Christmas is a time to reflect upon the significance of the events that took place over two thousand years. “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
More Free Christmas Sermons provides a sermon that reflects upon the biblical significance of Christmas – the story of Jesus Christ.
Free Christmas Sermons
Introduction: As I get older, it seems that Christmas comes around faster every year than the previous year.
This year has been especially quick. Do you realize that it was twenty-two (22) years ago when the Millennium Bug was the big issue of the day?
It was twenty-two (22) years ago, WOW!
We are now in the third decade of the third millennium.
All I can say is that time has flown . . . in fact time is flying.
What happened to time? One person put it this way.
When as a child I laughed and wept, time crept
When as a youth I dreamed and talked, time walked
When I became a full grown man, time ran
And later as I older grew, time flew
Soon I shall find while travelling on, time gone (unknown source)
You know, time is a precious commodity. Once gone, it cannot be retrieved. It cannot be reclaimed.
As Carl Sandbury said, “Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let the world spend it for you.”
The world seeks your time. And yet, I am reminded of that verse in Psalm 46:10 which says, “Be still, and know that I [Yahweh] am God.”
We can be so busy that finding time for God becomes secondary rather than primary.
In many ways, Christmas can be like that. We are so busy that finding time to stop and reflect upon the significance of Christmas becomes secondary.
There are so many things to do, shopping, presents and preparing for Christmas day holidays, friends and endless end of year functions.
Sometimes, we need to ask ourselves: Do we really have time for the real reason for the season?
And yet, we need to stop and reflect upon the significance of the season because it has eternal benefits.
So, this morning I want to take some of your time and look at five reasons for stopping and reflecting on the significance of Christmas.
The first reason for stopping and reflecting at Christmas is because . . .
1. Christmas is a time to ponder (Luke 2:19)
The Bible says, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).
The picture I get from this verse is that . . .
A. Mary stopped and pondered upon all the things that took place
On that day when Jesus was born, Mary stopped and pondered.
The word ponder here is significant because it means “she was putting all these things together in her heart.
In other words, she was meditating upon the meaning of all that took place.
I suppose she could still remember the Words of the angel, Gabriel. “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30).
Look at verses 31-35, and 38, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’” “Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.”
Now these words had become reality in the birth of Jesus Christ. But that’s not all…these words were heightened by the Shepherd’s confirmation that indeed a special event had taken place in the birth of Jesus Christ.
No wonder Mary stopped and pondered upon all these things that took place!
B. Are we going to stop and ponder upon the significance of Christmas?
I wonder will we find time to stop and ponder!
If Mary, the mother of Jesus, had to stop and ponder these things; how much more we need to stop and ponder the significance of Christmas!
For me, it has been refreshing to read again the Christmas narratives—to actually stop and read.
Christmas is a time to ponder…to stop and ponder.
The second reason for stopping and reflecting at Christmas is because . . .
2. Christmas is a time to marvel (Luke 2:18)
The picture I get here from this verse is that . . .
A. They were astonished at the report of all that took place
That is, the people who heard the shepherd’s report…not just Mary and Joseph as we can see from the preceding verse.
The word marveled here is significant; in fact, profound.
It is profound in that it conveys the expression of something really special happening that produces (brings forth) a reaction—a reaction of astonishment, a reaction of amazement, a reaction of awe or maybe even a hint of fear.
God in the flesh . . . here on the earth!
As one writer said, “a reaction that arouses a man’s thoughts of the divine . . . a reaction that makes a man think about something he would not normally think about.”
B. I wonder, does the Christmas narrative arouse thoughts of the divine?
Or are we too busy to be aroused?
Too much to do to even read the Christmas narrative!
And yet, something very special took place on that first Christmas . . . God came to this earth in the flesh…to walk among men…to die upon cross to save man from his sin.
I wonder what will be our reaction to the Christmas story!
Christmas is a time to marvel…a time to have our thoughts of the divine aroused.
The third reason for stopping and reflecting at Christmas is because . . .
3. Christmas is a time to praise (2:20)
A. They (the shepherds) praised God for all that took place
Just imagine for a moment, these shepherds were watching over the flock, and behold an angel of the Lord shone around them.
That glory that was there when Moses received the Ten Commandments!
That glory that rested in the tabernacle when Israel wandered in the wilderness!
That glory that was in the temple…in the holy of holies!
That glory of God shone around them as the angel of the Lord spoke to them…no wonder they praised God.
But it didn’t stop there because verse 13 says, “And a multitude of angels appeared praising God saying…”
BUT that’s not the main reason they were praising God. The main reason was because they had received the message of Jesus’ birth. Moreover, they were eyewitnesses to the birth of their Savior.
Look at verse 11, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” That’s the Christmas message.
God sending His Son to be our Savior…the One who would save man from his sin!
B. Yes, we need to take time this Christmas to praise God for Jesus Christ
For sending His Son to be our Savior! We have much to praise God about this morning.
Christmas is a time to praise God.
The fourth reason for stopping and reflecting at Christmas is because . . .
4. Christmas is a time to tell (Luke 2:17)
These shepherds told their story to Mary and Joseph and to many others.
Christmas is a time to tell the story of Jesus.
That God came to this earth in the flesh…He walked among men…and ultimately died upon a cross to be our Savior.
God in this act was showing the way to Himself.
As Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me” (John 14:6)
People need to hear this message…because there is no other way to God other than through Jesus Christ.
The fifth reason for stopping and reflecting at Christmas is because . . .
5. Christmas is a time to find Jesus (Luke 2:16)
Christmas is a time to point people to Jesus Christ…a time to show to them their need for Jesus Christ.
The Bible makes it clear that without Jesus our destiny is a lost eternity.
Have you found Jesus Christ?
Do you know Him as the way, the truth, and the life?
Do you know Him as your Savior and Lord?
Conclusion: Can I encourage you this Christmas to stop and be still?
Take time to ponder the significance of Christmas!
Take time to allow God to arouse your thoughts of the divine!
Take time to praise God for Jesus Christ!
Take time to tell someone about the Christmas story!
Take time to point someone to Jesus Christ!
If you don’t know Him, take time to find Him!
This free Christmas sermon was compiled by Rev. D. Blackburn BA GDM