The birth of Jesus shows us that God keeps His promises and nothing is impossible for Him.

1. Luke gives us the story through Mary’s eyes

2. Matthew gives us the story through Joseph’s eyes

ANGLE #1 THE PROBLEM

Matthew 1:18–19 NLT

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

“Christmas is not sentimental. It is the story of God breaking in where the world is breaking apart. -Tim Keller

ANGLE #2 THE REVELATION

Matthew 1:20 NLT

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

“Joseph, this is not your crisis — it’s My calling.”“This is not a scandal — it’s a sign.”“This is not chaos — it’s fulfillment.”

ANGLE #3 THE PROPHECY

Matthew 1:22–23 NLT

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ ”

Isaiah 7:14 NLT

All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

Christmas is God proving He is faithful even when it feels like everything is falling apart.

ANGLE #4 THE SIGNIFICANCE

Matthew 1:21 NLT

And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Christmas is not good advice; it is good news. It is not about what we do; it is about what God has done.

ANGLE #5 THE IMPOSSIBLE

Luke 1:37 NLT

“…For the word of God will never fail.”

Matthew 1:20–21 NLT

“…the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife…’”

Isaiah 7:14 NLT

All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

Isaiah 9:6–7 NLT

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

Luke 2:11 NLT

The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!

“Where you see barriers, God sees beginnings.”“Where you see endings, God sees new creation.”“Where you see impossible, God sees Immanuel.”

Angle #6 JOSEPH’S RESPONSE

Matthew 1:24–25 NLT

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Angle #7 OUR LIFE APPLICATION

1. Trust God when life doesn’t make sense.

2. Believe that God’s timing is perfect.

3. Surrender to God’s call even when you don’t have all the details.

4. Remember that God is with you.

ANGLE #8 GOSPEL INVITATION

The heart of Christmas is that God didn’t wait for us to come to Him —He came to us.

Sermon Notes

A LIGHT HAS DAWNED

John 1:1–9 NLT

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.

The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

THE WORLD IS DARK

Isaiah 9:2 NIV

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

“The world is a dark place, and we will never find our way unless Jesus becomes our Light.”

- Tim Keller

THE LIGHT CAME TO US

John 1:14 NIV

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

God didn’t shout His way into the world. He slipped in quietly, humbly, vulnerably.

Why?

Because God wasn’t coming to crush us — He was coming to rescue us.

CHRISTMAS DEMANDS A RESPONSE

Christmas isn’t sentimental — it’s confrontational.

And that brings us to the three invitations of the Christmas story:

1. RECEIVE THE GIFT WITH HUMILITY

John 1:16 NIV

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

2. WALK IN THE LIGHT WITH SURRENDER

John 1:5 NLT

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Will you surrender your darkness to His light?

3. SHARE THE LIGHT WITH GENEROSITY

Generosity is not something we do — it’s something we become.

Isaiah 9:2 NIV

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Response:

1. For those who need light:“Jesus, be my Light. I surrender my darkness.”

2. For those giving toward Legacy:“Jesus, use my gift to shine Your Light into the world.”

3. For our church:“Jesus, help us walk in the Light as You are in the Light.”

Sermon Notes

Let gratitude reshape how we see God, how we see the world, and how we see generosity.

INTRODUCTION – The Story That Wakes Us Up

1. GRATITUDE CHANGES HOW WE SEE THE WORLD

The Battle Between Scarcity and Abundance (Matthew 6)

Matthew 6:22–23 NLT“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

Scarcity says:

• “Protect.”
• “Hold tightly.”
• “What if it runs out?”

Abundance says:

• “God owns it all.”
• “God provides.”
• “I can live openhanded.”

Gratitude shifts our vision.

It teaches us to see the world not through fear, but through faith.

2. GRATITUDE REVEALS WHO GOD REALLY IS

Generosity Begins in the Heart of God

Genesis 1:29 NLT

Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.

John 3:16 NLT

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT

You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by hispoverty he could make you rich.

Generosity isn’t something God does. It is who God is. And gratitude trains us to recognize His generosity in everything.

3. GRATITUDE REMINDS US: GOD OWNS EVERYTHING, WE OWN NOTHING

The Heart of Stewardship (Luke 12)

“Everything we touch belongs to God.” — John Blanchard

Luke 12:42–44 NLT

And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his otherhousehold servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.

Psalm 24:1 NLT

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. God blesses me with more than I need so I can bless the world around me.

4. GRATITUDE BREAKS GREED — THE QUIET ENEMY OF THE HEART

The Rich Fool & the Danger of More (Luke 12)

Luke 12:13–21 NLT

The antidote Jesus gives…

Luke 11:41 NIV

But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

Gratitude doesn’t just inspire giving— Gratitude kills greed.

5. GRATITUDE MAKES US GENEROUS TO THE POOR

The Heart of Jesus & the Witness of the Early Church

Luke 12:33 NLT

“Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. need.

Why did the Church do this?

• Because gratitude makes you look outward.
• Because generosity is the overflow of a heart touched by grace.

6. GRATITUDE GROWS JOY — THE SECRET OF A HAPPY LIFE

Acts 20:35 — The Happiness Paradox

Acts 20:35 NLT

“…You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Jesus wasn’t giving an obligation. He was giving the pathway to joy.

7. GRATITUDE GUIDES OUR GENEROSITY — PRACTICAL FRAMEWORK

You need to ask yourself three important questions:

A. The Relationship Question:

B. The Difference Question:

C. The God Question:

8. GRATITUDE SHAPES OUR LEGACY — WATERING WHAT WE’VE PLANTED

1 Corinthians 3:6 NLT

I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.

Generosity becomes a way to say: “Lord, we thank You for all You’ve done— and we trust You with what’s next.”

CONCLUSION – START WITH GRATITUDE, END WITH GENEROSITY