Grace Brings Us to Our Knees

Pastor Nathan WellerDecember 13, 2015

Series: The Birth of Grace

“Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more...

He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as

the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or… (cont’d)

(Charles Dickens)

…borough, in the good old world...and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas

well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said

of us, and all of us!” (Charles Dickens)

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but

according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal

of the Holy Spirit…(Titus 3.4-5 ESV)

Worship is the proper response to

God’s gift of grace

POP QUIZ!HOW MANY WISE MEN WERE THERE?

POP QUIZ!HOW MANY WISE MEN WERE THERE?

A. 2

POP QUIZ!HOW MANY WISE MEN WERE THERE?

A. 2B. 3

POP QUIZ!HOW MANY WISE MEN WERE THERE?

A. 2B. 3C. 4

POP QUIZ!HOW MANY WISE MEN WERE THERE?

A. 2B. 3

D. UnknownC. 4

POP QUIZ!HOW MANY WISE MEN WERE THERE?

A. 2B. 3

D. UnknownC. 4

Answer:

POP QUIZ!HOW MANY WISE MEN WERE THERE?

A. 2B. 3

D. UnknownC. 4

Answer: D

1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About

that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,

2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we

have come to worship him.” (cont’d)(Matthew 2.1-12 NLT)

3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in

Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah

supposed to be born?”5 “In Bethlehem in Judea…” (cont’d)

(Matthew 2.1-12 NLT)

…for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of

Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”7 Then Herod called for a private meeting

with the wise men, and he… (cont’d)(Matthew 2.1-12 NLT)

…learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them,

“Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and

worship him, too!”9 After the interview the wise men… (cont’d)

(Matthew 2.1-12 NLT)

…went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the

place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!

11They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and… (cont’d)

(Matthew 2.1-12 NLT)

…they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 When it was time to leave,

they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them

in a dream not to return to Herod.(Matthew 2.1-12 NLT)

Grace draws usto Christ

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem.

(Matthew 2.1 NLT)

23 But the hour is coming, and is now here when the true worshipers will worshipthe Father in spirit and truth, for the

Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who

worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4.23-24 ESV)

37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast

out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has

given me, but raise it up on the last day.”(John 6.37-39 ESV)

Grace helps us see Jesus as the

King of Kings and Lord of Lords

2 Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? 3 When Herod

the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him…

(Matthew 2.2, 3 NLT)

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so

it is written by the prophet: (cont’d)(Matthew 2.3-8, 12 ESV)

6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come

a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”7 Then Herod summoned the wise men

secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. (cont’d)

(Matthew 2.3-8, 12 ESV)

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word,

that I too may come and worship him.” 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their

own country by another way.(Matthew 2.3-8, 12 ESV)

Grace inspires our worship!

For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him….

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

And going into the house… (cont’d)(Matthew 2.2B, 10-12 ESV)

…they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and

worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold

and frankincense and myrrh.(Matthew 2.2B, 10-12 ESV)