PowerPoint File for this sermon.

BIRTHDAYS

Introduction:

A. Christmas Has Often Been A Point Of Conflict.

B. Is December 25th The Day Of Christ's Birth? Most likely Not.

C. Is The Opportunity To Teach The Truth Important?

Body: Luke 2: 1 - 14

I. The First Birth (Genesis 1: 1 - 5).

A. God created the heavens and the earth.

1. Explains how we got here and why.
2. Explains how something came from nothing.

B. God created all that is in the heavens and earth.

1. He created the planets, animals, plants, land and seas.
2. He finally creates mankind.

C. Why did God create everything?

1. I do not really know other than because He wanted to.
2. To love you must have something or someone to love.

II. The Birth Of Jesus (Luke 1: 1 - 14).

A. It was determined before creation (1 Peter 1: 20, 21).

He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

B. It allowed God to once again walk and talk with man (John 1: 14).

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

C. It was heralded by the angels (Luke 2: 13, 14).

[Occurs for nothing else?]
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

D. It was the beginning of the culmination of God's Restoration Plan (Colossians 1:19, 20).

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. (NKJV)

III. The New Birth (John 3: 1 - 6).

A. Necessary for the kingdom of God

1. One cannot see the kingdom without the new birth
(John 3: 3).
2. One cannot enter the kingdom without it (John 3: 5).

B. It is a spiritual, not physical, birth.

1. It is not a reentering of the mother's womb.
2. It involves water and the Spirit.

C. It requires the word of God (1 Peter 1: 23).

Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.

Conclusion: Romans 5: 18

A. Christ Was Born Into This World.

B. He Became The Perfect Sacrifice For Our Sins.

C. He Gives Us The Opportunity To Be Born Again, Not Of The Flesh, But Of The Spirit.

D. Have You Been Born Again?