Christmas

SSMCSUNGAI WAY-SUBANGMETHODISTC H U R C H

"In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” John 1:4

the mangerMessage by Rev Dr Ng Swee Ming

“If you could interview anyone, who would it be?”

“Jesus Christ.”

“What question would you ask Him?”

“I would like to ask Him if He was indeed virgin born,

because the answer to that question would define

history.”

Larry King Liveon

the MOMENTGal. 4:4 “But when the fullness of the timewas come, God sent forth His Son, …”

the MESSAGEHeb 1:2a “… but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son…”

the METHOD

Luke 1:34-35 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you…

Q1: Which of the following were prophesied about Jesus’ birth ?That he would be ….

A. born to a virgin named Mary

B. born in a manger in Bethlehem

C. a descendent of David

D. visited by shepherds

E. all of the above

Christmas Bible Trivia 1

Q2: The angel told Mary she will be with child and …

A. That she would become very famous

B. That she would give birth in Bethlehem

C. That all her troubles were over

D. That she will give birth to a son

E. That her elderly relative Elizabeth, was already pregnant 3 months

Q3: Who ‘directed’ Joseph and Mary to go to Bethlehem ?

A. Angel Gabriel

B. King Herod

C. Caesar Augustus

D. A new bright star in the sky

E. Simeon the Prophet

Q4: How did Joseph & Mary travel to Bethlehem ?

A. They walked

B. Mary rode on a donkey

C. By chariot-express

D. By Uber-taxi service

E. The Bible does not say

Q5: The name ‘Jesus’ was revealed by the angel to whom ?

A. Zechariah

B. The wise men

C. Joseph only

D. Mary only

E. Both Joseph & Mary

the manger

John 1:1-5, 9-14

four treasures in …

the MANGER John 1:1

v1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Q: Does it sound like ‘Greek’ to you ?‘Word’ : Gk – ‘Logos’Greek Philosophers 560BC …Famous Statement : ‘It's impossible to step twice into the same river.’

‘Logos’ : the mind, power, reason of ‘god’

the MANGER John 1:1

v1 In the beginning was the ‘Logos’ (Word), and the ‘Logos’ (Word) was with God, and the ‘Logos’ (Word) was God.

John used the same Gk word …BUT …

the ‘Logos’ is not an abstract power .…is a person …has a name …

- JESUS …

Jesus is the ‘LOGOS’…

the MANGER John 1:1

v1 In the beginning was JESUS, and JESUS was with God, and JESUS was God.

1st Treasure in the MANGER …

- the WORD

the MANGER John 1:1-3

the WORD was in the MANGER…v1 In the beginning was the WORD,

and the WORD was with God,

and the WORD was God. 2 HE was with God in the beginning. 3 Through HIM all things were made;

without HIM nothing was made that has been made.

1st Treasure. the WORDGen 1:1 In the beginning

God created the heavens and the earth….

Col 1:16-17 For by HIM all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by HIM and for HIM. HE is before all things, and in HIM all things hold together.

1 In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God.

2 HE was with God in the beginning.

3 Through HIM all things were made; without HIM nothing was made that has been made.

2. the LIFE John 1:4a

v4 In Him was LIFE, ….

2nd treasure in the MANGER

- the LIFE Paraphrase John 10:10b

“… I have come that ‘you’ may have LIFE, and have it to the full.”

2. the LIFE John 1:4a

v4 In Him was LIFE, ….Jesus Himself declared in John 14:6

"I am the way and the truth and the LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John’s Reason for writing the Gospel of JohnJohn 20:31 “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have LIFE in his name.”

4 In HIM was life, and that life was the LIGHT of men. 5 The LIGHT shines in the darkness, but the darkness

has not understood it.9 The true LIGHT that gives light to every man was

coming into the world.10 HE was in the world, and though the world was

made through HIM, the world did not recognize him.

11 HE came to that which was HIS own, but HIS own did not receive HIM.

the MANGER John 1:4-5, 9-11

Christmas lights in USJ 11

3. the LIGHT John 1:4-5, 9-11

3rd treasure in the MANGER

- the LIGHT Jesus Himself declared in John 8:12

"I AM the LIGHT OF THE WORLD. WHOEVER follows me

will never walk in darkness, but will have the LIGHT of LIFE."

1 John 1:5 “…GOD is LIGHT; in HIM there is no darkness at all.”

Away In The

Manger

Song & Dance Presentation

Q6: What did the innkeeper say to Joseph and Mary ?

A. “There is no room in my inn…”

B. “I have a stable at the back that you can stay”

C. “Try the inn down the road”

D. “We are not equipped for child-birth”

E. The Bible did not say

Christmas Bible Trivia 2

Q7: How many angels spoke to the shepherds?

A. One

B. Two – Only Gabriel & Michael

C. A multitude of angels

D. The angels only sang but did not speak

E. The Bible did not say

Q8: What signs were the shepherds asked to look for ?

A. A star over a stable

B. A young couple with a newborn baby

C. Wise men in Bethlehem – follow them

D. Baby Jesus in a manger

E. None of the above

Q9: Who saw the star over Bethlehem?

A. The inn-keeper

B. King Herod

C. The shepherds

D. The wise men

E. C & D

Q10: How many wise men came to visit Jesus ?

A. One

B. Three

C. Four

D. Seven

E. The Bible did not say

Bonus Question:

A. A manger in a stable

B. A synagogue

C. A house

D. Herod’s Palace

E. Egypt

Where did the wise men finally find Jesus ?

four treasures in …

the manger

John 1:1-5, 9-14

1. the WORD

2. the LIFE

3. the LIGHTGod’s Gifts on that

1st Christmas….

the MANGER John 1:12-1312 Yet to all who received him,

to those who believed in his name, he gave the RIGHT to become children of God—

13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

the MANGER John 1:12-13

4th treasure in the MANGER

- the RIGHTYet to all who received HIM, to those who believed in HIS NAME,

HE GAVE the RIGHT to become

CHILDREN OF GOD…Acts 4:12 declares ….Salvation is found in no one else, for there is NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN given to men by which we must be saved."

the MANGER John 1:14

14 The Word became flesh

and made His dwelling among us.

[and moved into the neighborhood – Msg]

[and did tabernacle among us - YLT]

We have seen His glory,

the glory of the One and Only,

who came from the Father,

full of grace and truth.

God’s Gifts to you this Christmas

1. the WORD

2. the LIFE

3. the LIGHT

4. the RIGHT

What’s your response to God’s Gifts….

four treasures in …

the manger

John 1:1-5, 9-14

Remember ….

The Innkeeper Missed it because he was too busy… Missed hosting the Birth of the Saviour… If Only ….

Remember …

The Shepherds 1st to receive the good news … 1st to visit the new born Saviour … 1st to proclaim…

BUT …. If Only ….

Remember …The Jewish Religious Leaders ….

Knew the Law … Was eagerly expecting the birth of the

Messiah … Knew that He will be born in Bethlehem ….

YET …. IF ONLY ….

four treasures in …the manger

1. the WORD

2. the LIFE

3. the LIGHT

4. the RIGHTHow will you respond ?What will you do with God’s treasures & gifts in the MANGER this Christmas ?