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Sermon Notes

Date of Sermon:    December 21, 2025

Title: Santa Claus: Unmerited Love​

​Main Idea:  

• God's gift of salvation is based on unmerited grace, not on being "nice" rather than “naughty,” as shown by the angelic announcement of the Savior's birth to lowly shepherds.

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Primary Passage:   Luke 2:8-14​
 
Sermon Outline:

• The First Christmas List: The "naughty and nice" list represents the world’s system of earned blessings for only the best performers, while the birth of Christ shows that God’s blessing of salvation is a gracious gift for everyone.
  
  • Luke 2:8-9 (ESV)
    
• The First Christmas Gift: God gave the joyous gospel to all people, great and small, packaged in a lowly and fragile infant.
  
  • Luke 2:10-12 (ESV)
    
• The First Christmas Morning: The angels celebrate the first Christmas morning revealing the Gift Giver and announcing the gift receiver.
  
  • Luke 2:13-14 (ESV)
    
    • Glory
      
      • to God
        
      • in the highest
        
    • Peace
      
      • among those with whom God is pleased
        
      • on earth
        

 

• For the Christmas Eve message: Read and reflect on Matthew 2:1-12.

Things to Consider: (Feel free to read Scripture passages that God brings to mind as you work through these questions)

1. What about the sermon challenged, encouraged, or confused you? What, if anything, would you like further clarification on?
2. What Santa Claus memories do you have or have heard from others that you are fond of and/or are disappointing?
   
3. Why do you think God made the announcement of the birth of Christ to shepherds, who were considered morally reprehensible by the religious leaders of the day? 
   
4. If Christ were to be born today in America, who do you think He would have announced it to first? 
   
5. How does that emotionally impact you? Would you be eager to tell those people about the gift of Jesus to them, if God gave you the opportunity? Would you be willing to go out of your way to do so? Why or why not?
   
6. When, if ever, do you, yourself, feel unworthy of God’s gift of grace and salvation? Do you think God reluctantly offers you His grace in those times, given His eagerness to extend grace to those you thought of above? Why or why not?
   
7. Do you think you are, in God’s eyes, considered more righteous than those you thought of above? Why or why not?
   
8. Take some time to thank God for His first Christmas give to you and humanity and ask Him if He would have you share that gift with anyone you know?
   

As always, feel free to contact Charles if you have questions or concerns regarding the message; its content, meaning, or application to your life. The easiest way to do that is by submitting a Bridge Card at steamboatbiblechurch.com/bridgecard. 
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