What's so special about christmas

What’s So Special What’s So Special About ChristmasAbout Christmas

Luke 2 Luke 2 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 14 ““Glory to God in the highest heaven,Glory to God in the highest heaven,and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” January 2016 January 2016 Ehab RoufailEhab Roufail

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Jan 2016 Nativity Feast 2

OutlineOutline• You Are Important To GodYou Are Important To God• Your Life Matters To GodYour Life Matters To God• Your Faith Matters To GodYour Faith Matters To God

• The Relevance of ChristmasThe Relevance of Christmas• The Reality of ChristmasThe Reality of Christmas• The Reason for ChristmasThe Reason for Christmas• The Result of ChristmasThe Result of Christmas


What has Christmas really meant for us this year?What has Christmas really meant for us this year?

• Time off study and workTime off study and work• Time with Family and loved onesTime with Family and loved ones• Buying gifts for themBuying gifts for them• ……....

• Stats show that there is a steep rise in divorce Stats show that there is a steep rise in divorce over Christmas – January often sees twice as over Christmas – January often sees twice as many couples begin divorce proceedings as many couples begin divorce proceedings as any other time of the year.any other time of the year.



You Are Important To GodYou Are Important To God• When God makes His announcement, it is When God makes His announcement, it is

delivered to shepherds. It is like Jesus saying in the delivered to shepherds. It is like Jesus saying in the Sermon on the mount, "If God cares about Sermon on the mount, "If God cares about sparrows & lilies, then He cares about you." If God sparrows & lilies, then He cares about you." If God cares about shepherds, He cares about you!cares about shepherds, He cares about you!

• We all need to hear that. All of us have known We all need to hear that. All of us have known feelings of rejection. All of us have known feelings feelings of rejection. All of us have known feelings of being left out. Christmas comes. The light of being left out. Christmas comes. The light shines, & God says, "shines, & God says, "No! You’re wrong. I made No! You’re wrong. I made the announcement to shepherds, & I make it to the announcement to shepherds, & I make it to you. Unto you a Savior is born."you. Unto you a Savior is born."



Your Life Matters to GodYour Life Matters to God• Those shepherds must have sat around the Those shepherds must have sat around the

campfire many times & wondered if life was campfire many times & wondered if life was really worthwhile or not. "What difference does really worthwhile or not. "What difference does it make if we watch the sheep or not?“it make if we watch the sheep or not?“

• Maybe we wonder as well, "What difference Maybe we wonder as well, "What difference does it make if I get up every morning or not? It does it make if I get up every morning or not? It seems as if my life is an endless cycle of things seems as if my life is an endless cycle of things that really don’t mean anything. I just wonder if that really don’t mean anything. I just wonder if life is worth living at all?"life is worth living at all?"

• You see, every life matters. We are always You see, every life matters. We are always influencing someone, either for good or for bad.influencing someone, either for good or for bad.



Your Life Matters to GodYour Life Matters to God• Oscar Schindler: Oscar Schindler: In those years, millions of Jews died in the Nazi In those years, millions of Jews died in the Nazi

death camps like Auschwitz, but Schindler's Jews miraculously death camps like Auschwitz, but Schindler's Jews miraculously survived.survived.

To more than 1200 Jews Oscar Schindler was all that stood To more than 1200 Jews Oscar Schindler was all that stood between them and death at the hands of the Nazis. A man full of between them and death at the hands of the Nazis. A man full of flaws like the rest of us - the unlikeliest of all role models who flaws like the rest of us - the unlikeliest of all role models who started by earning millions as a war profiteer and ended by started by earning millions as a war profiteer and ended by spending his last pfennig and risking his life to save his Jews. An spending his last pfennig and risking his life to save his Jews. An ordinary man who even in the worst of circumstances did ordinary man who even in the worst of circumstances did extraordinary things, matched by no one. He remained true to his extraordinary things, matched by no one. He remained true to his Jews, the workers he referred to as Jews, the workers he referred to as my childrenmy children. In the shadow of . In the shadow of Auschwitz he kept the SS out and everyone alive.Auschwitz he kept the SS out and everyone alive.

And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world. — Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:9. Video link



Your Faith Matters To GodYour Faith Matters To God• Shepherds were men of faith. They probably Shepherds were men of faith. They probably

had more faith than some of the scribes & had more faith than some of the scribes & Pharisees who went to the synagogue every Pharisees who went to the synagogue every day.day.

• They believed in a Messiah. All of God’s They believed in a Messiah. All of God’s chosen people believed in a Messiah. When chosen people believed in a Messiah. When things got especially hard, during times of things got especially hard, during times of poverty & enslavement & exile, they would think poverty & enslavement & exile, they would think about the Messiah & God’s promise that one about the Messiah & God’s promise that one day the Messiah would come.day the Messiah would come.



Your Faith Matters To GodYour Faith Matters To God• They prayed over & over again, "Let the Messiah come. Let They prayed over & over again, "Let the Messiah come. Let

Him come today!" They prayed that prayer for hundreds of Him come today!" They prayed that prayer for hundreds of years, & they must have wondered, "Is our faith worth years, & they must have wondered, "Is our faith worth anything? Does God hear our prayers? Does God keep His anything? Does God hear our prayers? Does God keep His promises? Will the Messiah ever come?“promises? Will the Messiah ever come?“

• There must have been many who quit praying, & quit having There must have been many who quit praying, & quit having faith. But when the announcement came to shepherds, God faith. But when the announcement came to shepherds, God was saying, "Your faith matters, & it is not in vain. I am a God was saying, "Your faith matters, & it is not in vain. I am a God who hears & who keeps His promises. Now the Messiah has who hears & who keeps His promises. Now the Messiah has come, & I have kept My promise.“come, & I have kept My promise.“

• How about us? Sometimes we become weary. There may be How about us? Sometimes we become weary. There may be times when we wonder if it is worthwhile going to church. There times when we wonder if it is worthwhile going to church. There are times when we wonder if it is worth sacrificing for God. are times when we wonder if it is worth sacrificing for God.



Your Faith Matters To GodYour Faith Matters To God• The shepherds keeping watch over these The shepherds keeping watch over these

sheep knew the purpose for the lambs under sheep knew the purpose for the lambs under their care. And their job was to keep the their care. And their job was to keep the animals under them from becoming injured or animals under them from becoming injured or blemished. It was to those watching over blemished. It was to those watching over animals destined for temple sacrifice that the animals destined for temple sacrifice that the angels announced Jesus’ birth. “For today in angels announced Jesus’ birth. “For today in the city of David there has been born for you a the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Savior, who is ChristChrist the Lordthe Lord” (Luke 2:11).” (Luke 2:11).

• Link to song “If you think you’re not important” Link to song “If you think you’re not important”



The Relevance of Christmas: The Relevance of Christmas: God Came to EarthGod Came to Earth

• Lord Jesus “always had the nature of God …” (Philippians Lord Jesus “always had the nature of God …” (Philippians 2:6) Jesus was God, and he came to live among us for a 2:6) Jesus was God, and he came to live among us for a while (John 1). That is the relevance of Christmas.while (John 1). That is the relevance of Christmas.

• Lord Jesus didn’t start in the stable. He existed even Lord Jesus didn’t start in the stable. He existed even before Creation. The pre-eminence of Christ is explained before Creation. The pre-eminence of Christ is explained in Colossians, where we are told he is the exact Image or in Colossians, where we are told he is the exact Image or Icon of the unseen God, he existed before anything else, Icon of the unseen God, he existed before anything else, and, in truth, he is the Creator who made everything in and, in truth, he is the Creator who made everything in Heaven and on Earth (Colossians 1:15-16).Heaven and on Earth (Colossians 1:15-16).

• Lord Jesus is God in the flesh. The Bible says if you’ve Lord Jesus is God in the flesh. The Bible says if you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen God (John 1). If Lord Jesus really seen Jesus, you’ve seen God (John 1). If Lord Jesus really is God and God came to Earth, then Christmas is the most is God and God came to Earth, then Christmas is the most relevant event of history.relevant event of history.



The Reality of Christmas: The Reality of Christmas: God Became ManGod Became Man• The reality of Christmas was that Jesus Christ The reality of Christmas was that Jesus Christ

was a real man, flesh and blood, bones and was a real man, flesh and blood, bones and hair. He was a real person — not a myth, not a hair. He was a real person — not a myth, not a fable, not a nice story. fable, not a nice story.

• The Bible says Jesus “of his own free will he The Bible says Jesus “of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7).appeared in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7).

• Why would Jesus come as a human being?Why would Jesus come as a human being?• Story of Ants Story of Ants



The Reality of Christmas: The Reality of Christmas: God Became ManGod Became Man• He was born like usHe was born like us. . • He grew like usHe grew like us. . • He was tempted like usHe was tempted like us. The Bible says Jesus . The Bible says Jesus

was tempted, just like us, yet he was without was tempted, just like us, yet he was without sin (Hebrews 4:14-16). sin (Hebrews 4:14-16).

• He suffered like usHe suffered like us. Jesus felt pain and . Jesus felt pain and disappointment. He became tired, He grieved, disappointment. He became tired, He grieved, he cried, he was human. In Gethsemane Jesus he cried, he was human. In Gethsemane Jesus said, “The sorrow in my heart is so great that it said, “The sorrow in my heart is so great that it almost crushes me” (Matthew 26:38).almost crushes me” (Matthew 26:38).



The Reason for Christmas: The Reason for Christmas: Jesus came to dieJesus came to die• Jesus didn’t stay in the manger. He went to a Jesus didn’t stay in the manger. He went to a

cross and voluntarily laid down his life for us.cross and voluntarily laid down his life for us. Philippians 2:8 (NIV)Philippians 2:8 (NIV)

• 8 8 And being found in appearance as a man,And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! even death on a cross!

• Nobody put him there without his permission. Nobody put him there without his permission. Why did he allow himself to go to the cross?Why did he allow himself to go to the cross?



The Reason for Christmas: The Reason for Christmas: Jesus came to dieJesus came to die• To demonstrate God’s love:To demonstrate God’s love: The Bible says, The Bible says,

Romans (NKJV)Romans (NKJV)• 8 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in

that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. • His motivation was love. His motivation was love. John 15:13 (NKJV)John 15:13 (NKJV)• 13 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down

one’s life for his friends.one’s life for his friends.• Redeeming man through dying on our behalfRedeeming man through dying on our behalf• Restoring the Image and Knowledge through our Restoring the Image and Knowledge through our

senses of God in mansenses of God in man• Revitalising man and uniting His Nature with oursRevitalising man and uniting His Nature with ours



The Angels’ JoyThe Angels’ Joy• Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for

behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)2:10-11)

• They knew why there was cause for great rejoicing. They knew why there was cause for great rejoicing. The promised Messiah, the Saviour and Redeemer of The promised Messiah, the Saviour and Redeemer of mankind, had finally been born. The unbounded joy of mankind, had finally been born. The unbounded joy of the heavens was seen by the shepherds. Suddenly the heavens was seen by the shepherds. Suddenly with the angel who had spoken to them there was a with the angel who had spoken to them there was a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14)peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14)



The Angels’ JoyThe Angels’ Joy• What was the source of the angels' joy? What did the What was the source of the angels' joy? What did the

birth of the Lord on earth mean to them? birth of the Lord on earth mean to them? • The angels had known that the Lord would be born on The angels had known that the Lord would be born on

earth ever since the first hint of evil had appeared in earth ever since the first hint of evil had appeared in mankind. mankind.

• With horror they recognized that eventually the human With horror they recognized that eventually the human race would turn so far away from the Lord that it would no race would turn so far away from the Lord that it would no longer know anything true nor be able to do anything longer know anything true nor be able to do anything good. good.

• A complete separation took place, no human being would A complete separation took place, no human being would ever choose a heavenly life and would be condemned to ever choose a heavenly life and would be condemned to the anger, discontent and destructiveness of an evil life.the anger, discontent and destructiveness of an evil life.



The Angels’ JoyThe Angels’ Joy• Yet at the time of the first hint of evil, the Lord immediately Yet at the time of the first hint of evil, the Lord immediately

foretold in prophecy that He would be born as a Savior to foretold in prophecy that He would be born as a Savior to ensure that all people would always have a real choice ensure that all people would always have a real choice between a heavenly life and a hellish one.between a heavenly life and a hellish one.

• The Lord showed the infinite wisdom and the infinite love The Lord showed the infinite wisdom and the infinite love that had been hidden by the darkness of evil and the that had been hidden by the darkness of evil and the obscurity of limited human thought. obscurity of limited human thought.

• The Lord became the Word made flesh so that we might The Lord became the Word made flesh so that we might behold His glory, so that we might have the light that will give behold His glory, so that we might have the light that will give us life.us life.

• He took of what was ours so that we may take of what is His.He took of what was ours so that we may take of what is His.



The Angels’ JoyThe Angels’ Joy• Because He humbled himself – the angels glorified all Because He humbled himself – the angels glorified all

the more.the more.• Because He left the heights of Heaven - the angels Because He left the heights of Heaven - the angels

adorned the lowliest pastureadorned the lowliest pasture• Because He chose to come silently – the angels could Because He chose to come silently – the angels could

not help but proclaim the greatness of these events.not help but proclaim the greatness of these events.•



Spiritual

What's so special about christmas