Live And In Living Color!
Christmas
Sunday, Sermon Notes: December 23, 2007
Rev. Jim
O’Neal, Senior Pastor
John 1:1-14 NRSV
1In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being
through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into
being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overcome it.
6There was a man sent from God, whose
name was John. 7He came as a
witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but
he came to testify to the light. 9The
true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
10He was in the world, and the world came
into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and
his own people did not accept him. 12But
to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become
children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the
flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
14And the
Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as
of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
A. Introduction
1. TV
Christmas
a.
This year for Advent we have been looking at phrases associated with
television, which have helped us in a fresh new way to see the joy and meaning
of Christmas. “We interrupt this
program” made us think of God’s announcement of the birth of the Messiah. “Parental guidance recommended” called us to
seek the true meaning of Christmas, and to share it with the children, grandchildren,
and all the world.
b.
Today the expression is: “Live
and in living color!” We don’t hear this
much anymore. Today, shows are pretty
much all made in color. And so-called
“live shows” have a few seconds tape delay to be able to remove objectionable
things. However, some of us are old
enough to remember a time when all TV shows were in black and white. Then it became possible to make shows in
color, and a few were made that way.
Usually it was done to cover some special event. And one knew that the show was going to be
something extraordinary when they announced that it was to be “live and in
living color!” This phrase was used for
TV spectaculars! Compared to every day
ordinary existence the announcement of the birth of Jesus was and still is a
worldwide spectacular event! God came to
us “live and in living color!”
2.
Bible testimony
a.
John puts it this way: “And the
Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld
his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” (John
1:14 RSV) The writer of Hebrews expressed it this way: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors many
times and in many ways through the prophets, but in these last days He has
spoken to us through His Son. He is the
one through whom God created the universe, the one whom God has chosen to
possess all things at the end. He
reflects the brightness of God’s glory and is the exact likeness of God’s own
being, sustaining the universe with His powerful word.” (Hebrews 1:1-3a TEV)
b.
The Bible tells us that Jesus was God in human form! Jesus is God “live and in living color!” That statement has important implications for
your life. Thus, Christmas tells us
three important things:
B. What God is like!
1. Radio
a.
Before Jesus, people could only guess what God is like. They could hear God speaking to them through
the prophets, but they never really “saw” God or God’s nature. In some ways it was like back in the golden
era of radio. Some folks here remember
how it was before even black and white TV.
Home entertainment was the radio.
You heard the voice of the performer, but unless you saw his picture in
the newspaper or a magazine, you could only guess what he actually looked
like. Now there was fun in this, because
you had to use your imagination.
However, when TV came along many people were disappointed. The actor with the deep masculine voice, who
often played the hero on radio, turned out to be an overweight middle-aged
guy. Likewise the fellow with the golden
voice, who often played the part of a romantic leading man, turned out to be a
short fellow with bowed legs and a baldhead!
b.
Jesus came into our world and He was God “live and in living
color!” Now we don’t have to guess
anymore about what God is like. But
unlike radio, when you meet God in the flesh, you’re never disappointed! For the God we meet through Jesus is a
wonderfully attractive being. He is
love. He cares for us. That He became involved in our humanity in a
personal way tells us that. That He
willingly came to die on a cross for you shouts above everything else the truth
that God loves you!
2. Lawyer’s best gift.
a. What are you giving your loved ones this
Christmas? Along with all the presents
of various things, I hope that you give yourself to them. A man, who was a successful lawyer, was once
asked, “What is the greatest gift you ever received?” The man told how one Christmas his father
gave him a special gift in what was the smallest box under the tree. He opened it up and found a note inside. It read:
“Son, this year I will give you 365 hours, an hour after dinner each day
in the coming year. We will talk about
what you want to talk about, go where you want to go, and play what you want to
play. It will be your hour.” The dad kept his promise and then renewed the
gift each year. The lawyer said, “It was
the greatest gift I ever had in my life.”
b.
What young child would not appreciate a gift like that from his
father? The very best gift that one can
give is the gift of yourself. In Jesus
Christ, God did just that! God gave
Himself to us! Because Jesus is God
“live and in living color” we know what God is like. God is love!
God cares for you!
C. God is with us!
1. Late Night Talk Shows
a.
Some people each evening have the same ritual. They watch one of the late night “Talk
Shows.” For some it has to be Leno, and
for others it’s got to be Letterman.
These shows are a means by which you can in a small way get better
acquainted with various actors and actresses.
You find out what your favorite star is like, what they like, and the
things they are concerned about. Through
the magic of television these famous stars from the movies and TV are brought
right into your home in living color!
b.
In a far more miraculous and meaningful way, Jesus Christ brings God
right into your home, and also into all the rooms and places where you live,
work or play. Jesus not only introduces
us to God, He is God with us in the flesh!
2. Dear TV:
You are my only friend.
a.
A few years back I read a very sad story. A sad and depressed woman wrote a letter to
her television set. It began: “Dear TV set:
You are my only friend in the whole world.” Then this woman committed suicide. TV, of course, cannot take the place of the
friendship of real people. TV can never
satisfy your deepest longings. Nor can
TV ever take the place of a personal relationship with God. If only somehow this woman had internalized
the fact that God was with her. If only
someone had gotten through to her with their own Christ like love and
friendship. Things might have been
different. She might still be alive
today.
b.
My friends, God is with you in your loneliness. God is there in your struggles, your
weaknesses, and your disappointments.
And God’s holy presence will transform the situation if you will let
God’s Spirit do so. You just have to
plug into the right channel. And I’m not
talking about HBO, Showtime, or even the Disney Channel. I’m talking about God’s channels. If you want to know that God is with you,
then first of all read your Bible! There
in the New Testament, through Jesus Christ, you will be walking with the
Almighty “live and in living color!”
Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection you will come to know how
much God loves you. You will find that
God is with you, and that God will never abandon you! To continue to walk in the Spirit, follow up
the “Bible channel” with one of these:
Join a Church School Class, attend worship faithfully, spend time with
God alone, and dedicate twenty minutes to an hour each day to pray. These are God’s stations! When you get into them every day is a day
with God’s loving Spirit.
D. What we can become!
1. Colorization Process
a.
Over fifty years ago TV stations figured out how to produce shows in
color. Some thirty years ago the
Columbia Broadcasting Company announced a startling breakthrough: With the aid of a computer they could
transform old black and white movies into full color films! There is a corresponding process in the realm
of the human spirit, and it was revealed some two thousand years ago! Jesus Christ can transform your life. Lives caught in the slick, sticky, slime of
the quicksand of sin, can be liberated!
Meaningless and dull lives can be transformed into exciting lives that
make a difference! Broken and battered
souls can be mended into soaring, joyous spirits. The birth of Jesus Christ is the birth that
can give you re-birth! He can take you
from dull black and white to brilliant Technicolor!
b.
The fact that Jesus is God “live and in living color” means that you
have tremendous possibilities! God
became a human in Jesus. Therefore, you
and I who are human can become more God-like.
Your life does not have to be like endless re-runs on TV Land. If Jesus is in your heart, then you have the
potential to become far more than you ever dreamed! When Jesus rules your life you start to grow
and become the beautiful creature God made you to be! A life ruled by God is a life filled with
meaning, purpose, power, and above all love!
With Jesus on the throne of your heart, you truly become one of God’s
children.
2. Gretchen Schuller
a.
Pastor Robert Schuller once shared this story about his youngest
daughter Gretchen. Five days before
Christmas he found her sitting on the carpet in her room. There scattered out beside her were envelopes
and stationary. With pen in hand
Gretchen was fervently writing. Her
father thought that she might be sending out last minute Christmas
greetings. So he asked, “What are you
doing?” She replied, “Oh, hi dad. I’m writing my thank you notes.” Robert Schuller quickly responded,
“What?” His daughter said, “I’m writing
my thank you notes for my Christmas gifts.”
Astonished he inquired of his daughter, “How in the world can you write
thank you notes for gifts you’ve not yet received? How do you address them? How do you know what you’re getting?” “I’ve got it all figured out.” She replied. “I say, ‘Dear friend: Thank you for the wonderful gift. I’m enjoying it very much. It’s just what I wanted! Love, Gretchen.’” Reverend Schuller laughed and then asked his
daughter, “But how do you know you’re going to enjoy the gift? How can you know it’s going to be what you
want?” “Oh daddy,” she replied, “I just
know I’ll love everyone of them! They’ll
all be just right!”
b.
Now that’s advanced optimism!
Gretchen Schuller was in high spirits because she knew that something
beautiful was going to happen. At a
young age she was already living in that exciting realm of those who truly
trust God, and what God has in store for them.
God has wonderful, good plans for you, too. Do you trust that promise of a better
tomorrow? Let God get a hold of your
life and see what you become! God does
amazing work.
E. Conclusion: Recap
1. Jesus is God live and in living color!
2. Therefore, Christmas tells us:
a. What God is like!
b. God is with us!
c. What we can become!
John 1:1-14 NRSV
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. 2He was
in the beginning with God. 3All
things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into
being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was
the light of all people. 5The
light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to
the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but
he came to testify to the light. 9The
true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
10He was in the world, and the world came into being through
him; yet the world did not know him. 11He
came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who
believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who
were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but
of God.
14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have
seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
Live And In Living Color!
Jesus is God live and in
living color! Therefore, Christmas tells
us:
1. What God is like!
2. God is with us!
3. What we can become!