Christmas Eve Service
H.G. Wells historian said that “Jesus was the most dominant figure of history”
Tonight we are honoring the eve of the most important person to ever walk this earth
Luke 2 simple account, 30 years as a carpenter 3 years of ministry
Legacy is the most profound BC AD Ano domini (the year of our Lord)
Tonight billions of people are celebrating His birth into a simple and obscure life.
Jesus had such a profound impact on history because He inspired many people, not by force but by love
Jesus inspired people
1. Regarding children- in a day where abandonment was common and the average child only lived till they were 8yrs old-Jesus welcomed children- Joseph was his adoptive father, early days of the church Christians adopted children to save them from having no place to go, Adoption is a metaphor of what God did for us
Wherever Christianity is spread adoption and care for children also spread.
2. Regarding women-in a day where women were known as personal property of their husband and there was no legal recourse if they were mistreated. Some of Jesus closest friends were women, he included women in His ministry, He taught women which was not heard of in that day Jesus elevated the dignity and respect of women
Wherever Christianity was spread the respect and dignity of women would also spread
3. Education from the time the pilgrims landed in what we now call America, it was Christians who labored for education and literacy Harvard, Yale, Princton, Cambridge
Where Christianity spread so does education. Christians teach literacy so they can teach God’s Word.
4. Regarding Freedom & Equality Our nation understands the Rule of Law, because that is what Jesus taught, equality and justice He was not exclusive but inclusive to all people and Christianity to this day does not have a certain tribe or clan. Foundation of our nation was based upon freedom to worship Jesus.
Communism was birth out of Atheism and Freedom is inspired by Jesus, so where Christianity is spread so is freedom.
5. Regaurding Mercy & Compassion
Care of the sick, dying and elderly and poor, Jesus cared for those who were sick, poor and downtrodden Jesus was known as the great physician
At the Council of Nicea the early church fathers decided if there was a church there should be a hospital.
Red Cross Christian who signed up so that if people passed they would have people who told them the good news
6. Jesus inspired creativity More books have been written about him, paintings painted of Him and songs sung and written about Him then any other person The arts Michaelangelo, Da Vinci, Raphael music, Handel, Bach, Chicofski, Books, Lewis, Tolken & Lew Wallace, former Atheist set out to disprove the claims of Christ, then trusted in him and wrote the novel Ben Hur, which is a famous novel set in Christ’s time about redemption
7. Jesus inspires generosity Jesus was generous with us He was willing to give Himself so that we may live. Christians actually poor and working class are the biggest givers in recent studies. Wherever Christianity spreads so does goodwill toward people
The power of Jesus knows no boundary of time or space.
Jesus lived a simple life but has a profound legacy
The real question is has Jesus made a profound impact on your history?
When I was 18 years old GOSPEL
If He has then your future will be profoundly impacted.
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