[0:00] Well, we're going to begin our worship this morning by singing to God's praise. We're going to sing from Psalm 40. Our service has a slightly different order to it this morning, the same as we had for the Summer Holiday Club service, where there's singings and readings interspersed throughout the service.
[0:20] And we're going to begin by singing the words of Psalm 40, verse 1 to, in a double, verse 5. I waited for the Lord my God and patiently did bear.
[0:31] At length to me he did incline my voice and cry to hear. We'll sing from verse 1 down to the end of double, verse 5, to God's praise. I waited for the Lord my God Unpensibly did bear.
[0:58] I waited for the Lord my voice and cry to hear.
[1:17] He took me from a fearful bed And from the mighty clay He put a new song in my life And on the rock he set my feet He put a new song in my life He put a new song in my life He put a new song in my life Our God to magnify Many shall see it
[2:19] And shall fear And on the Lord rely O blessed is the man who's trust Upon the Lord rely Upon the Lord rely Respecting not the kind or such As turn aside to light O Lord my God O many are
[3:21] The wonders Thou hast done Thy gracious hope To us were far Above all thoughts are gone And the Lord An order none can wreck on them Till the effect declare And speak of them My root day more Than can be numbered are
[4:32] Let's come to God in prayer. Let us pray. Our Father in heaven as we come Together this day to lift up our hearts And praise to you And to come and worship And adore our Saviour The Lord Jesus Christ.
[4:52] We thank you for all that you have done for us. We thank you Lord that we are blessed And we can say that your name is praised In our midst here For you are God and there is no other.
[5:05] And we know Lord that we are an impatient people in so many ways. Our patience is so often Lord on a short string at times as we would say.
[5:16] But we thank you Lord that you teach us to wait patiently upon you. And we pray Lord that you will give us that patience. Give us that patience even as we worship you this day.
[5:28] To have ears to hear. To be able to still ourselves in your presence. And to know Lord that you are with us. That you are in the midst to bless.
[5:39] We do thank you for your word and how it encourages us. It is a word of life. It is a word that reminds us of what the psalmist has been saying as we've sung.
[5:52] And we pray that you will help us to taste and see anew of the goodness of God through Jesus Christ.
[6:29] May you bless us together as families and friends as we gather together here today. May your blessing be over us as a people. Every home and family we represent.
[6:40] Lord we pray that you will pour down your spirit upon us. Gathered here and also those who will tune in online as well. We thank you Lord for one another.
[6:51] We thank you for the gift of prayer. And even at such a time as this Lord when there is so much joy around us. And so many lives and people. We know too Lord the many sadness.
[7:03] Much sadness in people's hearts. And the many sorrows that there are around us as well. How even in this past week in our own congregation. We have lost many loved ones.
[7:14] And many families have been touched by grief. We pray Lord your comfort, your blessing and your peace upon them. We pray for us all Lord as we reflect back over this year.
[7:27] And even maybe many years. We thank you that the promise is that you will be with us. And may we know that promise more and more real. Day by day and moment by moment.
[7:38] Bless your people far and wide today as many gather to worship you. We pray Lord that you will be with each one of your people. That they will know you Lord. And whatever goes on in their hearts.
[7:50] And whatever is happening in their lives far and wide. That they will know that you are with them. And that they would know Lord truly that you are God. And with you on our side there is no one who can defeat us.
[8:03] So we pray that you will build your church up. That your kingdom will come in power. And teach us always to pray. And to look to you. And to wait upon you for all things.
[8:14] So Lord continue with us now. Guide us and keep us. And pardon us in all our sins. As we ask all things. In Jesus precious name. Amen.
[8:26] Amen. Well as we come to worship God today. Is there any better place we could be. Than to gather around God's word together. To share singing praises together to him.
[8:38] And to come and hear what his word has to say to us. It's Christmas day. And so when we think about the theme of our service today. I'm sure everybody will have something in mind.
[8:49] As to what the service is going to be about. Maybe certain things come to mind today. Especially among the young folks. If you're thinking. I wonder what the minister will be preaching on today.
[9:01] It's Christmas day. So there's bound to be some mention of things like. Presents being given. The birth of Jesus. That's got to be mentioned in there somewhere. Doesn't it?
[9:12] There'll be all the obvious answers. But when we think about coming together today. And to think about the birth of Jesus. When it makes us think about lots of different things.
[9:24] And we're going to read a few different passages. Where we're going to read about. Not just the birth of Jesus. But the life of Jesus. We think of. Maybe characters in the Bible.
[9:36] Characters you've heard. Maybe mentioned. In these last few weeks. If you've been doing things in school. About the Christmas story. You'll be thinking about Mary and Joseph. You'll be thinking about.
[9:48] The place where Jesus was born. He was born in Bethlehem. You'll be thinking about the shepherds. Who were out watching their sheep by night. And how the angels appeared to them.
[9:59] Or maybe the wise men. Who came. Bearing gifts. There's all kinds of things we can think about. When it comes to thinking about the Christmas story.
[10:10] But do we miss the point sometimes? That's the key question. Do we think of God's promise to his people? A promise given through the likes of Isaiah.
[10:22] In the Old Testament. Who spoke of the child who would be born. Into this world. And the purpose for which he would come. The promise of God sending a saviour.
[10:35] And to see Jesus born into this world. Is the fulfilment of that promise. To do so. We must think about his birth.
[10:46] How he came into this world. But we have to think about more than that too. We have to think about his life. How he lived. And what he did for us. In his life.
[10:57] Here on earth. It's more than just. About the birth. Of Jesus. And that's what we're going to see today. As we go through a number of different readings. Together.
[11:08] You receive many different gifts. At this time of year. I'm sure. I'm sure you're all. Up excited this morning. To see what you got. But some people.
[11:19] Very often. They give pets. At this time of year. And you often see an advert. When it comes to talking about pets. Being given. At Christmas time. And it's really giving us.
[11:31] A warning. When they say. A dog is for life. Not just. For Christmas. Maybe you've heard that said before. A dog is for life.
[11:42] Not just for Christmas. Because a dog. Or any pet. Can be exciting. When you first receive it. And it can give you great joy. But then. As the days. And the weeks go past.
[11:54] Maybe you're into January. And February. And raining outside. It's windy. Your parents are saying. Well you wanted that dog. You've got to take it out. For a walk. And you're starting to get scunnered.
[12:05] With this dog. Because of what he has. You have to do. To look after him. And so there's this warning. About having a pet. Not just for a few days. Around Christmas. But for life. But for life.
[12:16] Well the same is true. When it comes to Jesus. We can so often enjoy. The Christmas time. And a few days. Around Christmas. When everything's great. And everything's wonderful.
[12:27] We get gifts. We get holidays. We're able to relax. And enjoy good food. We have all of these things. But then as the days go past. The weeks go past.
[12:38] What happens to the presents. Things. They soon get forgotten about. They get put to one side. The food is all gone. You're back into work. You're back into school.
[12:49] All of these things. And we forget. The main reason. For this time of year. And for all time of year. Is to remember that God gave his son.
[13:00] The Lord Jesus Christ. Not just for Christmas. But for life. And for all our days. That's the reason. That's the reason. He gave him. It's not just about the child.
[13:12] In the manger. That we so often see. It's about the child. Who grew. Who grew into his teenage years. Who grew into a man. And who served his father.
[13:24] All his days. And ultimately. Who gave his life. For all his people. Imagine. If all that people remembered about you. Was your birth.
[13:35] And that was it. Imagine if that was all. That you ever heard from people. For the rest of your days. Nobody remembered you growing up. Nobody remembered your first birthday.
[13:46] No one remembered you becoming a teenager. No one remembered you passing your exams. Or passing your driving test. No one sent you a card. On your 21st birthday.
[13:58] No one got in touch. When you turned 40. 70. 80. 90. It all went quiet. Nobody was in touch. Imagine. If you were just forgotten.
[14:09] About. It would be quite sad. Wouldn't it? Well imagine. If all we think of Jesus is. It's great he was born. Because it gives us.
[14:20] A holiday time. It gives us a time for presents. And to enjoy. Lots of food. We make the most of these things. We enjoy these things.
[14:31] And there's nothing wrong with them. In and of themselves. But today. There's a warning for us too. Not to forget. The Savior. Who was born.
[14:43] And the promise. Of a Savior. And so we're going to look at. Three stages. Of the life of Jesus. Together today. Together today. We're going to look at. His birth.
[14:54] We're going to look at. His childhood. And then we're going to look at. His ministry. When he was older. We're going to see. The reason why God sent. His son. Into this world.
[15:06] Our first reading is then. In Luke's gospel. All our readings. Are going to be in Luke's gospel. But scattered throughout. The gospel of Luke. And our first reading is in Luke. Chapter two. And we're going to read.
[15:19] That verse eight. Luke chapter two. And at verse eight. We're going to read.
[15:30] From verse eight to 14. And in the same region. There were shepherds. Out in the field. Keeping watch. Over their flock. By night. And an angel of the Lord.
[15:42] Appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord. Shone around them. And they were filled. With fear. Fear. And the angel said to them. Fear not.
[15:53] For behold. I bring you good news. Of great joy. That will be for all the people. For unto you. Is born this day. In the city of David.
[16:04] A savior. Who is Christ. The Lord. And this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby. Wrapped in swaddling clothes. And lying in a manger.
[16:15] And suddenly. There was. There was. With the angel. A multitude. Of the heavenly host. Praising God. And saying. Glory to God.
[16:26] In the highest. And on earth. Peace. Among those. With whom. He is pleased. Jesus. This is perhaps. Maybe one of the most.
[16:37] Commonly read. Passages. At Christmas time. When we read here. Of the shepherds. Who were told. This. Great news. Of a savior. Born.
[16:48] For this world. I bring you. Good news. Of great joy. That will be. For all the people. For unto you. Is born this. Day. In the city of David.
[16:59] A savior. Who is Christ. The Lord. And just think of these words. A savior. Who is Christ. The Lord. It's a time of year.
[17:10] When you may be here. Many Christmas carols. Being sung. You probably may be sung. Some. Yourselves. Over the last number. Of weeks. And maybe you've got. Your own favorite. Christmas carol.
[17:21] That you like to hear. Or sing along to. More than once. Or twice. A day. And so many of these carols. They tell us. The story. Of the birth.
[17:32] Of Jesus. But they remind us. To. Who he really. Is. If you think of. A carol. Such as. Away in a manger.
[17:43] Speaks about. The little. Lord. Jesus. The Lord. Jesus. Hark. The herald. Angels sing. Glory to. The newborn.
[17:54] King. There's all these words. That are put in there. That remind us. Who this. Jesus is. He is. Lord. He is. King. And he has come.
[18:05] As one of them. Goes on to say. Peace. Peace on earth. And mercy. Mild. The purpose. For which. God sent. His son. Into this world.
[18:16] That God. And sinners. Be reconciled. They be brought. Back. Together. So we have all these. Words. That come together. And it's the words. That we have here.
[18:27] A savior. Who is Christ. Who is Lord. It brings the message. Of the gospel. To us. This is what we read. In these. Verses. Before us. The gospel.
[18:38] But it's a time of year too. And even throughout the year. We see it more and more. When people try to. To come away. From the message. Of the gospel. And even at this time of year.
[18:50] They're trying to change. Even what this time of year. Is called. So instead of calling it. Christmas time. It's called. The fest of season. Or the winter fest.
[19:02] People are trying to change. The name of it. Take it away. From being more. Christian. And. A couple of years ago. A few years ago. Now. In London.
[19:13] There was a primary school. Head teacher. That wanted to change. The words. In some of the carols. In case they caused. Offence. Little Lord Jesus.
[19:24] Was to be changed. To baby boy. Jesus. In a way. In a manger. Jesus. Our savior. Was to be changed. To Jesus. The baby.
[19:35] Born. In another one. The new king. Born. Today. Was to be changed. To a baby. Born. Today. And you see. What they're trying to do.
[19:46] Little by little. Just taking out. The important words. Describing. Who Jesus is. Christ. Lord. Savior. All of these words. Being taken away. But there was one mother.
[19:58] Who stood up to this. And she said. You cannot start changing. These words. Words. If he was just. A baby boy. Named Jesus. There wouldn't be this. Time of year.
[20:09] In the first place. He is our Lord. And savior. He is king. Of kings. And that is. The whole point. The people are becoming.
[20:20] More and more. Afraid of. Offending people. Of causing offense. Towards people. So they want to try. And change these names. So subtly.
[20:31] But the gospel. Is so much more. Than just. A baby. Boy. Or little baby. Jesus. For we read here.
[20:42] He is. Christ. The Lord. This baby. In the manger. Was more than just that. He is Christ. The Lord. And as you read.
[20:54] Of the shepherds. Here. They were afraid. When they saw. This host. Of angels. Up here. They were in the field. Keeping watch. Over their flock. And the angel.
[21:05] Appeared. With this good news. To them. And they were afraid. But. The angel said. Fear not. Fear not. The angel.
[21:16] Speaks them. And he shares. This message. To them. A message. That people. Have been waiting. Thousands. And here. The shepherds. Hear this.
[21:27] Wonderful. News. The angel. Tells them. That the hope. Of the world. Has come. Imagine. I'm sure. Many of you. Have been counting down.
[21:38] The days. To Christmas. Many of you. Maybe had an advent calendar. Eating the sweets. One by one. Each day. Did any of you. Go ahead. A few days.
[21:49] One chocolate. For that day. Just wasn't enough. So what's the harm. I'll take. Tomorrow's as well. Maybe even the day. After two. And you end up. You almost eat. The whole advent calendar.
[22:00] In one sitting. You don't have patience. Well. The angels. Are here. Speaking about. A people. Who are waiting. For a savior. Not just for a few days.
[22:11] Or even a few years. Or even a few hundred years. But for thousands of years. The bible. Was telling them. That a savior. Was to come. And hear the shepherds. Hearing. This good news.
[22:22] He has come. And who is it? It is the son. Of God. What a promise. We have. In this child. Who was born.
[22:33] He is Christ. The Lord. Someone once said. A thousand times. In history. A baby. Has become. A king.
[22:44] A king. But only once. In history. Did a king. Become. A baby. But this baby. Was Christ. The Lord. What a wonderful promise.
[22:57] We have. That Christ. Came into this world. He was born into this world. Christ. The Lord. But before we.
[23:08] Go on to our next part. We're going to sing. Another psalm. To God's praise. To God's praise. We're going to sing. Psalm 62. It's in the Scottish Psalter. Page 294.
[23:27] Psalm 62. On page. 294. We're going to sing. Verse 5. To verse 8. And again.
[23:38] This psalm reminds us. At verse 5. Of waiting. Upon the Lord. But knowing. The hope that he gives. My soul. Wait thou with patience. Upon thy God alone. On him dependeth.
[23:49] All my hope. And expectation. We'll sing from verse 5. To verse 8. To God's praise. On him. Please. Please.
[24:00] Please. My soul. Wait thou with patience. Upon thy God alone. On him. On him. Dependeth all my hope. And expectation.
[24:11] The only might. The only might. Salvation. The only might. Salvation. The only might. Salvation. Is. And my strong.
[24:22] The only might. Is. Is. Is. Is. Is. The only. Is.
[24:34] Is. The only my salvation is, and my strong rock is He.
[24:53] He only has my sure defense, I shall not move thee.
[25:11] In God my glory, grace it is, and my salvation sure.
[25:30] In God the rock, it is of my strength, my refuge most secure.
[25:49] If He complains your confidence, and Him continually, before Him pour me out your heart, God is our refuge time.
[26:28] Amen. As we read here in this passage.
[27:00] So we're going to read from verse 41 down to verse 52. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was 12 years old, they went up according to custom.
[27:16] When the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group, they went a day's journey.
[27:29] But then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances. And when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days, they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
[27:49] And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, Son, why have you treated us so?
[28:01] Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress. He said to them, Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my father's house?
[28:14] And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
[28:28] And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. Well, children, have you ever been in a situation, and maybe even the adults you can look back in your life and you think of this, have you been in a situation where you got a row from your parents for making a mess, only for them to realize that you were making something special for them.
[28:58] And their tune has to change a little bit. For example, maybe your parents have walked into the kitchen. And what meets them as they walk into the kitchen is flour absolutely everywhere.
[29:12] Eggs broken on the floor. Milk dripping off the worktops. And they're about to lose the plot and start shouting when all of a sudden you bring out a nice cake.
[29:26] I've made this for you. And you have to sort of backtrack a little bit. They've been making something special. Okay, there's been mess involved in it, but they were making something special.
[29:43] Well, as we read on in the life of Jesus here, this part we've read in the Gospel of Luke is such a special passage for us.
[29:54] It's the only account we have of Jesus in between being born and beginning his public ministry. He began his ministry, as it were, at the age of about 30.
[30:08] But here he is at the age of 12. And what is he doing? Well, we are told here that he is about his father's business.
[30:20] That he must be in the father's house. But it seems at first, as it were, that Jesus is being a bad boy.
[30:32] They've come to Jerusalem for the Passover. They would do this every year. But as they are making their way back from Jerusalem, going back to their home, there will be a big crowd of them.
[30:44] And the parents, Jesus' parents, are walking along with this crowd. And they think that Jesus is there with them, among the crowd, playing with the other children, maybe.
[30:56] But after a day's travel, so they've gone a fair distance, they realize that he's not there. And so they go back to Jerusalem. And they're hunting for him.
[31:07] And they're trying to find him. And it's taking them days to find him. And you can imagine the worry. Any child who's missing a parent is going to be anxious, wondering where they are, afraid of what might have happened to him.
[31:23] It says, after three days, in verse 46, they found him in the temple. And you can sense that they're frustrated, and there's a sense of anger.
[31:35] Although they were amazed at what they saw, too. It says in verse 46, when his parents saw them, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, Son, why have you treated us so? Why have you done this to us?
[31:47] We've been so worried about you. We've been hunting for you. But when they find him, in the midst of wanting to rebuke him, Jesus turns to them and says something wonderful, something special.
[32:03] He says, I must be in my father's house. Or, I must be about my father's business, is another translation of that.
[32:16] He is no ordinary child. He is the son of God, who is growing in wisdom and knowledge and stature.
[32:26] And that is the wonder of what he says to them. Here, I must be about my father's business. At this point, we read, too, that the parents, they didn't fully understand, in verse 50, they didn't understand the saying that he spoke to them.
[32:48] And it's almost like Luke is putting up a sign for us here. He's saying, stop. Stop everything that you're doing.
[32:59] Wait a moment, and just listen to what I have to say to you. So in the midst of everything that we're seeing around us just now, when you're seeing flashing lights everywhere, and signs up everywhere around us, there's this sign for us, too, where the gospel is saying to us, stop.
[33:21] Just stop where you are. Do you really understand what this is all about? Do you really understand what this life, what this world is all about? Constantly rushing around and looking for answers for this, that, and the next thing.
[33:36] The gospel is saying, stop. Stop and just listen for a moment. And isn't it good for us to be able today just to stop, to come here and just sit for a few moments, worship God together, or to tune in online and hear the gospel proclaimed, just to stop for a moment, and to think to ourselves today, do we understand what we're doing?
[34:05] Do we fully appreciate what we have in the person of Jesus Christ? Do we realize why he came? It's more than just the birth of a child.
[34:19] This is the son of God about his father's business. And so today, stop often. Stop regular today, tomorrow and every day, and just think about what God has done for us through Jesus Christ.
[34:36] Here, we are taught why he came. We are taught he came to be about the father's business, to do all that the father had sent him for into this world, to live, to teach, to show himself for who he is, the son of God, but ultimately, to give himself.
[35:00] So stop today. Stop often. Even as you go home today, or as you have your Christmas meal, whether it's today or tomorrow, whenever you have it together, as you offer up thanks, stop.
[35:14] Stop. Stop and think about all we have to be thankful for. As you open your gifts, your presence today, stop. Stop for a moment and think.
[35:26] Why do we have all this? What's the greatest gift that we have? That God sent his son into this world and give thanks to him that he speaks to us and he teaches us that he was about the father's business.
[35:43] That he came into this world for sinners such as we are. So stop. Stop and remember what God has done for us through his son, born, who grew up as a child in this world and at 12 years old seemed to cause his parents so much distress.
[36:07] But actually, he told them something wonderful. He showed them something wonderful. He said, I am here to be about my father's business.
[36:20] Well, our final reading is further on in the Gospel of Luke in Luke chapter 19. And this reading just reminds us what the father's business is.
[36:34] Luke chapter 19 and at verse 1. We read down to verse 10.
[36:44] Jesus, he entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.
[36:57] And he was seeking to see who Jesus was. But on account of the crowd, he could not because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sigamore tree to see him.
[37:10] For he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down for I must stay at your house today.
[37:23] So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled. He has gone in to be a guest of a man who is a sinner.
[37:35] And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.
[37:47] And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
[38:03] We jump forward now a number of years in the life of Jesus to when he was about 33 years old. This is not long before he went to the cross.
[38:16] And we read that in Luke's Gospel, chapter 3, verse 23, that when Jesus began his public ministry, as it were, going around the people and we start to hear about his ministry, he was about the age of 30.
[38:32] And he ministered in this world for three years before the crucifixion. And here he is and he meets a man called Zacchaeus.
[38:44] And Zacchaeus was someone who, as we read here, was a man who would have pretty much everything that he needed or wanted in life. He was rich. He was feared by many.
[38:56] He had power and authority. But what we see of Zacchaeus here is that there was something missing. He knew that there was something missing.
[39:10] And today, in all that we get, and maybe we receive many different things in these days, and we think we're so blessed, we're so fortunate, and we are in so many ways.
[39:24] But do we still think, well, there's still something missing. There's still something I am needing. Well, here in this passage, we are being told what it is.
[39:38] We see here the very reason why Jesus came into this world, why he was born into this world. The child who we so often reflect on at this time of year, who grew into a boy who was about his father's business, who became a man to fulfill all the promises of Scripture.
[39:58] It says in verse 10, for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. It's sometimes said of people, they were born for that.
[40:12] You can see it in so many different parts of life. Some people are said of, they're said of them, they're just a born leader. They have that gift, just born to lead.
[40:25] Others are just born for maybe a certain sport. It's said they were just born to do that, whether it's play football or any other sport. Others had said they were just born to sing.
[40:39] Others born to care, born to teach. We're born to do many different things. But why was Jesus born?
[40:51] Why did Jesus come into this world? Well, we're told there in verse 10. Jesus, the Son of Man, came into this world to seek and to save the lost.
[41:05] And Zacchaeus was one such person. He was lost. In many ways, he maybe had so much in this life, and yet at the same time, he was lost.
[41:19] There was something missing in his life. But the more he heard about Jesus, the more he wanted to see this man. And it wasn't to come and see the child born in the manger, but it was to come and see the Son of God fulfilling all the promises for which God had sent him into this world, to be a savior of this world, to fulfill those words that we read before in the Gospel of Luke, when the birth of Jesus is told.
[41:51] And the angel appeared and said, fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior who is Christ the Lord for all people, for all who will hear, for all who will seek, for all who will come to him, he is a savior.
[42:14] And so here in this later passage in Luke, we're reminded through Zacchaeus the reason why he came, to seek and to save the lost.
[42:29] His appointment with Zacchaeus was planned by God. This would be the moment when Jesus would call him down and say salvation has come to this household today.
[42:44] And the wonder of the Gospel is that today is an appointment for us all to come and hear this good news once again. And of all the gifts you receive today or in these days, the greatest gift is the offer of the Gospel to come and see this Christ, the Son of Man who came to seek and to save the lost.
[43:12] I'm sure many of you, young ones maybe especially and older ones I'm sure too, you had your Christmas list, the things that you wanted to receive at this time.
[43:24] There would be all kinds of things on that list. And maybe you've ticked them off, maybe you've got them all, but maybe you still think there's still something missing.
[43:37] And in your life you'll go on maybe thinking no matter what you get, the gifts of this world, you're still thinking there's still something missing. Maybe you're growing old now yourself, 30s, 40s, 50s, 70s, 90s, and you're still thinking there's still something missing.
[43:57] What is it? It's Christ. Because if you don't have him, there's still something missing and always will be.
[44:09] But the good news of the gospel is that God sent his son into this world, born as a child, as the saviour of the world, grew as a child, as a child about his father's business.
[44:25] And as we see as a man, the father's business was to seek and to save the lost. And he saved through his death.
[44:38] He was born to die. That's the reason why Jesus was born into this world, to die and give his life that we might live.
[44:50] So today, may we be blessed by the gospel. May we hear his words and see that he has come to seek and to save the lost.
[45:03] And may we know salvation coming to our households today through the power of his gospel. May God bless his word to us.
[45:13] Let's just join our hearts in prayer. Our father in heaven, we rejoice in the good news offered to all people to hear those great words that unto you is born this day a saviour who is Christ the Lord.
[45:30] And may we come to know Christ as our Lord, even as Zacchaeus came to know it for himself, that power of salvation that came to his house and to his heart.
[45:42] We pray, Lord, that you will bless us by your presence today and bless us in our seeking of you, that our eyes will be filled with the glory of God in seeing Jesus Christ.
[45:55] Lord, that one thing missing, may we receive it and receive it joyfully. So guide us and help as we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. We're going to conclude our time by singing again to God's praise.
[46:11] Psalm 40, but in the Singed Psalms, Psalm 40, in the Singed Psalms at verse 13, page 51 of the Psalm books.
[46:25] Psalm 40 at verse 13, Be pleased, O Lord, to rescue me. O Lord, come quickly to my aid. May all who seek to take my life with shame and turmoil be repaid.
[46:38] Verse 17, Yet I am poor and in great need. Lord, think on me, I humbly pray. You are my Savior and my help. Come, O my God, do not delay. We'll sing these four verses to God's praise.
[46:51] Praise. We praise, O Lord, to rest to him.
[47:02] O Lord, come quickly to my aid. May all who seek to take my life with shame and terror will be repaid.
[47:28] May all who caught my overthrown turn back distress away again.
[47:47] May those whom feel down Ben God, who seek you face face, be joyful in your all their days.
[48:27] Let those who love salvation stay, exalted be the Lord always.
[48:46] Yet I am blue and in great need, Lord, take on me my humbly prayer.
[49:06] You are my Savior and my help. Come, O my God, do not delay.
[49:25] Amen. After the benediction, I'll go to the main door. Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all, no one forevermore.
[49:40] Amen. Amen.