Sermon Tone Analysis

When I was a youth, the planetarium had an annual program that explained the “Star of Bethlehem”

/Johannes Kepler, a Reformation era astronomer and mathematician, calculated that Jupiter and Saturn aligned in 7 b.c.

This rare light became the reason the wise men left in search of Jesus.

\\ Others believe a comet in 5 b.c. was the guiding light./

While both theories assume that the Gospel account is true, the natural explanation misses the mark.

This star did things that no ordinary star can do:

* It led from the east to Jerusalem

* It disappeared for a time

* It led from the north to Bethlehem

* It identified the specific house where Jesus and His family resided

Why doesn’t God use guiding stars today?

\\ Answer “He does.”

They are called *Christians* (Dan 12:3).

The demoniac of Gadara begged to become the thirteenth disciple.

Instead Jesus said, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”

20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel (Mark 5:19-20).

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Every born again Christian becomes a light in the night sky we call earth.

Each light points to the Savior, not to the star.

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The Light of the World (Jesus) has strategically placed many guiding lights that are needed now.

If you are a believer, you are one of them.

Matthew 5:14-16 \\ /Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven./

*If your light is shining, three strong reactions will follow!*

!

I. Wise Men Will Rejoice – [[Bible:Matt 2:10]]

!! A. God is Light – [[Bible:1 John 1:5-7]]

!!!

The first creative act of God was LIGHT

!! B. Our world is wrapped in darkness

!!! Since the fall, man has learned to either …

!!! 1. Cope with the darkness

!!!! a) Looking everywhere for light – Acts 17:27

/27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: /

!!!! b) Embracing false gods who promise light

!!! 2. Embrace the darkness

!!!! Darkness and sin are natural

!! C. Jesus Is that true light–

!!! 1. [[Bible:John 1:9-12]]

!!!! a) It matters not your standing

!!!!! (1) Shepherds found that light \\ (2) Wise men found that light

!!!! b) What matters is your courage to embrace that light

!!! 2. [[Bible:John 3:19-21]] \\ The light attracts and repels.

!! D. Today, we are like the star of Bethlehem –

!!! 1. Wise men seek him, but they will do so through our actions, attitudes, and acknowledgement of Jesus

!!!! a) What we are really matters

!!!! b) Our walk and talk must agree

!!!!! (1) Our actions are meaningless without profession \\ (2) Our professions are meaningless without action

!!! 2. To turn many to the right way, a star requires two characteristics

!!!! a) It must be *fixed*.

Its position must be established – Character

!!!!! (1) Principled rather than pragmatic \\ (2) A planet moves and leads astray – Jude 13 “wandering stars”

!!!! b) It must be *visible*.

Its identity must be known or else the darkness will cover it.

– Witnessing

!!!!! (1) Being a “silent” witness does not cut it.

\\ (2) 1Peter 2:9 “… shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

\\ A witness that is both visible and audible ([[Bible:Ps 51:15]]; [[Bible:Ps 71:15]]; plus 11 others in OT involve the mouth).

!!! 3. Let your light so shine before men … Matt 5:16

!! E. That light will be a god-send to any who is groping in the darkness.

!!! 1.

It will be a beacon even though it is small

!!! 2. Do people see your light?

!!! 3. Do they know that God energizes that light?

!!! 4. Wise men will rejoice when you shine!

!

II.

Demons Will Tremble – [[Bible:Matt 2:3]]

!! Herod was not happy; Jerusalem trembled (see earlier messages) \\ It appears that the true light of Christmas is being purposefully and progressively dimmed.

To recognize the birth of Christ is an offense that public institutions are not willing to endure.

!! A. The War on Christmas?

!!! 1.

A battle worth fighting?

* “Onward, Christian soldiers – marching as to war, \\ For the sake of Christmas being evermore.”

!!! 2. The war with atheism

!!!! a) A war of Commercialism

!!!! b) A war with Traditions –

* Santa / Christmas Trees

!!!! c) A war of Paganism

!!!!! (1) It is common for groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses to point “pagan” symbols “worshiped” by professing Christians \\ (2) The date was chosen to pacify the pagans \\ (3) The mother is elevated to status of Queen of Heaven \\ To some holiday-deniers, putting *Christ* back into *Christmas* is like putting *ham* back into *hamburger*

!!! 3. We are not called to contend earnestly for the calendar

* It would be easy to dismiss the matter as a distraction.

However …

!! B. The war on the gospel – atheists get it!

* Some Christians are finding clever ways to insert the gospel message into the festivities – and some unbelievers are politely listening.

!!! 1.

Most contemporary Christmas celebrations are Laodicean in character – [[Bible:Revelation 3:14-22]]

!!!! a) Rich, increased with goods, in need of nothing

!!!! b) Jesus is outside the door, knocking and asking to be let in

!!!! c) He wants to dine at your Christmas table

!!! 2. Few recognize the sacrifice – through His poverty we are made rich – [[Bible:2Cor 8:9]]

!!!! a) What did Jesus leave behind?

!!!!! (1) The glory of Heaven \\ (2) The goodness of Heaven

!!!! b) Perhaps Christmas should be celebrated in a barn

!!! 3. Christmas ought to humble us – our spiritual condition is *miserable* without Him

!!!! Christmas is for humble people

* Zacharias and Elizabeth were humble

* Mary and Joseph were humble

* The shepherds were humble

* Bethlehem was humble

* Simeon and Anna were humble

* The Magi were humble

!!! 4. The symbols of Christianity speak volumes to the offended atheist.

* On December 13, 2011 Eric Bolling of Fox News Network asked Don Barker (Freedom from Religion Foundation) why he was trying to close down a manger scene in front of a county courthouse nearly 700 miles away from him.

He said that the nativity represents “an insult to human nature that we are all doomed and damned.”