“Your Part in the Christmas
Pageant”
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. Amen. Each year children all around the world act out the story of Christ’s
birth, as our children will do in a presentation they have prepared for this
evening. Some take the part of the Wise Men; others are the shepherds;
some play the part of the Christmas angels; two take the roles of Mary and
Joseph. What’s “Your Part in the Christmas Pageant”? “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered, “May it be to me as you have
said.” “And Joseph did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and
took Mary home as his wife.” Mary and Joseph opened their hearts and lives to Jesus, the Savior of
the world. Like Mary and Joseph, open your heart and life to Jesus, for he
is your Savior. He is God, come down to earth and made man, born for you,
to live and die as payment for your sins. As the carols says, “Nails,
spear shall pierce him through, the cross be borne, for me, for you. . .
He opened the heavenly door and we are blessed forevermore, Christ was born to
save!” Unto you is born a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord! Your sins are
all forgiven because of the Babe of Bethlehem. Unto you is born a Savior,
who is Christ, the Lord! He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven
and will take you there to live forever. Unto you is born a Savior, who is
Christ, your Lord! Like Mary and Joseph open your heart and life to Jesus,
your Savior. The last verse of “Away in a Manger” is a little prayer that
puts it beautifully: Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay, What’s “Your Part in the Christmas Pageant”? Like Mary and
Joseph open your heart and life to Jesus, your Savior. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good
will toward men.’” The angels sang praises to God, giving him glory in the highest.
Like the angels, pray, praise, and give thanks, give glory to God in the
highest! “Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs
employ.” Worship the Lord in your heart, and worship the Lord here in his house.
As the Lord tells us in the Commandment, “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it
holy.” And as Psalm 100 says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and
into his courts with praise. Be thankful unto him and bless his name.” Like the angels give glory and praise to God with your lips, and also
give glory and praise to God with your life. As Paul says in Colossians,
“Living a life worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit in every good work.” What’s “Your Part in the Christmas Pageant”? Like the angels,
pray, praise, and give thanks, give glory to God in the highest! “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into
heaven, the shepherds said one to another, ‘Let us now go even unto Bethlehem,
and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto
us.’ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe
lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the
saying which was told them concerning this Child.’” The shepherds, when they heard the Good News, spread the Word.
Like the shepherds, spread the Word, make known abroad the Good News which is
told you concerning this Child. Make known the Good News that he takes
away the sin of the world, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but
have eternal life. Make it known by your words and by the example of your
life lived for him; make it known right where you are, among your own family,
friends, co-workers, neighbors, community; and make it known abroad, throughout
the world, supporting the mission work of Christ’s Church with your prayers and
offerings. What’s “Your Part in the Christmas Pageant”? Like the shepherds, spread
the Word, make known abroad the Good News which is told you concerning this
Child. “Behold, Wise Men came from the East. . . saying, ‘Where is he who has
been born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East and have come
to worship him.’ . . . they opened their treasures and presented gifts to
him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” The Wise Men gave precious gifts to Jesus. Like the Wise Men,
open your treasures and present to Jesus your precious gifts. Gold,
representing your financial treasures; frankincense, which was burned as an
offering in ancient temples, representing your worship and prayers; myrrh, an
used as ointment, representing your service to the Lord and your fellow man.
As the hymn says: As with gladness men of old did the guiding star
behold . . . What’s “Your Part in the Christmas Pageant”? Like the Wise Men,
open your treasures and present to Jesus your precious gifts. Each year the children are anxious to find out what part they will play
in the Christmas pageant. What about you? Will you be one of the
Wise Men? Or a shepherd? Or an angel? Or Mary or Joseph?
Yes, you will be them all. Like Mary and Joseph, you will open your heart and life to Jesus, your
Savior. Like the angels, you will pray, praise, and give thanks,
giving glory to God in the highest! Like the shepherds, you will spread
the Word, making known abroad the Good News which is told you concerning this
Child. Like the Wise Men, you will open your treasures and present to
Jesus your precious gifts. All that is, “Your Part in the Christmas Pageant.” Return to Top | Return to Sermons | Home | Email Church Office
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