A New Year (Luke 2:8-15)
Gary McManus, 01/12/2014Part of the DCC Basics series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Today, we’re finishing Christmas and
starting the new year.
DCC invited you to get the whole story of Christmas.
We learned that Christmas was spoken of hundreds
of years before it happened.
The Old Testament told about Jesus’ birth
Jesus even taught that the Jewish law,
the books of the Psalms and the books
of the prophets ALL speak about him. (Luke 24:44 )
In Herod’s Kingdom WHO knew where Jesus was
to be born? Those who read the Bible KNEW!
Of course, not everyone looks to God’s word
for answers. We know that, too, right?
But even in Jesus’ day just as in OUR day,
there were all kinds of people, leaders, government
agencies CLAIMING that THEY had the answers.
That sounds pretty familiar too, doesn’t it.
People in Jesus’ day were reminded who was responsible
for all the good things. They found that info on:
--buildings
--town names
--coins
--even temples
Today our sports complexes carry the names of the
benefactors, right?
So buildings and events proclaimed the gift giver in
Jesus’ day.
The Roman Senate liked to officially recognized
the past Emperor as divine. Emperor worship was a real thing.
Here is an inscription written just before Jesus’ time:
“The most divine Caesar…we should consider equal
to the Beginning of all things…;
Augustus, being sent to us and our descendants as
Savior, has put an end to war and has set all things
in order; and [whereas,] having become [god] manifest
Caesar has fulfilled all the hopes of earlier times. . .”
The Bible wants you to know who the REAL Savior is.
The angel’s words declare it and the shepherds heard. . .
(Luke 2:10-12 )
Who do people say is your benefactor?
Who claims to be your benefactor?
The thing is this. .
it isn’t so much about WHO says they are in control,
what it is really all about is WHO is in control of YOU.
It is important for you to know who YOUR Savior is.
It is important for you to know who YOUR benefactor is.
Whose Kingdom do you want to be a citizen in?
Would you rather be a citizen in the Kingdom of God?
(Philippians 3:20)
Worship is THE place to be.
Worship isn’t just some place to start a new year;
worship is THE place to start a new year.
This is the RIGHT place to start a new year.
We want to serve the LIVING GOD who through
Jesus Christ our Lord offers us a new life.
(Acts 5:20, Romans 6:4, Titus 3:3-8)
We are here to SEEK God’s way for our lives.
. . . a blessed Christmas and now through Jesus Christ,
it shall be a blessed NEW YEAR.
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