1. Coming Home for Christmas Graphical sermon notes by, Rev. Ed Whitman Sunday, December 21, 2014 Evangelical Congregational Church in Dunstable Massachusetts © Copyright 2014 by the author, Rev. Ed Whitman, with permission to freely redistribute.

2. Matthew 2: 1-2, 9-12 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3. After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

4. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

5. Coming Home at Christmas Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. I John 4:7-11

6. Coming Home at Christmas This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. I John 4:7-11

7. I’ll Be Home For Christmas

8. Media Families Waltons Taylors Ingalls Jeffersons Cleavers Bradys Camdens

9. “At-Home” Christmas Customs On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. Matthew 2:11

10. “We need a little Christmas!” Let’s Pray

11. Wouldn’t it be terrible to always be out in the cold?!

12. Coming Home at Christmas On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. Matthew 2:11

13. Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. I John 4:7-11

14. Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. I John 4:7-11

15. What was God doing with the birth of Jesus? Initial step of living a whole life of earning eternal life for many. Final step 30+ years later the horrific death of Jesus pays the penalty for sins for many.

16. What was God doing with the birth of Jesus? Earns the right for people like us to enter Heaven and not have to suffer the eternal hell our sins deserve. Jesus came so that people like us might have a different kind of life in time and for eternity

17. Life and Love Jesus came at Christmas so that we could “come home” to God and all the significant people of our lives.

18. The Big Christmas Question Have you “Come Home” yet?

19. Why not “Come Home” this Christmas?

20. A Christmas Prayer Dear God, I admit that things are not the way they should be with some of the significant people of my life. I also admit that I have done wrong things against You and need your forgiveness. I do believe that Jesus died for my sins and I am sorry for the sinful things I have done. I want to turn from my sins and live differently

21. A Christmas Prayer I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to be at home with You and others. From now on I want to trust Jesus as Savior and follow Him as Lord, in the fellowship of your people. Please forgive me and restore me to a good relationship with You. And help me to live a life of love and peace with others. Amen.

22. Take-Aways

23. Why not “Come Home” this Christmas?