I’m actually more excited for tonight’s sermon than this morning’s! Tonight I’ll be dealing with “Christmas Curiosities” and revisiting some questions that came up when I was writing my Advent book Once Upon a NON-Time for my kids. I had to do a surprising amount of research into the Christmas story to get 25 different stories written, and along the way, I discovered many things I had never thought of! Did Mary ride a donkey? Is there an innkeeper in the Bible? Do angels sing?
None of the questions tonight will make or break your faith… they’re just little curiosities that I found interesting. I’ve turned my sermon notes into a booklet that we’ll be handing out tonight as well.
This morning, the choir is singing the song “Joy to the World,” which is a song based on Psalm 98. Isaac Watts saw Christ all through the Psalms, and said in the introduction of his hymnal,
“I have endeavored to bring the Book of Psalms into the language of the New Testament, and accommodate them to the state of the Gospel and the worship of Christian churches.”
The Psalmist saw the Messiah as the ruler, King, and judge, and Watts knew just who the Psalmist was talking about… Jesus Christ! The first time Jesus came was not to judge, but to save. The Psalm (and the song “Joy to the World) envisions Christ’s return as King of all the earth! What a day that will be!
And based on the eternal nature of God, He has revealed to us exactly what’s coming in the future. We can celebrate today as if we are already with Him—it’s THAT sure!
Let’s worship our King today as if we are right there at His feet. JOY TO THE WORLD!
—Pastor Ryan