SERMON SPOTLIGHT * 12/15/24
God’s sovereignty is displayed in the people and the events surrounding Bethlehem. This Sunday, Pastor Tim gave us three ways we can see how the Christmas story displays the sovereignty of God. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.
SERIES: The Christmas Story
TEXT: Luke 2:1-7
TITLE: The Christmas Story Displays God’s Sovereignty
PREACHER: Tim Lambros
BIG IDEA: Christmas displays God’s sovereignty to strengthen our faith.
POINTS:
1. God is sovereign over political leaders
2. God is sovereign in His people
3. God is sovereign through the birth of His Son
SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes are taken from the pastor’s notes.
”A decree going out in this time period was not for proper representation in their Congress but a means to gather as much tax as possible.”
“[These were] tough times for Israel. Dark times. They haven’t heard from God in 4-500 years. A census is another reminder that although they live in the promised land they are definitely under someone else’s rule. A decree for a census is Ceasar flexing his political muscle to not only to get more taxes but to also communicate that Israel is under Rome’s thumb.”
“Although Ceasar Augustus is 1,000 miles away Luke communicates he is simply a tool in God’s grand redemptive plan. Ceasar has no idea that God is bringing about a 700-year-old prophesy through his decree.”
“Although the Incarnation of the Son of God is a monumental point in God’s redemptive plan, all through the Bible, Scripture clearly states that God is sovereign over nations and leaders.”
“Notice V. 2 Quirinius – another secular leader mentioned because census’ were done regionally. People were required to register in person and that was typically done in the place of your ancestors. Notice in v. 2, Luke also records that this census was the first for the governor of Syria, Quirinius. Acts 1:5 Luke mentions Herod, king of Judea. Look ahead to Acts 3:1-2. Why does Luke record all these government leaders? Why is this important? How does this draw our attention to the character of God?”
“The Christmas story is not mythical. The Christmas story and all of God’s revelation of Himself are rooted in world history. The Christmas story doesn’t begin in a place called Middle-earth. Luke’s narrative doesn’t open with ‘in a galaxy far, far way.’ The baby that we will read about being born in a few minutes is the Historical LORD. He is the God who reigns over the universe and thus reigns over political leaders. Does this strengthen your faith?”
“God is bigger than the mighty Roman empire. 300 years of domination. Yet in the middle of that reign, the One who reigns the universe is directing historical nations and leaders to accomplish His purposes.”
“Luke carefully writes about Joseph and Mary and historically significant geographical locations. REREAD V. 4. It is obvious Mary is in her 9th month of pregnancy. The distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem is somewhere between 80-90 miles. Most historians say they probably needed a week to travel there. It was dangerous to travel. Back then women died during childbirth. There were health risks that could terminate the pregnancy. This would be a difficult trip for Mary. Joseph probably waited for the weather to be the warmest. They may have possibly got a donkey for Mary to sit on. There would need to be bathroom breaks. They would surely go slower than most people. We know from Micah 5:2 that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem. But God is working IN and THROUGH His people for His redemptive purposes.”
“God is working out His plan in the lives of Joseph and Mary. The sovereignty of God working through and in His people is a truth we see threaded all throughout Scripture.”
“Have you heard of the butterfly effect/theory? The butterfly effect is the theory that a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil may cause a tornado in Oklahoma because of a thousand unknown links working in a causal chain. The Incarnation of the Son of God is God’s sovereignty working in/through His people – Joseph and Mary in this case - it’s like the butterfly effect in reverse. Their family line was from Bethlehem, where the Messiah must be born. To fulfill the prophecy Mary needed to get to Bethlehem at the time of her birth. So God puts it in the mind of Caesar Augustus — the most powerful person in the world, living over a thousand miles away — to call for empire-wide registration, involving millions of people, at exactly the moment when God would relocate this one obscure, pregnant, Jewish girl from Nazareth to Bethlehem.”
“All throughout Scripture, over and over again, we see God working His sovereign, redemptive plan through His people. It’s a mystery to us on how it all works out. The point is for us to trust Him. The point is for us to revisit the Christmas story and be in awe that our God works His sovereign plan for His people. God is showcasing His sovereignty. His display of His character in the Christmas story is meant to build our faith. The culture out there will trivialize these Mt. Everest truths about God, but it’s meant for us to strengthen our faith.”
“What a story! Who would have ever created a storyline like this? Geography like Nazareth, Judea, Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary betrothed and traveling. God is not worried that His plan might not work out. Year after year we are freshly in awe of His Sovereign hand at work.”
“Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem and it’s time for Mary to give birth. There’s nothing in Luke’s account that would tell us the innkeeper was some mean guy who wouldn’t give a room to the young couple. No, Bethlehem is a hub of activity as it is swarmed with travelers returning to their hometown.”
“Luke modestly states that Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger. Lest we sanitize and romanticize this let’s be very clear. There’s nothing sanitary about being born [and put] in a feeding trough. This isn’t ‘away in a manger’ it’s ‘away in a stinky feeding trough.’ There’s nothing romantic about the pre-incarnate Son of God being born into an animal space that stinks like manure.”
“What is happening in Bethlehem has no humble comparison. Let’s remember from our study of Colossians who Jesus is.”
“Luke’s description of the humble birth could easily be overlooked if not the divine celebration that Luke records in V. 8-14.”
“Let’s walk through the Christmas season careful not to exchange sentimentality for a serious and sobering truth. The Christmas story and the Incarnation of the Son of God display the sovereignty of God at work. But God is not done at the birth of Jesus. If you ready Acts 2 & Acts 4 you’ll see God’s sovereignty at work in the death and resurrection of our Savior.”
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Micah 5:2
Psalm 22:28
Job 12:23
Acts 17:26
Genesis 50:20
Exodus 2:5-8
Colossians 1:15-17
QUOTES:
WBC- “The supreme power figure of the Roman world, unbeknownst to himself, is instrumental in the fulfillment of messianic prophecy.”
John Piper - “The events of history are not about nations and industries. God governs the world for the sake of his children.”
J.I. Packer - “The Christmas message rests on the staggering fact that the child in the manger was - God … this is only half the story.”
APPLICATION:
We heard last week that December can be a dangerous month for Christians. The busyness, the distractions, and a culture that wants to sanitize and romanticize the birth of Jesus. As Christians, we want to freshly see God showcasing His Sovereignty to increase our faith and trust in Him.
Does the Christmas story increase your trust in God? - If God directs these events of the Christmas story – can you trust Him as He directs your life? As He brings challenges into your life? As you trust Him while waiting for answers to your prayers?
Does the Christmas story help you increasingly live more aware? – More aware of people in your life? Might God be sovereignly directing the paths of people in your life to bring them to a place of putting their trust in Jesus this Christmas season?
SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
O Come O Come Emmanuel
Prepare Him Room
God Made Low
Who Would Have Dreamed
Joy To The World
NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Luke 2:8-21