Another Christmas is almost here! There are many things that I like about this time of year. Listening to Christmas carols, looking at all the decorated houses while driving, buying gifts for friends and family, slowing down, rekindling relationships and best of all I love all that amazing home cooked food! Just thinking about an entire week of all you can eat buffets of turkey, ham, potatoes, carrots, dressing, pies, cakes and cookies of all kinds; makes my mouth water and stomach grown with delight. Even though there is much I enjoy about Christmas there are certainly many things that I would rather do without. Who really likes wall to wall traffic, trying to find gifts to purchase for those who have everything and schedules that make one run around 24/7? When I think about the good and bad I can’t help but think that the true meaning of Christmas has somehow escaped even us Christians!

How does offering trinkets and toys to a world where war, pestilence, disease, hatred and injustice are an everyday occurrence do them any good? Will presents, pretty homes, taking time off work or even food heal their brokenness and give them hope for the other 51 weeks of the year? While a week break from one’s circumstances is a welcoming sight, are not we as Christ’s ambassadors obligated to tell this fallen world that God’s gifts to them are far superior to anything they could ever ask or imagine. Christmas is not just about sharing our love for one another through gifts, parties and food but is to be about proclaiming the message: THE KING IS COMING! In today’s sermon I am going to begin by reviewing statistics concerning the brokenness of this world and the testimony of the wise men, John the Baptist, the man possessed with a legion of demons, the centurion, Peter’s restoration and the witnesses of the curtain of the temple being torn into two; to help remind us that what his world truly needs is He who is the Mighty Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.