PROPS FROM A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT: Sermon Outline for December 8, 2019 (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on December 8, 2019)

PROPS FROM A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT: Away in a Manger - December 8, 2019

Prayers

INTRODUCTION

A strange way for a King to enter the world

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:1-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I.   GOING FROM NAZARETH TO BETHLEHEM

A.  Nazareth
1.  About 400 people
2.  1 public bath
3.  Not mentioned in the Old Testament or ancient rabbinic writings
4.  Contextual contempt

“The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote— Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.”
‭‭ John‬ ‭1:43-46‬ ‭NIV‬‬
B.  Bethlehem
1.  City of David, home of Jesse (his father)
2.  A hill that protects the fertile valleys around it
3.  Resting place of Rachel, David, Ezekiel, Asaph, Job, Jesse, and Solomon
4.  Place of David's anointing by Samuel
5.  The valley east of Bethlehem is where Ruth gleaned in the field and returned home with Naomi

II.  GIVING BIRTH IN A STRANGE PLACE

A.  The Romans
B.  The Journey
1.  Home
2.  100 mile trip (8-10 days)
3.  Day 9 or 10 they would have seen Jerusalem
a.  City on a hill
b.  Mount Moriah (the Temple)
4.  A few more hours to Bethlehem

III.  A MANGER FOR A CRIB

A.  No room for them in the Inn
B.  Wrapped him in cloths
C.  Placed him in a manger
D.  No place for a new born, the perfect place for the King

CHALLENGE

“ . . . have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

SERVE!!!!!!  Demonstrate the Christ at Christmas by serving your neighbor.