Valor Christmas Koinonia Message

Notes: Valor

Tuesday December 16, 2014

Verses and short messages by several pastors or group leaders about the Christmas story.

1. Pastor Greg Laurie:

Matthew 1:18-25 NKJV

[18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. [19] Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. [20] But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. [21] And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." [22] So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: [23] "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." [24] Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, [25] and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

Joseph is an unsung here in the Bible. He seems to be often forgotten. 

Let's not forget that the scriptures call Joseph a righteous man.

Gabriel ascended upon Mary. Joseph was called upon as well.

There are many attacks that Mary went through and Joseph remained there with her.

God was chosen to lead the family of Jesus Christ.

God chose me to be the leader of my family. I need to look at it that way. Men have a critical part to play in our homes.

2. Pastor Brad Green

Luke 1:26-32 NKJV

[26] Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, [27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. [28] And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" [29] But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. [30] Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. [31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. [32] He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

Brad said he thought that Gabriel always seems to get the good gigs.

He was in the Bible four times, two times he appeared to Daniel and the to Zachariah letting him know John the Baptist would be born and then to Mary.

Letting her know that Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior would be her Son.

3. Pastor Ron

Luke 2:1-7 NKJV

[1] And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. [2] This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. [3] So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. [4] Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, [5] to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. [6] So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. [7] And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

He says the Lord will never ask us to show the kind of faith that the Lord required of Joseph.

We may not all be called to preach or do something specific but we all need to do our part.

Ron was talking about how when he tells people he's a pastor how he gets so many different responses. He tries to respond to them as the Lord calls him to each time. Even when it is not comfortable or at a time he wants to.

4. Tim Harding

Luke 2:8-9 NKJV

[8] Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

The first Noel that we sing references these verses.

1 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

[16] And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

God didn't appear to kings but to shepherds. 

Jesus Christ was born to one day tell us "it is finished"

5. 5th Speaker

Luke 2:10-14 NLT

[10] but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. [11] The Savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! [12] And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." [13] Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven-praising God and saying, [14] "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased."

He is talking about how these men were the first people to know Jesus would be here.

He is talking about how the good tidings are for all of us. 

His cousin came out of brain surgery today where they removed a plum size tumor from his brain. He said it has been amazing how his cousin has been having peace during this time as he has put his faith and fate in God's hands.

6. 6th Speaker

Luke 2:15-20 NLT

[15] When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." [16] They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. [17] After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. [18] All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, [19] but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. [20] The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

He said that these shepherds did what most would probably not have done today. These men didn't argue or debate but went there quickly.

These shepherds were clearly not kings and Jesus Christ was not born in a palace. Yet they were the ones that were given the knowledge.

7. Pastor Mike Jonker

He is talking about how important it is for us as Christian men to set Christian traditions for our families.

He said one of the things they do is read the Christmas story from Matthew or Luke before opening gifts or eating.

He asked do we have Christ centered traditions for our families?

Galatians 4:4-7 NKJV

[4] But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. [6] And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" [7] Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

God gave us His Son as a gift and that is what we should worship at Christmas time. That is the gift we should care about.

We need to make sure this is the message of Christmas. God's gift to us, not our gifts.