To be seated and open your Bibles to Luke chapter 2.
And then there are those parents who think that their children are out of this world.
And they think that their children can sing better than Beyonce.
They think that their children can play better than Messi.
And I guess for some parents, maybe for all of us, to some degree we live out our hopes and dreams through our children.
You couldn't do it, but you think maybe with a bit of encouragement they can.
But let's push it.
When push comes to shove, there is only one set of parents who could actually say without a shadow of doubt that their child, their kid was out of this world, literally.
At Jesus Christ, who came from heaven itself.
And at the birth of any child, there's usually a huge amount of fuss, isn't there?
Camera, presence, videos, phone calls.
But at the birth of Jesus, the angel of the Lord turns up and makes this massive announcement to shepherds.
As he'd already done to Elizabeth and Mary.
Look at chapter 2 and verse 10.
The angel says this.
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 saviour who is Christ the Lord.
God wants the shepherds to know.
He wants you to know this Christmas day that this child born in Bethlehem is good news.
It's always good news, isn't it, when a child is born.
We've had a number of babies born this year in church life.
It's always a joy to get that text message, to get that phone call.
But this is uniquely good news.
The kind of good news that the word literally was only used at the birth of an emperor.
It's good news because the waiting is over.
Some of you children, you've been waiting, haven't you, for Christmas to come.
There's been a countdown.
But Israel had been waiting.
Today, finally.
Today, on that first Christmas day.
Today, today in the town of David, a saviour has been born to you.
And at that moment in history, 2,000 years ago for us,
the long-awaited saviour had finally arrived.
He'd been a long time coming.
The Bible is 66 books.
It's not a collection of proverbs and myths and nice sayings.
It's an unfolding story that starts with creation and finishes with the new creation.
The message of the Bible is basically God made this world.
We broke it.
Jesus fixes it.
And that's the storyline of the Bible.
But scattered right through the Bible are promises.
And so, for example, 2,000 years ago, before the Christmas day, the first Christmas day,
God had said to Abraham,
Through you a son will come,
and your seed will bless the whole of the world.
That was 2,000 years before the first Christmas.
1,000 years before the first Christmas,
God had said to King David in 2 Samuel 7,
That from you will come a king,
and his kingdom will never end,
and he'll be on the throne forever.
And death will be no more.
Then 500 years before the first Christmas,
the prophet Micah
said when that king comes,
he's going to be born in one place,
and one place only,
and that place will be a place called Bethlehem.
The waiting has been long.
Some of us have got long journeys ahead of us this week
to visit family,
and you will hear little cries from the back,
won't you?
Are we there yet?
When are we going to get there?
And that's the cry of the Old Testament.
Are we there yet?
When are we going to get there?
They knew that God's king would come.
He would come,
and he would fix this world.
This world that has gone wrong.
He would deal with my problems,
and forgive my sins.
They just didn't know when.
And then we're told,
Can you see it?
Luke chapter 2, verse 11.
And to you this day,
in the town of David,
a saviour has been born to you.
And I know it's old news for us, isn't it?
That's not new news for you this morning.
It's not old news.
It's old news for us,
but it's still good news.
Let me tell you why it's good news.
Let me break it up.
It's good news because he is a saviour.
And I tell you,
we need to be saved as much today
as we ever have.
We need to be forgiven today
as much as we ever have.
You've got to know this.
You've got to know this today,
that there is nothing that you have done
that cannot be forgiven by Jesus Christ.
Let me say that again.
There is nothing that you have done
that cannot be forgiven you this morning
if you receive Jesus Christ.
Because today
is born this day in the city of David
a saviour.
And it's good news,
not only that he's a saviour,
but he is God's king.
Somebody who is in charge of this crazy world.
Do you remember last Christmas?
Last Christmas,
we just survived, didn't we?
This kind of
next flood of COVID
that they thought was going to come through.
And we thought, didn't we,
we'd come out of the pandemic
and it would be happy times again.
Life returning back to normal.
But this year,
we've seen an international crisis.
War in Ukraine.
Global fallout.
Three prime ministers.
Political instability.
The death of the queen.
And England yet again
losing the France
in the World Cup.
A cost of living crisis.
Climate anxiety
after record heat waves.
Do you remember them?
But the message of Christmas Day
is that this world
is not going to stay as it is.
So much grief,
and yet that grief will be dealt with.
And you need to know
that God is coming back
to take charge of this world.
A world that has thumbed its nose
at him.
And it begins
on this day in Bethlehem
with the birth of his son.
The son of the most high God.
God has come to make himself known.
And he's come
with the express purpose
that you would have
a relationship with him,
but on his terms.
But notice how God
fulfills his promise.
Every Bible
believing Israelite
knew that God's
appointed king
had to be born in Bethlehem.
But how does it happen?
A couple
called Mary and Joseph
who are betrothed to be married
are living in Nazareth.
But they end up giving birth
80 miles away
in Bethlehem.
Remember there's
no public transport
much like today.
There are no cars,
no motorbikes,
no scooters,
just a donkey
and walking.
And it's not as if
Joseph is reading
Micah one day
and thinks,
flip Mary,
we better get to
Bethlehem.
You need to have
the baby there.
That's not how it happened.
Look at chapter 2
and verse 1.
Look at the larger canvas.
In those days
the decree went out
from Caesar Augustus
the emperor
that all the world
should be registered.
That there should be
a census.
So first of all
God says
500 years before
Jesus is born
when God's king comes
he will be born
in Bethlehem.
The month before
he's born
or six months
before he's born
God works in the heart
of the emperor
Caesar Augustus
in Rome.
2,000 kilometers
away from
Bethlehem
and gets him
to do a census.
It affects the whole
of the Roman Empire
and on the edge
of that Roman Empire
a young couple
Joseph and Mary
who are originally
from Bethlehem
have got to go back
to their hometown
and register.
Also this amazing
prophecy could be
fulfilled.
So God promised
500 years before
God works in the heart
of an emperor
to organize a census
and God brings
a teenage couple
from Nazareth
so that in her
final trimester
she is there
and she gives birth
to fulfill
God's prophecy.
So God is a God
who makes promises
and keeps them.
The Bible is not
a story of myths.
We're not in the realm
of Star Trek
a long, long time
ago in Bethlehem
in a Bethlehem
far, far away.
No, you're dealing
with fact.
You're dealing
with promises
made by God
in one period
of history
and fulfilled
in another.
You can be assured.
And so let's not
miss the phrase.
Look with me
at chapter 2
verse 11 again.
For unto you
Isn't that a funny phrase?
Unto you
Born to you
Is born this day
in the city of David
a saviour
who is Christ the Lord.
Born to do you good.
Martin Luther
the German reformer
he said this
he said
why is it
when I go into the garden
all the birds
fly away from me
as if I mean
to do them harm.
Why do they do that?
He said
I've not come
to do them harm
but I go into the garden
and the birds
fly away from me.
You know what that's like.
If you've got
an air rifle
it's fair enough
isn't it?
The birds scatter.
But this one
born on Christmas day
who came to save
not condemn you
why is it
when I go into the garden
all the birds fly away
do I mean to do them harm?
Why do they do that?
Why is it
that when I mention
Jesus
the name of Jesus
my friends
they want to change
the subject
as if Jesus
means them harm.
Could it be right now
as I begin to speak to you
about the Lord Jesus
you find yourself
intentionally distracted.
I'm not going to think
about that you say.
I'm not going to allow
myself to go there.
Maybe you're thinking
I'm too ashamed.
I don't think
I can be safe
with him.
Maybe you think
as I talk about
the Lord Jesus
to you
you think
I know
that I can't
be forgiven
you don't know
what I've done.
Could it be
that you're so upset
with God
that there's
an empty space
at the family table
and you're angry
with him
and you're blaming God?
Could it be
that you're kind of afraid
that if you put your trust
in this wonderful saviour
that he'll ask
to be lord of your life
and to be in charge
and you will lose rights
over your life?
Or maybe you're thinking
I just don't want
to be disappointed again
because it really is
a broken world
and there's so much
over promising
in our world
and under delivering.
I quite like the film
The Incredibles
do you know the film
The Incredibles?
It's a good film
as that.
And at the beginning
of the film
the main character
who's imaginatively
called Mr. Incredible
he's going from
one scene
to another
saving and rescuing people.
He's saving
this person
and that person.
And this is what
Mr. Incredible says
right at the start
of the film
he says
you just rescue one
and then there's another
it's never ending.
No matter how many times
you've saved the world
it always manages
to get back
in jeopardy again.
Sometimes I just
want it to stay
saved.
You know just
for a little bit
I feel like the maid
I just cleaned up
this mess
can you not keep it
clean for ten minutes?
And I think he captures
what we want
this world to be
we want this world
just to be saved
for ten minutes
or so
just to be alright.
and you don't have
to think about
the whole world
you just have to
think about
your world
for a minute.
That everything
just seems so right
doesn't it?
And then it goes wrong.
I don't know what
your Christmas morning
has been like
maybe it's been
the picture perfect
Christmas morning
but I promise you
it won't stay like that.
And God's word
comes to you
this morning
and God says
I've not simply
come to save you
but to save this universe.
He's come to put
right
the beginning
of the story
is little you
but the end
of the story
is the beginning
of a whole new world.
A new creation
where there's no more
pain or crying
or grief
and that's God's agenda
with you in it
if only you would
take his hand.
And because it's
good news
it always comes
with great joy.
Whenever you meet
the angels
meet the shepherds
the angels
scare the living
daylights
out of the shepherds.
And the first thing
the angel says
is do not be afraid
and then
he talks to them
about the Lord Jesus
and the response
is always great joy.
I don't know
when you were born
there was probably
a great deal
of fuss made
about you
loads of photographs.
Particularly
if you're child number one
many child number one
if you're child number one
there's loads of photographs
aren't there?
I was child number four.
You're lucky
if you can find
four, ten baby photos.
But when you were born
I can tell you
what didn't happen.
Verse 13
didn't happen.
In my house
especially
mum and dad
think you are.
And suddenly
there was an angel
and a multitude
of the heavenly hosts
praising God
and saying glory
to God in the highest
and on earth
peace among those
with whom he is pleased.
A whole army
of angels
burst onto the scene.
And what I love
is this
what is good for us
peace on earth
is good for God
glory to God.
One is
not at the expense
of the other
our God
is a very pro-human God
and to glorify him
is to do good to people.
And to do good to people
is to glorify him.
And when
you were born
the angels
didn't cry out
about that.
I'm sorry.
There's no
recording
in the Bible
of angels
rejoicing
at my birth
or yours.
But what the Bible
says is this
when you are born again
then the angels
kick into gear.
Jesus says that
in Luke 15
he says
I tell you
there is joy
before the angels
of God
over one sinner
who repents.
And since Jesus
who was born
on that first Christmas day
is the saviour of the world
we need to trust him
that's the call.
And since Jesus
who was born
on the first Christmas day
is Lord and King
we need to obey him.
And when you do that
as many of you have
as Jesus becomes
your Lord
and your saviour
the Bible deems you
to be born again.
Because nothing more
than a fresh start
has happened.
And when that happens
the angels in heaven
rejoice
and your heart
is filled with joy.
And Peter says
1 Peter 1.8
we are filled
with an inexpressible
and glorious joy.
A joy so wonderful
we can't put it into words.
I think one of the dangers
on a day like this
is that you confuse
happiness and joy.
If you've not been born again
by God's Spirit
you've not known this joy.
If you've not accepted
Jesus as your Lord
and saviour
you will know of happiness.
Yes.
That's a human experience
but you will not yet know
of joy.
Because joy is
the single
unique
Christian emotion.
Let me give you
a definition
as I round up.
A deep
profound
experience
of thankfulness
at the certainty
of being saved
by Jesus
from hell.
That's where joy
springs from.
a deep
and profound
experience
of thankfulness
at the certainty
of being rescued
by Jesus
from hell.
And unless
you have
the Lord Jesus
you can't have
that joy.
In fact
you can't get it
any other way.
So that means
you can be depressed
this morning
but you can have
that joy.
Members of this church
struggle
with anxiety
and depression
like everyone else.
People in this church
go up
and down.
Sometimes it feels
like an up and down
club.
And I need to be
really careful
this morning
that I don't
over promise.
I'm not promising you
in the gospel
permanent
24-7 happiness.
But what I am
saying to you
is that in the highs
and lows
of life
there is
this joy.
this deep
profound
experience
of thankfulness
at being
rescued
by Jesus
from hell.
And there is
no greater joy
than that.
When the
saviour comes
praise
and thankfulness
follow
verse 20
the shepherds
turn up
and confirm
everything
the angel
says
when they
meet baby
Jesus
and Mary
and Joseph.
We're told
that the
shepherds
returned
glorifying
and praising
God
for all
they'd
heard
and seen
as it
had been
told
them
back to
our
verse
I bring
you
good
news
of
great
joy
that
will
be
for
all
people
for unto
you
is born
this day
in the
city
of David
a saviour
for all
people.
In this
church
there are
about
40 nationalities
and people
have come
to Jesus
from very
different
backgrounds
at very
different
stages
of life.
People
who've
been
broken
others
who've
not been
particularly
broken.
they've
just been
persuaded
by the
facts
of
Jesus.
People
have come
when they're
happy
and they've
come when
they're sad.
Some people
have come
when they're
doing really
well in
business
some have
come when
they're
flat broke.
People
have come
when they're
healthy
and fit
and others
when they're
unhealthy
and sick.
And all
have found
themselves
worshipping
this Jesus.
And when
Mary and
Joseph went
to Bethlehem
there was
no room
was there
in that
guest house
for Jesus.
And I
wonder this
morning if
there is
room for
Jesus in
that heart
of yours.
There's a
big difference
isn't there
between singing
about Jesus
as the
saviour of
the world
that would
be just
another
Christmas.
And useless
to you
unless you
understand that
Jesus is
my saviour
and my
Lord.
Galatians
2.20 is
one of my
favourite
verses.
It says
this.
Let me read
it to you.
The life
I live
I now
live in
the flesh
I live
by faith
in the
son of
God
who
loved
me
and
gave
himself
for
me.
You see
the truth
is
this morning
there is
nothing
that you
have done
that can't
be forgiven.
God so
loved the
world
that's
wonderful
but God
so loved
me
that's
unbelievable.
Have you
done that?
Have you
made Jesus
your saviour
and your
Lord
that you
may know
the joy
of his
forgiveness
that you
may know
the joy
of God
God being
your father
and of heaven
being your
home.
let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Let's
pray.
Let's