Powerpoint Pictures: Children opening presents; Christmas Dinner; People pulling crackers; Queen’s Speech on TV; Carol Singers

What do people do each Christmas?  What are some of the things that people get up to? *[Opening presents; Eating Christmas Dinner; Pull crackers; Watch the Queen’s Speech; Sing Carols]*

There are lots of things people do at Christmas time and we probably do them to.

Yet there’s some other things we should be doing (and I want us to be thinking about them on each of the Sundays in Advent).

We’re told what they are by the four Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, who wrote eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life.

The first thing we are to do at Christmas is Recognise.  That’s what Matthew tells us we need to do.

Look at how Matthew begins his Gospel.  “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Matthew 1:1)

Do you see who Jesus is?

He is the son of David.  David was given a promise by God that one of his sons (descendants) would be a king who would reign for ever.

He is also the son of Abraham.  Abraham was promised by God that one of his offspring would bring blessing to all the world by bring people back into relationship with God.

Jesus is this son of David and son of Abraham.

This Christmas, one of the most important things we can do is recognise.

Recognise who Jesus is.

That He is the King who has come to save His people from their sins and bring them back into relationship with God.

*Next time we’ll hear what Mark says we should be doing this Christmas!*