<“Christmas 2016: God’s Christmas Gift
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
PRELUDE
Welcome and Prayer – Elder Bob Griffin
#200 John 1:16-17; 13:1; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4-5; I John 4:9-10
#118 “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”
CELEBRATION: ANTICIPATION
#635 John 1:1-14
#123 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
#124 “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”
#125 “Joy to the World”
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES/CHRIST CANDLE
CELEBRATION: PROCLAMATION
#130 Luke 2:8-14
#131 “Angels, from the Realms of Glory”
#132 “Angels We Have Heard on High”
#133 “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”
SERMON: “UNDER THE TREE”
BRIEF BREAK and SHARING CHRISTMAS ‘GOODIES’
CELEBRATION: ADORATION
#142 Matthew 1:18-23
#143 “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”
#144 “How Great Our Joy”
#145 “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
CELEBRATION: CONTEMPLATION
#636 Matthew 2:1-12
#160 “Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming”
#157 “Away in a Manger”
#147 “Silent Night! Holy Night!”
OBSERVANCE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
POSTLUDE
#653 John 3:16; Romans 5:8; I John 3:1; 4:8-12,18-19
#152 “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”
CLOSING PRAYER – Elder Jim Garbutt
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I. SURROUNDING GOD’S MATCHLESS GIFTS
1. THE WRAPPINGS – Lk 2:12 “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling [burial] cloths and lying in a manger.”
2. THE TRIMMINGS – Lk 2:13-14 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
3. THE CONTENTS – Gal 4:4-5 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
4. THE GIFT TAG – Lk 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
5. THE PURPOSE – Jn 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
6. THE PROPER RESPONSE – II Cor 9:15 “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”
II. SUBSTANCE OF GOD’S MATCHLESS GIFTS
1. GIFT OF THE MESSIAH – John 4:10 “If you knew the gift of God, you would have asked of Him”.
2. GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – Acts 8:18-20 And when Simon saw that the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money. But Peter said to him, Your money perish with you because you thought that the gift of God might be purchased with money
3. GIFT OF SALVATION BY GRACE – Eph 2:8-9 “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”
4. GIFT OF PERSONAL ABILITIES – I Cor 7:7 “But every man has his proper gift of God one after this manner and another after that”
5. GIFT OF LIVING EACH LIFE FOR GOD – II Tim 1:6-7 “Wherefore stir up the gift of God, which is in you. For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.
6. GIFT OF ETERNITY IN HEAVEN – Rom 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”.