Luke 2:1-7 (New Living Translation)
2:1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.
5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
I. Feels displaced because of unwanted decrees (vv. 1-2)
• The world was in
• A census was a regular reminder of unwanted
• A Normal Christmas restores emotional focus with God’s
• The religious churchgoer lives
• The remnant
II. Feels displaced because we misinterpret the times (vv. 3-4)
• We need to interpret the times by the
• God uses the
• Small doesn’t mean
III. Feels displaced because we don’t make room for God’s plans (vv. 5-7)
• More often than not God’s plans are found in our
experiences.
• The remnant understands the unexpected is never
with God.
• In a Normal Christmas we make room for God to lead others in
ways we do not
• In a Normal Christmas we make room for
• In a Normal Christmas we test our understanding of Christ-like