Well, thank you, Brother Greg.
Have you enjoyed church so far this morning?
Amen. I have as well.
If you would take your Bibles with me
and turn to Luke chapter 2.
I want to get you.
Luke chapter 2 this morning.
We're going to talk about a subject,
a phrase that you have probably heard already several times this Christmas.
The little Lord Jesus.
What comes next, church?
A sleep in the hay, right?
Luke chapter 2.
Let's talk about the little Lord Jesus.
Excuse me for a few moments.
Boy, for some reason this isn't connecting.
Can you advance us to the next slide?
There we go.
All right.
Luke chapter 2 beginning in verse 1.
Church, if you wouldn't mind joining me and standing if you're able to,
let's do that out of honor of the Word of God this morning.
Beginning in verse 1.
It came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar to Augustus
that all the world should be registered.
This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.
So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
Joseph 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,
to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
So it was that while they were there,
the days were completed for her to be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son,
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
and laid him in the manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
Behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were greatly afraid.
Then 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.
For there is born to you this day in the city of David
a Savior,
who is Christ, would you say it with me,
the Lord.
Let's pray together.
God, I pray that we would see you for who you are.
That our eyes would be directed heavenward,
and we would get an accurate picture
of the little Lord Jesus,
emphasis being on Lord.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
You may be seated.
Thank you for standing.
I would like to challenge you
to reframe your Christmas view of God
just a little bit.
I love, and all of us can probably agree,
that we love,
around Christmas time,
we hear all these Christmas carols sung,
and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is fun,
and Jingle Bells is fun,
and, you know,
my favorite is the Christmas song,
Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.
I don't think I've ever eaten a chestnut,
but it sounds really fun and festive,
and I love singing about them.
I probably wouldn't even like them,
but there you go.
Those songs are all fun,
but the ones with the most power,
the ones that really speak to us the most,
are Hark to Herald Angels Sing,
Joy to the World,
Angels We Have Heard on High,
the songs that tell the story
of Christ's birth.
And we love that.
But I do believe
that oftentimes,
that is where
the world around us
ends their view of Jesus.
It ends right there with His birth.
It ends right there with Him lying in the manger.
It ends with baby Jesus.
There's an old comedy movie
with an actor named Will Ferrell
who has a little line in there
where he talks about
eight pound,
eight pound, four ounce
little baby Jesus or something.
He said,
that's my favorite way
to think of Jesus
is that little eight pound,
four ounce baby Jesus.
Thinking,
well,
He did a whole lot after that.
That's not really my,
now I am so glad He came.
If He had never come,
you and I would never have hope.
But that's not where the story is.
That was the beginning
of our story with Jesus.
When God Himself
humbled Himself,
left Heaven's throne
and came down
and was born as a baby.
But He didn't stay a baby, did He?
Thank God He didn't stay a baby.
So my challenge to you,
number one,
don't keep Christ in the cradle.
Don't keep Christ in the cradle.
Let's celebrate that Jesus came
and away in that manger
He was born.
Let's celebrate that day,
that starry night.
We don't know if the stars
were shining especially bright
that night
except the one star
that guided the shepherds
and guided the wise men, etc.
But, you know,
we can enjoy the trappings
and the beauty
and the celebration
of that night.
But then, let's move on.
And let's continue
pointing ourselves,
our families,
and the world around us
to the Jesus
who then grew up.
The Jesus who did mighty miracles.
The Jesus who healed people.
The Jesus who loved people.
The Jesus who did not show
the religious partiality,
the religious dividing lines
that were so common back then
and guess what?
Are still common today.
Jesus wouldn't fit
in many of our churches, would He?
Jesus would probably not be welcome
on committee sometimes.
Maybe He wouldn't be invited
to come sit in our homes
because He would go
with publicans and sinners,
the Bible says.
Jesus showed
the real, genuine love
and grace of God.
We talked about this last week.
He was balanced,
square in the middle,
between grace and truth.
He didn't go too far one way
or too far the other way.
Jesus walked that perfect balance
of showing the love of God
and speaking the truth
of the reality,
the dangers of our own sin.
But He didn't just condemn us.
He said,
I didn't come
to condemn the world.
He said,
I came
so that the world
could be saved.
I came to offer
a way of hope.
I came to offer
a way of salvation.
salvation.
And so that is what Jesus
came to do.
It all started in the cradle,
but it didn't stay there.
So don't keep Christ
in the cradle.
Would you turn with me quickly
to the book of John,
the Gospel of John.
Jesus walked closely with John.
He was called the apostle
who Jesus loved.
Jesus maybe,
out of His 12 disciples,
had a closer personal relationship
with John
than anyone else.
And so in John chapter 18,
chapter 18,
Jesus is standing
before Pilate.
We've jumped all the way
33 years later
toward the end
of Jesus' time on earth.
And He's standing
before the ruler Pilate.
And He is facing charges
of blasphemy.
Facing charges
that would lead Him
to punishment
of death on a cross.
And what happens?
In verse 35,
Pilate says,
Your own nation
and the chief priests,
your chief priests,
the Jewish religious leaders
handed you over to Me.
What have you done?
Verse 36,
Jesus said,
My kingdom
is not of this world,
said Jesus.
If My kingdom
were of this world,
My servants would fight
so that I wouldn't
be handed over
to the Jews.
But as it is,
My kingdom
is not from here.
Verse 37,
So you're a king then?
Pilate asked.
You say that I'm a king,
Jesus replied.
I was born for this.
And I have come
into the world
for this,
to testify
to the truth.
He said,
I was born
for this.
I wasn't born
just to stay a baby.
I wasn't born
just as a miracle
of the virgin birth.
I wasn't born
just to have
the wise men come
and the kings
and give me gifts.
I wasn't born
just to have the shepherds
see the angels appear
and sing praises to God
and be so overwhelmed
and overcome
that they follow the star
to the manger
and they bow
and worship me.
I wasn't born
just for that moment.
He said,
I was born
to be a king.
I was born
to advance
the kingdom of God
on this earth.
I was born
to testify
to the truth.
So Jesus himself
gave us
the picture
of the reason,
the purpose
of his birth
right here
before Pilate
testifying to everyone
gathered there
watching.
He knew
his crucifixion
was right around
the corner.
He knew
he was about
to die.
That sacrifice
was about to happen
and so he said,
this is why
I was born.
This was it.
So don't keep
Christ
in the cradle.
Let him go on
in your heart,
in your mind,
and in your testimony
to those around you.
Let him go on
and live that purpose
for why he came.
Secondly,
don't keep Christ
on the cross.
Don't keep him
on the cradle,
but don't keep him
on the cross.
Oftentimes,
some of our
more tradition-based
religious practices
around this world
and churches
will be guilty
of this.
And I'm not saying
having a cross
in your home
is wrong.
I've got some
crosses
probably around
in decoration
celebrating
that Jesus
did come
and lay down
his life for us.
But don't leave him there.
Don't leave him there.
The story didn't end
in the cradle
and the story,
thank God,
did not end
on the cross.
So here's the point
to ponder.
Do I still see Jesus
as the baby
in the cradle
or the dying man
on the cross?
Pause right there,
would you?
And go over to Romans.
Romans chapter 6.
We're getting a little exercise
turning the pages
of the Word of God today
and that's fine.
If you didn't have one
with you,
a Bible with you,
grab one from the pew
or we have the Bible app
on the phone,
YouVersion.
Great resource
and tool for people.
Romans chapter 6
if you'd like to look on.
Romans chapter 6
and verse 8.
Here we go.
Romans 6
and verse 8.
Now if we died
with Christ,
we believe
that we will also
live with him.
Well that's good news.
First of all,
it's talking about us dying.
So that's a little scary.
Why are we talking about that
on Christmas Eve?
Right?
If we died with Christ,
we believe
that we will also
live with him.
Verse 9.
Because we know
that Christ,
Jesus,
having been raised
from the dead,
will not die again.
Y'all,
this is so important.
Jesus can't die
for your sins again.
Jesus' death,
his one time death,
that moment in history
that has eclipsed
every other moment
in history.
So much so
that our time,
our year,
our annual dividers,
B.C.A.D.,
are centered around
Christ Jesus himself.
Before Christ
and Anno Domini
in the year of our Lord.
He is the central point
of all human history.
And that death,
that culmination
of his life
on this earth,
according to God's plan,
the sacrifice
of his one
and only son
on that cross,
his blood pouring out
to cleanse your sins away
and cleanse my sins away,
we will accept
his offer
of the free gift
of eternal life.
That moment,
that death,
changed the game.
That moment
changed everything.
And that moment
was sufficient.
It was enough
for all of your
bad things.
It was sufficient
for all of your
weaknesses.
All of your
shortcomings.
All the ways
that you don't measure up.
All the issues
your spouse
has with you.
All the issues
your kids
have with you.
All the issues
you have with yourself.
Jesus'
death,
his blood
was enough
to pay for it.
To cover it.
To cleanse it
and forgive it.
that is why
we celebrate
him.
That's why
we sing
these songs.
That's why
we gather
on Sundays
and worship
him.
That's why
we read
his book.
And that's why
we listen
to his advice.
And we try
to follow
his leading
in our lives
because
he paid
everything.
He paid
all of our
debts.
Jesus
paid it
all.
But don't
leave him
on that cross.
If he was
dead
then what
good would
he be
to us
now?
Why would
we pray
to a dead
man?
Why would
we sing
songs of
praise
to a dead
man
except to
honor his
memory?
Folks,
we're not
honoring his
memory.
We're singing
to him
now
because
he is
alive.
Don't
keep
Jesus
on the
cross.
So do
we still
see him
as the
dying
man on
the cross?
Or do
I
recognize
now
that
Jesus
is my
resurrected
king
whose
spirit
lives
inside
me?
Remember
what
Pilate
said?
He said,
oh,
so you're
a king?
And Jesus
said,
this was
the purpose
while I was
born.
To be
the king.
He was
already
king of
kings.
He was
already
lord of
lords.
The
Bible
says that
one day
every knee
will bow
and every
tongue
will confess
yours
and mine
and everyone
else's.
All those
who say,
oh,
I'm an
atheist.
I'm
agnostic.
I don't
really
believe.
That's
okay.
One day
you will.
One day
you'll see
him face
to face
and one
day your
knee will
bow and
your tongue
will join
ours in
confessing
that Jesus
Christ
is Lord.
God.
So he's
now our
resurrected
king.
And his
spirit,
if you
have
accepted
him by
faith in
Jesus,
turn from
your sin
and turn
to Jesus,
then his
spirit lives
inside you
and he
has now
made all
of his
power,
his peace,
his love,
his joy,
wisdom,
and grace
freely
available to
you and
to me.
That's the
good news of
Christmas.
Man,
if he was
still a
baby,
I don't
know about
y'all,
I've had
two go
through the
baby stage
and not
a whole lot
they can do
at that
moment.
Jesus
was 100%
God,
he never
gave that
up,
but he
was also
100%
man.
Both
combined
at the
same time,
the theology
world,
they call it
the hypostatic
union.
Don't ask
me to
describe that,
define that.
I don't know
why they call
it that,
but that's
what it
means,
100%
man and
100%
God.
I've got
my master's
degree now
so I can
use that
kind of
stuff.
We have
to believe
that he's
right because
he has
a master's
degree.
Anyway,
he was
100%
man and
100%
God.
And so
as 100%
man,
he was
a baby.
You know
that song
says,
no crying
he makes?
The Bible
doesn't say
that.
I'm guessing
he probably
cried a
time or
two.
I don't
think he
was talking
when he
was a
baby.
So don't
leave him
as a
baby.
He grew
up.
He did
lay down
his life
for you
and for
me,
but don't
leave him
on that
cross.
Three days
later,
what did
he do?
He rose.
In just a few
months,
we'll celebrate
that too.
Man,
we celebrate
that every
day.
But we'll
set a
time,
a special
time around
Easter to
put our
focus solely
on the
resurrection
of our
living Lord.
The little
Lord Jesus
was right
to be called
Lord.
While he
was walking
on this
earth,
they called
him Lord.
When he
died on the
cross,
he was
still Lord.
during those
three days
in the
grave,
he was
still Lord.
And when
he rose
from the
dead,
showing all
of his
power,
he proved
that he
can be
Lord over
everything.
And so
you recognize,
right,
church?
You recognize
that Jesus
is Lord?
How many
of you
would be
able to
lift your
hand and
say,
testify
together that
Jesus is
Lord?
Can we do
that?
Can we
join?
Yes.
Amen.
That God
receives glory
from that.
Now don't
raise your
hand on
this one.
But how
many of you
would say,
he is
indeed Lord
of my
life?
He's
Lord of
my life.
His
spirit lives
in me.
I recognize
that he's
given me all
his power,
all his
peace,
all his
love,
his joy,
his wisdom,
and his
grace.
freely
without
charge.
He's
Lord
of my
life.
So that's
the takeaway
this morning.
Let Jesus
be Lord
of my
life.
That little
Lord Jesus.
What does that
look like for
you?
Maybe for you,
letting Jesus
be Lord of
your life
means taking
that first
step and
saying,
I know
that I
am a
sinner,
and I know
that Jesus
wants to be
my Savior.
Savior.
Maybe I've
heard that
story,
or maybe
I'm hearing
it for the
first time,
but I
recognize that
Jesus laid
down his
throne in
heaven,
and came
down,
and was
born of
the Virgin
Mary.
And he
grew up,
and he did
many miracles,
and he proved
himself as
God to those
who saw him
here on earth,
and he
gained this
big following,
right?
But then
Jesus laid
down his
life on the
cross,
and he
allowed the
religious leaders
of that day
to crucify him.
And then
Jesus'
following began
to grow like
nothing this
world has ever
seen.
And churches
began popping
up,
worshiping this
man called
Jesus.
Why?
Because he
didn't stay
on that cross.
Because he
rose from the
dead.
And so now
Jesus is alive
today, and he
matters for this
church, and he
matters for you,
and he matters
for the broken
relationship that
you have.
He can help
that.
Jesus can be
Lord over that.
He can make
a difference if
you give it to
him.
Jesus can make
a difference for
that need that
you can't seem
to meet.
Jesus can make
a difference for
the thing in
your life that
seems hopeless,
that you can't
wrap your head
around.
Jesus is the
answer.
Why?
Because he's
king.
Because he's
Lord.
He's got power
over it all.
He said all
power is given
to me in heaven
and in earth,
so you can go
in that power.
It's accessible
to you.
It's free
to you.
But you've
got to make
Jesus Lord
of your life.
We're not
puppets on a
string.
He's not
pulling us
and forcing
us to do
exactly what
he wants us
to do.
He gives
us this
little thing
called free
will.
And when we
go our own
way, we
receive the
results of
that.
when we
subject our
will to
his and
make him
Lord, then
we receive
the results
of his
lordship in
our life.
Let Jesus
be Lord of
your life.
Maybe you
need to turn
to him for
the forgiveness
of your sins
and become
his child.
Or maybe,
maybe you've
already done
that and
maybe you
need to make
him Lord
over a
specific thing
in your life.
Maybe there's
an addiction
that you need
to make him
Lord over.
Maybe there's
a pride
problem.
Maybe there's
an arrogance
problem.
Maybe there's
a fear
problem that
you need to
recognize that
God is in
control and
make him
Lord over
that fear,
over that
worry.
Whatever it
is, he
said, my
peace I
leave with
you.
But you've
got to make
him Lord.
The little
Lord Jesus
can be Lord
of your life
this morning.
Would you
bow your
heads with
me?
God, I
thank you so
much for
your offer,
your gift of
lordship to
us.
You didn't
just create
us, you
didn't just
save us and
forgive us and
then abandon
us.
You offered
to walk with
us, to
give us that
wisdom, to
help us to
walk under
your authority,
recognizing
you as
our father,
as our
friend, and
as Lord over
our decisions,
as Lord over
our emotions,
as Lord over
our bank
accounts, as
Lord over our
families, our
relationships.
We can speak
the power of
Jesus into
those things.
God, I know
that there are
families here
this morning
who are just
trying to make
it through
Christmas because
it's a difficult
time.
I know that
there are people
here in town
that there's
strained
relationships.
I know that
there's financial
hardships.
I know that
there are all
kinds of
problems that
this world
gives to us.
But God, I
know that you're
bigger than all
of us.
I know that
you can hold
our hand as
we walk through
those things.
And you can
make them
easier to
endure.
You can get
us through.
And then
someday, we
can look back
and see why.
Knowing that
you brought us
through for our
good and for
your glory.
God, I pray
that there's
somebody here
this morning that
would make you
Lord of their
life.
And it's in
Jesus' name I
pray it.
Amen.