“...not only is Christianity the greatest story ever told, but it is the greatest possible story ever told.” ~ Paul Gould This message was given on December 11, 2016 at New City Church in Calgary by Pastor John Ferguson. For more info, please visit: www.newcitychurch.ca.

1. The Gospel of Luke 2:1-14
Good News of
Great Joy

2. The Hopes & Fears
of All the Years
New City Church of Calgary
Advent 2016

3. “Cynicism is the compla-
cent confidence that
suspicion reveals the
whole story of human
ideals and idealism. There
is nothing but self-
interest, self-righteous-
ness, and self-deception.”

4. The Gospel of Luke 2:1-14
Good News of
Great Joy

5. 1 In those days a decree went out from
The Gospel of Luke 2:1-14
Caesar Augustus that all the world should
be registered. 2 This was the first registra-
sion when Quirinius was governor of
Syria. 3 And all went to be registered,
each to his own town.

6. The New Testament revolves
around a series of events said to
have occurred in Palestine
between 5BC and AD30. This
makes Christianity open—some
would say vulnerable.… The
logic is simple: if you claim that
something spectacular took
place in history, intelligent
people are going to ask you
historical questions.

7. On the whole, Christianity
has welcomed this. It is as if
the Christian faith places its
head on the chopping block
of public scrutiny and invites
us all to take a swing.

8. • Son of Julius Caesar
• The “son of god”
• King of kings, Lord of lords
• The Saviour of the whole world
Caesar Augustus
•The 1st Roman Emperor

9. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee,
The Gospel of Luke 2:1-14
from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to
the city of Bethlehem, because he was of
the house and lineage of David, 5 to be
registered with Mary, his betrothed, who
was with child. 6 And while they were
there, the time came for her to give birth.

10. “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the
clans of Judah, from you shall
come forth for me one who is to be
ruler in Israel, whose origin is from
of old, from ancient of days.”
~ Micah 5:2
400 years before the birth
of Jesus of Nazerath

11. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee,
The Gospel of Luke 2:1-14
from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to
the city of Bethlehem, because he was of
the house and lineage of David, 5 to be
registered with Mary, his betrothed, who
was with child. 6 And while they were
there, the time came for her to give birth.

12. “He will be great and
will be called the Son of
the Most High. And the
Lord God will give to
him the throne of his
father David, and he will
reign over the house of
Jacob forever, and of
his kingdom there will
be no end.”
~ The Gospel of Luke 1:32-33

13. Old Testament Prediction New Testament
Micah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem Luke 2:1-7
Zechariah 9:9
Enters Jerusalem riding
on a donkey
Luke 19:35-27
Zechariah 11:2
Betrayed for 30 pieces
of silver
Matthew 26:15
Isaiah 50:6 Beaten & spit upon Matthew 26:67
Psalm 22:16 Hands & feet pierced Luke 23:33
Isaiah 53:12 Killed alongside thieves Matthew 27:38
Psalm 22:18 Garments taken by lots John 19:23-24

14. Dr. Peter Stoner, Ph.D.
Astrophysics - Cornell University
Prof. Emeritus of Science, Westmont College
Prof. Emeritus of Mathematics & Astronomy
Pasadena City College
Probability of just 8 prophecies
being fulfilled in 1 person is 1 in 10
17
100,000,000,000,000,000

15. 661,848 km²695,662 km²

16. The manuscript for Science Speaks has been
carefully reviewed by a committee of the
American Scientific Affliation members and
by the Executive Council of the same group
and has been found, in general, to be
dependable and accurate in regard to the
scientific material presented.
~ Harold Harzler
American Scientific Affiliation
Cited in Josh McDowell,
Evidence that Demands a Verdict
“

17. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son
The Gospel of Luke 2:1-14
and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and
laid him in a manger, because there was
no place for them in the inn.
8 And in the same region there were
shepherds out in the field, keeping watch
over their flock by night. 9 And an angel

18. …of the Lord appeared to them, and the
The Gospel of Luke 2:1-14
glory of the Lord shone around them, and
they were filled with great fear. 10 And the
angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold
I bring you good news of great joy that
will be for all people. 11 For unto you is
born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
who is Christ the Lord.

19. 1 Saviour
What child is this?

20. 1 Saviour
2 Christ
What child is this?

21. 1 Saviour
2 Christ
What child is this?
3 Lord

22. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will
The Gospel of Luke 2:1-14
find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths
and lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly,
there was with the angel a multitude of
the heaven host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace among those with whom he
is pleased.”

23. “While the Emperor
may give peace from
war on land and sea,
he is unable to give
peace from passion,
grief, and envy. He
cannot give peace of
heart, for which man
yearns more than even
for outward peace.”
~ Epictetus, 55-124AD
Stoic Philosopher

24. “For in him all the fullness of God
was pleased to dwell, and
through him to reconcile to
himself all things, whether on
earth or in heaven, making peace
by the blood of his cross.”
~ The Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:19-20

25. When is 2016
gonna be over?

26. “The gift of Christmas
gives you a resource—a
comfort and consolation
for dealing with suffer-
ing, because in it we
see God’s willingness to
enter this world of
suffering to suffer with
us and for us.”
~ Tim Keller,
Author & Pastor of Redeemer NYC

27. “…waiting for our
blessed hope, the
appearing of the glory
of our great God and
Saviour Jesus
Christ….”
~ The Apostle Paul in Titus 2:13

28. “…not only is Christianity
the greatest story ever told,
but it is the greatest possible
story ever told.”
~ Paul Gould

29. The Bible address the problem of
evil and the pain of this world not
by giving us a philosophical
answer, but by inviting us into a
compelling story about the
ultimate defeat of evil through a
conquering King—Jesus Christ.

30. Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare him room
and heaven and nature sing

31. NCC, may you come to experience the
truth that not only is Christianity
the greatest story ever told,
it’s the greatest possible story ever told.

32. other images used for educational purpose
http://www.sciencepresse.qc.ca/sites/www.sciencepresse.qc.ca/files/image/2010/10/statue-augustus.jpg
Shutterstock
ShutterStock Image ID: 234554776
image credits