Christmas Eras - CHRISTMAS ON THE HILL - "A NEW ERA"
December 22, 2024 • Pastor Mason Harris • Luke 2:8–16
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Luke 2:8-16 - 8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!, 15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger.
SERMON TITLE: "A NEW ERA"
Luke 2:8-9 - 8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
1. THE SHEPHERDS WERE CHOSEN NOT FOR WHO THEY WERE, BUT WHAT THEY REPRESENTED
1 Corinthians 1:27 - Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.
2. JESUS WAS BORN TO BRING PEACE TO ALL, NOT JUST TO SOME
Luke 2:10 - 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
John 1:12 - 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,
Luke 2:13-14 - 13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!,
3. THE ONLY HOPE OF CHRISTMAS IS TO FIND WHAT HAS BEEN MADE KNOWN.
Luke 2:15 - 15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
Luke 2:11 - 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
John 3:16 - 16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 5:8 - 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Christmas Eras - "UNCERTAIN BUT NOT ALONE"
December 15, 2024 • Pastor Mason Harris • Matthew 1:18–24
Matthew 1:18-24 - 18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. 20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her…
1. *ADVERSITY REVEALS *WHO YOU REALLY ARE
Matthew 1:18b-19 - … it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
Matthew 1:20-21 - 20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
2. TRUST BEGINS WITH *ACCEPTING OUR *ROLE IN *UNCERTAINTY
Matthew 1:24 - 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her…
3. THE CHRISTMAS STORY REMINDS US THAT *WE *ARE *NOT *ALONE IN OUR STRUGGLE
Matthew 1:22-23 - 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
Philippians 2:6-11 - 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth - 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
Romans 10:9 - If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Christmas Eras - Making Room for Arrival
December 8, 2024 • Pastor Trey Harper • Luke 2:1–7
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Christmas Eras - Making Room for Arrival
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”
Luke 2:1-7 CSB
1. We often trade a *moment of futile *pleasure for a *lifetime of *fulfillment.
because there was no guest room available for them.”
Luke 2:7b CSB
2. The *place where he *stays is dependent on the *contents of the *residence.
3. God’s plan *disguises intrinsic *details as insignificant *developments.
“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 CSB
