It’s Sunday...time for Atheist Church.

Let's begin with an incredible video clip by Keith Green (this made my eyes sweat real bad):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-00yOXmm_Y&feature=related

Today’s sermon is (again) from Luke chapter 2, as we make our way through this wonderful gospel:

"And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him" (Luke 2:39-40).

Tradition tends to get in the way of truth. One that has prevailed over the years is the wise men from the East visiting the baby in a manger. But Scripture is very clear that the visitation took place when Jesus was a “young child,” not as a baby. Bible commentator Matthew Henry said, "Luke relates no more concerning them, till they were returned into Galilee; but it appears by St. Matthew's gospel (ch. 2) that from Jerusalem they returned to Bethlehem, where the wise men of the east found them, and there they continued till they were directed to flee into Egypt, to escape the malice and rage of Herod..."

And as Jesus grew, He became strong in spirit and was filled with wisdom. You can see this wisdom and strength of character, in the gospels. When He cleared the temple, no one stopped Him. When the religious rulers asked Him questions to try and trap Him, He simply asked them a question, and they were dumbfounded. Even as a 12 year-old, He spell-bound elderly men with His wisdom. This was because the grace of God was upon Him.

Jesus was without sin. The Bible says that foolishness in bound in the heart of a child. Not so with this One. Other children quickly manifest the sins of greed, selfishness, anger, jealousy, etc., Jesus was pure of soul even as a child, because He was "born of God." The reason God was manifest in the flesh was for one purpose--to destroy the power of death. He was born to die…born to raise the sons of earth; born to give them second birth. Make sure you are born again. You eternity depends of it (see John 3:3).

No collection:

No announcements:

Benediction: May you understand the meaning behind the story of the Prodigal Son (from the above video clip). Thanks for joining us; and may you have a great week.