Crossroads Church - Plymouth, IN
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Worship Gathering
Locations & Times
Crossroads Church
1650 N Oak Dr, Plymouth, IN 46563, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
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Romans 12:15 says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." Take a moment to let us know how we can rejoice with you or bring a need before God with you.
https://crossroads-efc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/203/responses/newTwo words:
1. Rest – some think “make”…seems like a difficult connection in the old English
*More likely from Latin root, meaning to “continue to be” or “remain as specified” (like “rest assured”), keep or hold
2. Merry – some think ‘mighty’ like Robin Hood’s mighty men;
If ‘make’ and ‘mighty’ are true - “God make you mighty gentlemen”
The Oxford English Dictionary does not convey the word ever meant “mighty”.
It seems to best be understood as we mean it today when we say “merry” = joyful
1. Rest – some think “make”…seems like a difficult connection in the old English
*More likely from Latin root, meaning to “continue to be” or “remain as specified” (like “rest assured”), keep or hold
2. Merry – some think ‘mighty’ like Robin Hood’s mighty men;
If ‘make’ and ‘mighty’ are true - “God make you mighty gentlemen”
The Oxford English Dictionary does not convey the word ever meant “mighty”.
It seems to best be understood as we mean it today when we say “merry” = joyful
(May) God keep you joyful gentlemen
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen …God keep you joyful, gentlemen
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen …God keep you joyful, gentlemen
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Four Common Stanzas)
1. God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Savior, Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r, When we were gone astray.
Refrain:
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.
2. From God our heav’nly Father, A blessed angel came;
And unto certain shepherds, Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born, The Son of God by name.
3. “Fear not,” then said the angel, “Let nothing you affright;
This day is born a Savior, Of a pure virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in him, From Satan’s power and might”
4. Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood, Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas , Doth bring redeeming grace.
1. God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Savior, Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r, When we were gone astray.
Refrain:
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.
2. From God our heav’nly Father, A blessed angel came;
And unto certain shepherds, Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born, The Son of God by name.
3. “Fear not,” then said the angel, “Let nothing you affright;
This day is born a Savior, Of a pure virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in him, From Satan’s power and might”
4. Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood, Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas , Doth bring redeeming grace.
Two vital truths:
1. Apart from Christ, we are under the power of sin and Satan.
v.1 – to save us all from Satan’s power
v.3 – to free all those who trust in him, from Satan’s power and might
Ephesians 2:1–3 (ESV) - And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Ephesians 2:12 (ESV) – …remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Acts 26:18 (ESV) – …to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
1 John 5:19 (ESV) - We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
2 Corinthians 4:3–4 (ESV) - And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Romans 5:6 (ESV) - For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Do you think you are free from the bondage of sin and Satan?
1. Apart from Christ, we are under the power of sin and Satan.
v.1 – to save us all from Satan’s power
v.3 – to free all those who trust in him, from Satan’s power and might
Ephesians 2:1–3 (ESV) - And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Ephesians 2:12 (ESV) – …remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Acts 26:18 (ESV) – …to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
1 John 5:19 (ESV) - We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
2 Corinthians 4:3–4 (ESV) - And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Romans 5:6 (ESV) - For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Do you think you are free from the bondage of sin and Satan?
A second vital truth…
2. A Savior has come to set us free from this bondage.
v. 3 – “Fear not,” then said this angel, “Let nothing you affright; this day is born a Savior, of a pure virgin bright.”
John 8:31–32, 36 (ESV) - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 3:16 (ESV) - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 10:10 (ESV) - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Romans 6:17–18 (ESV) - But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Romans 6:22–23 (ESV) - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:1–2 (ESV) - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
2. A Savior has come to set us free from this bondage.
v. 3 – “Fear not,” then said this angel, “Let nothing you affright; this day is born a Savior, of a pure virgin bright.”
John 8:31–32, 36 (ESV) - So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 3:16 (ESV) - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 10:10 (ESV) - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Romans 6:17–18 (ESV) - But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Romans 6:22–23 (ESV) - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:1–2 (ESV) - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Discussion Questions:
1. What does "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" rank on your playlist? Top 5?
2. Did the title and opening line of the song make sense to you before listening to this message? Describe your response to the various thoughts on the words found in the title.
3. Read the four stanzas of the song together (go for all 9 if you want to be ambitious!). Which one stands out to you most? Are there any questions they cause for you?
4. Two vital truths found in the song were discussed in the message. What are they? Review the Scriptures given to support those vital truths. What do these Scriptures teach us about God, ourselves and the incredible truth of the Christmas story?
GOD REST YE MERRY, GENTLEMEN (9 Stanzas from Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern by W.B. Sandys, 1833)
1. God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay.
For Jesus Christ our Savior,
Was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satan’s power,
When we were gone astray.
Chorus
O tidings of comfort and joy,
For Jesus Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas day.
2. In Bethlehem, in Jury,
This blessed Babe was born,
And laid within a manger,
Upon this blessed morn;
The which His mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn. Chorus
3. From God our heavenly Father,
A blessed angel came.
And unto certain shepherds,
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born,
The Son of God by name: Chorus
4. Fear not, then said the Angel,
Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior,
Of virtue, power, and might;
So frequently to vanquish all,
The friends of Satan quite; Chorus
5. The shepherds at those tidings,
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a feeding,
In tempest, storm, and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway,
This blessed babe to find: Chorus
6. But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereas this infant lay
They found him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray: Chorus
7. With sudden joy and gladness
The shepherds were beguiled,
To see the Babe if Israel,
Before His mother mild,
O then with joy and cheerfulness
Rejoice, each mother's child. Chorus
8. Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood,
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas,
Doth bring redeeming grace. Chorus
9. God bless the ruler of this house,
And send him long to reign,
And many a merry Christmas
May live to see again;
Among your friends and kindred
That live both far and near.
Alternate Chorus:
That God send you a happy new year,
Happy new year,
And God send you a happy new year.
1. What does "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" rank on your playlist? Top 5?
2. Did the title and opening line of the song make sense to you before listening to this message? Describe your response to the various thoughts on the words found in the title.
3. Read the four stanzas of the song together (go for all 9 if you want to be ambitious!). Which one stands out to you most? Are there any questions they cause for you?
4. Two vital truths found in the song were discussed in the message. What are they? Review the Scriptures given to support those vital truths. What do these Scriptures teach us about God, ourselves and the incredible truth of the Christmas story?
GOD REST YE MERRY, GENTLEMEN (9 Stanzas from Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern by W.B. Sandys, 1833)
1. God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay.
For Jesus Christ our Savior,
Was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satan’s power,
When we were gone astray.
Chorus
O tidings of comfort and joy,
For Jesus Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas day.
2. In Bethlehem, in Jury,
This blessed Babe was born,
And laid within a manger,
Upon this blessed morn;
The which His mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn. Chorus
3. From God our heavenly Father,
A blessed angel came.
And unto certain shepherds,
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born,
The Son of God by name: Chorus
4. Fear not, then said the Angel,
Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior,
Of virtue, power, and might;
So frequently to vanquish all,
The friends of Satan quite; Chorus
5. The shepherds at those tidings,
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a feeding,
In tempest, storm, and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway,
This blessed babe to find: Chorus
6. But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereas this infant lay
They found him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray: Chorus
7. With sudden joy and gladness
The shepherds were beguiled,
To see the Babe if Israel,
Before His mother mild,
O then with joy and cheerfulness
Rejoice, each mother's child. Chorus
8. Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood,
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas,
Doth bring redeeming grace. Chorus
9. God bless the ruler of this house,
And send him long to reign,
And many a merry Christmas
May live to see again;
Among your friends and kindred
That live both far and near.
Alternate Chorus:
That God send you a happy new year,
Happy new year,
And God send you a happy new year.