Do you need a sermon or devotional idea for Christmas? Dr. George Fuller, pastor, former seminary professor and president and presently a member of the CEP Committee, Seniors’ Ministry consultant, offers the following sermon outline for you for your consideration. Our thanks to Dr. Fuller for making this available.
“Jesus, tell us about Christmas.”
Where did you come from?
…from my Father
“Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him; but I know him because I am from him and he sent me” (John 11:28-29).
…my Father sent me
“If God were your Father; you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me” (John 8:42).
Why did you come?
…to represent the Father
“I have come in my Father’s name…” (John 4:43).
“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father” (John 16:28).
…to bring salvation
“For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it” (John 12:47).
…to invite sinners to become my disciples
“For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:13).
…to distinguish between my disciples and others
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law – a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household'” (Matthew 10:34-35).
“I have come to bring fire on the earth…. Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three…” (Luke 12:49-52).
…to seek and to save the lost
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).
…to be a light
“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12:46).
…to give life
“…I am the gate for the sheep…. I am come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:7-10).
…to present truth
“You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (John 18:37).
…to serve
“…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28).
…to give my life as a ransom
(Matthew 20:28)
…to die
“Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name” (John 12:27-28).
What should we do?
First, recognize that I came for you.
(see Jesus’ words mentioned above).
And, obey my law written in your hearts.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them…” (Matthew 5:17ff.).
And, come and follow me.
“Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you”
(John 20:21).
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
-Philippians 2:5-11