“Christmas & New Year Sermon Seeds”

By Pastor Jack Peters
Sermon Seeds

To subscribe: sermonseeds-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Topic: Christmas

Matthew 2:1-12

THE SEARCH FOR MESSIAH

REQUEST – Vss. 1-3

The Wise Men came asking “Where is He that is born King of the Jews?”

RESEARCH – Vss. 4-6

Herod was troubled and researched to find any information he could.

He learned of the prophecy of Micah 5:2.

REPORT – Vss. 7-8

Herod privately got the information to the Wise Men. His hope is that they would report back and that he would be able to kill the Lord Jesus.

REWARDS – Vss. 9-11

The rewards the Wise Men received for finding Jesus was actually seeing Him, worshipping Him, and sharing with Him.

***************************************************************************

Matthew 2

LESSONS FOR CHRISTMAS

The Christmas story is full of truths which we can apply to our own lives. Consider these four truths from Matthew 2:

1. GOD'S TIMING IS PERFECT Vss. 1-2

Jesus was born at just the right time and in just the right place (Micah 5:2)

The wise men came at just the right time to just the right place.

2. GOD'S ENEMIES ARE TREACHEROUS Vss. 3-8

Satan, through Herod, would do all that he could to destroy the Lord Jesus, including trying to deceive the wise men.

3. GOD'S SERVANTS ARE FAITHFUL Vss. 9-14

a. To go. Vss. 9-10

b. To share. Vs. 11

c. To obey. Vss. 12-14 (The wise men and Joseph obeyed God's directions.)

4. GOD'S PROTECTION IS POWERFUL Vss. 15-23

Satan through Herod tried to destroy Jesus, but God protected His Son.

***************************************************************************

Matthew 2:1-12

HOW WISE ARE YOU?

WISE MEN SEEK JESUS - Vss. 1-10

WISE MEN SHARE WITH JESUS - Vs. 11

WISE MEN SENSE GOD'S LEADING - Vs. 12

***************************************************************************

Matthew 2:1-12

WISE MEN STILL

There are many wise people mentioned in the Bible. There were Enoch and Noah, wise enough to walk with God. There was Ruth, wise enough to say to her Jewish mother-in-law, "...for whither thou goest I will go; and whither thou lodgest, I will lodge; Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God; (Ruth 1:16)

There was Andrew, who was wise enough to bring people to Jesus.  There was David, who was wise enough to say "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." There was Martha, wise enough entertain Jesus in her home. There was Martha's sister, Mary, wise enough to set at Jesus feet and hear his word. And, of course, there were the three wise men, who came to Jesus when he was born.

There are still wise men (and women) today. God is looking for wise men who will imitate the qualities of the wise men of Matthew 2.

WISE MEN STILL COME - Vss. 1-10

WISE MEN STILL WORSHIP - Vss. 2, 11

WISE MEN STILL GIVE - Vs. 11

WISE MEN STILL LISTEN - Vs. 12

***************************************************************************

Matthew 2:1-12

WISDOM AT WORK

They were called "wise" men. Indeed these men showed much wisdom!

(Note that the first letter from each of the points spell "STAR".)

They SOUGHT the King! - Vss. 1-2

They TRAVELED from the East - Vss. 1-10

To Jerusalem - Vss. 1-8

To Bethlehem - Vss. 9-10

They ADORED their King. - Vs. 11

They RESPONDED with Obedience - Vs. 12

***************************************************************************

Matthew 2:1-14

THE RESULTS OF CHRISTMAS

Christmas effects people in different ways. We see this in the story of the Wise Men.

THE WISE MEN HAD A PURPOSE - Vss. 1-2

They came to worship the newborn King of the Jews. We should have the same attitude at Christmas. We are to worship Him. Now we worship Him as our Redeemer, Lord, and friend.

HEROD HAD A PROBLEM - Vs. 3, 7-8

Herod was troubled, and wicked king that he was, he troubled everyone else when he was troubled!

After inquiring of the priests and scribes, Herod sent the Wise Men to Bethlehem to see the King and report back. He claimed to want to worship Jesus. He wanted to kill Him. There are people today who still have a problem with Jesus. They want to destroy Him and His followers.

THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS HAD A PROPHECY - Vss. 4-6

This is interesting. The religious leaders knew their Bibles. They know what the Scripture said about the birth of their King, and yet they did nothing to respond. Evidently they either didn't believe it, or were afraid of King Herod. Today there are many ministers who claim to be Christ's servants, who don't believe God's Word concerning the Virgin Birth of Christ and many other key doctrines.

THE WISE MEN HAD A POTENTATE (KING) - Vss. 9-11

They worshiped Him.

They gave Him gifts.

Let us worship Him.

Let us give Him gifts of money for His work (gold) sweet smelling prayers of adoration and requests (frankincense), sacrificial service (myrrh).

JESUS HAD PROTECTION - Vss. 12-15

God warned both the Wise Men and Joseph.

HEROD HAD PERVERSION - Vss. 16-18

What a terrible crime!

***************************************************************************

Matthew 2:1-15

SOMETHING SPECIAL

SPECIAL TIME - Vs. 1 - "When Jesus was born..."

SPECIAL PLACE - Vs. 1 - Bethlehem - Micah 5:2

SPECIAL PERSON - Vs. 1 - Jesus - Isaiah 9:6

SPECIAL WELCOMING COMMITTEE - Vs. 2 - The Wise Men

SPECIAL ENEMY - Vss. 3-8 - Herod

SPECIAL JOY - Vss. 9-10 - See Luke 2:10

SPECIAL GIFTS - Vs. 11

SPECIAL PROTECTION - Vss. 12-15

RETURN TO MATTHEW INDEX

RETURN TO MASTER INDEX

Topic: New Years

Ezra 7:10

A NEW YEAR'S EXAMPLE

As we approach another New Year, it is always good to have an example follow. Consider Ezra the Scribe.

EZRA'S PURPOSE - "For Ezra had prepared his heart"

EZRA'S PURSUIT - " to seek the law of the LORD,"

EZRA'S PRACTICE - "... and to do it,"

EZRA'S PROCLAMATION - "... and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments."
 

Psalm 90:10, 12, 14

"ABOUT TIME" OR "ON TIME"

There is at least one thing you and I have in common. God has given us each the same amount of time each day! We each have 24 hours. Each hour has 60 minutes. Each minute has 60 seconds.

One of the hardest things we need to do each day is to use God's gift of time wisely! Moses makes some interesting observations in Vss. 10, 12 and 14 of Psalm 90. He speaks about time.

RECOGNIZING THE TIME - Vs. 10
According to the Bible, the average life span is 70 years. Sometimes, especially in America today, a person may even receive a few more years. Nevertheless, no matter how long we live it is not long at all, and our time will be up.

REDEEMING THE TIME - Vs. 12
Moses recognized the need for proper use of time. Our time should be spent acknowledging the brevity of time and the need to use our time wisely. The most important thing we can do with our time is please God. See Ephesians 5:15-17.

REJOICING THROUGH TIME - Vs. 14
The sooner we find the mercy of God in Christ, and are satisfied with that mercy all our days, the happier we will be! The word mercy here refers to God's love! Let us always remember that nothing can separate us from that love! Romans 8:35-39.


Psalm 119:1-2

GOD'S WAY TO HAPPINESS

As I write these notes we are approaching a New Year. These two verses can be used as a challenge as we face 1999. However, this message can be used any time as a challenge to Godly living.

We all want to be happy! The trouble is, most of us try to find our happiness in things, in what people think about us or in personal comfort. In Psalm 119:1-2 the word "blessed" means happy.

Here God tells us His way for us to achieve true happiness.

BE SAVED - "Blessed are the undefiled in the way..."
We are all defiled by sin! (Romans 3:9-23) Jesus died for our sin! (2 Corinthians 5:17) Believe on Him and be saved! (Romans 10:13, Acts 4:12, John 3:36) When are saved we become undefiled in the way! God declares us righteous. (Romans 5:1)

BE SATURATED - "...who walk in the law of the LORD."
When we walk in something we are surrounded by it. True happiness for the one who is saved comes from being surrounded by and saturated in the Word of God. (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 119:15-16)

BE STEADFAST - "Blessed are they that keep his testimonies..."
We will be happy as we steadfastly obey God.

BE SEEKING - "...and that seek him with the whole heart."
We constantly seek other things and other people instead of seeking the Lord. (Psalm 27:8)
 

Proverbs 22:6 etc.

IN TRAINING

As another year approaches, we must be aware that a church that is going to amount to anything for Christ must be a church that is well trained in the things of God.

TRAIN THE CHILDREN - Proverbs 22:6 - "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." The best time to train people is when they are young. We should take diligent heed to win children to Christ and to train them early in the things of God.

TRAIN THE CHURCH - 2 Timothy 4:2 - "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." The church as a whole needs to be trained in the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16

TRAIN THE COMMITTED - 2 Timothy 2:2 - "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."

Pastors tend to spend most of their time with problem people who show little interest in Spiritual maturity. Paul instructed Timothy to invest his time and teaching talents in "faithful men". We should follow this instruction as well.
 

Jeremiah 6:16-17

LET'S DO WHAT ISRAEL DIDN'T DO!

Israel was often a disobedient nation. God sent prophets, such as Jeremiah to bring Israel back to Himself. Israel would not listen. Right now, God is calling us as Christians back to Himself. To have revival, we need to do what Israel didn't do.

(Can be used for a New Year message. Let's do better than Israel in 2005!)

ASK - "...ask for the old paths, where is the good way..."

ACT - "...and walk therein...Hearken to the sound of the trumpet"
(God's preachers are the watchmen, sounding the trumpet.)

ACCOMPLISH - "...and ye shall find rest for your souls."

AVOID (ignoring God like Israel did.) - "But they said, we will not walk therein." "But they said, we will not hearken."
 

Luke 12:35-40

ON THE WATCH(Can be used any time, but would make a nice possibility for a New Year sermon, especially at a watch-night service)

THE ACTIVE WATCH Vss. 35-36

THE AWARDED WATCH Vs. 37

THE ALERT WATCH Vss. 38-40

 

Philippians 3:17-21

FOR THE NEW YEAR!

As we face another year, these words of Paul are a good reminder for us to follow.

OUR CHALLENGE FOR THE NEW YEAR - Vs. 17 - Follow the example of Paul in Godly living and those who are also following his example. Paul and others were not perfect, but still excellent role models.

OUR CAUTION FOR THE NEW YEAR - Vss. 18-19 - Avoid following the example of those who are ungodly.

OUR CITIZENSHIP FOR ETERNITY - Vss. 20-21 - Our citizenship (conversation) is in Heaven right now. We are away from home temporarily. We should be looking for the coming of our Savior, who will transform our bodies to be like His.
 

Hebrews 12:1-2

FOR THE NEW YEAR

REMEMBER THE WITNESSES - "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses," (I believe that the witnesses are the men and women of faith found in Hebrews 11)

REMOVE THE HINDRANCES - "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us," (The book of Hebrews stresses belief. I believe that the sin that easily besets us is unbelief. See Hebrews 3:12-13.)

RUN THE RACE - "...and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"

REFLECT ON JESUS - "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
 

Hebrews 13:5-6

4 C'S FOR THE NEW YEAR

As a New Year approaches this passage gives us some positive encouragement.

CONDUCT - "Let your conversation (manner of life) be without covetousness;"

CONTENTMENT - "... and be content with such things as ye have:"

COMPANION - "... for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

CONFIDENCE - "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me
 


Return to Sermon Index