How the Grinch FOUND Christmas
Titus 2:11-15 – Victory Fellowship
December 25, 2022 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
Christmas Day
I. Introduction: The Simplicity of Christmas Series
a. The name is misleading. The Grinch did not STEAL Christmas. He found it.
i. His heart grew 3 sizes that day.
ii. Perhaps Christmas is a little bit more.
b. Dealing with the Aftermath of Christmas
i. For the Church, the effect of Christmas is not over: What do we do with the Christ Child?
c. THE CHURCH’S RESPONSE -The Doctrine of God
i. The Christian Doctrine of God is grounded in the Incarnation of Christ. JESUS is GOD
ii. Christian Faith Starts with the Person of Christ
d. The reason for this teaching: the Good News. It is not enough to just tell people to live a new kind of life. We must tell them where they can find the power to do it.
II. Relating the Text:
a. These verses are full of great truths. Here are some of them:
i. God is the God of grace. He forgives all our sins because Jesus shed His blood to redeem us. Grace is good because it makes us good in the eyes of God.
ii. God always was and He always will be 'The God of grace'. But God sent Jesus into the world. It was a new day of grace – grace that brings salvation for all who would accept it.
iii. The grace of God 'trains', teaches or 'educates' us. (verse 12)
1. It teaches us to say 'No' to all that is wrong.
2. But there are things that we say 'Yes!' to as well.
iv. We have to lead our lives in 'this present age'. This means in the world as it is now.
v. The hope which a Christian has means that we are sure that something which God has promised will happen. God's Word is always sure. Our hope does not fix a time or how God will keep His Word – just the assurance that it will happen.
vi. Now Jesus has gone into heaven, and we cannot see Him. He is hidden from us. He shares now in all the glory, praise and honor of God. But we do not see anything of it. We sense it. We believe it.
vii. When God's new day dawns upon the world, God's great new day of glory will begin. The glory of God and of His Son who saves us will be seen.
viii. In verse 14, Paul tells us how Jesus saved us. He gave Himself for us.
III. Conclusion:
a. Jesus died 'to redeem us'. He paid the price, which was His death.
b. Jesus gave Himself in order to make us pure and His sacrifice will compel His people to want to do good - and to help other people.
c. And that’s something that even the Grinch could come to understand.
PRAYER
SONG: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Titus 2:11-15 HCSB For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works. 15 Say these things, and encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
