Our name | Mission | Vision | Leaders Ministries | Schedule | Directions | Contact Home   Gateway Church gathers for worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd. (Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia. For directions, click here. Ministry of the Word: Recent sermons Our quarterly e-magazine Gateway Today For the Gateway family Pastor Jerry's Weekly E-Mail A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY AUDIO Follow the yellow brick road Jerry Varnado, pastor Gateway Church, Athens GA December 28, 2003 The First Sunday After Christmas Main Scripture texts: Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 2:1-20. Isaiah prophesied: "To us a child is born, to us a Son is given." Seven-hundred years later, Luke tells about the birth of the One declared to be that promised child. But how can we be sure that this particular child -- Jesus -- is indeed the Son given? God knew this would be a problem so He carefully laid a path for us to follow. He's given us golden nuggets of truth that form a "yellow brick road" -- a road that leads us to a sure faith. The path consists of the prophecies in the Old Testament fulfilled by the birth and the life of Jesus. First brick: The virgin birth. The supernatural conception of Jesus -- the literal fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 -- is not incidental to the story. It is a key component of the path God has laid -- the path that leads us to the fact that the child born in Bethlehem is the Son given. Second brick: The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. It wasn't essential to His mission for the Savior to be born in Bethlehem. But in Micah 5:2, Bethlehem was announced as the place the birth would occur. Seven-hundred years in advance, God put a brick in the path for us to follow, so we might know that this child born in Bethlehem is indeed the Son given. The third brick: the divinity of Jesus. Micah 5:2 speaks of one who origins are from old; Isaiah 7:14 tells the son's name will be called Immanuel, which means "God with us." John 1 makes it clear that Jesus isn't just a great prophet among others. He is declared to be God Himself in human form. Jesus not only claimed to be God (see John 14:9) He demonstrated He was God. At His word the lame walked, the deaf could hear, the blind received sight, the sick were healed, the storm was calmed and the dead came back to life. When you follow God's yellow brick road, you won't find your way to the Wizard of Oz. Instead, you'll find your way to the truth that leads to abundant life: this Child born in Bethlehem is the Son given. He is the Savior of the world who came to rescue you from sin and death! And He knows how to take you to a place far better than Kansas. Jesus Christ will lead you to your true home in the household of God! Supporting texts: Isaiah 7:14 | Luke 1:26-38 | Matthew 1:18-25 | Micah 5:2 | Luke 2:4-7 | John 1:1-2; 14 | John 14:9 | John 1:12 A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here. (Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.) An audio tape of this sermon is available free of charge (U.S. requests only). Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office. Please specify tape number 031228a: Follow the Yellow Brick Road. © 2003 Gerald R. Varnado To the Gateway Church home page How to contact us