What Is Christmas?

“Christmas is a Time of Wonder”

Pastor Duane Cross | 12.22.2013

“At that time, Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!’”

Mary’s Song

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful of the humbled state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is His name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham

and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home”  Luke 1:39-56

GET LOST IN WONDER, LOVE AND PRAISE

I. CHRISTMAS is to be believed even when we do not understand.

II. The CHRISTMAS event is to be experienced and not explained

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’” Luke 2:15

“My soul magnifies The Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!”

“GET LOST IN WONDER, LOVE AND PRAISE.”