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Home Sermons 2010 Mary and God's good work (Christmas Eve messaage)
 
Mary and God's good work (Christmas Eve messaage) PDF Print E-mail
Written by David Charlton   

Scripture 

Luke 1:1-20 and Matthew  1:18-2:23

 Summary and Purpose

 

Summary: We often think of the manger scene with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus as being peaceful and quiet. Songs like “Silent Night’ and “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem’ portray that image. The reality, however, was probably quite different. Jesus was born in a barn!!!! It most likely was noisy with several animal sounds, smelly with animal urine and feces and very grimy with dirt and hay for a floor. Not the most sanitary condition to deliver a baby.  Mary had no pain medication and just completed a long 55 mile donkey ride from Nazareth to Jerusalem. I don’t think she was having a whole lot of fun.

God, however, often does his best work when we are at our ‘whit’s end’. Joseph and Mary were at their ‘whit’s end’ when they were about to have a baby in a filthy barn. Yet, God chose to enter our world as a human in such deplorable conditions. This event led to the salvation of the entire world. God worked in a powerful way during that chaotic night in Bethlehem.

Is your life chaotic? Do you feel like you’re at your ‘whit’s end’ like Mary and Joseph? If so, God may be getting ready to do something extraordinary in your life. No, you’re not going to give birth to the Son of God. That only needed to be done once. God, however, can use chaotic situations to change hearts and demonstrate His love and power. We just need to turn to Him in faith. If you are in a chaotic situation, go to God and ask, “How will you use this situation to change me? What can I learn from this? How will you show yourself?” Christmas demonstrates that God often does His best work when we are in chaos.  

Purpose: To help the congregation see God at work during the trials and tribulations of life.

The Sermon

I. Introduction: A wonderful and Holy night [Pastor David steps in front of the
   congregation and begins to describe the manger scene as peaceful and nice.]

     1. A peaceful Mary looked adoringly at baby Jesus lying in a nice manger.

     2. Joseph, the dutiful husband, energetically pampered Mary – making her a nice
          comfortable bed and cheerfully attending to her every need

     3. The baby Jesus didn’t cry at all. When he was hungry, he cooed nicely.

     4. It was a holy night. With this in mind, we’ll sing “Silent Night” [The congregation
         sings “Silent Night”]
     5. [After the song, Pastor Dave continues his idyllic description of the manger scene.
         After a sentence or two, Mary bursts into the Sanctuary. She’ll enter from the front
         doors, yelling loud enough to interrupt Pastor Dave]
  • Mary bursts in saying “Wait a minute!!!! That’s not how it was. It was not a peaceful, and serene night!!”
  • Pastor Dave: “Hold on! This is my sermon. I know what I’m talking about! I’ve heard this story all my life.”
  • Mary: “Oh really?! Well, in case you don’t know, I’m Mary. I was there. I’m the one who gave birth to Jesus! [Mary turns to the congregation] How many women here ever gave birth? How many of you think the pastor has it wrong? [Many ladies should raise their hands] I thought so. Now, I’ll tell you how it really was”

II. Mary’s realistic version of the story [Mary tells the congregation how it really was]

     1. It may have been a holy night, but it sure was not fun or peaceful. It was one of
         the hardest nights of my life!
  • I just completed a 55 mile long donkey ride while 9 months pregnant. Can you imagine riding on a donkey for 55 miles while 9 month’s pregnant?
  • Couldn’t get a decent room, had to settle for the barn
  • Joseph tried to make it comfortable but all he had was hey. The animals kept making noise and they stunk. I could smell the urine and feces.
  • Worst of all, I couldn’t even blame my husband Joseph because he’s not the one who got me pregnant!
  • The pain was excruciating. Joseph, bless his heart, tried to make me comfortable but he failed miserably!!
  • Then, finally, Jesus was born. Joseph made a crib out of the manger.
  • I thought I could relax and sleep but then these shepherds arrived with this story about angels!! I didn’t want to see those shepherds. I just wanted to sleep. I did, however, take what they said to heart. I just gave birth to the Son of God.
     2. Although it was one of the hardest nights of my life, it was also one of the most
         wonderful. After all, I gave birth to the Messiah, the Son of God…[After saying
         this, ‘Mary Did You Know’ will be sung as a solo.]
III. God often does his best work when we are in chaos [After the song ‘Mary did you
      know’ is played, Mary exits and Pastor Dave resumes his sermon]
     1. It’s a good thing Mary straightened me out. I’ll never again describe the manger
         scene as peaceful and calm. She was giving birth in a barn!!
     2. This, however, illustrates a certain truth: God often does His best work when we
          are in chaos. When we are at our ‘whit’s end’
  • Joseph and Mary were at their ‘whit’s end’ when they were about to have a baby in a filthy barn.
  • Yet, God chose to enter our world as a human in such deplorable conditions.
  • This event led to the salvation of the entire world.
  • God worked in a powerful way during that chaotic night in Bethlehem.
     3. Is your life chaotic? Do you feel like you’re at your ‘whit’s end’ like Mary and
         Joseph?
  • If so, God may be getting ready to do something extraordinary in your life. No, you’re not going to give birth to the Son of God. That only needed to be done once.  
  • God, however, can use chaotic situations to change hearts and demonstrate His love and power.  
  • We just need to turn to Him in faith.  
  • If you are in a chaotic situation, go to God and ask, “How will you use this situation to change me? What can I learn from this? How will you show yourself?”  

     4. Christmas demonstrates that God often does His best work when we are in chaos.  

IV. Candle lighting

     1. On that chaotic yet holy night, God entered the world as a human baby. A light
          entered this dark and fallen world.
     2. As followers of Jesus, we are to take His light and carry it to the world. [Pastor
          Dave lights his candle and lights the next person’s candle]
     3. [The congregation lights their candles. The ushers direct the congregation to file
         outside. As they walk outside with lit candles we sing ‘What Child is This’?]

     4. [Pastor Dave gives the benediction]

     5. [Margaret leads the congregation in singing ‘Go tell it on the mountain’]
 
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