04 SOMETHING BETTER THAN RELIGION NOTES
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SOMETHING BETTER THAN RELIGION Matthew 2: 1-12 4 of 4 December 21 2014 About twenty-five years ago, Oldsmobile, in an effort to reach a new generation of car-buyers came up with a classic advertising campaign: This is not your father's Oldsmobile. When Jesus came into the world, you might say he came in with the message: This is not your father's religion. Jesus came into a world in which many people thought that righteousness was defined by how you washed your hands and what kind of clothes you wore and what kind of food you didn't eat and whether or not you worked on Saturday. No story in the Bible better illustrates the "this-is-not-yourfather's-religion" mindset than the story of the magi. This story presents a radical view of God that challenged the belief systems of first-century Jews and continues to challenge us today. We have a tendency to want to box God in and paint him exclusively in our team colors -- as if real Christianity is red, white and blue, or as if real Christianity is southern, or as if real Christianity fits within the confines of our denomination. The message of the gospel is that this isn't about race and • it isn't about ritual, • it's about a personal relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.
Belmont Baptist Church Dr. H. Douglas Peirce, Pastor Copyright © 2014 H. Douglas Peirce
This is why the story of the magi, or the story of the wisemen, is my favorite part of the Christmas story.
It shows us how our God is an all-inclusive God, that he loves everyone in the whole wide world and he extends his grace to everyone in the whole wide world.
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So this morning, let's take a look at this story.
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The story of the wise men teaches us three wonderful things about the gospel according to Christmas.
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Well, first of all, in this story we discover that...
Here's the third thing I want you to see.
1. God reveals himself to those who seek him.
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3. God leads those who will follow.
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___________________________________________________ Here's the second thing this story teaches. 2. God speaks to those who will listen.
CONCLUSION The story of the wisemen that offers insight into the nature and character of God, and how he relates to us.
___________________________________________________
The story of the wise men teaches us that this is not about religion. It's not about race or ritual.
___________________________________________________
It's about a relationship with the God who loves you.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
SOMETHING BETTER THAN RELIGION Matthew 2: 1-12 4 of 4 December 21 2014 About twenty-five years ago, Oldsmobile, in an effort to reach a new generation of car-buyers came up with a classic advertising campaign: This is not your father's Oldsmobile. When Jesus came into the world, you might say he came in with the message: This is not your father's religion. Jesus came into a world in which many people thought that righteousness was defined by how you washed your hands and what kind of clothes you wore and what kind of food you didn't eat and whether or not you worked on Saturday. No story in the Bible better illustrates the "this-is-not-yourfather's-religion" mindset than the story of the magi. This story presents a radical view of God that challenged the belief systems of first-century Jews and continues to challenge us today. We have a tendency to want to box God in and paint him exclusively in our team colors -- as if real Christianity is red, white and blue, or as if real Christianity is southern, or as if real Christianity fits within the confines of our denomination. The message of the gospel is that this isn't about race and • it isn't about ritual, • it's about a personal relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.
Belmont Baptist Church Dr. H. Douglas Peirce, Pastor Copyright © 2014 H. Douglas Peirce
This is why the story of the magi, or the story of the wisemen, is my favorite part of the Christmas story.
It shows us how our God is an all-inclusive God, that he loves everyone in the whole wide world and he extends his grace to everyone in the whole wide world.
___________________________________________________
So this morning, let's take a look at this story.
___________________________________________________
The story of the wise men teaches us three wonderful things about the gospel according to Christmas.
___________________________________________________
Well, first of all, in this story we discover that...
Here's the third thing I want you to see.
1. God reveals himself to those who seek him.
___________________________________________________
3. God leads those who will follow.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________ Here's the second thing this story teaches. 2. God speaks to those who will listen.
CONCLUSION The story of the wisemen that offers insight into the nature and character of God, and how he relates to us.
___________________________________________________
The story of the wise men teaches us that this is not about religion. It's not about race or ritual.
___________________________________________________
It's about a relationship with the God who loves you.
___________________________________________________
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