PART 1: CHRISTMAS ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

Sentimental value and traditions can hijack your heart and blind you to the truth the Christmas

story is trying to tell you.

In your times of trouble or temptations, will you trust in

your traditions or in God’s truth?

Question:

The meaning of Christmas is that love will triumph and that we will be able to put together a world of unity and peace. In

other words, WE have the light within us, and so we are the ones who can dispel the darkness of the world. WE can overcome

poverty, injustice, violence, and evil. If WE work together, we can create “a world of

unity and peace.”

Tim Keller

“Christmas—contrary to popular opinion—is the most UN-sentimental, realistic way of looking at life.” The

message of Christianity in general—and Christmas gospel—in particular is

instead, “Things really are bad, and we can’t fix it ourselves. Things really are

this dark—but there IS hope.”

Matthew 1:1-17From the genealogy of Matthew, we learn:

The Christmas Gospel is Good News,

Not Good Advice

The Chris tmas Gospel Turns the World’s Values Upside Down

People excluded by culture, respectable society, and even by the law of God can be brought

into Jesus’ family.

What does this mean?1

People who hold all the most powerful

credentials only get into Jesus’ family by grace.

What does this mean?2

The Chris tmas Gospel says God May Take His Time,

But He Keeps His Word

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about…”

Matthew 1:18

The Christmas Gospel Says Jesus

is God

1Three Truths

THAT TRIUMPH OVER TRADITIONS

The Christmas Gospel Says Jesus is God1

Three Truths THAT TRIUMPH OVER TRADITIONS

But after he had considered this, an angel of

the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,

“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to

take Mary home as your wife, because what is

conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

M A T T H E W 1 : 2 0

The Christmas Gospel Says Jesus is God1

Three Truths THAT TRIUMPH OVER TRADITIONS

Immanuel (which means “God with us”)

M A T T H E W 1 : 2 3

The Christmas Gospel Says Jesus is God1

Three Truths THAT TRIUMPH OVER TRADITIONS

If Jesus really is God, what does that mean for

us practically?

The Christmas Gospel Says Jesus is God1

Three Truths THAT TRIUMPH OVER TRADITIONS

(a) If Jesus is God, it is an intellectual watershed.

“God became man; the divine Son became a Jew; the Almighty appeared on earth as a

helpless baby, unable to do more than lie and stare and wiggle and make noises, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child…The babyhood of the Son of God was a reality. The more you think about it, the

more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as is this truth of the Incarnation.”

J . I . P A C K E R

“It is from misbelief, or at least inadequate belief, about the Incarnation that difficulties at other points in the gospel story usually spring. But once the Incarnation is grasped as a reality,

these other difficulties dissolve.”

J . I . P A C K E R

The Christmas Gospel Says Jesus is God1

Three Truths THAT TRIUMPH OVER TRADITIONS

(b) If Jesus is God, it is a defining moment.

The Christmas Gospel Says Jesus is God1

Three Truths THAT TRIUMPH OVER TRADITIONS

(c) If Jesus is God, then there is Hope.

The Christmas Gospel Says Jesus is God1

Three Truths THAT TRIUMPH OVER TRADITIONS

In your times of trouble or temptations, will you trust in your

traditions or in God’s truth?

The Christmas Gospel says Jesus

is With Us

2Three Truths

THAT TRIUMPH OVER TRADITIONS

The Christmas Gospel says Jesus is With Us2

Three Truths THAT TRIUMPH OVER TRADITIONS

If you want Jesus in your life, it is going to take COURAGE.

M E A N I N G

The Christmas Gospel says Jesus is With Us2

Three Truths THAT TRIUMPH OVER TRADITIONS

THE COURAGE TO ENDURE THE WORLD’S

SCORN.

The Christmas Gospel says Jesus is With Us2

Three Truths THAT TRIUMPH OVER TRADITIONS

THE COURAGE TO GIVE UP ONE’S RIGHT TO

SELF-DETERMINATION.

The Christmas Gospel says Jesus is With Us2

Three Truths THAT TRIUMPH OVER TRADITIONS

THE COURAGE TO ADMIT WE ARE SINNERS.

“He will save his people from their sins.” (vs. 21)

The Christmas Gospel says Jesus isn’t a king;

He is The King

3Three Truths

THAT TRIUMPH OVER TRADITIONS

The Christmas Gospel says Jesus isn’t a king; He is The King

3

Three Truths THAT TRIUMPH OVER TRADITIONS

“Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the

east and have come to worship him.”

M A T T H E W 2 : 2

The Chris tmas Gospel Reveals the Threat Of Christ’s Kingdom

M A T T H E W 2 : 7 - 8 ; 1 3 - 1 6

“If you want to be king, and someone else comes along saying he is the king, then one of you has to give in. Only one person can sit

on an absolute throne.”

Tim Keller

Chris tmas means that THE King has

come into the world.

So what are you going to do about it?

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said

through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which

means “God with us”).

Matthew 1:22-23

In your times of trouble or temptations, will you trust in your traditions or

in God’s truth?

PART 1: CHRISTMAS ACCORDING TO MATTHEW