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Sermon

Less is More: PriceLESS  Luke 2:1-14

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  1. In February of 1952, one of the worst storms ever recorded slammed into Cape Cod. Winds over 60 miles an hour. Waves higher than houses. Freezing spray turning everything to ice.

  2. That night, a massive oil tanker called the SS Pendleton was torn in half by the storm. Thirty-two men were trapped on the back half of the ship—adrift, taking on water, certain no one could reach them.

  3. At the Coast Guard station in Chatham, a 24-year-old boatswain named Bernie Webber was ordered to take a rescue boat out into the storm.

  4. The boat was only 36 feet long, built to hold 12 men. The Coast Guard manual said it should never be taken out in seas like these.

  5. But Webber went anyway.

  6. Crossing the sandbar, the compass failed. The engine sputtered. They were officially listed as lost at sea before they ever found the ship.

  7. And then—somehow—they did.

  8. One by one, those men climbed down from the broken ship onto that tiny boat. Thirty-two men packed onto a vessel meant for twelve. Now the hardest part remained: getting home.

  9. No compass. Barely an engine. A boat sitting dangerously low in the water.

  10. And that’s when something beautiful happened on shore—something no one planned, no one organized, but everyone joined. That night on Cape Cod reminds me of Christmas—not because of the storm, but because of the rescue. Because Christmas is God stepping into the darkness to bring people home.

  11. When we think about Christmas this year we want to lean into this one simple thing. Less is more. Christmas reminds us that what matters most is often what looks smallest at first.

  12. It’s not about the perfect presents or decorations, it’s really about the perfect gift that has already been given.

  13. It’s not about the hustle and bustle, it’s about family, friends, our church family and the birth of our Savior. It’s about the priceless gift that Jesus has given. His life.

  14. We have seen:

  15. Zechariah becomes speechless.

  16. That God’s Kingdom is Endless.

  17. How to become fearless. And today we are going to see how what Jesus has done for us, is priceless.

  18. 1 Timothy 1:15

    1 Timothy 1:15

  19. 15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—

  20. Less is more. From the very beginning Jesus’ life here on earth was extraordinary, not because of fanfare, but because the son of God almost snuck into the world without notice. If not for the angels’ announcement to the shepherds, no one except Mary and Joseph would have even noticed.

  21. If you have your bibles turn with me to Luke 2.

  22. Luke 2:1-14

    Luke 2:1–14

  23. In a lot of ways, the story of Jesus birth is the story of Less is More.

  24. • The son of God was born in a stable, Not a royal mansion

  25. • He was entrusted to young, unassuming, working class parents, not government leaders.

  26. • the only witnesses were animals, a young couple

  27. • his birth was first announced to shepherds not kings

  28. Let me give you a couple simple phrases from the angel’s message to the shepherds…that I want us to focus on this morning.

  29. Luke 2:10-11

    Luke 2:10–11

  30. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

  31. The word gospel found in the NT literally means “the good news.” And scripture teaches us that the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus —and the announcement of His birth is the beginning of that rescue.

  32. You see the announcement that Jesus had been born included the fact that he would change the world. That in His death, burial and resurrection there is redemption for the world. And that’s GOOD NEWS!

  33. The next phrase I want us to focus on is great joy.

  34. Luke 2:10-11

    Luke 2:10–11

  35. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

  36. GREAT JOY.

  37. χαρά chará, (khar-ah’); cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight:—gladness

  38. If you have done any shopping or been to Walmart recently you have most likely have noticed a lot of unhappy faces. The long check-out lines. The glaring upset faces It appeared to me that what most people are experiencing is not joy.

  39. But Christmas should be full of joy, not gloom.

  40. Isaiah 9:1

    Isaiah 9:1

  41. 1Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

  42. Isaiah predicted that the gloom which had been upon the people would be removed because a messiah who would be from Galilee. God had already promised light before the darkness ever arrived.

  43. Isaiah 9:2

    Isaiah 9:2

  44. 2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

  45. Lets go back to our story at Cape Cod. Webber still had the hardest part. Getting home.

  46. No compass. Barely an engine. A boat sitting dangerously low in the water.

  47. And that’s when something beautiful happened on shore.

  48. As word spread that a rescue boat might be coming back, people in the town of Chatham didn’t stay inside. They grabbed their cars and rushed to the shoreline.

  49. And as that overloaded little boat fought its way toward land, the people did something simple—but lifesaving.

  50. They turned their car headlights on. Hundreds of lights cutting through the darkness. Lighting a path through the storm. Bernie Webber later said those lights helped guide them safely home.

  51. When the boat finally crossed the sandbar and emerged from the storm, the shore erupted. People cheered. Church bells rang. Men who were moments from death stepped onto land—alive.

  52. Isaiah 9:2-3

    Isaiah 9:2–3

  53. 2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.

  54. There was a cheer that night on the shore. Why? Because they knew the cost of the rescue and the value of the lives saved. Because rescue brings joy. Because light in the darkness changes everything. Because when people who were lost are found, you don’t stay silent.

  55. And church, that’s the gospel. That’s the effect of Jesus coming to this world… That’s what joy looks like when rescue arrives.

  56. Good news, Great Joy. And the next phrase I want us to see is “a savior has been born.

  57. Luke 2:10-11

    Luke 2:10–11

  58. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

  59. A SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN.

  60. The angel announced that a savior had been born. A savior. The world needed a savior, because the world was in trouble. Not just broken—but sinful.

  61. Here’s the simple ‘less is more’ truth of Christmas…we still need a savior, we are still in trouble without Jesus.

  62. We innately know this, that we are in trouble… that we need a savior. How many of you have ever thought… “as long as I do enough good things, maybe God will see those things and save me.” or… “at least I’m not as bad as that guy, or this world leader, or this criminal (you fill-in the blank.)” Anyone else ever felt that way?

  63. The problem is this… we can’t work this out on our own. We too need a savior. Did you notice what the angel said to the shepherds? “a savior has been born TO YOU” That’s true for us today. A savior has been born to you, and you, and you, and me.

  64. In a word that’s grace. There’s nothing we have done to deserve this, it’s God’s gift. Unmerited favor. Literally “a gift that makes glad.”

  65. Timothy Keller said, “If Christmas is just a nice legend, in a sense you are on your own. But if Christmas is true, then you can be saved by grace.”

  66. And because there is nothing, we can do to earn God’s grace, then this gift is Priceless.

  67. Just as Bernie Webber went out to rescue those men that cold night in Cape Codd, Jesus didn’t shout directions from the shore. He came into the storm. He stepped into the waves. He gave His life to bring us home. And now, we who have been saved become the lights— Shining hope, pointing the way, and cheering as the lost are rescued. Because grace is always worth celebrating. And salvation is priceless.

  68. Because there is nothing we can do to earn God’s grace, it can never be measured—only received. And that makes it priceless.

  69. Today some of you need to cut your headlights on and shine the light so others can it make it home. Maybe in your families, at your school, at work, in your neighborhood. As Journey Church we want to Help everyone discover their relationship with Jesus. And we do that by All of us go out to build authentic relationships with the lost in our community and around the world and to communicate the good news of Jesus. This is how we shine our lights with each one reaching one. Friends cut your headlights on and point the way home to Jesus.

  70. The lights are on. The way home is clear. Will you come and receive God’s grace today? Putting your trust in Jesus, repenting and being baptized.

  71. [Christmas] means not just hope for the world, despite all its unending problems, but hope for you and me, despite all our unending failings. — Timothy Keller

  72. PRAYER