ESV
3. JESUS CAME BECAUSE WE ARE
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
Isaiah 59:2, NIV
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
Romans 3:23–24, ESV
“Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”
Hebrews 9:22, ESV
4. BECAUSE WE ARE ALL SINNERS, WE ARE ALL IN DESPERATE NEED OF A
“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
1 John 2:1–2, NIV
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”
1 John 1:9–10, NIV
“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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16–17, NIV
Action Steps:
What does God being a savior mean to you? How has God given you a better life? How do you know that you will have eternal life? What steps can you take that better appreciate the real meaning of the season this Christmas?