“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – The ShepherdsAnd while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. – Luke 2:6-7 (NLT)“The Irony of the Nativity” This passage must be a snapshot of the most ironic scenes in history. Think a...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – The ShepherdsHe took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. – Luke 2:5 (NLT)“Commitment” Once Joseph heard from God, he was “all in.” The trip to Bethlehem alone shows us that. He didn’t need Mary to go. He could have made the trip much more easily without her than with her. Most scholars feel that it probably took them up ...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – The ShepherdsAt that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, Davi...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – The Magi“After that, God said to them in a dream, ‘Do not go back to see Herod again.’ So the men followed a different road to return to their own country.” – Matthew 2:11 (NLT)“Walking a Different Road” This past Sunday, I shared a story about our CR leader at Shartel who has an amazing testimony. After a fairly lengthy time of alcohol and drug addictio...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – The Magi“They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” – Matthew 2:11 (NLT)“Costly and Useful” The Wise Men brought gifts to Jesus. Not just ordinary gifts. Precious gifts. Gifts worthy of a King. They want...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – The MagiAfter this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! – Matthew 2:9-10 (NLT)“Stay the Course” I was recently talking with a friend about God’s uncanny ability to get ...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – The Magi(Herod) called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the she...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – The Magi“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. – Matthew 2:3 (NLT)“When Jesus’ Birth Becomes Personal” One of the reasons we’re so comfortable with the story of Jesus’ birth is that it’s not personal to us. It’s...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – The MagiJesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” – Matthew 2:1-2 (NLT)“Jesus Is Who You’re Looking For” I was reading a George Barna report recent...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – Mary & JosephAs he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:20-21 (NLT)“O...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – Mary & JosephThis is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the e...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – Mary & JosephMary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. – Matthew 1:38 (NLT)“Surrendered” Is there one Bible character you think you are most like? Thomas the Doubter? Peter the Loudmouth? Jonah the Runner? Or maybe you see yourself as one of the more stable and strong characte...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – Mary & Joseph“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel ...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – Mary & JosephConfused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!” – Matthew 1:29-30 (NLT)“Trust and Obey” “Confused and disturbed.” Has that phrase ever been a description of YOUR journey of faith? What’s funny in this story is that it seems like it wasn’t...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – Mary & JosephIn the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” – Matthew 1:26-28 (NLT)“The Favored Ones” Favor...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – The Prophecies“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.” – Hosea 11:1 (NLT)“God Is There Ahead of Time” What if I told you that God was putting some things in place that would be there exactly when you needed them? He does that you know. While we live mostly in the moment, God lives in the moments that are yet to come.Take ...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – The Prophecies“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.” – Micah 5:2 (NLT)“Great Things in Small Packages” One of the things I’ve noticed about God is how He loves to use small things to make big differences. Our p...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – The Prophecies“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” – Isaiah 9:2 (NLT)“You’re Not Alone in the Dark” Next week, I’ll be speaking at a “Blue Christmas” service in Dayton, Ohio. It’s a special service of hope and healing for those who may find the holidays a bit difficul...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – The Prophecies“She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).” – Isaiah 7:14b“Immanuel” This prophecy is a little harder for us to fully appreciate because of how personal we have made God in our theology. Many people have come to think of Jesus so commonly that He is almost a “big buddy in the sky.”But for the Je...

“It’s All About Jesus!”The Birth of Jesus – The PropheciesAll right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! – Isaiah 7:14a (NLT)“The Visited Planet” Prophecies almost always had two components. One had to do with what God was doing THEN—the day and time in which it was written. In this case, it was about assuring His people that God was working in the...