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This is the audio from the December 31, 2023 sermon, “Good News of Christmas: Good News Must GROW”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 2:21-52

Today I concluded a Christmas series from the gospel of Luke as we continued to gaze deeply into God’s Word to find the good news of Jesus shared with us by Luke the physician.  Throughout the month of December we have looked at The Good News of Christmas as found in the first two chapters of Luke.  After taking time last week to examine the good news born to all mankind, this week we considered what took place after the birth of Jesus.  When the good news of Christ is born to us, there is an expectation that we accept it and that it would grow in us.  As the good news grows, we find it is time for us to . . .

• Give: — Luke 2:22-24

  • The good news of Jesus grew as those who had experienced it began to give it to others.  The example of giving began with God in the giving of His Son to be Emanuel, God with us.  Mary and Joseph continued the giving as they gave to God that which was required by the law.  As we experience Jesus being born in us, we have the responsibility to give that good news to others.  Our giving must first be of our self and then our treasure, talents, and time will follow.

• Receive: —  Luke 2:33-35

  • The good news of Jesus grew as those who had experienced realized it was not something they had earned or accumulated of their own power, but rather it was something they had received.  The Bible asks the somewhat rhetorical question, “what do you have that you have not received, and if you have received it why do you act like you haven’t?”.  Mary and Joseph received blessings from God and from those God prompted to acknowledge the birth of Jesus.  As we experience Jesus being born in us, we must do so knowing that it is a gift of God for us and for all who would believe.  Our receiving from God must be done with open hands that willingly share because we understand who owns what we have received.

• Obey: — Luke 2:39-40, 50-51

  • The good news of Jesus grew as those who had experienced it understood the obedience that was required by God.  The entire Christmas story from Jesus, to Mary & Joseph, to the shepherds, to the wise men, and to you & I is all about obedience to the will of the Father.  As Mary and Joseph went through the process of being parents to the Son of God, they did so with full obedience to the Word of God.  Even Jesus as He grew understood the need to obey Mary and Joseph as His parents here on earth.  As we experience Jesus being born in us, we find a clear call from God to obey all that He has commanded.

• Worship: — Luke 2:29-32, 36-38

  • The good news of Jesus grew as those who had experienced it chose to worship God in every way possible.  Those who were surprised by the coming of Jesus, like the shepherds, chose to worship Him.  Those who had been anticipating and longing for the birth of Jesus, like Simeon and Anna, chose to worship Him.  It is the offering of ourselves as living sacrifices that God deems a reasonable, or acceptable, act of worship on our part.  As we experience Jesus being born in us, our response every day ought to be a response of worship.

Today, how will the good news of Jesus help you GROW?