And Now A Word From Our Sponsor!

Sermon Notes:  Christmas Eve

December 24, 2007

Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248 - (480) 895-8766

Luke 2:1-20 NKJV

1And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  2This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  3So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.   4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.  6So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  7And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  9And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  10Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  11For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  12And this will be the sign to you:  You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”  13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  14“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”  16And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  17Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  18And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  19But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  20Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

A.  Introduction

    1.  TV Christmas

        a.  For the past four Sundays we have looked at phrases associated with television, which have helped us in a fresh new way to see the joy and meaning of Christmas.  “And now a word from our sponsor” is our final phrase for this Christmas season. 

        b.  Every television show needs a sponsor.  This may be a large corporation that pays for the production of a prime time sitcom, or many individual subscribers who pay a cable provider or pledge to a public television station.  The sponsor or sponsors provide the money that makes a TV show possible.

    2.  Barbara Walters

        a.  In commercial television there is fierce competition between the networks to raise their ratings so that they can attract and get higher paying sponsors.  ABC some years ago stirred up strong feelings when they lured Barbara Walters away from NBC by offering her a million dollars!  It’s interesting to note that ABC’s goal was only to raise by one percentage point their news programs in the Nielsen Ratings.  However, this seemingly small increase would allow them to charge an additional $2,000 per minute, which would bring in an additional two million dollars per year!

        b.  Sponsors are willing to pay that kind of money just to have the opportunity to interrupt a program with the announcement:  “And now a word from our sponsor.”

    3.  God is our sponsor!

        a.  Every television show needs a sponsor.  And every person living in this existence called “real life” needs a sponsor.  You need one to provide the resources that make the “programs” of your life possible. 

        b.  As believers you and I know the answer:  God is our sponsor!  The Almighty’s creative energy formed the universe and everything that is in it.  And that includes you!  John tells us:  “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:3 RSV)  And Luke in the book of Acts says:  “For in him we live and move and have our being.”  (Acts 17:28 NRSV)  God is our sponsor!  And the Christmas story in today’s Scripture lesson is Luke’s way of saying:  “And now a word from our sponsor.”  And what kind of a word is it?  Tonight I will share three things that God speaks to us at Christmas time:

 

 

B.  Christmas is a positive word!

    1.  Tonight’s Scripture Lesson

        a.  We live in a world that has experienced much bad news.  It is easy for us to become negative and cynical.  It is easy for us to be filled with fear and doubt.  We, also, know our own shortcomings, failures and sins.  Guilt and hopelessness are not strangers to us.  We feel trapped by circumstances we have no control over.  We feel trapped by habits and actions that we can’t seem to break.

        b.  What we need is a positive word.  And Christmas supplies that!  “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’”  (Luke 2:10 NIV)  There is Good News for the Savior is born!  Jesus the One who can deliver us and set us free is here!

    2.  Trapped Miners

        a.  We who have felt hopeless now have hope.  We can all identify with the miners who were trapped hundreds of feet beneath the surface of the earth when their mine caved in.  There was a pipe running to the surface.  One of the trapped miners tapped out a plea in Morse Code:  “Is there any hope?”  “Help is on the way,” came the joyous response!

        b.  Christmas says that help is on the way!  In fact help is here, because Jesus Christ is here!  He is God’s pipeline to us.  He is like a rope that God drops from above in order to save those who are trapped.  Whenever the bad news of the world apart from God overwhelms you, Christmas comes to the rescue and says, “And now a word from our sponsor.”  And it is a positive word!  A word of deliverance and hope!

 

C.  Christmas is a personal word!

    1.  Personal Pitch

        a.  The sponsors of a TV show may be pitching their messages to mass audiences, but if they are to be successful they must do it in a way that every viewer feels that they are being addressed personally.  Advertisers must have knowledge of human needs, and seek to meet the needs of a particular person.  It’s your dirty floor that needs the Swiffer!  And this mop will make this boring job fun!  It’s your stinky body that needs Safeguard soap.  Use it and you will be attractive to the opposite sex!  And finally it’s your flabby body that needs that spring loaded exercise device.  Use it and you can look as good as the movie star who promotes it!

        b.  At Christmas time God speaks to you personally.  “I have good news for you!” the angel says.  To be sure it is Good News for the whole world.  However, you miss the point if you do not see that God is giving you an individual word.  And God’s goal is not to give you abs of steel or even a “minty” fresh breath.  God gets to the most basic human need of all:  You need a personal Savior.  You, yourself need a personal relationship with God through Jesus the Son.  No one else can receive Him for you.

    2.  Anna Maria Alberghetti in CARNIVAL

        a.  There is a song in the musical CARNIVAL, which includes these words:  “I cam from the town of Mira beyond the bridges of Saint Claire.  I guess you’ve never heard of Mira.  It’s very small, but still it’s there.  They have the very greenest trees and skies as bright as flame.  But what I like best in Mira is everybody knew my name!”  When Anna Maria Alberghetti sang this song in the show, she sang it to a little deaf girl, who “listened” by placing her fingers on Ms. Alberghetti’s cheek and throat.  When Anna Maria Alberghetti sang, “everybody knew my name” a big smile spread on the girl’s face!

        b.  This is the miracle of Christmas.  For at Christmas God comes to you personally through Jesus Christ and says, “I know your name!  I know who you are.  I know your needs, and I care about you!”  And that my friends is Good News!  The world in so many ways is impersonal.  Then Christmas comes and says:  “And now a word from our sponsor.”  And it is a personal word of caring and love from God.

 

D.  Christmas is a praise filled word!

    1.  Pastor Dick Peterson 

        a.  In a Church where I was the Associate Pastor, we were appointed a new Senior Pastor named Dick Peterson.  In the middle of his third sermon, he sang a song!  Several people did not like this.  I saw no problem in him doing a song as a part of his sermon.  Dick had a nice voice, and the Good News of Jesus ought to make all of us want to praise the Lord in some way!

        b.  This is especially true concerning the Good News of Christmas.  It is only natural for the birth of Jesus to heighten our love for God, and to cause our joy to bubble forth in exciting and dynamic ways!  That was how it was with the angels.  The Bible in Luke 2:13-14 says:  “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (NKJV)  Christmas should fill us with rejoicing.  Christmas says it is important that we remember the value of praise.  First, it is important for us to praise the Almighty.  It is, also, important for us to praise and encourage each other.  Too often we find it tempting to tell people about their shortcomings, and to talk about their failures.  We are not very quick to build others up, or to point out their successes and good points. 

    2.  Dorothy Bickley & the Young Pastor

        a.  There was a young pastor who needed to learn the value of praise and encouragement.  Public speaking was not something he had ever pursed.  Then God called this young man to the ministry.  The first few times he spoke publicly, he was a nervous wreck.  While in Seminary at Southern Methodist University in 1972 the Annual Conference Board of Ordained Ministry recommended that before they would ordain him, he would need to get more experience in public speaking.  “Find a Church to work at,” they said.  It was a painful time of hurt, anger, and self-doubt.  However, this young minister knew that God was calling him.  Eventually he found a job at Cochran Chapel United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas.  He was hired to be the Assistant Pastor.  His job included working with the youth, and assisting in worship.  All he had to do was read the Call to Worship and the Scripture lesson.  Well, he was so nervous that the first time he read he got lost in the middle of the Scripture reading.  As he read from Matthew 25:31-46, which is often called “The Final Judgment” he got the words so messed up that he had the loving people turned away gnashing their teeth, and the scoundrels marching right in to be with our Lord forever!

        b.  After the service he thought:  “Maybe I am not suited for the ministry.  I can’t even read the Scripture lesson.  I’ll never be able to preach.  Maybe I should quit.”  Well as soon as the service was over, Dorothy Bickley the wife of the Dallas City Attorney came over to speak to this young minister in the Fellowship Hall.  She said, “My you have such a good, strong voice, and you read the Bible with conviction.  I know you are a man of faith.  I am going to enjoy hearing you read the Scripture each Sunday.”  And every Sunday thereafter Mrs. Bickley shared words to build this young fellow up.  Every Sunday she and her husband Alex sat on a front pew, and the two of them would give this young minister a smile and an encouraging look.  Her kindness made all the difference in the world to this pastor!  You just never know how much good may be done when you give a simple word of praise, or act of encouragement.  I know because back in 1972, I was that young minister.

      c.  Are you discouraged?  Do you feel like quitting?  Then this Christmas Eve listen:  “And now a word from our sponsor.”  “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 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11 KJV)

 

 

E.  Conclusion:  Recap

    1.  Christmas is a positive word!

    2.  Christmas is a personal word!

    3.  Christmas is a praise filled word!

 

Luke 2:1-20 NKJV

1And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  2This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  3So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.   4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.  6So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  7And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  9And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  10Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  11For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  12And this will be the sign to you:  You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”  13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  14“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”  16And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  17Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  18And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  19But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  20Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

And Now A Word From Our Sponsor!

                    1.  Christmas is a positive word!

                    2.  Christmas is a personal word!

                    3.  Christmas is a praise filled word!