The Christmas Story, Life-Altering Journeys to Jesus, Part 5-Why are you here?Scriptures: Luke 2:15, Matthew 2:2, Luke 1:38, Matthew 1:24, Matthew 2:3Main Points:The Shepherds-Hunger for MoreThe Magi-Hope and ExpectationThe Parents-Blessing and ObedienceThe Kings-Fear of the UnknownSermon Notes:There were a number of individuals who were part of the birth story. The question we might ask all of them is “Why are you here?” What’s a magician from the far east doing here? Why are there shepherds here? What’s this young girl and her husband doing here? Let’s take a few minutes to look at the reasons they were there and finally the reason that one person didn’t show up. Which one is most like you?There are some people who find their way to Jesus because at one point in their lives they had an experience that changed their perspectives. Something happened that sparked just enough interest in them to create a “hunger for more.” So, they go looking. But be careful… sometimes our hunger for more ends in disappointment because we think that more is going to be grandiose and experiential. Make sure your hunger fore more doesn’t drive you away from God after the goosebumps and the hype are gone.We’ve been hearing about the coming Messiah. We’ve come a long way because we want to find him. If he’s real, we want to worship him! Sometimes we show up because we need some hope in our lives and we are filled with just enough expectation that Jesus could be the answer to some longing within us that we don’t even understand. It comes on the heals of the “there’s got to be more than this” moment that most of us have or will experience. What if Jesus is the more? What if God is the answer? What if giving my life to God would change the way I see myself and the world around me? I am hoping he’s the answer to everything I’m expecting. That’s why I’m here!Some people end up at the feet of Jesus just because that’s what you’re supposed to do. God commanded it. So, I’m going. God said I have to give my heart to him. God said I have to follow him. God said I have to obey him. That’s why I’m here. They can’t imagine not being here. It wasn’t always that way, but somehow at some point God got ahold of their hearts and they can’t even consider doing anything but obeying now. The amazing part of Mary and Joseph’s story is that there was a blessing in their obedience, not just for them, but for the whole world!We have all these people who showed up for different reasons to be part of the birth of Jesus. Then, we have a group that was no where to be found. They are typified through King Herod. He was the “King of the Jews” at the time of Jesus’ birth. When he was told by the Magi that they had come to find the newborn King of the Jews… he was disturbed by that. The announcement of the Messiah was disturbing to all of Jerusalem. Why were they so surprised? They should have known. They probably did. However, there was fear. Life is cushy. It’s manageable. What will happen if Jesus takes over? What will it do to my world? What will it do to my kingdom?If you are someone who has had their life completely changed by one day… are you willing to believe that it can happen again?

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