Christmas Musicals for Church
Issue link: http://read.jwpepper.com/i/1146913
88 ( music begins to "The Full Christmas Story") This Christmas story of how our gracious King came to rescue a lost and dying world is one that we celebrate not only to remember what happened that night so long ago, but also to grasp the full picture of what has been, and what is to come in the grand design of the gospel story. You see, the Christmas story doesn't just start with, "And it came to pass" and end with, "finding Mary, Joseph and the babe lying in a manger." It starts with, "In the beginning, God" and it's the greatest story because it has no ending. From year to year, and from generation to generation, the full Christmas story is forever changing hearts and lives, because the Christmas story is the gospel story. "Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you [have] received, on which you have taken your stand and by which you are being saved" (1 Corinthians 15:1-2, CSB). "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it" (John 1:1-5, CSB). "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12, CSB). "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man" (1 Corinthians 15:21, CSB). "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever" (Isaiah 9:2,6-7, CSB). "When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:4-5, CSB). "The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.' Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 'See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,' which is translated 'God is with us'" (Matthew 1:18-23, CSB). (KEY CHANGE ) WORSHIP LEADER: CHILD #1: STUDENT #1: ADULT #1: CHILD #2: STUDENT #2: For Preview Only