WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:03.520 Well, good morning and uh Merry Christmas. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:05.360 You guys excited? 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:10.240 As some of you have already found, there are party hats under every single one of your seats. 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:16.000 So now would be a good time if you want to to join me in celebrating Jesus' birthday. 00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:18.960 And we have a tradition, yeah, we can celebrate. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:20.640 Yeah. 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:24.960 But we have a uh a time-honored tradition. 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:30.960 Uh it's probably a song that you know very well that you sing at your birthday or your son's birthday or your daughter's birthday. 00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:35.039 And so I think it's uh fitting to honor him in that just that very way. 00:00:35.119 --> 00:00:36.719 So let's sing together. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:40.399 Happy birthday to you. 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:41.600 Sing with me. 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:45.280 Happy birthday to you. 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:50.640 Happy birthday, dear Jesus. 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:55.439 Happy birthday to you. 00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:56.399 Woo. 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:03.280 That was way less awkward than I thought it was gonna be. 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:07.040 That was I was like so nervous, but thank you guys for celebrating. 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:10.959 Some of you might be wondering, like, hey, it's not even the 25th yet, so what gives? 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:12.400 What's with the party hats? 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:13.599 What's with the singing? 00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:22.239 And nobody knows exactly when Jesus was born, and people debate all the time as to why we landed very specifically on December 25th. 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:27.359 But I'm here to say that Christmas is so much more than just a single moment. 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:29.760 It's so much more than just a single moment. 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:36.560 Um I'm not saying that Jesus being born isn't the most important moment in history because it is. 00:01:36.799 --> 00:01:46.319 I'm just saying that our nativity scenes and our uh Christmas plays and our children's book don't paint an entirely accurate picture. 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:59.920 Jesus being born, and the Christmas story that we have in the Bible wasn't a party where somebody set a time close to dinner time, maybe after dinner, and everybody showed up within 15 or 30 minutes, maybe 45 if they were super late. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:06.400 No, this biblical Christmas story that we have in Scripture spans over the course of several years. 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:11.280 It encompasses uh the entire early part of Jesus' life. 00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:20.319 And so for our purposes today, we are going to talk about Jesus' very first birthday party, but we're gonna kind of expand the definition of what we'd call a party. 00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:25.520 Instead of that uh after dinner time, it's gonna be the early moments of Jesus' life. 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:34.719 Because if this is the most important party in history, I know that you'd probably want to be there and I'd want to be there as well. 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:49.840 And my hope is that when we look at the people at the party, when we see who's included at this very first Christmas party, we don't only understand who's there way back then, but we understand who's included today. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:52.719 Who is the kingdom of God for? 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:57.840 Who is this celebration that's going on even to today? 00:02:58.080 --> 00:02:59.280 Who's included? 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:05.199 And if we understand the people at the party, we understand the heart of the host. 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:08.400 And so you don't have to wear the birthday party hat the entire time. 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:09.360 I'm gonna take mine off. 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:17.680 I understand it can be difficult to wear it with the mask, and so I'm gonna take mine off as we look at the very first person that's included at this party. 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:21.680 The very first person to be included at this party is the teenager. 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:23.039 The teenager. 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:27.520 Young people, listen up because I'm gonna mainly be talking to you. 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:34.000 The first person included in this important moment in history is a young teenager named Mary. 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:42.800 We believe she was a young teenager because in her culture, it was very, very normal to be engaged at an age as young as 13. 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:57.360 And so for those of us in the room that are married, and those of us that are engaged or planning on being married soon, we know the turmoil, the hope, the anticipation, the nerves that come with merging your life with another person. 00:03:57.599 --> 00:04:02.400 Now imagine all of that on top of having just stepped out of childhood. 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:08.960 And that's where Mary finds herself as her life takes a very drastic turn. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:10.560 And so let's see what happens. 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:12.159 This is in Luke chapter one. 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:18.800 God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:24.319 She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:29.360 Gabriel appeared to her and said, Greetings, favored woman, the Lord is with you. 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:36.160 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think of what the angel could mean. 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:40.560 Don't be afraid, Mary, the angel told her, for you have found favor with God. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:44.480 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:48.240 He will be very great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High. 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:56.399 The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David, and he will reign over Israel forever, his kingdom will never end. 00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:59.680 Mary asked the angel, But how can this happen? 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:01.040 I'm a virgin. 00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:12.720 The angel replied, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, so the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:17.439 What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:25.920 People used to say that she was barren, but she conceived a son and is now in her sixth month, for the Lord or the word of the God will never fail. 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:31.519 Mary responded, I am the Lord's servant. 00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:35.680 May everything you have said about me come true. 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:45.759 The very first person included at this party is a teenager, and it this inclusion comes with a huge responsibility. 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:53.040 It's a responsibility that won't only just change her life, but it'll change the life of her entire community, the Jewish people. 00:05:53.279 --> 00:06:04.560 This is the chosen one that the Jews have been waiting for since as long as anybody can remember, and God trusts a teenager with this huge responsibility. 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:08.959 Not only will it change her community, but this will change the entire world. 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:11.600 It's why we're here today. 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:14.160 And Mary has some options. 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:16.639 It says she's confused and disturbed. 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:22.399 She could embrace that fear or she can accept the responsibility instead of running away from it. 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:23.839 And that's what she does. 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:29.600 Young people, teenagers, do not count yourself out because you're young. 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:35.199 Do not think that you don't have an important role to play in the kingdom of God. 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:42.079 Because if Mary can or if God can trust Mary with his huge responsibility, what can he trust you with? 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:45.600 We have to be willing to set aside our fear. 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:52.319 Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear that we're not good enough. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:58.240 We have to set aside our fear and step up in faith because that's what Mary had. 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:02.560 Young people, do not let anybody look down on you because you're young. 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:04.720 And teenagers, I do want to take a moment. 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:08.399 If you're in high school, uh in January, we're back. 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:18.480 Every single Sunday after service, I want to invite you to the after party and we'll hang out, we'll live life together, we'll eat lunch together in the student center, we'll pray for each other. 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:24.319 But as you walk down that hallway, you'll notice that there will be a new uh verse on the wall. 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:27.120 It says this, 1 Timothy 4 12. 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:40.959 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:43.600 Don't count yourself out. 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:45.360 Set an example. 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:54.480 You see, Mary had her plans for her life, and they were still in great plans, but God had something so much greater. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:59.920 Are you willing to set aside your fear and to step up in faith? 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:05.279 Because if you are, God can do absolutely amazing things. 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:08.800 And before we move on, you might be like, yeah, Mary, but she's Mary. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:11.600 She's like, you know, the best or something. 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:12.240 No. 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:22.879 She didn't have expertise, she didn't have training, she didn't have an uh status, she didn't have Google to even understand what pregnancy was going to be about. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:24.399 She just had faith. 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:29.040 And this isn't the only time that God trusts teenagers with his plan. 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:36.639 He's chosen them to play huge parts in the Old Testament, and that's gone good and bad as it goes with teenagers. 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:38.639 And it really has. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:41.600 Just read through the Old Testament. 00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:43.600 Uh he chose Mary for this task. 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:49.120 Uh some of Jesus' very first disciples, we believe, were young teenagers. 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:57.519 See, if we understand the people at the party, we'll understand the heart of the host, and it's very obvious that God has a heart for young people. 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:59.519 So don't count yourself out. 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:02.720 But Mary wasn't alone in this journey. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:06.080 She was engaged to be married to Joseph. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:12.480 And that brings us to the next person at the party, and I'm gonna call him the average Joe. 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:14.240 The average Joe. 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:17.759 And I don't call him average because he's not a great guy. 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:21.360 I just call him average because he's a normal person. 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:27.120 I call him Joe because his name is Joseph, but average Joe. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:29.519 Joseph is a normal person. 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:36.720 He's a carpenter, he works hard, he tries to do what's right for his family. 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:48.320 And I don't know about normal people in the room, uh, what you would feel like if you found out that your fiance was pregnant and not by you, I would be shocked and frustrated. 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:52.000 But let's see how Joseph reacts. 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:53.919 Matthew chapter one. 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:56.879 This is how Jesus, the Messiah, was born. 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:00.639 His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:07.279 But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:14.639 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to shame her publicly. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:17.759 So he decided to break the engagement quietly. 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:21.519 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:27.120 Joseph, son of David, the angel said, Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:37.600 For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and she will have a son, and you're to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:42.000 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:52.080 Look, the virgin will conceive a child, she will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means God is with us. 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:58.080 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:01.919 Joseph is average, yes. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:04.639 He's a normal guy. 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:08.720 But when the challenge faces him, he does the right thing. 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:14.320 He doesn't want to disgrace her publicly, and he's obedient to the Lord. 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:23.759 Joseph is just going about his business when all of this starts happening to him, but he also steps up in faith. 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:30.080 If you feel like a normal person, you're like, my life doesn't look particularly extravagant. 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:33.679 I don't really have a special status, or I don't know. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:35.840 I just I'm normal, I'm here. 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:39.200 Know that normal doesn't mean overlooked. 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:47.840 God sees you, He loves you, and He has a role for you to play at the party. 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:55.279 You're included at this party, no matter what your life looks like, but know that if you're normal, the invitation stands with you. 00:11:55.360 --> 00:12:04.720 If you feel like an average Joe or Josefina, the invitation stands and you're included. 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:19.120 But if we direct our attention to the corner of the room, not to anybody over there, I'm not saying this about any of you, but if we take our metaphorical attention and took it, put it to the metaphorical corner of the room, we'll see that another crowd is at this party. 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:22.480 And it's crowd you might not feel super comfortable being around. 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:27.120 You might not necessarily feel the safest because it's the rough crowd. 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:32.240 The rough crowd is here at the party, and you're kind of like, ugh, they're here. 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:36.559 And I call them the rough crowd because they are rough around the edges. 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:38.000 This is the shepherds. 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:41.600 Shepherding is a rough job. 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:54.720 You spend your life outdoors with animals, often spending late nights protecting your flock and your livelihood against violent attacks from beasts. 00:12:55.039 --> 00:13:00.080 I'm sure these shepherds have at least a few stories to tell. 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:10.080 But their life is rough, and on top of all of that, it would be nearly impossible to live under the Jewish cleanliness laws as a shepherd. 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:18.159 You come into contact with animal waste, with blood, uh, with all sorts of things on your outdoor wilderness adventures. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:26.879 And so the Jewish insiders would have often seen this group of people as unclean, untrustworthy, and on the outside. 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:37.519 But it's these rough people, this rough crowd, that God decides to include at the party. 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:39.519 Luke chapter 2. 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:45.679 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:52.320 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:53.919 They are terrified. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:57.360 But the angel reassured them: Don't be afraid, he said. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:01.519 I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:02.639 The Savior. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:09.039 Yes, the Messiah, the Lord, has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David. 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:11.440 And you will recognize him by this sign. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:16.720 You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger. 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:29.360 Suddenly the angel was joined by a vast host of others, the armies of heaven, praising God and saying, Glory to God in highest heaven and peace on earth with those whom God is pleased. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:36.159 And we could pause there and just spend the rest of the day talking about angels, but let's stay focused on the shepherds. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:42.559 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, Let's go to Bethlehem. 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:46.240 Let's see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:50.399 They returned to the village and found Mary and Joseph. 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:52.960 And there was the baby lying in a manger. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:15:01.039 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:04.480 All who heard the shepherd's story were astonished. 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:08.480 But Mary kept all of these things in her heart and thought about them often. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:15.600 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard. 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:19.120 It was just as the angel had told them. 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:21.679 That's awesome. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:24.879 But these are not the people you want at your party. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:31.519 Like, let's just say, for example, you're throwing a really important party, like the most important party in human history. 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:35.440 You wouldn't tell your friends, don't worry, guys, it's gonna be awesome. 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:37.519 I invited the shepherds. 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:40.960 It's like, no, I'm gonna decline that invitation. 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:43.279 It seems like the party that I should avoid. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:46.080 But they're here all the same. 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:50.399 God has a heart for the rough crowd. 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:59.679 If you're a little rough around the edges, God sees you, he understands you, he loves you, and he wants to include you. 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:08.320 You see, you may have a story to tell, but your story will never be the same after you meet Jesus. 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:13.600 These shepherds saw Jesus. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:16.960 They met baby Jesus, not even adult Jesus. 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:22.159 They met baby Jesus, and their lives were never the same. 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:24.240 Sure, they went back to being shepherds. 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:30.639 Their life was still rough after that encounter with God, but it was never the same. 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:39.200 They went about praising and glorifying and living with joy and wonder at the power of God and what he's doing in this world. 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:47.679 If you are rough around the edges, if you have a story to tell, know that you are just one encounter with God. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:55.120 You are included, you're one encounter away from your life being changed forever. 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:59.519 His hands has always been a place for people that are rough around the edges. 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:04.559 I remember way back in the day, like right here, there was like this giant group of bikers. 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:06.640 And if you were here back then, you remember. 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:11.279 And I was I was sitting there like, I yeah, this is church. 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.559 Where else would they be? 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:14.319 Why am I surprised? 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:19.920 God includes you just as much as He includes the average Joe. 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:23.599 Know that you're included at this party. 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:33.039 But if the shepherds are the, you know, kind of the outsiders, they're rough around the edges, this next group is the obvious outsiders. 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:35.039 These are the obvious outsiders. 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:48.079 Let's put it this way: if if this was a party in a movie, this would be the moment where they open the door, the record scratch happens, everybody goes silent to look at them, and they are just shocked as to why they're here. 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:50.240 This next group is the magi. 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:57.759 You might know them as the kings, you might know them as visitors from the east, you might know them as royal astrologers. 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:08.319 There are tons of names for this group of people, and I think that's because if we truly understood when we opened up our Bible, who the magi were, we would be offended. 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:09.920 We would be shocked. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.279 These guys? 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:14.720 No, not at my baby Jesus' birthday party. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:16.400 No, get out. 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:21.119 That's how we'd feel if we truly understood who these people were. 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:24.160 But let's see how they got there to start with. 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.599 Matthew chapter 2. 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:29.920 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea during the reign of King Herod. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:37.839 About that time, some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, where's the newborn king of the Jews? 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:41.839 We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:49.759 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:54.960 And if you know the story, it continues, and Herod tries to use them to kill baby Jesus. 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.799 It's this whole thing. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:04.640 But these guys are so obviously outsiders that when they step into the holy city of Jerusalem, a report goes straight to the king. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:06.880 It's that record scratch moment. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.480 They're confused. 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:10.079 Hey, these guys are here. 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.759 You know those guys. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:20.559 And they're so obviously outsiders because the last time we encountered them in Scripture, we were in the opposite of Jerusalem. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:26.480 We were in pagan Babylon, which is like the exact antithesis of the city of God. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:36.559 We were in King Nebuchadnezzar's court, and these court magicians are trying to comfort the king and interpret a dream that's been troubling him. 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:39.200 And they're not able to do it. 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:48.880 And they're not able to do it because they're trying to conjure from their own strength and their own intellect and their own power something that can only be managed by God. 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:56.400 And even when these court magicians do end up doing something great, it's by really dark and evil powers. 00:19:57.759 --> 00:20:02.240 But luckily, a man of God is living in exile in Babylon. 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:06.880 Daniel is able to comfort the king because he's got God on his side. 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:14.640 These court magicians, this obvious outside group, are the magi. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:22.799 Same group of people from the same line, same country, it's a different country, culture, and religion. 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:28.079 It's these guys that God includes at the party. 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:31.039 And it gives me pause. 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:39.200 It gives me major pause because so often I am really quick to identify an outsider. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:49.839 I'm quick to point fingers in my mind because they look differently than me, because they think differently than me, because they believe differently than me. 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:54.880 But these wise men, these obvious outsiders, are included. 00:20:55.119 --> 00:21:06.559 What if instead of being threatened by their outsideness, I was bold and brave in approaching them and including them at the party? 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:15.839 Because even though they're obvious outsiders, the way they respond to Jesus should seem very familiar. 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:19.599 This is uh Matthew chapter two again. 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:23.359 The star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:27.440 It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:31.119 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:38.480 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:46.160 Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:51.599 That's why we usually think of them being as three people, but this would have been a large traveling troop. 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:59.039 They show up, they bow down, and they bless the king. 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:10.720 Even though they're from a different language, different culture, different religion entirely, they show up and respond just like any of us would. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:13.680 But did you notice how they got there? 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:18.720 These guys, they were looking for God. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:21.039 They were seeking him. 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:24.640 Now they were seeking him in a way that we would see as foolish. 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:29.039 They're looking to the stars for some spiritual significance. 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:33.359 And our understanding of the universe now just kind of okay, no. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:43.440 But God spoke to them in a language that they understood, and he gave them a sign so that he could include these obvious outsiders at the party. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:47.680 All of us are looking for God. 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:49.680 All of us. 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:54.559 Some of us we find the answers in the wrong place. 00:22:55.119 --> 00:23:05.119 We find the answers in ourselves, we find the answers in a political party, we find the answers in a false religion, but all of us are seeking him. 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:09.359 The person that you would count out first is seeking him. 00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:15.920 You might be watching online or you might be here because a friend invited you, because you're curious, because you're seeking God. 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:31.519 I have to wonder, what if I'm the sign that God's going to use to reach that obvious outsider who maybe has walked away from the Christianity of their youth and has gone down an entirely different path that seems very far from God? 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:37.119 What if I'm the person that's going to speak to them in a language that they understand? 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:41.039 If you feel like an obvious outsider, know that you are included. 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:47.200 You don't have to look or dress or act a certain way, because this party is for you. 00:23:48.880 --> 00:24:00.880 But what if, those of us that are here, what if we took some time to set aside our fear to find those outsiders and to invite them. 00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:04.240 To include them on this party. 00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:08.960 It might be that coworker that you work with that really annoys you. 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:11.440 It's that one that you don't want here. 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:15.519 It might be that person that's in your family that has walked away. 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:18.799 It might be, I don't know, your FedEx driver. 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:23.279 Someone that looks, thinks, and acts completely differently than you. 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:28.480 Seek them, find them, invite them, include them because this party is for them. 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:36.799 And this last group we're gonna talk about, if the magi are the obvious outsiders, then this last group is the obvious insiders. 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:38.480 It's the church people. 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:39.599 The church people. 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:43.440 These are the guys that get left out of the Jesus story every single year. 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:45.519 This is the one the Nativity plays. 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:53.119 Never have Anna or Simeon, but I'm gonna give them a highlight here because they're church people, and I'm a church person too. 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:56.799 And honestly, well, we'll we'll just go through. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.200 Let's see. 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.319 Anna and Simeon. 00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:02.000 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:08.240 He was a righteous and devout man and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:15.839 The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he wouldn't die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:18.799 That day the Spirit led him to the temple. 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:25.279 So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:32.640 He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. 00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:37.039 I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:43.200 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people, Israel. 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:47.759 Jesus' parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:50.160 And that wasn't the only church person there. 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:53.759 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the temple. 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:58.640 She was the daughter of Faniuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. 00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:02.240 Her husband died when they had been only married seven years. 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:05.200 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:11.200 She never left the temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:16.720 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:23.759 She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:30.000 You see, these people are usually left out, but they would have definitely had this encounter way before the Magi show up. 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:34.079 But look where they are when they encounter God. 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:37.359 Look where they are when they're included at this party. 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.960 They're at the temple. 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:42.559 They're doing what God has asked them to do. 00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:50.160 They're fasting, they're praying, they're worshiping, they're expectantly waiting for this party to start. 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:57.039 They're the people that got the email and RSVP'd immediately and have been waiting every single day until that party comes. 00:26:57.279 --> 00:27:00.319 And so when it does show up, they're able to recognize it. 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:04.480 If you're a church person, know that you're included. 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:06.400 I'm a church person. 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:08.960 And oddly enough, I'm like a this church person. 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:10.720 I've been here since the fifth grade. 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:16.480 And when I look at that, sometimes I get super bummed because I'm like, I don't have a story. 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:21.039 I don't have like this amazing testimony to share. 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:23.279 I wasn't this rough crowd or obvious outside. 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:25.039 What do I have? 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:31.119 And then I'm reminded that God has protected me from so much because of my upbringing. 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:32.400 And that's a good thing. 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:38.079 And then when suffering has come, I've known who to turn to. 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:42.079 When things got crazy. 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:47.359 And that's because I'm a church person, and there are plenty of you that are church people too. 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:51.279 I mean, if you're here, you're probably to some extent a church person. 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:59.519 Just because God is included in your story doesn't mean you're overlooked in His. 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:02.559 You have an important part to play. 00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:06.000 You might have seen it coming from a long way off. 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:09.759 Like I said, you might have been waiting for this party to start. 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:14.240 But you have an important role to play at the party. 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:18.799 Now, if we reflect on this guest list, it's a very strange guest list. 00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:23.839 It's not the party that you necessarily would show up to and be like, oh, all these weird people are here. 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:25.519 I'm gonna try to leave. 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:30.400 And it's it's a strange guest list because this is an open invitation. 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:34.799 And there are several ways that we can respond to an open invitation. 00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:37.359 And the first is simply show up. 00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.799 Show up. 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:49.039 Whether you're a teenager or an average Joe, whether you're a church person or the obvious outsider, if you're the rough crowd, this party is for you. 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:51.759 And showing up can look like a variety of different things. 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:55.279 First off, it could mean turning on your TV and showing up online. 00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:56.640 Thank you for showing up online. 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:59.039 It could mean showing up in person. 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:02.799 But for a lot of us, you're like, I'm here preaching to the choir. 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:11.200 For some of us, showing up could look like accepting the invitation for the very first time. 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:28.559 And if you're recognizing that there's a celebration going on, whether it's because it's Christmas or whether because something has been happening in your heart or whatever it is, if you're recognizing that there's a celebration going on that you want to be part of, all you have to do is show up. 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:34.400 And if you do, if you do respond to that invitation, my encouragement is to sign up and get baptized. 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:43.839 That's just a way to show this community that you're part of the party, that you've made that commitment to following and being with Jesus. 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:48.480 So show up, and then the second thing we can do is to mingle. 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:49.759 Mingle. 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:56.799 Talk to that person that sits next to you every single Sunday that you have never spoken to and otherwise probably wouldn't speak to. 00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:00.799 That person that looks completely different than you, mingle. 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:02.559 Get to know them. 00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:07.039 And listen, I understand mingling can be awkward, especially with masks. 00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:08.960 It's like, I don't want to talk to anyone. 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:10.640 I'm coming, I'm sitting, and I'm leaving. 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.839 That's okay. 00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:21.119 But here's the thing: someone sitting in this room could be the specific answer to a prayer that you've been praying for a very long time. 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:26.559 You might be the answer to a prayer that they've been praying for a very long time. 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:29.839 And you cannot know that unless you know them. 00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:33.119 So mingle. 00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:35.279 Step into the awkwardness. 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:41.200 And I'm gonna lay a blanket statement out, and I didn't ask permission if I could say this, but I'm gonna say it. 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:46.319 You have the freedom here to flub somebody's name. 00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:49.359 You have the freedom. 00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:53.200 I have called you all by the wrong name for years. 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:56.559 I have, I'm sorry, so forgive me, please. 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:59.359 There's forgiveness if we forget. 00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:04.559 And if you ask that person their name, if you overcome the awkwardness, you're like, I remembered. 00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:09.519 And then the next week goes by, and it's been six days since you've seen that person and you forget. 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:15.359 It's not this moment where you go, guess I can't talk to that person ever again in my entire life. 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.000 No. 00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:17.839 Get to know them. 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.559 Ask again. 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:20.960 Say, hey, I totally forgot your name. 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:26.079 You have the freedom to do that here because the kingdom of God is a group effort. 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:28.319 It's no fun to party alone. 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:31.359 And we can do that together every single week. 00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:38.799 And honestly, that's a huge part of why we're gonna stay at one service church for as long as we feasibly can make it happen. 00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:43.279 Because that gives us the opportunity to stick around, to mingle. 00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:50.640 When the the last song is over and we all go to our cars, we can stick around and get to know that person that we've seen. 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:52.960 And that person might have a lot of tattoos. 00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:55.039 Like a lot of tattoos. 00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:59.759 But they're included at the party, and you might need them, they might need you. 00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:02.240 And so mingle. 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:05.839 What else can you do with an open invitation? 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:10.000 Open invitations are cool because they introduce a little bit of chaos. 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:12.640 Because you can invite others. 00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:17.359 You can invite whoever you want to a party with an open invitation. 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:20.559 You can bring your boyfriend or girlfriend, and it won't be awkward. 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:23.839 You can bring your FedEx driver or the cash register person. 00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:26.880 You can bring whoever here. 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:29.599 And it's actually our job to keep this party going. 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:35.359 Jesus, in his last conversation here on earth as a man, said this. 00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:40.400 He says, I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:49.519 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. 00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:54.799 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you, and be sure of this. 00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:59.039 I am with you even to the end of the age. 00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:01.759 How do these new disciples get here? 00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:04.799 They're invited, they're included. 00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:08.079 Like I said earlier, we might be the sign that somebody needs. 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:14.799 We might be able to speak in the language that they can understand because of our past, because of our experience. 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:17.359