grace brings us to our knees pastor nathan weller december 13, 2015 series: the birth of grace
TRANSCRIPT
Grace Brings Us to Our Knees
Pastor Nathan WellerDecember 13, 2015
Series: The Birth of Grace
“Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more...
He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as
the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or… (cont’d)
(Charles Dickens)
…borough, in the good old world...and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas
well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said
of us, and all of us!” (Charles Dickens)
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but
according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal
of the Holy Spirit…(Titus 3.4-5 ESV)
Worship is the proper response to
God’s gift of grace
POP QUIZ!HOW MANY WISE MEN WERE THERE?
POP QUIZ!HOW MANY WISE MEN WERE THERE?
A. 2
POP QUIZ!HOW MANY WISE MEN WERE THERE?
A. 2B. 3
POP QUIZ!HOW MANY WISE MEN WERE THERE?
A. 2B. 3C. 4
POP QUIZ!HOW MANY WISE MEN WERE THERE?
A. 2B. 3
D. UnknownC. 4
POP QUIZ!HOW MANY WISE MEN WERE THERE?
A. 2B. 3
D. UnknownC. 4
Answer:
POP QUIZ!HOW MANY WISE MEN WERE THERE?
A. 2B. 3
D. UnknownC. 4
Answer: D
1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About
that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,
2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we
have come to worship him.” (cont’d)(Matthew 2.1-12 NLT)
3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in
Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah
supposed to be born?”5 “In Bethlehem in Judea…” (cont’d)
(Matthew 2.1-12 NLT)
…for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of
Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”7 Then Herod called for a private meeting
with the wise men, and he… (cont’d)(Matthew 2.1-12 NLT)
…learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them,
“Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and
worship him, too!”9 After the interview the wise men… (cont’d)
(Matthew 2.1-12 NLT)
…went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the
place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!
11They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and… (cont’d)
(Matthew 2.1-12 NLT)
…they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 When it was time to leave,
they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them
in a dream not to return to Herod.(Matthew 2.1-12 NLT)
Grace draws usto Christ
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem.
(Matthew 2.1 NLT)
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here when the true worshipers will worshipthe Father in spirit and truth, for the
Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who
worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4.23-24 ESV)
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast
out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has
given me, but raise it up on the last day.”(John 6.37-39 ESV)
Grace helps us see Jesus as the
King of Kings and Lord of Lords
2 Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? 3 When Herod
the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him…
(Matthew 2.2, 3 NLT)
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so
it is written by the prophet: (cont’d)(Matthew 2.3-8, 12 ESV)
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come
a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”7 Then Herod summoned the wise men
secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. (cont’d)
(Matthew 2.3-8, 12 ESV)
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may come and worship him.” 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their
own country by another way.(Matthew 2.3-8, 12 ESV)
Grace inspires our worship!
For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him….
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
And going into the house… (cont’d)(Matthew 2.2B, 10-12 ESV)
…they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and
worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold
and frankincense and myrrh.(Matthew 2.2B, 10-12 ESV)