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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><strong>Sermons for Christmas Eve!</strong></span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">A
Christmas Eve sermon</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><span> </span>1st SERMON FOR LUKE 2:8-20</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Sermon Opener</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The full text of the following sermon is available at <a __removedlink__597810350__href="http://www.eSermons.com" target="_blank">www.eSermons.com</a>. Sign up today at: <a shape="rect" target="_blank" __removedlink__597810350__href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001ejP9jegjZwL03xhqzHIGreDiAt4C2fO6F4nnTxAcAShw0D66f7a_Upr6g4ECGNVDb7jC4BnoPAtlm0yWMQ3CMcHRbj9ITnybQwBzKeEEzSVQDfW8HaU8lGOalEBvhW92">http://www.esermons.com/signup</a>. Or call: 1-800-777-7731. [Members: Please see Luke 2 the sermon titled "What Was Seen at Bethlehem"]</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I
wonder what I would have heard had I been there that night. It is a
question that annually haunts me. Would I have heard the choirs of
angels singing or simply the sounds of barnyard animals shifting around?
Would I have seen the star in the sky that night or simply two poor and
very frightened kids? Would I have understood the hushed silence of the
divine presence, or simply the chill of a cold east wind. Would I have
understood the message of Emmanuel, God with us, or would the cosmic
implications of that evening have passed me by?</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I
am convinced that had two people been there that night in Bethlehem it
is quite possible that they could have heard and seen two entirely
different scenes. I believe this because all of life is this way. God
never presents himself in revelation in a manner in which we are forced
to believe. We are always left with an option, for that is God's way.
Thus, one person can say "It's a miracle, while another says "It's
coincidence."</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Certainly
very few people in Palestine saw and heard and understood what took
place that night. The choirs of angels singing were drowned out by the
haggling and trading going on in the Jerusalem bazaar. There was a
bright star in the sky but the only ones apparently to pay any attention
to it were pagan astrologers from the East. If anyone did see Mary and
Joseph on that most fateful night, they were too preoccupied with their
own problems to offer any assistance...</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The rest of this sermon can be obtained by joining <a shape="rect" target="_blank" __removedlink__597810350__href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001ejP9jegjZwLk_0F7ajUzwP_Gix4-2NKUhWLiiDPF2eWXdhPZReAQgHfAUeuI686vr4oRVTV8v6wXoBGeGIgKraLlCA3luK1FzVnEAo8pJ3Y=">http://www.Sermons.com</a>. </span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><span> </span>2nd SERMON FOR LUKE 2:1-7</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Luke 2<font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">,</font></font> the sermon titled "No Room In The Inn"</span> <br>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Wally
was big for his age--seven years old. Everyone wondered what role the
teacher would give him in the annual Christmas play. Especially
considering the fact that he was also a slow learner. Perhaps he could
pull the curtain.</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">To
everyone's surprise the teacher gave Wally the role of the innkeeper.
The boy of course was delighted. After all, all he had to learn was one
line:</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">"There is no room in the inn." He had that down in no time.</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Then
came the night for the program. The parents took their places. Every
seat in the auditorium was filled. The children entered singing "Oh come
all ye faithful." The lights dimmed. A hush moved over the audience.
The curtain opened on Scene One. Mary and Joseph entered the stage and
walked up to the inn. "Please sir, my wife is not well. Could we have a
room for the night?"</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Wally
was ready for his line. He had rehearsed it all night. He began, "there
is", and he hesitated. He started over again. There is. . .and again
his mind went completely blank. Everyone was embarrassed for him but
poor Wally just didn't know what to do. Joseph thought he would
improvise and started walking away toward the stable on stage left.
Seeing him walking away Wally in desperation called out: "Look, there's
plenty of room at my house, just come on home with me."</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">That
seems a rather delightful twist on a familiar story. Over the years the
characters in the Christmas story have become clearly defined for us.
The issues all seem so clear cut. Herod was a villain and the wise men
were heroes. The shepherds were heroes and the Innkeeper--well, the poor
innkeeper has gone down as one of the heavies in the story. In our
minds eye, we envision him as a crotchety old man with a night cap on
his head sticking his head out a second story window and tersely
shouting: Take the stable and leave me alone.</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">But perhaps the innkeeper has received bad press...</span></div>
<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span></div>
<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The rest of the sermon above can be obtained by joining <a shape="rect" target="_blank" __removedlink__597810350__href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001ejP9jegjZwLk_0F7ajUzwP_Gix4-2NKUhWLiiDPF2eWXdhPZReAQgHfAUeuI686vr4oRVTV8v6wXoBGeGIgKraLlCA3luK1FzVnEAo8pJ3Y=">http://www.Sermons.com</a>. <br>
</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">A Personal Testimony</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Would
you allow me to be personal? I have an unusual story to tell, and I
delight in telling it. My work brings me into contact with many people.<span> </span>In fact, I deal with all kinds of people from the humblest country folk to the highest officials.</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">But
the event I most vividly recall happened at one of the year's peak
seasons. Our country's leader had felt that additional taxes were needed
for us to meet our budget, so he had urged all local citizens to have
their names registered at the polls, so they could be duly taxed. Of
course, this meant many thousands had to make their way across the
countryside to the city which represented their political interests.</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I
recall the weather...still cool...although the fresh smell of spring
was in the air. Grass was even good enough for limited grazing on the
nearby hillsides. And the days...rather pleasant, but I must admit the
nights were somewhat chilly.</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">But
one night in particular stands out in my memory. It seems that the
crowds had been unusually large that day. And many had come by seeking
lodging for the night, as they lived at too great a distant to return
home for bedtime. Already I had turned dozens away to seek shelter
elsewhere. [If stool is used, sit here] Exhausted, I had dozed off at
the register's counter when I was awakened by a gentle "tap-tap-tapping"
on the counter-top. "Coming to" with a start, I made out the figure of a
young couple, standing in the lingering shadows of the lamp light.</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">"May
I help you?" I asked, [jumping-up and off of stool]. As the young man
stood by his pretty companion, he began to speak in a low, trembling
voice....</span></div>
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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span></div>
<span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The rest of the sermon above can be obtained by joining <a shape="rect" target="_blank" __removedlink__597810350__href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001ejP9jegjZwLk_0F7ajUzwP_Gix4-2NKUhWLiiDPF2eWXdhPZReAQgHfAUeuI686vr4oRVTV8v6wXoBGeGIgKraLlCA3luK1FzVnEAo8pJ3Y=">http://www.Sermons.com</a>.<br>
<br>
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