Stunned by Christmas - wk1

Intro Video: Staff Stunned by Christmas Stories

Key Concept: Every year we are stunned by the Christmas Season in one way or another but are we stunned by how amazing the Christ of Christmas is? This week we will look at the prophecies leading to the birth of Christ THEN ask how this evidence leads to greater worship for you this Christmas.

Intro: What is stunning about Christmas to you?
- Lights
- Stores / shopping
- Presents
- People / family
- The non-stop Christmas music?
I told a story of a time I was stunned on Christmas morning. parents said my gift was, "in the driveway" but left shoes there for me to find - stunning!

Main Illustration: The Greatest gift @ Christmas
We used 1 large wrapped present with lid, 1 large Bible
· Placed the present on stand before all the students we began the message.
· Referred to the present as containing the "most stunning Christmas present of all time"
· Asked students what they think would be inside
· Opened the box & pull out the Bible (God’s Word)
· Describe how God’s Proven & Trustworthy Word if the most valuable, most stunning present we could ever receive at Christmastime or in our lives!
· The greatest gift of all – God’s Promise to fulfill his Promises.
· He is absolutely trustworthy / so is His Word
This year in stead of looking at the manger, at the shepherds, at the wise men – were going to look back over 500 - 750 years before Christ was born to see where Christmas all started…to see how we can trust God & His Word even when it comes to Christmas; to Christ!

Read Luke 1:1-3 1 "Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus."
- He writes to Theophilus: either a new Christian convert or possibly a letter to all God’s people because Theophilus literally means “lover of God.”
- Luke starts by taking about all the things that have been fulfilled…the Jews had been looking for these things for a long time. (500-750 years plus)

What year was it 500+ years ago = 1509 / Doesn't that seem far away!!!
- How did they know so far in advance?
- How could they predict with such accuracy?
- How does it impact us today? Especially as we celebrate Christmas?

Q: How do you ID anyone today? Drivers Licence, SS card, birth Cert... well, Jesus was ID'ed as the coming Messiah 500+ years before he came! The identification was 1) predicted 2) specific

The birth of Jesus Christ is in direct fulfillment of many Bible prophecies:
- All these prophecies were made at least 500 years before Jesus was born.
- They stand as an irrefutable monument to the inspiration of the Bible and prove that God revealed himself through his messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.
- Most importantly - they prove that God can and should be trusted to do what He says He will do!
- As we look at these fulfilled Prophecies let them remind you of how trustworthy God & His Word is for you in your life!

1. Jesus’ Birth
Prophecy
Jesus would have to be born at least 30 years before the following prophecy could occur: "And after the sixty-two weeks,Messiah will be cut off, but not for Himself." (NKJV) Daniel 9:26
Fulfillment
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. (NASB) Luke 2:1-6

2. Jesus’ Mother
Prophecy
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (NKJV). Isaiah 7:14
Gen 3:15 that he was born of the seed of woman,
Fulfillment
Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins . . . His name [is] Immanuel." (NKJV) Matt. 1:20-23.

3. City of Birth
Prophecy
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come . . . one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." (NIV) Micah 5:2
Fulfillment
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod . . ." (NIV) Matt. 2:1

4. Children Killed
Prophecy
This is what the LORD says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more." (NIV) Jer. 31:15
Fulfillment
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under . . . then the [prophecy] was fulfilled. (NIV) Matt. 2:16-4:1

Jesus was the ONLY person in history that could have fulfilled those prophesies
- no one before…they would be too early!
- No one after – they would be too late!
- He is the only thing worth our worship this Christmas
- He is absolutely trustworthy for your life as well!

Application: So what does all that mean for me at School this week? With finals, etc

Proverbs 20:7 7 "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."
- God has something here that no one & nothing else has….He is the only one that can be TRUSTED!
- God keeps his Promises
- He Does what he says he will do
- “we trust in the name of the LORD” God’s name is His reputation. HE IS TRUST!


Conclusion: There’s tons to be stunned by this Christmas
Commercials, presents, lights, traveling, skiing, hours off of school, finals over…tons!
- There is only 1 gift God has given you this Christmas that’s more stunning than them all – HIS WORD
- You can trust it
- You can build you life on it
- @ Christmas you can know that Christ is the Messiah because of it