2012 Christmas Message

INTRO: When I began the ministry as pastor, for the first number of Christmas's I preached through Matthew 1 and 2. Then in 1998 I began in Luke. I am going from Luke 1:26 through Luke 2:38. I give this section the title, "Four Great Visits Of The Christmas Story."

I. THE VISIT TO MARY (Luke 1:26-38)

II. THE VISIT TO ELIZEBETH (Luke 1:39-56)

III. THE VISIT TO BETHLEHEM (Luke 2:1-20)

IV. THE VISIT TO JERUSALEM (Luke 2:21-38)

We are now in the fourth great visit, the visit to Jerusalem. Last two Christmas's we considered the rites that take place in verses 21-24. There is the circumcision and the naming of the child which took place 8 days after birth, the purification of the mother, the presentation of the child at the temple and the sacrificial offering which took place 40 days after birth.