christmas at tpcc | when god makes an entrance: jesus… · lord, himself, will give you a sign....

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Transcript December 21, 23, and 24, 2017

Christmas at TPCC | When God Makes an Entrance: Jesus Aaron Brockett | Luke 2:1-7

Sogoodtoseeyou—ifthisisyourfirsttimetobewithusorifyou’revisitingfromoutoftownandsomebodyinvitedyoutocome,manweareso,sogladthatyoudid.AndIhopethatthisplacefeelsverywelcomingtoyou.Weareonechurchmeetinginmultiplelocationsaroundourcityaswespeakrightnow.SoIjustwanttotakeamomentandwishaMerryChristmasandsayhellotoourNorthcampus,Downtown,Westandanybodytuninginonline—MerryChristmas,sogladtohaveyou.Infact,hereatourNorthwestcampuslet’sjustputourhandstogetherandgreetourothercampuses.ThispastweekIhadsomethingkindofunusualhappentome.IwasdoingsomelastminuteChristmasshoppingatMeijer,becausethat’showIroll.Ihadafewlastminuteitemstopickup.IhadacoupleofstockingstufferstogetandI’mwalkingdowntheaisleandthere’sthisolderladystandingintheaisle.Sheturnsandsheseesmeandshejustlikestaredatme.Icouldn’tquiteplaceher.Ididn’tknowifIknewherornot.Andshedidn’tsayanythingsoIjustwalkedbyanddidn’tthinkanythingofit.Anotheraislelaterwewalkedbyeachotheragain.Andsamething—shejustkindoflookedrightatme.SoIsmiledpolitely.Shesmiledbackbutshedidn’tsayanything.Thishappenedacoupleofothertimes.Igetmythingsandheaduptothefrontandtherewasonlyonecheckoutlineopen.Shewasstandinginthatlineunloadingallofhergroceries—shehadafullcartofthem—ontothebelt.Andshewaskindofwrestlingwiththiscaseofwater.SoIjustofferedtohelp.Whensheturnedaroundandsawthatitwasmeshesaid,“Oh.”Shesaid,“Ioweyouanapology.”AndIwaslike,“Whatdoyoumean?”Andshewaslike,“I’msorryforstaringatyou.”AndIsaid,“Ihardlynoticed.”Andshesaid,“No,IreallyfeellikeIneedtoexplain.Infact,I’malittlebitembarrassed.Youjust—youremindmeofmygrownsonandheandhisfamilymovedoutofthecountrythislastyear.Hegotajobtransfer.Idon’tgettoseethemveryoften.It’sChristmas.Ireallymisshim.”Iwaslike,“Oh,man.Iwouldimaginethatthatwouldbereallyhard.I’msorrytohearthat.”Andshesaid,“CanIaskyouaquestion?It’sgoingtosoundalittlebitunusual.Idon’twantyoutofeeluncomfortablebutwouldyoumindgivingmeahugandsayingthewords,‘Iloveyoumom.’”SoIliedandsaid,“That’snotweirdatall.Comehereyou.”Ijustthoughtthatifthiswasmymomandshewasaskingsomerandommanwholookedkindoflikemetohugher,I’dwanthimtodoit,right?SoIwaslike,“Loveyoumom.”

WhenGodMakesanEntrance:JesusDecember21,23,and24,2017

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Atthatmomenttheclerkwasdonebaggingupallofhergroceriesandhadtheminhercart.Sheturnsaroundveryquickly.Shetakesthehandleandwalksaway.Sothenherangupmyitemsandhesaysthatthetotalis$352.15andIwaslike,“Whatareyoutalkingabout?Therearejustacoupleofitemshere.”Andhesaid,“Well,yourmomsaidthatyouweregoingtopickupherbill…”Comeon.Thatdidn’thappen,right?Ihadyouguysgoing.ForthelastcoupleofdaysI’vebeentellingthatstoryandit’sbeenfascinatingtowatchallofyourresponses,right?Becausetherearesomeofyouwhoaresointoit,likeyou’resheddingatear.You’relike,“Thejoyoftheholidayspirit—thisisamazing.”Othersofyou—abouthalfwaythroughthatstoryyouarelike,“Idon’tbuythisatall.He’slying.”Someofyou,yourskepticismmeternaturallyrunsprettyhighanyway—ifthat’syou,youaremypeoplebecauseI’mkindofthatwayaswell.Butjustbehonest.Therewereafewofyou—probablyitwaslikewhensheaskedforthehugyouwerelike,“Nah,thisdoesn’tsoundrealistic.Thisdoesn’tsoundverybelievabletome.”Idon’tknowyourbackgroundorwhatyoubelieveorifyounormallyfindyourselfinchurch,butmaybethat’showyoufeelaboutsomeofthethingsthataresaidintheBible.Ifwewerejusttobehonest,andthisisasafeplacetobehonest,youreadsomethingintheBibleandyougo,“Idon’tknow.Thatdoesn’treallysoundveryrealistictome.Itdoesn’tsoundverybelievablebeginningwiththeChristmasstoryitself.”Nowevenifyouaren’tveryfamiliarwiththeBibleoryoudon’tfindyourselfinchurchallthatoften,youprobablyhaveheardtheChristmasstoryquiteabit—enoughtimesthatyoustopcriticallythinkingaboutit.It’sjustsortofthere.Butlookatsomeoftheunusualaspectsofthisstory.Therearejustsomethingsintherethatjustseemkindofunrealistic.Let’slookatthis:Luke,chapter2.Itsays,“AtthattimetheRomanemperor,Augustus,decreedthatacensusshouldbetakenthroughouttheRomanEmpire.(ThiswasthefirstcensustakenwhenQuiriniuswasgovernorofSyria.)Allreturnedtotheirownancestraltownstoregisterforthiscensus.“AndbecauseJosephwasadescendantofKingDavid,hehadtogotoBethleheminJudea,David’sancienthome.HetraveledtherefromthevillageofNazarethinGalilee.HetookwithhimMary,towhomhewasengaged,whowasnowexpectingachild.“Andwhiletheywerethere,thetimecameforherbabytobeborn.Shegavebirthtoherfirstbornson.Shewrappedhimsnuglyinstripsofclothandlaidhiminamanger,becausetherewasnolodgingavailableforthem.”SeveralhundredyearsbeforethistheprophetIsaiahactuallytellsusthatthisisgoingtohappen.Heusesfewerwordsbuttherearesomeunrealisticthingsaboutwhathesaid,“…the



Lord,himself,willgiveyouasign.Look!Thevirginwillconceive,”that’sunusual,she,“willconceiveachildandshewillgivebirthtoasonandwillcallhimImmanuel(whichmeans‘Godiswithus’).”SothisisthestoryofhowJesuscametobewithushereontheearth2,000yearsago.AndeverythingaboutwhatitsaidjustlookslikeapictureofpoorplanningbecauseifGodwasgoingtosendJesusonarescuemissiontoreconcileyouandmebacktohim,don’tyouthinkthathewoulddoitalittlebitdifferently?WhychooseMaryandJosephashisparents?Maryisjustapoorteen-agedgirl.Josephisjustapoorcarpenterfromano-nametown.Whywouldn’thewaituntiltheyatleastgotmarried?Don’tyouthinkthatwouldjustprovideJesusalittlemorestableenvironment?Itwouldactuallykeepthegossipfromspreadingaroundtowniftheycouldhaveactuallybeenmarried.Whyaroadtripwhenshe’sninemonthspregnant?Itjustseemslikecruelandunusualpunishment.Ladies,thoseofyouwhohavegivenbirthtoachild,Imeanwouldyouwanttogoonaroadtripatninemonthspregnant?No.AndMary’snotkickingitinanEscaladeeither,right?She’sonadonkey.Somethingthathassortofbotheredmeforyearsaboutthiswholestoryiswhytherewasnolodgingavailableforthem?Itjustkindofseemslikeoverthetop.Ifyou’veeverseenaChristmasstoryoraChristmaspageantwherethekidsareallreenactingthis—thevisualizationwegetinourmindsisthattheygotoBethlehemandthey’vebeentravelingallday.TheygetthereafterdarkandtheywalkintotheMotel6anditsays“novacancy”ontheneonsignbuttheyringthebellanywayandtheguycomesoutandsaysthereisnoroomforyouintheinn.“Okay,sorry.”Andtheygotothenexthotelandthere’snoroomthere.ButIdon’tknowifthat’sexactlyhowitwentdown.RememberthisisJoseph’shometown.AndIdon’tknowifyou’regoingtobetravelingtoyourhometownlatertodayortomorrow.ButifIwerejusttopickupandtraveltomyhometownunannounced,I’mprettyconfidentthatIcouldfindaplacetocrashrelativelyeasily.I’vegotenoughfriendsandfamily.Andyouprobablycouldtoo.ThisisJoseph’shometownsowhywastherenolodgingavailable?Ican’tproveitbutIwonderifmaybetheygowalkinguptoJoseph’smomanddad’shouseandtheyknockatthedoor—maybegrandmaandgrandpa,anauntoranuncle—andtheyseehimstandingtherewithhispregnantgirlfriendandtheyarelike,“You’renotstayinghere.”Whyafeedtroughforacrib?Imeancomeon.Imeanwecleaneditup.Wecallitamanger.It’safeedtrough,alright?AndtheonlygospelwritertoevenincludethislittletidbitinthenarrativeisLuke.Theothergospelwritersdon’tmentionit.AndIwonderifit’sbecausetheothergospelswerewrittentoaGreekaudience.



TheGreekstaughtthatundernocircumstanceswereyoutoeverhumbleyourself.Byhumblingyourselfyouwereadmittingaweakness.AndsoiftheywouldhavereadthatthecomingMessiahhadlaidhisheadinaplacewherethecowshadjusteatentheirmeal,theywouldn’thavebelievedit.Thatwouldhavediscreditedthestory.Theywouldhavesaid,“Thatsoundstoounrealistic.”AndyetthisishowGodcame.Sohere’sthequestionthatIwantustograpplewithtoday:IfGodreallyisGodandhecandoanythingthathewants,inanywaythathechooses—becausethat,bydefinition,wouldbeGod—thequestioniswhydidGodchoosetodoitthisway?ImeanifGodwasgoingtosendJesustotheearthonarescuemissionforyouandformedon’tyoujustthinkthattherecouldbeanumberofotherwaysthathecouldhavedoneitthatwouldhavebeenfarmoreeffective?IfIwasGod,andIthinkthatitissafetoassumethatweareallgladthatIamnot,butifIwasGodIthinkthatIwouldhavechangedafewthings.Idon’tthinkthatIwouldhaveJesusbeingborninBethlehem.Youknow,BethlehemisjustaPodunktown:onestopsignandyoucanblinkandmissit.IwouldhaveJesusborninRome—thepoliticalandmilitarycapitoloftheworld.JustimagineifJesushadbeenborninapalaceinRomeinsteadofabarninBethlehemalloftheopportunitiesthatcouldhavebeenavailabletohim.ImeanifhehadgraduatedfromRomeHigh,andifhehadhadalloftheresourcesavailabletohimthatwouldhavebeenavailabletohiminRome,Ithinkthathecouldhavebeenreally,reallymoreeffectiveashereallywas…ForgetaboutRome.WhataboutJerusalem?Jerusalemwasthespiritualcapitoloftheworld.AndifJesushadactuallybeenbornintheTemplehewouldhavegotteneverybody’sattentionandtheywouldhavesaid:thisforsureistheMessiah.Andyethespentaboutthreedecadestryingtoconvincepeopleaboutwhohewas.Hisownfamilydidn’tevennecessarilybelieveinhim:firstbecauseoftheobscurityofthestoryandthenbecauseofwherehecamefrom.Or,whataboutjustbeingbornintoadifferentfamily—howaboutafamilywithabignameandlotsofresourcesandinfluenceandabigmilitarytobackhimupwhenhebeganhisministry?WhyasilentnightinBethlehem.Whynotabigspectacleinamuch,muchbiggercity?Whywouldn’tGodhavemadeabiggerdealaboutJesus’entranceintotheworld?SeeweliveinasocietythatbasicallysaysthatthewaythatyouandImakeanentranceisreallyimportant.Itsayssomething.Weseethisintheworldofsports.ThinkaboutMuhammadAli.Thewaythathewouldenterintoaringbasicallywassaying:Iamthebaddestmanintheroom.Fighterseversincethenhavebeensortoftakinghiscueandtheydothesamething.



OrthinkaboutSerenaWilliamsandthewaythatshewouldtakeatenniscourt.Shewouldjustcomeoutallfiredup.Ortakeanyfootballteam.Itdoesn’tmatteriftheyaregoodorbad.Theplayersaregoingtorunoutontothefieldreadyforbattleasiftheyaregoingtowin.YoutakeCousinEddie,thewaythathejustkindofmakeshisentranceontoClark’sdriveway…SomeofyouhavenoideawhatisgoingonbutImadeagoalearlierthismonthtoworkaChristmasVacationreferenceintoeverysingleoneofmyChristmasmessagesandIjustnailedthatone,alright?Actuallythishasbeenfunallmonthlongbecauseyou’vebeenlistening.ItremindsmeofwhenLindsayandIweredating.Heryoungestsister,Abbey,wasinthefifthgradewhenweweredatingandshewouldoftengowithusontheweekends…IpreachedinalittlechurchaboutanhourawayfromthecampuswhereIattended.AndinordertoinsurethatLindsay’slittlesisterwouldlistentothesermonIwouldsaytoheronthewayup,“Hey,Abbey.Givemeaword.ItcanbeanywordandIwillworkitintothesermon.”Soshewouldgivemethestrangest,mostobscurewordseveryweek.Shewaslike,“Saybowlingball,”or“septictank.”AndIwouldbelike,“Okay,I’llworkitintothesermon.”AndIwoulddoiteverytime.Andshe’dbesittingouttheregoing,“Ohhh.”SoIkindoffeelthatwaywithyou,alright?Youguyshavebeenlisteningtome.Anyway,thewaythatyouandImakeanentrancesayssomething.Now,youandImaynoteverwalkintoaboxingringorontoafootballfieldoratenniscourtbutwe’regoingtowalkintoajobinterviewormaybeit’safirstdateormaybeit’saroomfullofpeopleyou’venevermetbeforesoyou’regoingtowalkinandpayattentiontoyourfirstimpression.WhatIwantyoutoseeisthatChristmasishowGodchosetomakehisentranceintotheworld.Butwhydidhedoitthisway?IsitbecauseGodjustdidn’tknowhowtomakeanentrance?Idon’tthinkthat’struebecauseheknowshowtomakeanexit.IfyoulookatActs,chapter1youseehisexitfromtheworld.Jesushaswalkedoutofatomb,he’sgatheredaroundhisdisciplesandawholebunchofeyewitnessesandthenhesaystous:goandmakedisciplesofallnations.SurelyIamwithyoutotheveryendoftheage.Andthenheascendsintoheaven—justfloatsrightupthere.That’sprettyimpressive.Thisshowsusthatheknowshowtomakeanexitsoitstandstoreasonthathewouldknowhowtomakeanentrance.Sothequestionis:whydidn’the?Thisjustleadsusbacktotheageoldquestion:ifGodhasthepowertodosomethingthenwhydoesn’the?Maybeyou’veaskedthatquestionofGodinyourownlife.Maybeyou’veevenaskedthatofhimthisyear.Youlookbackon2017andmaybethereweresomethingsthatyouwentthrough



thatwerereally,reallyhard.Andmaybetherehavebeensomemomentswhenyousaid,“YouknowGod?Ifyouhadthepowertodosomethingaboutthis,ifyouhadthepowertochangethings,Godifyouhadthepowertointerveneandkeepsomethinghorriblefromhappeningbutitactuallyhappened,thenwhydidn’tyou?Godifyoucouldhavefixedmymarriage,ifyoucouldhavehealedmychild,ifyoucouldhavesavedmyjob,removedmyanxiety,ifyoucouldhavekeptthatpersonfromleaving,ifyoucouldhaveprotectedmyfamily—thenwhydidn’tyou?Thetensionforsomanyofus,ifwearebeinghonest,isthatwereallywantaGodwhoispowerfulenoughtointerveneinourliveswhenwewanthimtobutnotsopowerfulthathewouldintervenewhenhewantstobecausewestillwantsomepowerandcontrol—westillwantasayinthedirectionthatourlivesaregoing.Andsolisten.Goddoesnotwanttocontrolyou.Godwillnotforcehiswayintoyourlife,buthe’salsonotabandonedyoueither.That’swhattheprophetIsaiahissayingwhenhegivesusthisnameofJesus—whenhesaysthatGodiswithus.Sowhenyouareinthosereallypainfulmomentswhereyouwanttotapout,youunderstandthatGodisn’tgoingtoswoopinandtakeoverandhehasn’tabandonedyou—it’sthissubtlewhisperthatheiswithyou.Andthat’sdifferentandthat’sbetter.It’sfarbetter.ThecluetounlockingandunderstandingwhyGodcamethewaythathecame2,000yearsago;whyhemadethisentranceintoourworldinawaythatwasveryquietandunderstated—inBethlehem—ratherthanthisgrandentrancetogeteverybody’sattentioncanbefoundinwhattheauthorofHebrewssaystous.HesaysthatwehaveahighpriestandthishighpriestisreferringtoJesusApriestisjustsomebodywhoconnectsyoutoGod,andweonlyneedoneandhisnameisJesus.Hesaysthatwehavethishighpriestwho“…understandsourweaknesses,forhefacedallofthesametestingswedo,yethedidnotsin.SoletuscomeboldlytothethroneofourgraciousGod.Therewewillreceivehismercy,andwewillfindgracetohelpuswhenweneeditmost.”IlovethispassagebecausehebasicallysaysthatyouhaveaheavenlyFatherwhocamedowntoourlevel,whocamedownintoourworldandheunderstandseverysinglethingthatyouhavegonethroughorwillgothrough—everything.He’sbeenthroughalltheemotionsthatyouexperience,he’sfeltallofthepainthatyou’vefelt,andhe’sfacedtheupsandthedowns.Andhegetsit.Therefore,becauseofthat,wehaveconfidencetoactuallyapproachhimboldlyandtoknowwhathisresponsewillbe.Hisresponsewillbemercy,hisresponsewillbegrace.IneverreallyfullyunderstoodthatpassageuntilIbecameafathermyself.I’vegotfourkidsanditisnotuncommonforthemtowakeupinthemiddleofthenightandtobescared—notsomuchtheolderonesnow,butfortheyoungeronesthatstillhappens.



Itwouldbreakmyheartiftheywokeupinthemiddleofthenightandiftheyweresortoflikescaredtoactuallycomeintomyroomforfearofbotheringme.Iftheyweretoknockonmydoorandcomeintotheroom,“Father,wehatetoawakenyoufromyourslumber,”andtheyspeakinBritishaccentswhentheyarescared,Idon’tknowwhy.ThatwouldbreakmyheartifIwokeup—whyareyoutalkingthisway?Whyareyouactingalltentativetowakemeup?Youcanjustcrawlupintobed.See,thispassagesaysthatyouandIhaveaheavenlyFatherwhocaresenoughaboutustocomeintoourworldandexperienceeverythingthatwewouldexperience.Therefore,becauseofthat,wecanactuallyapproachhimasoftenaswelike,boldly,knowingthatwewillreceivemercyandgrace.Sothereasonwhyhecameissuperclear.Hecametotellyouandtoshowyouhowlovedyoureallyare.ThereasonthathecamewasbecauseyouandIarebrokenbecauseofoursinandprideandhe’scometoputusbacktogether.He’scometoreconcileusbacktoourheavenlyFather.That’sthereasonwhyhecame.Butwhydidhecomeinthewayinwhichhecame?Seethat’softentimeswhatweoverlook.SeeGodwantstostepintoourlivesinasubtleway,throughasideway,throughaninvitationratherthanoverwhelmingusbyforce.GodcouldhavebeenborninRome,hecouldhavemadeabigfanfareoutofeverythingandyouwouldhavebeenoverwhelmed,youwouldn’tknowwhattodowithhimandyetGodcomesonasilentnightinBethlehem.Andhe’sstilldoingittoday.Godusuallycomesinthesilence.Heusuallycomesinthesmallmomentsofourlivesbecauseifhecameanyotherwaywe’dbeoverwhelmed.LastweekmysonandI,aswellasafewotherfriends,wenttotheColts/BroncosgamedownatLucasOilStadium.Itwasn’tmuchofagamebutthehighlightwasthatafriendofoursgaveusfieldpassessowegottogodownonthefieldbeforethegame.Myson,he’s15,andIarebigVictorOladipofans—theemergingstaroftheIndianaPacers.Weseehimonthesidelinesjustupinfrontofus.Andsomysoniskindoflikehittingmelike,“Dad,dad—there’sVictorOladipo.”AndI’mlike,“Iknow.Whydon’tyougooverandtalktohim?”Sohewalkedovertohim.WewereabletosnapapictureofVictorandmyson,Connor.Hewasjustspeechless,alright?Likecathasgothistongue.Hedidn’tsayaword.He’sjustlikestandingthereandhe’slikeshakinghishand.Ithappenedreally,reallyfast—justafewseconds.AndVictorwasvery,verykindandthenhehadtotakethefieldtodosomethingandsowe’rewalkingawayanditwasmaybelike30secondslateritjustsortofhitsmysonwhatjusthappenedandwhohemet.Andhegoes,“Dad,IjustmetVictorOladipoandIdidn’tsayanything.”AndIwaslike,“Iknow,man.Thatwaskindofweird.”Andhe’slike,“Man,thereareallofthesethingsthatIwantedto



saytohim.IwantedtoaskhimaboutthatSanAntoniogameandIwantedtoaskhimwhatIcanworkoninmygameandIwantedtogetareallygoodpicturewithhim.Iwasjustlikeparalyzed.Icouldn’tsayanything.”Andyouknowwhat?You’veprobablybeentheretooatsomepointinyourlife.Ormaybejustimaginesomebodywhoyouwouldreallyliketomeet.Maybeit’sacelebrity.Maybeit’saprofessionalathlete.Maybeit’sanauthor.Maybeit’ssomebodywhoyoureallylookuptoinyourlineofwork.Andmaybeyouthinktoyourself,“Here’swhatIwouldsayandthesearethequestionsIwouldask.”Butthenyoumeetthemandyou’rejustlikespeechless,youjustcan’tsayanything.You’rejustoverwhelmedbytheirpresence.Nowimagineifanotherhumanbeingcanhavethatkindofeffectuponusjustbecausethey’regoodatdoingsomething,imaginewhatitwouldbeliketostepintotheunfilteredpresenceofGod.Whatwouldthatbelike?WeactuallyhaveaclueastowhatthatwouldbelikeinExodus33.TherewasthisguynamedMosesandheactuallyaskedthisofGod.Hesays:God,showmeyourface.Iwanttoseeit.LookatGod’sresponseinchapter33,verse20.Hesays,“…youmaynotlookdirectlyatmyface,fornoonemayseemeandlive.”That’sjustballerrightthere,alright?Couldyouimaginebeingabletosaythattosomebody?“I’dreallyliketomeetyou.”“No,youcouldn’tmeetme.Youwoulddie.”That’sjustawesome.SowhatGoddoesishetakesMosesandhekindofhideshiminarockandthenheputshishandoverMoses’faceandthenhewalksbyhimandashepassesheliftshishandsothatMosesonlyseeshimwalkingaway.IjustkindofgetthisimageinmyheadthatafterwardsMoseshaslikethisreallysweettanandthishandprintrightoverhisface.He’sbasicallysaying:IfIweretostepintoyourlifeIwouldoverwhelmyou.Theheartwouldn’tevenneedtobeinvolved.Iwouldleaveyouwithnochoicewhatsoever.Nowwe’rebeginningtogetalittlebitofaclueastowhyJesuscametousthewaythathedid,becauseGodhasnointerestindoingthattoyouandme.Idon’tknowaboutyou,butgrowingupIreallydidn’thavethatkindofagrand,gloriousimageofGod.Iwouldsaythatmostofitprobablyhadtodowithmyownsinandpride.See,here’swhatsinandpridedoinourlives—theymakeGodsmallerandusbigger.SoIreallydon’tcarewhatGodthinks.Ireallydon’tcarewhatGodsays.HumanbeingsmesseduptheBibleanyway.Itwaswrittenalongtimeago.Andit’santiquated.It’sirrelevant.Itdoesn’tmattertoday.AllthehoopsthatwejumpthroughtodismissGod,tomakehimsmallerandthenweelevateourownlogic,weelevateourownfeelings,weelevateourownheart.



Alotofthatisonme,butsomeofithastodowiththefactthatmyimageofGodgotsmallerbecauseofmesseduppeople.TherearepeoplewhoIgrewupwith,peopleIwenttochurchwith,peoplewhoIlookeduptowholetmedown.PeoplewhoclaimedtoknowGodbutdidn’tactverygodly,peoplewhoclaimedtofollowJesusbutweren’tveryChrist-like,peoplewhoclaimedtobesavedbygracebuttheywereneververygracious.Idon’tknow.Maybesomeofyoucanrelatetothat.Maybethat’swhysomeofyouhavesortoftappedoutyourself.Maybethat’swhyyoustillbelieveinGodbutyouveryrarelyfindyourselfinchurch—maybeit’sjustoneortwotimesayear,ChristmasandEaster.AndIjustwantyoutoknowifthat’syou,manIgetthat,Igenuinelydo.SohereareafewquestionsthatIjustwantustoconsider.Here’sthefirstone:WhatisyourpictureofGod?Whenyouvisualizehimwhatdoyousee?What’syourpictureofGod?Here’sthenextquestion.It’salayerdeeper.Iwantyoutoconsiderthis:WhatkindofGodwouldyoutrust?WhatkindofGodwouldyouputyourtrustin?AGodwhotakescontrolandgivespeoplenochoice?WouldyoutrustaGodwhostaysinheavenandshoutsadviceandcommandsfromfarawaywithoutevergettinghishandsdirtyinyourlife?WouldyoutrustaGodwhoiswaitingtocondemnyoufornotbelievingtherightthingsorbehavingintherightways?WouldyoutrustaGodwhodoesn’tunderstandyouorevencarebecausehecan’trelatetoyou?He’slike:Youknowwhat?Man,that’sreallytoughthatyou’regoingthroughthatbutyou’reonearthandI’minheaven,Ijustcan’trelatetoyou.Or,wouldyou,asIsaiahputsit,trustaGodwhowouldcometobewithus,wholaiddownhiscrown,tookoffhisgloriousrobes,andenteredintohumanflesh.What’sthatmean?Well,wouldyoutrustaGodwhosefamilywasjustasmessedupasyoursandmine?WouldyoutrustaGodwhoknowswhatitisliketobebetrayedbyafriend?WouldyoutrustaGodwhoknowswhatit’sliketosufferfordoingtherightthing?Heknowswhatit’sliketosufferbecausesomeoneelsedidthewrongthing.Heknowswhatit’sliketobehungry,poor,misunderstood,misrepresented,exhausted,defeated,discouraged,andlonely—evenwhensittinginaroomfullofpeopleliketheonethatyouaresittinginnow.Orhowaboutthis?WouldyoutrustaGodwhocameintoourworldthewayeachandeveryoneofuscameintoit?Ahumanbirth—I’llgooutonalimbhereandsaythat100percentofuscameinthatway—amessy,painfulbirth.AndGodsays:that’showIwillsendJesus,becauseIdon’twantittobelostonyouthatIwanttoexperienceeverythingthatyouexperience—aGodwhocanconfidentlysay:Igetit.Iknowyourpain.Iknowyourstruggle.I’vebeenthroughitbefore—metoo.See,listen.That’saGodwhoIcantrust,notjustbelievein.SeeifGodweretocomeinallofhisgloryitwouldbeabsolutelyoverwhelming.Buthedidn’tcomethatway.WhenGodenteredtheworldhedidn’tgobig.WhenGodenteredtheworldhewentsmallsothathecouldrelate



toyouandtomeineverypossibleway.ThatiswhatthenameImmanuelmeans.ItmeansGodwithus.Andifhe’swillingtogothatfar,ifhe’swillingtogothatfarcouldthisbeaGodyoumightconsiderputtingyourtrustintoday?SeeifyourpictureofGodisanysmallerthanthat,ifyourpictureofGodisanythinglessthanunconditionalloveforyou,thenitisnotanaccuratepicture.Thevalueofsomethingiswhatsomebodyiswillingtopayforit.AndGodmakesthatstatementthroughJesusatChristmas.Afriendofminewastellingmethatacoupleofyearsagohiswifewascleaningoutoneoftheirclosetsandshefoundapicturegallerybankfromquiteafewyearsago,asyoucantellbylookingatthispicture.Shethoughtitwasjunkandshewasreadytopitchit—throwitout.Andhewaslike,“Ohno,no,no.That’smypicturegallerybankfromwhenIwasakid.”Andhesaid,“Don’tthrowitaway.”Hewaslike,“ThishassentimentalvalueplusIthinkthatitmightbeworthsomething,”whichbythewayeveryguyfeelsthatwayabouthisjunk,alright?It’sjustkindofthewayweare.Soshe’slike,“Areyoukidding?Wewouldn’tgetfiveortendollarsoutofthisatarummagesale.”Andhe’slike,“No,Ithinkwewould.”Sojustoutofcuriosityshetookitdowntoanantiquedealerandtheguylookedatitandjustglancingatithelookedupatherandofferedher200dollarsforitonthespot.Shewassmart.Sheknewthatifhewaswillingtoofferthatmuchthatquickthatitwasprobablyworthmore.Soshesaid,“Thankyoubutnothankyou.”Andshewentaroundtosomeotherdealers.Longstoryshort—theyendedupsellingittoadealerinPennsylvaniafor2,000dollars.Andhewaslike,“That’sright.”Andwe’reremindedthatthevalueofsomethingisdeterminedbywhatsomebodyiswillingtopayforit.John3:16says:ForGodsolovedyouthathewouldsendhisoneandonlySon.AndChristmassaysthatyouareworthsomuchthathewouldsendhisSonsothatyoumightbereconciledtohim.Seewithoutmeetingeachandeveryoneofyoupersonally,IcanconfidentlysaythatIknowthreethingsaboutyou.Anditdoesn’tmatteryourage,yourgender,yourlifeexperiences,orwhatyoubelieve.IcanconfidentlysaythatIknowthateverysinglepersonlisteningtothisrightnow—youwantyourlifetocountforsomething.Itdoesn’tmatterifyou’rehurtingrightnow,itdoesn’tmatterifyou’reattheendofyourrope—youreallywantthat.Youreallywantyourlifetocount.ThesecondthingthatIknowisthatweallwanttogiveloveandwewanttoreceivelove.Weallwantthatinourlive.



ThethirdthingthatIknowisthatweareallholdingontohopebecausethereareaboutathousanddifferentthingsthatarethreateningourhoperightnow.TherewasasurveythatwastakenamongAmericansalittlewhilebackanditbasicallyaskedpeoplewhatarethetopthreethingsthatyouwanttohear?AndasAmericansthesearethetopthreethingsthatwewanttohearonaregularbasisfromthepeopleinourlives.Thefirstoneis:Iloveyou.Thesecondoneis:Iforgiveyou.Andthethirdoneis:Dinnerisready.IreadthatandIlaughedatfirsttooandthenIthoughttomyself,“Youknowwhat?Thatactuallymakesatonofsense.”IfeverydayIcouldhavesomebodytellmethattheyloveme,somebodytellmethattheyforgiveme,andthatdinnerisready—that’sagoodday!Idon’twantyoutocomplicatethemessageoftheBible.Iknowthatitcanbecomplicatedinsomeplaces.Thereare66booksfromGenesistoRevelationandyou’relike,“Man,I’mtryingtomakeheadsandtailsofallofthis.”IwanttosimplifythemessageoftheBibleandletyouknowthatreallywhattheBibleistryingtocommunicateisthatGodlovesyou,Godforgivesyou,andyes—dinnerisready.Seehehasthisbanquettablewhereheispreparingamealforyouandhe’sgotaseatwithyournameonitandJesusisyourinvitation.Listen.Ican’tpretendtostandupinfrontofyouandsaythatIknowallofthereasonswhyGoddoessomeofthethingsthathedoesandwhyhedoesn’tdosomethingsthatIwishhewoulddo.I’dlovetobeabletoexplainthattoyou.Ican’t.Ican’tevenconfidentlytellyouwhyJesuswasborninallofthewaysthathewasborn.ButIdoknowthatGodoftentimesmakeshimselfsmallenoughsothathecangetintoourlivesandthendovery,verybigthings.AndChristmasshowsthat.SoI’mjustwonderingonthisChristmasiftheremightbesomewhomightbewillingtoputtheirtrustinthatkindofaGod?Nowlisten.I’mnotaskingyouifyoubelieveinGod.Statistically,overtheyearsforasfarbackaswe’vegotrecords,ahighpercentageofpeopleinourworldsaythattheybelieveinGod.Soyoumaysay,“IbelieveinGod.”AndIthinkthatit’sgreatthatyoudo.Butthat’snotwhatI’masking.I’maskingifyoutrusttheGodyoubelievein.That’sdifferent.Andthat’sreallywhatsalvationis.Salvationisyousaying,“Youknowwhat?IchoosetotrustthisGodandIstillhavequestionsandmylifeisn’tperfectandI’mstillgoingtostumbleandfall,butyouknowwhat?AttheendofthedayI’mgoingtotrustthisGod.”IwanttoinviteyoutoformallyplaceyourtrustinthatkindofaGodtoday.SoI’mgoingtoaskthatifwejustlowerthelightsandifyouwouldbowyourheadsandcloseyoureyes—the



reasonthatwe’redoingthatisn’tbecauseGodonlylistentoprayerswhenyoubowyourheadandcloseyoureyes.Godwilllistentoyouifyourheadisupandyoureyesareopen,butwedothatjustforfocusandjustforprivacy.Ijustsimplywanttoleadusinaprayerandifyou’rereadytoputyourtrustinthatkindofGod…Nowlisten.Theremightbeabunchofdifferentobjectionsthatyoumayhave.Youmaysay,“Istilldon’tknowenough.I’vegotabunchoflooseendsinmylife.”Listen.YoucanstillputyourtrustinGodbeforeyoudealwithallofthatstuff.Ijustwanttoleadyouthroughthisprayerandifyou’rereadyjustmakethisprayeryourown:DearGod.Ifyouarerealandifyou’rethereIreallydowanttoknow.I’mstrugglingtoknowwhattobelieveandhowtolive.Sothankyouforbeingwillingtogetsmallforme,sosmallthatIwouldbeabletohaveanencounterwithyou.IbelievethatIhavetoday.IbelievethatIamtoday,butIamnotsurewheretogofromhere.Therearesomanythingsinmylifethatarejustmessedupandundone.Soletmestartsmallmyself.AlthoughIstillhavealotofquestions,thisChristmasIchoosetosayItrustyou.Ifyouwerewillingtogothroughallofthatforme,Itrustyou.SoIaskforyourlove,yourforgiveness,andaseatatyourdinnertable—notbecauseofanythingthatIhavedoneorcouldeverdobutbecauseofwhatJesushasdoneforme.IconfessthatIhaveallowedmypridetogetthebestofmeandit’sdamagedmyrelationshipwithothersand,mostimportantly,withyou.Pleaseforgiveme.Extendyourgracetome.PleasecomeandbewithmebecauseIneedyou,Itrustyou,andIloveyou.InJesus’name:Amen.Ijustwanttoaskthatyoukeepyourheadsbowedandyoureyesclosed,Ifyouprayedthatprayer,ifyourmadethatprayeryoursandputyourtrustinthatkindofaGodjust,atallofourcampuses,wouldhavethecouragetoliftupyourhandrealquick?Justslipitupandsay,“Youknowwhat?Iprayedthatprayer.”Iseehandsacrosstheroom.We’vehadhandsgoupineverysingleserviceoverthelastfewdays.Andittakescouragetopraythat.SoIwanttothankyouforbeingwillingtodothat.Andifyouprayedthatprayer,Iwanttoencourageyoutocomeandmaybefollow-upwithaprayercounseloraftertheservice,maybetellyourcampuspastor,orhitmeuponsocialmediaoremailmetoletmeknow.I’dlovetohearyourstory.Infact,atallofourcampuses,let’scelebratethosewhoraisedtheirhandsandprayedthatprayerrightnow.It’sworthcelebrating.IwantyoutoknowthatwewanttobeonthisjourneywithyouintotheNewYearasyougettoknowthisJesuswhogaveeverythingtogettoknowyou.Rightnowwe’regoingtotakecommuniontogether.Ihopeyouwereabletograbitonyourwayin.ForthoseofyouwhoarefollowersofJesusthisisamealthatsymbolizessomething.It’s



alittlepieceofbread,whichbythewaydoesnottasteverygood.It’snotsupposedtobecauseofwhatitrepresents.AndsomejuicethatrepresentsthebloodofJesusshedforyou.IjustwantyoutotakeamomentandIwantyoutoreflectuponwhoJesusisandwhathesaystoustoday.AndafteramomentofreflectionI’llcomebackoutandleadusinourcandlelighting.

christmas at tpcc | when god makes an entrance: jesus… · lord, himself, will give you a sign....

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