1. The King Born in a Barn (Luke 2:1-20)
RezChat
The King Born in a Barn
(Luke 2:1-20)

2. “Thou cam’st, a little baby thing”
“That Holy Thing,” - George MacDonald
Luke 2:1-7
1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
“Mary, did you know…
When you kiss your little Baby, you kissed the face of God?”

3. The Angel’s “Song”… Luke 2:8-14
8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men.
“That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.” -Linus

4. The Shepherds Come… Luke 2:15-20
15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

5. What An Entrance! (uh… stay tuned!)
God could have entered His creation any way He chose. He could have come down in a blaze of glory, riding flaming chariots on pillars of cloud with trumpets blasting and millions of heavenly angels shouting praises…
(uh… stay tuned!)
But He chose something very different for His first visit. He chose to enter the world by becoming a fetus inside the womb of a young, frightened, and penniless Hebrew woman.

6. Why do you think God chose to enter the world in this manner?
Why’d He Do That?
Why do you think God chose to enter the world in this manner?

7. Away in the Manger, No Crib for His Bed
As we think about the birth of our Lord, we should try to set aside the cute little Christmas visions from our Sunday School nativity scenes…
We should have the stench of manure and acrid straw in our nostrils. We should imagine the frightened and trembling hands of a young virgin mother as she grasps her new-born baby, slippery with her own blood, wraps Him in swaddling clothes, and places Him in the only thing available to her – a filthy animal feeding trough.

8. She Put What??? On Whom??? Don’t miss what just happened here…
Mary put a diaper on God!
-J. Vernon McGee

9. What a Memory!
Didn’t you think it was cool when Adam recited the “Angels Song” passage from memory during his sermon last Sunday? I want to be able to do that too! Here’s a little memorization “trick” that seems to work pretty well… 
A t w i t s c s a i t f, k w o t f b n. A, l, t a o t L c u t, a t g o t L s r a t: a t w s a. A t a s u t, F n: f, b, I b y g t o g j, w s b t a p. F u y i b t d i t c o D a S, w i C t L. A t s b a s u y; Y s f t b w i s c, l i a m. A s t w w t a a m o t h h p G, a s, G t G i t h, a o e p, g w t m.

10. Please…Sing… the… Last… Verse...
In 1865, an Episcopal priest named Philip Brooks (called “the greatest American preacher of the 19th century”) visited the town of Bethlehem where he assisted with the midnight service on Christmas Eve that year.
A full three years later, the experience was still so meaningful to him he was inspired to write a poem for his church.
His organist, Lewis Redner, set the poem to music, and one of the most beautiful and moving Christmas hymns ever heard on earth was created.
Unfortunately, whenever this hymn is sung in worship service, the final verse is invariably omitted (music directors believe we all have AADD). But this omitted verse may be the most important musical passage in the history of music! (just one guy’s opinion…)

11. The Deleted Verse… O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in,
be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!

12. O Little Town of Bethlehem
“Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you shall come for Me One who will be Ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2
Play

13. O Little Town of Bethlehem
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

14. O Little Town of Bethlehem
For Christ is born of Mary,
and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together,
proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King,
and peace to men on earth!

15. O Little Town of Bethlehem
How silently, how silently,
the wondrous Gift is giv’n;
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of His Heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming,
but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
the dear Christ enters in.

16. O Little Town of Bethlehem
O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in,
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel!