It’s Sunday! Welcome to the first Atheist Church Service.

Thank you for joining us today.

Let’s begin with today’s Hymn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVsNCllEHD0&feature=fvw




"He has sounded forth the trumpet
That shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men
Before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him;
Be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on."

Announcements:
This week I will be giving away a hand-made genuine leather vest to atheists, so keep an eye on the blog. I also hope to finish a woman’s black leather dress jacket--size 36 inch. I will let you know when it’s done. Friday will be the day we announce the groceries gift to atheists.

Collection:
This service is free.

Sermon:
From the Gospel of Luke, chapter two

16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

So, what’s all the fuss? This is just a baby in a cow’s feeding trough. Babies are born everyday in poverty. It’s no big deal. True, it’s not a big deal to those who have no understanding. If a child found the diary of Leonardo de Vinci he may use it as a coloring book. He gives no value to it because he lacks understanding as to its worth. One of De Vinci’s notebooks, the Codex Leicester, was purchased by Bill Gates for $30.8 million back in 1994. He explained why he valued to book:

"I feel very lucky that I own a notebook. In fact, I remember going home one night and telling my wife Melinda that I was going to buy a notebook; she didn't think that was a very big deal. I said, no, this is a pretty special notebook, this is the Codex Leicester, one of the Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci. And I personally have always been amazed by him because he personally worked out science on his own, and he understood things that no other scientist of that time did."

And so it is with those who give no value to this babe in a manger. They mock that which is precious. However, those who understand who this was, give it unspeakable value. This babe was God in human form--God "manifest in the flesh" for the express purpose of suffering for the sins of the world, so that the door of death could be closed for humanity and the door of immortally swung open wide. Think of it--if this was the promised Messiah, if Jesus of Nazareth was God in human form, if He did take our punishment, if He can give everlasting life to all who repent and trust in Him--what better news could you hope to ever hear! The problem is, those without understanding sometimes choose to stay without understanding. They are proud know-it-all’s with closed minds. But for those who are open-minded, there is proof. This gospel is absolutely 100 percent provable. Seek Him today.

The Benediction:
As you go through this week may your eyes be opened to what you have been given by the God who created you in your mother’s womb and breathed life into your being.

Thank you for joining us.