WHAT IS CHRISTMAS TO YOU?

By Pastor Architect Yared Dondo

TAG City Harvest Church

Christmas Is...

Text: John 3:16-18

Introduction

How do you explain the meaning of Christmas in just a few words? Well the best way I know is this:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

No one could outdo what God has done. No one could give a greater gift than God has already given. I would like for us to consider the meaning of Christmas this morning-what it should mean to each and every one of us assembled here today.

Christmas means a lot of things to a lot of different people. To some it is a time of shopping and spending a time of drinking and carousing a time of travelling and entertaining

But, what is the real meaning of Christmas? What message should it convey to every one of us?

To me, Christmas is...

I. A TIME OF REMEMBERING

Remembering the great love that God had for each and every one of us. He loved us so much, that He spared not His only Son that we might be saved.

Remembering the uniqueness of His life, His teachings, His miracles, His prophesies, His death, His resurrection

Remembering all those humble but great people surrounding the Christmas story people like Joseph & Mary, Zacharias & Elizabeth, Anna, Simeon, the sheperds, the wise men, etc.

II. Secondly, to me, Christmas is...

A TIME OF LOVING

People make a special effort to be a little kinder, a little more considerate of others, and a little more generous during the Christmas season. They get involved in such things as Christmas carolling, toys for the needy, meals for the misfortunate, etc.

It is a time for reaching out to others with love and concern.

God so loved the world-let us never forget that!!! In all of our preaching, teaching,

evangelizing, etc. let us always remember that the motivation for all this is the love of God for lost sinners. He really cares about us. So should we care as He cares.

So should we love, as He loves.

III. A TIME OF GIVING

For God so loved the world that He gave...

Love cannot look with indifference on the hungry, and the sick, and the lonely, lost souls of this world. Love must give.

God gave all He could give. He gave His only begotten Son. This gift was freely given, lovingly given, graciously given to all of us, who were undeserving sinners.

Christ shared our human nature that we might receive His divine nature. Day by day, those who receive Him are being transformed into His image, until we all come into the full stature of the perfected children of God, washed in the blood of the Lamb.

IV. A TIME OF FORGIVING

God was willing to forgive us. He was willing to show mercy to a sinful, lost, and dying world. Do we possess His forgiving spirit?

Or, is our spirit a judgmental one, that looks down upon others?

Is there someone we need to forgive today?

V. A TIME OF RESCUING

God rescued us by His love and mercy. He saved us from perishing.

Without Christ we are without life, and headed for an eternity without God-forever separated from the God who made us and longs to save us.

He wants us to inherit eternal life. We are all descendants of a dying race. But

for the grace of God, we would all likewise perish.

VI. A TIME OF CHANGING

The Christ of Christmas changes us. He makes us new creatures. All things become new for us. We have new goals, new ideas, new direction, new hope.

Christ changes people for the better.

VII. A TIME OF REJOICING

Rejoicing in God’s unmerited grace

Rejoicing in the release of forgiveness

Rejoicing in a new life with a new mission

Conclusion

I have tried to share with you what Christmas means to me. What does the coming of Christ into this world mean to you? Have you received Him as Lord & Savior?

If not, I encourage you to come to Him now.