Dec
16
Written by:
Kyle Fink
12/16/2011 11:17 AM
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- Children’s Christmas Performance TODAY at 11:30.
- Christmas Day Schedule (Sunday): We will have a Lord’s Supper ONLY meeting from 11:00 to 12:00 (no Sunday School or youth programs). Babysitting will also be provided (for children up to 2 years old).
- New Years Schedule: We will have the Lord’s Supper and 2nd teaching service at their normal times (with the East Auditorium simulcast) - NO 9:00 service.
- Upcoming Winter Camps: Sign up soon! Brochures are on the Camp Elim table in the foyer. Also contact the office for carpooling (Beth Caldwell will be driving the van).
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- December Special Offering: 1. Mercy Ministries: Guatemala/Honduras water well materials (solar panels, pumps, etc.); 2. Adoption Fund (helping those desiring to adopt). Please designate your checks accordingly.
- 2012 Bible Reading Options: It's that time of year again to be thinking about a Bible reading plan. We have three different plans on display downstairs that range in scope, and we also want to suggest www.youversion.com. Youversion offers these same plans along with over one hundred others. The beauty of Youversion is that you can select your version and plan and it tracks your progress, sends reminders, and syncs between devices. We strongly urge you to pick a plan that works for you and begin! We are Littleton BIBLE Chapel, let's be people who know our Bible's and read our Bible's!
CURRENT WORSHIP THEME:
“The Word Became Flesh” John 1:14
NEXT WEEK’S WORSHIP THEME:
“Redemption Which Is In Christ Jesus” Romans 3:24
SERMON NOTES: “
The Birth of a King: The Vindication of the Prophets"
Matthew 2:1-12 Tom Sorensen
1. The history of the Magi from Herodotus
Oddly, the Magi come from the east not just to visit, but to worship Jesus ...why?
Theory #1: the major players in the story are parables about how people will respond to Jesus.
HEROD personifies Jewish suspicion and hatred
PRIESTLY ARISTOCRACY personifies Jewish indifference
MAGI personify the gentiles that will discover Jesus’ true identity and will respond accordingly and know the righteousness that comes through faith
Theory #2: the Magi represent themselves, a people saved by Daniel the prophet and as a consequence lived the next 600 years in anticipation of the fulfillment of the prophecy that saved their forefathers. When they bowed before Jesus and presented him with gifts they were acknowledging not only God’s King, but the vindication of the Jewish prophets. They may not have known Jesus’ other roles as prophet; suffering servant and the mediator of a New Covenant in his death. For them he was the supreme King who would set up a Kingdom that would never end nor would it ever pass to another people.
This means Christmas has a meaning of its own that is not subsumed completely under Easter and Good Friday. In light of Good Friday, we tend to see Jesus at Christmas as the child of a different destiny…all other children are born to live; Jesus was a child born to die. But the Magi simply see Jesus as the child born to rule; born to change the earth incrementally, substantively and permanently. Whatever else Jesus might be, for the Magi, he was the King that transcended all other kings and so mighty and awesome that all they could do was to adore him; fall before him; worship and give lavish gifts.
That’s why Matthew starts his gospel with these men’s example and witness. Christmas will never be truly Christmas, in 2011, unless a little of that Magi-spirit enters our lives afresh.