THE TOUCH OF CHRISTMAS

TEXT - MATTHEW 1:18-2:23

INTRODUCTION

THIS MORNING BEFORE WE TURN TO GOD'S WORD I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE WORK OUR CHOIR AND CHOIR DIRECTOR DID TO PREPARE FOR THIS CHRISTMAS MUSICAL.

ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SONGS IN THIS ARRANGEMENT WAS THE ONE NAMED, "LOVE CAME DOWN."

THE WORDS TOWARD THE END OF THIS SONG SAY, "LOVE CAME DOWN; LOVE THAT CARED SO MUCH, AND TOUCHED THE WORLD WITH CHRISTMAS, AND IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, AND TOUCHED THE WORLD WITH CHRISTMAS, AND IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME."

THIS MORNING THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "THE TOUCH OF CHRISTMAS," AND OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN MATTHEW 1:18-2:23. MORE SPECIFICALLY, MATTHEW 1:24-25; MATTHEW 2:11 AND MATTHEW 2:16.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT IT IS ABOUT CHRISTMAS THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE THE WAY IT DOES?

FOR SOME, THIS IS THE HAPPIEST TIME OF YEAR AND FOR OTHERS, IT IS THE SADDEST.

SOME PEOPLE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR SEEM TO SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR AND START BUZZING THROUGH THE MALLS, STORES AND ON THE FREEWAYS.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT CHRISTMAS THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE SO MUCH.  WHAT IS THE “TOUCH” OF CHRISTMAS?


    * IS IT THE FESTIVE SONGS THAT ARE SUNG?

    * IS IT THE BRIGHTLY COLORED LIGHTS ON THE HOUSES?

    * IS IT THE PRESENTS?

    * IS IT THE DECORATED CHRISTMAS TREES?

    * IS IT THE POETIC CHRISTMAS CARDS?


NO, IT IS JESUS!

WITHOUT JESUS, CHRISTMAS IS MEANINGLESS.

AND BECAUSE OF JESUS, THE WORLD WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.

THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT THREE WAYS SOME PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY THE TOUCH OF CHRISTMAS.