Series Outline for Christmas Surprises
The story of the first Christmas, recorded in Matthew 1 and 2, is full of surprises, each of which reveals an aspect of the Gospel that still has the power to amaze us today.
Christmas Surprises
The story of the first Christmas, recorded in Matthew 1 and 2, is full of surprises, each of which reveals an aspect of the Gospel that still has the power to amaze us today.
Matthew 1-2
Surprise Worshippers
In a stunning Christmas surprise, the Magi – pagan scholars skilled in religious texts, dreams, and the stars – become the first Gentile worshipers of Jesus, foreshadowing God’s plan to call followers from every nation.
Matthew 2:1-23
Surprise Reactions
In a surprising twist, the news about Jesus unmasked three responses still common today: Herod’s hostile fear, the religious leader’s complacent indifference, and the Magi’s joyful worship.
Matthew 2:1-18
Surprise Pregnancy
Jesus’ miraculous conception confronted Joseph and Mary with a scandalous, faith-testing situation that required radical obedience, revealing how God fulfills His ancient promises through the most surprising means.
Matthew 1:18-25
Surprise Family Tree
Matthew’s genealogy presents Jesus as the royal Son of David, the promised Seed of Abraham who will bless all nations, and the Savior who redeems a family tree—and a world—marred by startling sin and scandal.
Matthew 1:1-17
Simeon’s Song of Freedom (Nunc Dimittis)
The song of the angelic choir announced that Christ had come to bring glory to God and peace to the people of Earth.
Luke 2:8-14
Zechariah’s Song of Prophetic Praise (Benedictus)
After a season of silence and deep meditation, Zechariah erupted is a song of praise for God’s saving work, which had been prophetically promised, and was now coming to fulfillment with the birth of John who would prepare the way for Jesus the Messiah Who would save God’s people.
Luke 1:67-79
Mary’s Song of Exaltation (Magnificat)
Worship is focused on God and His Gospel, is formed and filled by the Word of God, and arises from personally experiencing God’s faithfulness to His people through the ages.
Luke 1:46-55
Elizabeth’s Song of Joyful Blessing (Beatitude)
Those who delight in the supremacy of Jesus will believe the Word of God and receive the joy of God’s deepest, richest blessing.
Luke 1:39-45
Christ – The True and Better Christmas!
Jesus is the focal point of all creation and human history, and true hope, peace, joy, and love are given in Him.
Colossians 1:15-20
Christ The True and Better King
Jesus is the True and Better David, the Great Shepherd-Warrior-King Who cares for, protects, delivers, and rules over God’s people, working out all things to God’s glory and their good now and into eternity.
Luke 1:30-33; 68-75
Christ the True and Better Deliverer
Jesus the Anointed One fills out the redemptive patterns (or “types”) in Genesis 22, revealing that our salvation rests on Jesus’s perfect, lifelong, patient, vicarious obedience to the point of death a cross and on his vindicating resurrection from the dead.
Hebrews 3:1-6 (ESV)
Christ the True and Better Son
Jesus the Anointed One fills out the redemptive patterns (or “types”) in Genesis 22, revealing that our salvation rests on Jesus’s perfect, lifelong, patient, vicarious obedience to the point of death a cross and on his vindicating resurrection from the dead.
Genesis 22:1–19
Christ – The True and Better Man
We live in a world made by two men. Adam’s sin plunges the world into chaos and curse and gives us an inheritance of sin, shame, guilt, hell, and death. But Christ comes as the true and better Adam to undo Adam’s sin and our’s, and give us new life.
1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Rejoice – The (Un)expected King Has Come!
The people of God should rejoice for the King who is so (Un)Expected in His manner of coming, His life, and His ministry has come – and has offered salvation to us.
Zechariah 9:9
The (Un)expected King and Kingdom
The long-expected King coming to save God’s people came and did His work in a manner totally unexpected and inaugurated an (Un)Expected Kingdom that is very different than the kingdom of this world.
Zechariah 9:9
The Humble and Gentle King
Jesus came as the humble and gentle King, and He demonstrated these qualities, taught them and He gives His people the power to live them.
Zechariah 9:9
The Saving King
Jesus Christ wasn’t the Savior King Israel expected, and He’s not always the Savior King we expect. But Jesus is the Savior King Israel and we urgently and desperately need.
Zechariah 9:9
The Righteous King
Jesus is the righteous King in His personal character, His rule to judge sin and establish justice, and in bearing our sin and giving righteousness to His people.
Zechariah 9:9
Christ Through My Eyes – Christmas Eve 2021
The central question for every human is how they see and respond to Christ – whether with faith and worship like the Magi or with fear and rejection like Herod.
Matthew 2:1-18
The Humble King
Jesus is the Humble King, the One Who is truly and fully God but came as a lowly human to save us.
Luke 2:8-14
Our Eternal Lord
Ezekiel was a priest who spoke God’s Word to God’s people who were exiles in Babylon, and he told of the Messiah as an eternal Lord Who will rule His people, bless His people and dwell with His people forever.
Ezekiel 37:24-28 (ESV)
A Seed of Hope
The good world that God created for mankind’s enjoyment was sabotaged by mans rebellion to the command of God but finds its fix in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Genesis 3 Listen to the teaching Look at the outline Discussion Guide Slides Spotify
The Risen, Reigning, and Returning Christ
John is given a vision of Jesus as the Risen Christ, Who reigns over everything, and Who will return to complete God’s Eternal Plan.
Revelation 1:12-18; 19:11-16