A friend told me his grandson was in a short, "Holiday Concert" play at his elementary school. The boy was excited about his part in it. He called his Grandpa to tell him about the play. He was surprised though when his Grandpa asked if the play had any shepherds or a baby in it. Do you this play, the boy asked? It was then that my friend realized his grandson had had no religious education. My friend and his wife stopped going to church long ago (it's a long story and a list of excuses since despite see God's miraculous hand at work in his wife's life), so his children never got to church much; and his grandchildren have never gone. They've never heard about Jesus.
How many children, youth and adults in America 2010, have never really heard the real story of the birth of Jesus? How many really don't know what Christmas means?
Preachers always wonder how they can be fresh or say something significant to their congregation in a Christmas sermon. It's an annual problem. But this year, I'm thinking there is a very obvious solution--simply tell "the greatest story ever told."
Angels announced the GOOD NEWS of Jesus' birth to very ordinary people, shepherds who had little or no religious education, and they heard the message. They no only heard it but they chose to do something about it. They went to Bethlehem, and they found Jesus. Their lives were never the same!
Could it happen again? YES!
Faith comes by hearing. But how will 'they' hear unless somone tells them about the love of God, about Jesus? This is our challenge.
So let's tell the story of Jesus that others might hear it and see Jesus living in us. Let's tell the story and God will lead all who truly hear it to find Jesus, the Savior of the world, who is with us still.
MERY CHRISTMAS ...to you a Savior is born who is Christ the Lord!
