GETTING IN THE BIBLICAL CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

TEXT - LUKE 2:1-7

Introduction

In Charles Dickens’ classic novel entitled, The Christmas Carol, he tells the story about an old miserly rich man named Ebenezer Scrooge who absolutely deplores the concept and spirit of Christmas.

In fact, just the mere mention of the word would cause him to respond in disgust with the phrase he is known so well for, “Bah Humbug!”

According to the story, on Christmas Eve he is visited by his best friend and business partner, Jacob Marley who came back from the dead to warn Scrooge of the judgment that awaited him if he didn’t change his attitude and the way he lived.

During this encounter Scrooge is told that he will be visited by three spirits; the spirit of Christmas past, present, and future.

Thinking this was a lot of humbug, Scrooge went to bed and fell asleep.

At precisely the strike of midnight, he is awakened by the spirit of Christmas past who takes him into his past to relive both good and bad experiences.

After this, the spirit of Christmas present appears and takes him to the house of his employee, Bob Cratchet, where he sees firsthand the deplorable conditions of poverty in which his family has been forced to live due to an inadequate salary.

Then lastly, the spirit of Christmas future appears and takes Scrooge to a graveyard where he discovers his own name written on one of the head stones.

The shock and realization that he was going to die and be judged for his humbug attitude caused Scrooge to become repentant and vow to change his ways at which time he wakes up from his dream and begins to live the remainder of his life in the spirit of Christmas.

This morning, the title of my message is, “Getting Into The Biblical Christmas Spirit.” and our text is found in Luke 2:1-7.

Here in this passage we are told the story concerning the birth of Jesus Christ.

During the Christmas season it seems like there is this mysterious change that takes place in many people.  Some all of a sudden become concerned, cooperative and considerate.

A little boy was heard saying, “I wish Christmas was everyday of the year.”  I’m sure that is his parents heard him saying that, they would probably want to choke him.

If Christmas was everyday we would soon get tired of all the presents.  Not only this, but Christmas shopping would become an even greater burden and we’d get tired of having to buy all those presents.

The bright Christmas lights and finely decorated trees would soon lose their special attraction and beauty.

While it is impossible to have Christmas everyday, we can live in the spirit of Christmas everyday.  What does that mean?  How do you live in the spirit of Christmas and what is it?

This morning I’d like us to look at four ways to live in the spirit of Christmas everyday of your life.