No Christ, No Christmas: 6 Ways to Keep Jesus at the Centre
Dr RJ Sing, 25 min
This is the whole service. The video opens where he begins, at 1:30.
Originally preached as “Without Christ There's No Christmas”
Sermon outline
Christmas means nothing without Christ, who came to seek and save the lost and is the only way to God, so keep Him at the centre of your celebrations and share His love.
Main text
- Luke 19:9-10
Opening
He introduces himself as Pastor Roshan Sing of Faith Centre International in Durban and hopes viewers are celebrating Christmas. He states his theme, that if there is no Christ there is no Christmas, and reads Luke 19:9-10, saying verse 10 sums up the whole Christmas story in one sentence.
He came to seek and save the lost
Many of us were once lost, alienated and separated from God, but through the love of Christ and the cross we have been reconciled. To anyone who is not truly born again, or who feels lonely and neglected while others celebrate, he says Jesus died for you too, cares for you and came not to condemn the world but to save it.
“Jesus came to seek and save the lost.”
- Luke 19:9-10
- John 3:17
The incarnation: God came in the form of man
Incarnation means the embodiment of a deity in earthly form, the union of the divine and human natures in Christ. God is a Spirit, and He came to earth in the form of a man, born of the virgin Mary in a manger; no one before or after has been sent by God to die and reconcile lost humanity. At the judgment the question will not be whether you were a good person but who atoned for your sins, and the only answer that guarantees heaven is Jesus.
“The question won't be, are you a good person, but the question will be asked, who atoned for your sins?”
- John 4:24
- John 1:14
- 1 Peter 2:11
- John 14:6
- Luke 4:18
No other name, and a message of love
There is salvation in no other name, and the message is clear, not ambiguous. Jesus spoke with clarity and boldness, constantly affirming that the Father had sent Him, and His one message was love. Without Christ there would be no Christmas services, no carols and no Bible.
Illustration: Charles Wesley could never have penned 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing', and 'O Little Town of Bethlehem', 'The First Noel', 'O Come, All Ye Faithful' and 'Silent Night' would mean nothing without Christ.
“Because of Jesus Christ we have the Bible, because of Jesus Christ we have Christmas.”
- Acts 4:12
Rich in mercy, made near by the blood
We once walked according to the course of this world, but God, who is rich in mercy, loved us. Those who were far off are made near by the blood of Christ, who is our peace, and we are no longer strangers but fellow citizens with the saints. Don't look for peace in the wrong places; even with all your imperfections, God has made you a saint and you can run to Him, not away from Him.
“You don't have to run away from God. You just run to God.”
- Ephesians 2:2-4
- Ephesians 2:13-14
- Ephesians 2:19
Without Christ, life is meaningless
Without Christ there is no salvation, glory, rejoicing, healing, deliverance from addictions, worship or godliness. God so loved the world that He gave His Son, who is the light given to the whole world, whatever a person's religion, to point out the road back to God.
“If we remove Christ out of Christmas, there is not really a Christmas.”
- John 3:16-19
- John 8:12
Six ways to keep Christ in Christmas
He concludes with practical points. Make Christ the central focus of your celebrations; refuse to be dragged into the commercial mad rush, keeping your peace and letting people see Christ's love in you; enjoy your family and restore broken fellowship by forgiving and calling first; be in God's house on Christmas Day, even when on holiday; put a scripture or 'Jesus loves you' on your cards and gifts; and plant the meaning of Christmas in your children's hearts while they are young.
“Avoid being dragged into the commercialisation of Christmas.”
- 1 Corinthians 2:12
- Colossians 3:13
Putting it into practice
- Make Christ the central focus of your Christmas.
- Refuse the commercial rush and keep your peace.
- Restore broken relationships: forgive and make the first call.
- Go to a church service on Christmas Day, even when on holiday.
- Write a scripture or 'Jesus loves you' on your cards and teach your children the real meaning of Christmas.
Closing
He wishes viewers a merry Christmas from himself, his family and Faith Centre International, blessing them with 'the blessing of the Lord that maketh rich and adds no sorrow' and open doors of favour. He salutes pastors and their families everywhere for their love and dedication, then asks viewers to point a hand to the screen and prays a blessing over their homes, marriages, relationships and finances, for salvation, healing and deliverance.
In his words
- “If there is no Christ, there is no Christmas.”
- “Luke 19 verse 10 sums up the entire Christmas story in one sentence.”
- “Don't look for peace in the wrong places.”
- “Without Christ, life is meaningless.”
- “May every heartache and sorrow drown in God's love.”
Every scripture in this message
- Luke 19:9-10
- John 3:17
- John 4:24
- 1 Peter 2:11
- John 14:6
- John 1:14
- Luke 4:18
- Acts 4:12
- Ephesians 2:2-4
- Ephesians 2:13-14
- Ephesians 2:19
- John 3:16-19
- John 8:12
- 1 Corinthians 2:12
- Colossians 3:13
- Proverbs 10:22
- Numbers 6:25