Sermon Outline  Dec 23, 2007 Morning Service

Topic: What The Baby In The Manger Didn’t Do    

Text:   Matthew 2:13-23 

Introduction

I.         We hear it every year this time of year: “Joy to the world.”

II.        Today’s message is, “What The Baby In The Manger Didn’t Do” (Matthew 2:13-23).

A.        What are you hoping for this Christmas?

B.        Likely there are things you will receive and things you will not.

III.       While we certainly are not going to suggest (or even accept) the idea that Christmas is the time of Jesus’ birth, we would like to examine two things that affect us all that the baby in the manger didn’t do.

Text

I.         The baby in the manger didn’t stop bad things from happening.

A.        King Herod proved that evil was alive and well even after Jesus was born.

B.        His birth didn’t eliminate suffering (vs. 17-18).

C.       I don’t have to prove to you that bad things still happen even though Jesus was born.

II.        The baby in the manger didn’t ignore bad things.

A.        Although the birth of Jesus didn’t destroy evil, Jesus was born that evil might be destroyed (1 John 3:8).

B.        Christ didn’t eliminate suffering, but because He was born, one day there will no more suffering for those who call Him Lord (Revelation 21:3-5).

C.       When we see the suffering of the world we want to ask God, “Why”.

1.        Asking God “Why” is the wrong question.

2.        The right question is “When”.

a.        “Lord, when will you stop the evil and suffering?”

b.        “When will you finish what you began in the manger?”

c.        Christians know that’s coming!

3.        Isn’t it great to know that once this life lived in a world of evil and suffering is over, we’re going to a place prepared by Jesus specifically for us where there will be no suffering or pain?

4.        What began in the manger, even before the manger, gives us something to hold on to!

Conclusion

I.         The baby in the manger didn’t stop King Herod from killing innocent babies in Bethlehem.

II.        But the baby in the manger does assure us that evil will ultimately be put down.

III.       We’ve looked at two things that the baby in the manger didn’t do.

A.        He didn’t stop bad things from happening.

B.        He didn’t ignore bad things.

IV.       So again we ask, what are you hoping for this Christmas?

A.        We all want something different.

B.        Some of us want nothing at all.

C.       But there is one thing that we all need; we all need the salvation that can only come from the Man on the cross.