"Another Innkeeper" Christmas Eve

A bit late and no reflections prior to the sermon, but here are the Christmas Eve sermon notes:


“Another Innkeeper” Christmas Eve, 2010

Move 1: No room at the inn

every room is full

even the extra room we hold back for
emergencies is taken

nowhere for you to stay

no room at the inn

You are tired and your wife is about to deliver a child? Well, you can go to the place where we keep the animals out back. I can bring out some blankets to keep you warm.

Another innkeeper might have juggled the room assignments and found space for Mary and Joseph. But not this innkeeper.

On the other hand, another innkeeper might not have been so helpful. Another innkeeper might not have let Mary and Joseph use the manger out with the animals.

WE might wonder how the innkeeper is going to act, but we do not have wonder about how God has acted.


a.As you gaze at the holy family this evening, you are reminded that God has chosen the path of love. Choosing to come in the person of jesus Christ.

b.As you hear the angels tell the shepherds, “Do no be afraid,” we are reminded that we do not need to be afraid. God is in our midst. Or if we find ourselves fearful, we discover God right there with us.

c.As we sing glorious songs that speak to the mystery and majesty of God, we are reminded that God has come in Christ, some mysterious, majestic way that we do not fully understand, but God choosing to join with us.

d.God has declared loud and clear that God intends on saving the world and on saving each of us.
There is no question about God’s love and desire for us to receive Christ into our heart and our lives.

Move 3: But, there are those innkeepers, not knowing how to respond when God comes knocking at their door.

a.Somewhere there is an innkeeper or two who have absolutely no room in his inn for Christ and this innkeeper does not even the manger out back.

1. He has it all figured out on his own.

2.He is doing just fine in his own life.

3.This innkeeper seems to have all he wanys and all he can imagine wanting without God.

4.He is even too busy to stop and hear God’s request to enter their lives.

5.Or they are mad at God or disillusioned. Don’t want anything to do with God.

6.There is no room for the Christ-child at his inn because he is too full of himself and too busy to care.

b.Somewhere there is another innkeeper or two whose rooms are full, but who are willing to offer the manger out back.

1.They find themselves overwhelmed, but still recognizing her need to have Christ in her life.

2.Maybe she finds themselves in a tough stretch in life – things are not working out with job; or she is struggling with a relationship; or she is just trying to find herself as the world races by her.

3.But she knows she needs more than she has on her own.

4.So she hears the request to invite Christ into her inn, and she makes a little room – she offers the manger out back.

5.not full commitment – they are not ready for that; but a tentative step toward welcoming Christ into their lives.

c.Somewhere there is another innkeeper who has had that “aha” moment,” This innkeeper knows he needs God in his life and readily makes room for the Christ child.

1. He has to make some adjustments, but he does so.

2.There is room at his inn for Christ.

3.He recognizes how much he needs God’s love and he does whatever he has to do to make room to receive Christ.

4.He sings his own chorus of “joy to the world” because he has discovered the joy of having Christ in his life.

Move 3: Which innkeeper are you tonight?
One of those with no room in the inn?
One of those with some room for Christ, a place out back with the animals, but no open arms?
One of those who readily welcomes Christ into the inn?
The truth – we all find ourselves living as one of those innkeepers at various points in our lives.

a. Some of us who gather here tonight are like the innkeeper, who has not room at all in his life to receive Christ. Maybe you are mad at God, maybe you are so lost you cannot even imagine seeing Christ in your life. Maybe things are going so well, you have no need for God.

If you are one of those innkeepers who has no room fro Christ in your life – hear the good news -- God has come in Christ for you.

b. Some of us who gather here tonight are like the innkeeper who has no room, but manages to find some space out back in the manger. Maybe in the busyness of your life you still feel that need for God. Maybe things are going well, but you want more.

If you are one of those innkeepers tonight who has a little room, maybe a place in back, but not ready for a full commitment, hear the good news – God has come in Christ for you.
c. Some of us who gather here tonight are like the innkeeper who readily makes room for the Christ-child. You know the love of God and you give thanks for all the blessings in your life.

If you are one of those innkeepers who readily welcomes Christ into your life, hear the good news -- God has come in Christ for you.

Let me finish with the story of Wally, a very big 2nd grader who towered over his fellow students. He was a gentle giant, well-liked by his classmates, but a bit clumsy and very shy.
When it came time for his class to do the Christmas pageant, the teacher carefully cast Wally as the innkeeper. Not many lines to remember, and his imposing figure would make it believable when the innkeeper turned Mary and Joseph away.

The rehearsals went very well. Wally learned his lines: “Go somewhere else.” There is no room for you.” Go away.”

The pageant went well. Soon the dramatic knock on the door of the inn. “We need a place to stay”

“Go somewhere else.”

But, sir, we have looked everywhere. We have traveled a great distance. Please let us stay.”

“There is no room for you.”

“Please, my wife is tired. She’s about to bear a child. Please, let us stay.”

Long pause, Wally looks forlornly at Joseph and Mary. The prompter from off-stage loudly whispers, “Go away.”

Wally’s rehearsal kicks in and he says, “Go away.”

As he watches Mary and Joseph turn and walk away, Wally, the innkeeper, suddenly blurts out, “Don’t go Joseph. Bring Mary back. You can have my room.”

Conclusion: God has arrived. Is there room at your inn for the Christ-child?