Amazing Christmas Origins - Spread the Word
It's the season of Christmas! Time for parties, pageantry and presents. But the real story is
about:
A. The Word:
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, God's
self.
Christ (the Word) was present originally with God. All things were made and came into
existence through the Word: and without Christ was not even one thing made that has come
into being. In Christ was Life and the Life was the light of humanity...
Christ came into the world, and though the world was made through Christ, the world did not
recognize Christ...But as many as did receive and welcome Christ, He gave authority, power,
privilege and right to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in, adhere to,
trust in and rely on His Name - Who owe their birth neither to earthly bloodlines nor to the
mere will of the physical impulse, nor the will of human parents but to God.
And the Word (Christ) became flesh (in Jesus), human and incarnate and lived among us for a
while and we actually saw His glory, His honor and His majesty; such glory as an only
begotten son receives from his father, full of grace and truth."
B. The Shepherds:
Sheepherders had so little status in first-century Palestine that they weren't even deemed
reliable enough to testify in court. Yet God chose them to announce God's Son's arrival, and
they in turn went out and told it to the world! Amazing! God uses the marginalized and
oppressed! Luke records, "When they had seen him, they spread the word." Here's your
answer to "could God use someone like me?" You don't need to be a seminary graduate or a
great theologian. Just tell others what you've seen, heard and the change Christ has made in
your life. Share the Word and God will do the rest!
C. Those who hear and believe their story:
"All who heard it were amazed" Lk. 2:18. God's grace still amazes people; "God was
reconciling the world to God's self in Christ, not counting humanity's sins against them. And
Christ has committed to us the message of reconciliation" 2 Cor. 5:19. What a Christmas
message of Good News! Your sin debt is canceled, your books are reconciled, now you can
have a personal relationship with your Divine Parent simply by trusting in the Word made
flesh: Christ Jesus your elder brother. Amazing!
D. Mary:
Luke writes, "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" Lk. 2:19
She wanted to understand what God was doing and how it related to her. And we need to do
that too. God doesn't change - but God does move - in mysterious ways for our benefit and
the unfolding of Divine plans for our lives. And we need to stay in step with God. If we do,
God's plan will unfold and bless us in ways that are - Amazing!
This Christmas, may the Word be born anew in the humble manger of your own heart. May
the Christ Child take on flesh and live the Christ Life in each one till there Peace on Earth!
Happy Christmas!
Pastor Lee
It's the season of Christmas! Time for parties, pageantry and presents. But the real story is
about:
A. The Word:
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, God's
self.
Christ (the Word) was present originally with God. All things were made and came into
existence through the Word: and without Christ was not even one thing made that has come
into being. In Christ was Life and the Life was the light of humanity...
Christ came into the world, and though the world was made through Christ, the world did not
recognize Christ...But as many as did receive and welcome Christ, He gave authority, power,
privilege and right to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in, adhere to,
trust in and rely on His Name - Who owe their birth neither to earthly bloodlines nor to the
mere will of the physical impulse, nor the will of human parents but to God.
And the Word (Christ) became flesh (in Jesus), human and incarnate and lived among us for a
while and we actually saw His glory, His honor and His majesty; such glory as an only
begotten son receives from his father, full of grace and truth."
B. The Shepherds:
Sheepherders had so little status in first-century Palestine that they weren't even deemed
reliable enough to testify in court. Yet God chose them to announce God's Son's arrival, and
they in turn went out and told it to the world! Amazing! God uses the marginalized and
oppressed! Luke records, "When they had seen him, they spread the word." Here's your
answer to "could God use someone like me?" You don't need to be a seminary graduate or a
great theologian. Just tell others what you've seen, heard and the change Christ has made in
your life. Share the Word and God will do the rest!
C. Those who hear and believe their story:
"All who heard it were amazed" Lk. 2:18. God's grace still amazes people; "God was
reconciling the world to God's self in Christ, not counting humanity's sins against them. And
Christ has committed to us the message of reconciliation" 2 Cor. 5:19. What a Christmas
message of Good News! Your sin debt is canceled, your books are reconciled, now you can
have a personal relationship with your Divine Parent simply by trusting in the Word made
flesh: Christ Jesus your elder brother. Amazing!
D. Mary:
Luke writes, "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" Lk. 2:19
She wanted to understand what God was doing and how it related to her. And we need to do
that too. God doesn't change - but God does move - in mysterious ways for our benefit and
the unfolding of Divine plans for our lives. And we need to stay in step with God. If we do,
God's plan will unfold and bless us in ways that are - Amazing!
This Christmas, may the Word be born anew in the humble manger of your own heart. May
the Christ Child take on flesh and live the Christ Life in each one till there Peace on Earth!
Happy Christmas!
Pastor Lee
A Message from the Pastor
Rev. Lee Carlton
Senior Pastor, Cornerstone MCC
Rev. Lee Carlton
Senior Pastor, Cornerstone MCC
Click on link to the
left to hear Rev.
Carlton's sermon:
"When I Grow Up"
left to hear Rev.
Carlton's sermon:
"When I Grow Up"
