Christmas shows why Christianity is unique. In all other religions, a prophet arrives and teaches how we can find eternal life. In Christianity, God comes to us and gives himself as the way to eternal life. Christmas shows that salvation is by grace, that we can have true intimacy with God, that love really matters, and that there exists an unceasing river of joy beneath all the sorrows of this world.

Many people today believe that Jesus never claimed to be God. They think Jesus was merely a wise teacher whose followers later deified him. Yet, key passages, such as Philippians 2, demonstrate that from the very beginning of Christianity, Jesus was worshiped as God. In our lives, we can only see Jesus’ love for us once we realize that he is God. Jesus left the perfect love of the Trinity in order to serve us. He then sends His disciples out into the world, following in his footsteps, serving and sacrificially loving others.

We live in a culture where the psychology class will teach that your problem is a lack of self-esteem, but the philosophy and biology classes will teach you that you are nothing. The doctrine of creation shows that the universe is not an accident and that every single human being has inherent value because they are made in the image of God. Yet, God is not merely a distant creator. God entered the world and died to redeem it because He loves us so much.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: Genesis 1-2; Luke 1:68; Matthew 21:14-16; Deuteronomy 7:7; John 17:19.

John’s Gospel begins by teaching that Jesus Christ is the Word of God. Just as we come to know a person through speaking to them and listening to their words, we come to know God by listening to Jesus speak to us. Yet, Jesus did not come solely to speak. He came to live among us so that there is nothing we will suffer that He has not also suffered. But most of all, He came to die for us. In the incarnation, God became vulnerable to us—even to death—and yet He loved us so much that He was glad to so.

If the baby in manger really is God, then Jesus is not a mere teacher whose instructions we can accept or reject as we please. Instead, Jesus calls us to a life of radical obedience to Him. Christmas isn’t about hanging out in front of comfortable fireplaces. When Jesus came into this world, he lost all his comfort. Jesus went from the joys of heaven to a filthy manger. Jesus likewise calls us to exit our comfort zones and live a life of adventure and service.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: Philippians 3:10; Hebrews 12:2; Mark 10:29.

The message of Christmas is foolishness to this world. We expect to find wisdom in the palaces of the elite, not the squalor of a manger. Throughout history, what has been considered “wise” has varied from age to age but the truths of Christianity have stood and will stand forever.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: 1 Corinthians 1:20-21; Romans 1.

What does it mean to say God is with us? The meaning of Christmas is that the Creator of the universe has become a human being. It means that the terrifying God who appeared in the Old Testament as a whirlwind and a fire has become a vulnerable baby in order to be close to us. What, in turn, will we do in order to be close to Him?

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: John 1:1, 14, 17; Acts 20:28; Acts 14:11-13; Job 38:1; Genesis 15:17; 2 Chronicles 7:1-3; Exodus 33:18-23; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 3:13; Romans 1:17; 1 Corinthians 13:7.