This document provides an overview of key figures and events related to Christmas. It discusses who we are according to scripture, choices people make daily, and the roles of God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit in planning and bringing about the birth of Jesus. It then summarizes the involvement of Mary and Joseph, Caesar Augustus, the innkeeper, shepherds, Magi, King Herod, and the holy family's flight into Egypt as part of the Christmas story. The overall message is that God had a plan from the beginning to send his son Jesus into the world through the cooperation of these many individuals.

2. December 13, 2020 Pastor Rich Oertel

3. Who We Are
• Ephesian 2:10 - We are God’s masterpiece created in Christ
Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for
us to do.
• Psalm 139:13 – For you created my inmost being; you knit
me together in my mother’s womb.
• Jeremiah 29:11 –For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm
you, plans to give you hope and a future.

4. Choices Today
•Get out of bed
•Choose what to wear
•Decide about breakfast
•8 o’clock service or 10:30 service
•Online at home or here in the church

5. God the Father
“Christmas was God’s idea.
He planned when it would happen;
planned that it would happen;
planned where it would happen;
and planned why it would happen.”
– Rich Warren

6. God the Father
John 3:16 – For God so loved the
world that he gave his one and only
Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life.
Galatians 4:4a – But when the set
time had fully come, God sent his
Son, …

7. God the Son - Jesus
Philippians 2:5-8 – … 6 who, being in very
nature God, did not consider equality with
God something to be used to his own
advantage; 7 rather, he made himself
nothing by taking the very nature of a
servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to death – even death on a cross!

8. God the Son - Jesus
Philippians 2:5-8 – … 6 who, being in very
nature God, did not consider equality with
God something to be used to his own
advantage; 7 rather, he made himself
nothing by taking the very nature of a
servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to death – even death on a cross!

9. God the Holy Spirit
•Luke 1:35 - The angel answered, “The
Holy Spirit will come on you, and the
power of the Most High will
overshadow you. So the holy one to
be born will be called the Son of God.

10. Mary & Joseph
Mathew 1:18a – This is
how the birth of Jesus the
Messiah came about: His
mother Mary was pledged
to be married to Joseph…

11. Mary
Luke 1:26-38

12. Joseph
Matthew 1:18-25

13. Caesar Augustus
Luke 2:1-7

14. The Innkeeper
Luke 2:7
…because there was no
room for them in the inn.
(NKJV)

15. The Shepherds
Luke 2:8-20

16. The Magi
Matthew 2:1-2

17. King Herod
Matthew 2:3-8

18. The Magi
Matthew 2:9-12

19. Mary & Joseph
Mathew 2:13-15

20. King Herod
Matthew 2:16

21. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND