Sermon

Christmas Day Service

December 25, 2022 Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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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.
And we're going to begin by singing the words of Psalm 40, verse 1 to,

Psalms 40:1
in a double, verse 5.
I waited for the Lord my God and patiently did bear.
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.
I waited for the Lord my voice and cry to hear.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And we pray that you will help us to taste and see anew of the goodness of God through Jesus Christ.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And to see Jesus born into this world.
Is the fulfilment of that promise.
To do so.
We must think about his birth.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
All his days.
And ultimately.
Who gave his life.
For all his people.
Imagine.
If all that people remembered about you.
Was your birth.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
That verse eight.
Luke chapter two.
And at verse eight.
We're going to read.
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.
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.
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.
And this will be a sign for you.
You will find a baby.
Wrapped in swaddling clothes.
And lying in a manger.
And suddenly.
There was.
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.
Among those.
With whom.
He is pleased.
Jesus.
This is perhaps.
Maybe one of the most.
Commonly read.
Passages.
At Christmas time.
When we read here.
Of the shepherds.
Who were told.
This.
Great news.
Of a savior.
Born.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Of Jesus.
But they remind us.
To.
Who he really.
Is.
If you think of.
A carol.
Such as.
Away in a manger.
Speaks about.
The little.
Lord.
Jesus.
The Lord.
Jesus.
Hark.
The herald.
Angels sing.
Glory to.
The newborn.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More and more.
Afraid of.
Offending people.
Of causing offense.
Towards people.
So they want to try.
And change these names.
So subtly.
But the gospel.
Is so much more.
Than just.
A baby.
Boy.
Or little baby.
Jesus.
For we read here.
He is.
Christ.
The Lord.
This baby.
In the manger.
Was more than just that.
He is Christ.
The Lord.
And as you read.
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.
Appeared.
With this good news.
To them.
And they were afraid.
But.
The angel said.
Fear not.
Fear not.
The angel.
Speaks them.
And he shares.
This message.
To them.
A message.
That people.
Have been waiting.
Thousands.
And here.
The shepherds.
Hear this.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
He has come.
And who is it?
It is the son.
Of God.
What a promise.
We have.
In this child.
Who was born.
He is Christ.
The Lord.
Someone once said.
A thousand times.
In history.
A baby.
Has become.
A king.
A king.
But only once.
In history.
Did a king.
Become.
A baby.
But this baby.
Was Christ.
The Lord.
What a wonderful promise.
We have.
That Christ.
Came into this world.
He was born into this world.
Christ.
The Lord.
But before we.
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.
Psalm 62.
On page.
294.
We're going to sing.
Verse 5.
To verse 8.
And again.
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.
All my hope.
And expectation.
We'll sing from verse 5.
To verse 8.
To God's praise.
On him.
Please.
Please.
Please.
My soul.
Wait thou with patience.
Upon thy God alone.
On him.
On him.
Dependeth all my hope.
And expectation.
The only might.
The only might.
Salvation.
The only might.
Salvation.
The only might.
Salvation.
Is.
And my strong.
The only might.
Is.
Is.
Is.
Is.
Is.
The only.
Is.
Is.
The only my salvation is, and my strong rock is He.
He only has my sure defense, I shall not move thee.
In God my glory, grace it is, and my salvation sure.
In God the rock, it is of my strength, my refuge most secure.
If He complains your confidence, and Him continually,
before Him pour me out your heart, God is our refuge time.
Amen.
As we read here in this passage.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
That he must be in the father's house.
But it seems at first, as it were,
that Jesus is being a bad boy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
He says,
I must be in my father's house.
Or,
I must be about my father's business,
is another translation of that.
He is no ordinary child.
He is the son of God,
who is growing in wisdom and knowledge and stature.
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.
And it's almost like Luke is putting up a sign for us here.
He's saying,
stop.
Stop everything that you're doing.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
But actually,
he told them something wonderful.
He showed them something wonderful.
He said,
I am here
to be about
my father's business.
Well,
our final reading
is further on
in the Gospel of Luke
in Luke chapter 19.

Luke 19 chapter mention
And this reading
just reminds us
what the father's business is.
Luke chapter 19

Luke 19 chapter mention
and at verse 1.
We read down
to verse 10.
Jesus,
he entered Jericho
and was passing through.
And there was a man
named Zacchaeus.
He was a chief tax collector
and was rich.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And he ministered
in this world
for three years
before the crucifixion.
And here he is
and he meets
a man called
Zacchaeus.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Others
born to care,
born to teach.
We're born
to do many
different things.
But why
was Jesus
born?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What is it?
It's Christ.
Because if you
don't have
him,
there's still
something missing
and always
will be.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And may we
know salvation
coming to
our households
today through
the power
of his
gospel.
May God
bless his
word to
us.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Psalm 40,
but in the
Singed Psalms,
Psalm 40,
in the Singed
Psalms at
verse 13,
page 51
of the
Psalm books.
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.
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.
Praise.
We
praise,
O Lord,
to
rest
to him.
O Lord,
come quickly
to my
aid.
May all
who seek
to take
my life
with shame
and terror
will be
repaid.
May all
who
caught
my
overthrown
turn
back
distress
away
again.
May those
whom
feel
down
Ben
God,
who
seek
you
face
face, be joyful in your all their days.
Let those who love salvation stay, exalted be the Lord always.
Yet I am blue and in great need, Lord, take on me my humbly prayer.
You are my Savior and my help.
Come, O my God, do not delay.
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.
Amen.
Amen.