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Pastor's Sunday Sermon

December 24, 2023

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Where did Christmas come from? (Part 2)

  • Promises coming true.

  • John the Baptist is born to prepare the way for Jesus. Luke 2:57-80

  • The birth of Jesus, Prophecy fulfilled Luke 2:1-7

  • God called for witnesses to the event! The first people to share the gospel. Luke 2:2-20

  • All of this work to fulfill God's promise, that he made out of His love, for us.

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Luke 1:57-80

 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. 58 Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

59 When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But his mother responded, “No. He will be called John.”

61 Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.” 62 So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.

Zechariah’s Prophecy

67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68 Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited
and provided redemption for his people.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 just as he spoke by the mouth
of his holy prophets in ancient times;
71 salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of those who hate us.
72 He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors
and remembered his holy covenant—
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham,
to grant that we,
74 having been rescued
from the hand of our enemies,
would serve him without fear
75 in holiness and righteousness
in his presence all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called
a prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare his ways,
77 to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of our God’s merciful compassion,
the dawn from on high will visit us
79 to shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 The child grew up and became strong in spirit,[h] and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

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Luke 2:1-7

 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire[a] should be registered. 2 This first registration took place while[b] Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

4 Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him[c] and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger,[d] because there was no guest room available for them.

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Luke 2:2-20

This first registration took place while[b] Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

4 Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him[c] and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger,[d] because there was no guest room available for them.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.[e] 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:[f] 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host[g] with the angel, praising God and saying:

14 Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people he favors![h][i]

15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.

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Find previous sermons here

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January 1, 2023

January 8, 2023

January 15, 2023

January 22, 2023

January 29, 2023

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February 5, 2023

February 12, 2023

February 19, 2023

February 26, 2023

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March 5, 2023

March 12, 2023

March 19, 2023

March 26, 2023

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April 2, 2023

April 9, 2023

April 16, 2023

April 23, 2023

April 30, 2023

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May 7, 2023

May 14, 2023

May 21, 2023

May 28, 2023

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June 4, 2023

June 11, 2023

June 18, 2023

June 25, 2023

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July 2, 2023

July 9, 2023

July 16, 2023

July 23, 2023

July 30, 2023

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August 6, 2023

August 13, 2023

August 20, 2023

August 27, 2023

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September 3, 2023

September 10, 2023

September 17, 2023

September 24, 2023

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October 1, 2023

October 8, 2023

October 15, 2023

October 22, 2023

October 29, 2023

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November 5, 2023

November 12, 2023

November 19, 2023

November 26, 2023

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December 3, 2023

December 10, 2023

December 17, 2023

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2022 Sermons

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2021 Sermons

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2020 Sermons

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2019 Sermons

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2018 Sermons

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Read more at Bible Gateway

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Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Sand Hollow Baptist Church
Everybody's favorite little country church 

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