Let’S Preach the Christmas Story: 91 Sermons on Christmas

By Joe L. Sharp

Note from Dr. Joe Sharp

I pastored the same group of people for thirty-nine years. Its difficult to come up with something new and different year after year on Christmas. I usually preached at least four different Christmas messages per year. It kept me constantly digging for fresh material. If you pastor or teach a Sunday school class, this book will give you some new ideas. I hope you will enjoy and use it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493170364

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Dr. Joe L. Sharp.

Cover Illustrated by: K. Pennington

Library of Congress Control Number:   2014902333

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-4931-7037-1

                Softcover         978-1-4931-7038-8

                eBook               978-1-4931-7036-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Rev. date: 02/26/2014

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CONTENTS

PREFACE

I    THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTMAS

II    JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

III    THE CHRISTMAS STORY FROM LUKE AND MATTHEW

IV    AN OUTLINE OF THE CHRISTMAS STORY

V    WHY THERE IS NO CHRISTMAS STORY IN MARK AND JOHN

VI    THE IMPORTANCE THE CHRISTMAS STORY HAS ON THE REST OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

VII INTRODUCTION TO THE REST OF THE BOOK

Sermon Outlines Of Christmas

Jesus In The Old Testament

Wonderful Jesus

Wonderful Savior

Oh My Goodness, We Forgot The Baby!

The Prince Of Peace

Star Of Bethlehem

Christmas: Is It Christian Or Pagan?

The Young Child

Why Christmas

Gold, Frankincense, And Myrrh

Wise Men

Emmanuel—God With Us

The Three Gifts Of The Wise Men

Where Is He That Is Born King Of The Jews?

Jesus, Savior

A Pagan Soothsayer’s Prophecy Of Jesus

Jesus

And Thou Shalt Call His Name Jesus

Call His Name Jesus

Jesus And Emmanuel: The Names Of Jesus

Mary Was A Virgin

Mary

Fear Not: Be Not Afraid

Heavenly Joy

Jesus’s Miracle Birth

What Shall I Do For Christmas?

The Christmas Spirit

The Time, Place, And Circumstances Of The Birth Of Christ

The Announcement Of Jesus’s Birth

No Room For Jesus

No Room For Jesus On Christmas

Peace On Earth

No Room For Jesus

A Savior

I’m Dreaming Of A Right Christmas

Peace: False And True

Christmas Can Be The Saddest Time Of Year For Many

Imagine What This World Would Be Like Had Christ Not Been Born

Blessed Art Thou Among Women

Christmas: X Mas Or Christ’s Birth

The Motivation For Christmas

Christmas Brings Progressive Joy

Christmas Joy

Jesus, Our Savior

A Savior Is Born

The Never-Forgotten Birthday

Was Jesus Born In December?

Emmanuel

Christmas Customs And Countries

The Mysteries Of Christ Isa 7:14 A Virgin Gave Birth

Emmanuel

How Can I Keep This Christmas From Being Blue?

The Infinite Christ (Isa. 9:6)

The Good News Of Christmas

Waiting For Christmas

Let Us Now Go To Bethlehem.

Who Is That In The Manger?

Christmas: What Next?

Nothing Is Impossible With God

Let Me See Him Before I Go To Sleep

Why Did Jesus Come?

The Shadow Of The Cross Was On The Manger

Why Was Jesus Born In A Stable?

Christmas Blues: How To Handle Them

There Is No Peace On Earth I Said

Peace On Earth: What Does It Mean?

The Manger Was The Word Made Flesh

The Virgin Birth Of Jesus

Behold The Lamb Of God

Christ Became

Would It Still Be Christmas?

The Mystery Of How Jesus Came To Die

The Great Expectation

Jesus Is Come To

Thou Shalt Call His Name Jesus

Fear Not For…

There Is No Peace On Earth I Said

(Wed. Pm 12/20 & Sun. Am 12/24/95)

The Incarnation Of Christ

He Was Made

Behold The Lamb Of God

Christmas Party

Jesus Is That Needed Christmas Gift

The Birth Of Jesus As Reported By Joseph

Mary

Who Is Jesus Christ? Matt. 16:16

Emmanuel, God With Us

Conclusion

Forgotten Son

PREFACE

T HIS BOOK IS written from some fifty years in the ministry, thirty-nine years as pastor of the same church. A sincere pastor or teacher who stays any length of time in one place finds it difficult to come up with something new after five or six years.

There may be times when it becomes necessary to preach the same sermon or teach the same lesson on a particular subject, but let it be because there is a need and not because you are too lazy to study. The Bible is the most amazing book in the entire world in that it is inexhaustible. If you’ll study this book on a regular and diligent basis, you’ll always have something new and fresh to teach and preach.

I am writing this book to show you some of the thoughts that I have gotten through study down through the years. Remember, there’s nothing new under the sun, so use what you can and pass the rest onto someone else who can use it. Some of these thoughts I have gleaned from other people who have gone on before me, and some I’ve gotten from studying God’s word. Remember, God’s word is inexhaustible; so when you’ve finished this book and others, you’ll find some jewels that I’ve missed, grab them up and use them. Remember, it has more than you or I can glean.

Read the book, use what you can, and I hope that it will be a blessing to you.

Sermon Outlines

I

THE IMPORTANCE

OF CHRISTMAS

E VERY DETAIL OF the Christmas story is extremely important. The very first fact that we must establish is First Timothy 3:15-16, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. All scripture means every word of God from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. Therefore, every word in the Bible is God’s word and just as binding and authoritative as if God himself were speaking them directly from heaven. The word inspiration means God breathed. First Peter 1:21 says, For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of men: but holymen of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit of God moved every prophet of old to write exactly what God had hold them to write—no more, no less. Jesus himself said in Matthew 5:17-18, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Jesus was speaking of the Old Testament, but much of the Old Testament is about Jesus, in his first and second coming. God closes the book with a warning to any who would add to the book or take away from the book. The Bible is our final authority. If we correct, change or destroy our final authority, we destroy Christianity. All that is left when you change the Bible is a secular organization like the Moose, Elk, Mason, or Shriner’s clubs. You also bring God’s curse upon yourself for deleting, adding to, or changing God’s word. We do have an excellent English version of the Bible: the King James Version (KJV). Don’t correct it with your original Greek, for there are no original Greek copies.

So much for that, but we will build everything that we say of the KJV Bible.

II

JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

T HE CHRISTMAS STORY really began back in Genesis 3:15 where God made the first promise to Eve that a savior would be born of the seed of a woman. This was fulfilled in Galatians 4:4 and Luke 2:7. Man had nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. God also promised that this savior would be of the seed of Abraham (Gen. 17:6-8) and was fulfilled in Matt. 1:2. The savior was to come from the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10), fulfilled in Matt. 1:2. He was to be the heir to the throne of David (1 Chr. 17:7-14, Isa. 9:7), fulfilled in Luke 1:32. The place of his birth was predicted in Micah 5:2 and was fulfilled in Matthew 2:1. The time of his birth was predicted in Daniel 9:25 and was fulfilled in Luke 2:1-7. He was to be born of a virgin according to Isaiah 7:14 and fulfilled in Matthew 1:18. He also was to be included in the slaughter of infants (Jer. 31:15) and fulfilled in Matthew 2:11-18.

We could go on and on for the rest of the paper telling the prophecies concerning the coming of Jesus in the Old Testament and showing the fulfillments of them in the New Testament, but we will go into the details of the actual birth of Jesus.

III

THE CHRISTMAS STORY FROM LUKE AND MATTHEW

J ESUS DID NOT come into the world unannounced. The Old Testament is filled with prophecies predicting his coming. In order to understand Jesus, we must first understand that Jesus did not have his beginning in the manger in Bethlehem. The four gospels give us an account of the life and times of Jesus. John recorded the preexistence of Jesus in John 1:1-18, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, [and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father], full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Matthew and Luke give us the family tree of both Joseph and Mary, showing that Jesus had the right to be king of the Jews. Matthew gives Joseph’s ancestry all the way back to Abraham while Luke gives the ancestry of Mary all the way back to Adam (Matt. 1:1-17, Lk. 3:23-38).

The Angel Gabriel was sent from God to bear the news to virgin Mary that she would bear the world’s savior. The message makes it very certain that Mary was virgin and that Jesus was the Son of God and not the Son of Man. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her (Lk. 1:26-38).

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and the glory that Elizabeth gave to Mary is in Luke 1:39-56.

When Mary returned from her visit to Elizabeth, Joseph, her husband-to-be, found her to be with child. In that day an engagement was as binding as marriage is in this day. He could have done one of three things: marry her, put her away privately, or put her away publically and make her a public shame. Joseph was a just and good man, so he decided to put her away privately. Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, appeared to Joseph and told him to marry Mary then, for the child is of God. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS (Matt. 1:18-25).

According to the Old Testament, Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem, but they lived in Nazareth; so in order to fulfill the scripture, Caesar ordered all people must go to their native city to be taxed. Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem. Because of the taxing, all the inns in the city were filled with people; and when Mary and Joseph got there, there was no room for them to stay. In desperation they found lodging in a stable. Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. [And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.] And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem [because he was of the house and lineage of David], to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn (Lk. 2:1-7).

That night there were shepherds abiding in the fields watching their sheep, and the angel of the Lord made the announcement of the birth of Jesus. Suddenly, the sky was filled with heavenly hosts singing. These shepherds were the first heralds of the birth of Jesus. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them (Lk. 2:8-20).

The circumcision of Jesus is recorded in Luke 2:21. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

The presentation of Jesus in the temple with the homage of Simeon and Anna are recorded in Luke 2:22-38, And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord. [As it is written in the law of the Lord, every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.] And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law. Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; [Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also] that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

The visit of the Wise Men came probably about two years later and is recorded in Matthew 2:1-12, "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the day of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall