Christ In Me- I Am A Christmas Tree

Devotional

Day 1: Christ in you: the living hope of glory

When Christ lives in a person, He becomes the light and hope that changes how others see the world; the presence of Christ in you is not wishful thinking but an expectant hope that radiates to those around you. Like a Christmas tree lit up in a room, Christ in you fills space with joy, trust, testimony, and a witness that cannot be ignored. Name one visible way this week you will let that hope be seen in your home, workplace, or neighborhood. [30:10]

Colossians 1:27 (ESV)
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Reflection: Which one place in your daily routine (home, job, social media, or neighborhood) will you intentionally let "Christ in you" shine this week, and what specific action will you take each day to make that visible?

Day 2: You are the light—stand out for Jesus

Believers are called to be seen—like a city on a hill or a brightly lit Christmas tree—so that people will notice and be drawn to the Christ inside. The light you host reveals fruit: love, joy, peace, and the power of the Spirit; it makes people look again, listen, and want what they see. Rather than blending in, practice being a faithful, joyful, consistent beacon in ordinary moments. [33:13]

Matthew 5:14–16 (ESV)
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Reflection: What one habitual behavior (a tone of voice, a quick complaint, a hidden worry) muffles your light, and what one practical change will you commit to this week to let your light shine more clearly?

Day 3: The burning bush draws attention to God's presence

When God’s presence appears—like the burning bush—people stop, look, and are drawn to hear what God is saying; the presence that consumes is also the presence that preserves. Be willing to “turn aside” from hurry and distraction so you can notice where God is burning in your life and respond when He calls your name. Practice pausing this week the moment your attention is pulled away and ask God what He wants you to hear. [01:03:34]

Exodus 3:1–3 (ESV)
Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.

Reflection: When was the last time you actually “turned aside” to notice God moving, and what one spiritual practice (silence, Scripture, prayer) will you use this week to make space for God to get your attention?

Day 4: Go and preach—signs will follow believers

The command to go and preach the gospel comes with a promise: God will accompany and confirm the message by signs and the power of the Holy Spirit. Being a walking Christmas tree means you both proclaim the kingdom and trust God to work—healing, provision, testimony—so others see the Gospel is true. Choose to speak the good news in word and deed, trusting God to confirm what you declare. [47:26]

Mark 16:15–20 (ESV)
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

Reflection: Identify one specific person, place, or opportunity this week where you will intentionally share the gospel, and how will you pray for God to confirm that word with signs and clear evidence?

Day 5: Your life is a living letter to others

A transformed life is the strongest endorsement of the Gospel—people read Christ in you before they ever read a creed or hear an argument; your life is the letter God uses to introduce Himself. Live so that your actions, words, and consistent fruit read like a testimony of grace rather than a list of credentials. Ask God to make your daily rhythms a clearer, truer letter that points people to Jesus. [36:22]

2 Corinthians 3:1–3 (ESV)
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on your hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Reflection: Which one area of your life currently communicates Christ most clearly, and what is one practical, measurable change you will make this week to let your life’s “letter” point to Jesus more plainly?

Sermon Summary

I put on my dad’s Christmas tree jacket to make a point: Christ in me makes me a Christmas tree. A tree stands tall, shines bright, and draws attention—not to itself, but to what’s happening on the inside that spills to the outside. In the same way, Christ in us draws eyes, invites questions, and awakens hope. We’re not just believers; we’re beacons. We don’t blend in; we stand out. Like a tree fills a room with light, joy, and expectation, Christ in us fills spaces with faith, hope, love, and generosity.

Before any tree becomes a Christmas tree, it gets cut down. That’s our story—crucified with Christ and raised with His life, lit by His Spirit. That inner light shows up as fruit: people hear our voice, but they see His character—patience, kindness, self-control—breaking through. We are walking letters, read by anyone who looks at our lives; walking Christmas trees written by God, bringing hope. So we preach the Word—not opinions, not facts that change—but the Word of faith that saves, frees, and builds. The gospel of the Kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, and it belongs everywhere: house, work, Walmart—everywhere.

And yes, signs follow. Not because we’re impressive, but because the Lord works with us and confirms His Word. Jesus taught, preached, and healed—so we explain, proclaim, and expect God to act. The lights on our trees point to something older than electricity—the fire of God. The burning bush was the original “Christmas tree”: a tree that burned, was not consumed, and turned Moses aside. Burning believers still turn people aside. That fire brings deliverance, provision, identity, and purpose. It pulls us into promise and inheritance. So this week, stand tall. Shine from the inside out. Receive and give. Let the Christ in you light the world through you.

Key Takeaways

1. Be a light that stands out Christ in you will not let you blend into the background. The light is not self-made; it’s hosted, and it naturally attracts attention. Don’t despise the attention—steward it. Let the attention on your life become an invitation to encounter Jesus. [30:10]
2. Let the inside shape the outside People may notice your words, but they are changed by your fruit. The Spirit within produces what the world cannot counterfeit, and fruit proves the root. Tend to the inner life and the outer life will testify for you without striving. [33:13]
3. Preach the Word with faith God confirms His Word, not our opinions. Faith is not denial of facts; it is trust in a greater Truth that outlives the data. When you speak Scripture in love, you are giving God material He delights to fulfill. [39:17]
4. Live as a burning bush The lights on the tree whisper of holy fire—God’s presence that draws without destroying. A life aflame but unconsumed makes people turn aside and ask, “What is this?” Be ready to speak when they look; the Spirit will give you words. [65:45]
5. Expect signs as you go everywhere “Everywhere” includes your ordinary places, and God loves to work there. Signs follow believing lives that step out, not perfect lives that never risk. Walk, speak, and lay hands; the Lord walks with you and confirms what He promised. [52:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:48] - The Christmas tree metaphor
[30:10] - Beacons that stand out
[33:13] - Christ within produces fruit
[36:22] - Walking letters; preach the Word
[39:17] - Faith over facts
[41:43] - Gospel of the Kingdom everywhere
[47:26] - Commissioned to go; signs follow
[55:02] - Jesus’ pattern: teach, preach, heal
[60:02] - God confirms His Word
[63:34] - Burning bush and tree lights
[68:30] - When people turn aside, speak
[74:59] - Deliverance, provision, and miracles
[80:55] - Purpose, promise, inheritance
[85:10] - Closing prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
Colossians 1:27
"To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Observation questions

Read Colossians 1:27 aloud. Which words or phrase jump out most to you, and why? (No timestamp)
What images of a Christmas tree were used to describe what Christ in a person looks like (standing tall, lights, filling a room, drawing attention)? How do those images help you understand Colossians 1:27? [23:48]
The talk said people "hear your voice but they see His character" — name the specific fruits or character traits mentioned that show Christ inside a person. Which stood out to you? [33:13]
The phrase "everywhere" was used for where the gospel belongs (home, work, Walmart). What concrete places did the speaker name as everyday mission fields? [41:43]

Interpretation questions

How does the claim "Christ in you, the hope of glory" explain why a believer should stand out publicly rather than blend in? Relate that to what it means to be a "beacon." [30:10]
If the inner life produces the outward fruit, what inner commitments (habitual practices, relationships with God) must change for the outside to follow? Be specific about spiritual disciplines and how they form fruit. [33:13]
What is the relationship between preaching the Word "of faith" and expecting God to confirm it with signs? How does this balance avoid trusting mere opinion or emotionalism? [39:17]
The burning bush (Exodus) was described as a tree that burned but was not consumed. How should that image shape the group's understanding of God’s presence with believers who "draw attention"? [01:03:34]

Application questions

Identify three ordinary "everywhere" places you will intentionally take gospel-shaped words or deeds this week (for example: workplace lunchroom, a neighbor's doorstep, a grocery line). What exactly will you say or do in one of those places? [41:43]
When something about your life draws attention, how will you steward that attention as an invitation to Christ? Give one recent example of attention you received and a sentence you could use next time to point someone to Jesus. [30:10]
List one inner habit you will practice daily for the next seven days to help the "inside shape the outside" (examples: 10 minutes Scripture, two minutes of confession, a short prayer before work). How will you measure whether it is affecting your outward behavior? [33:13]
Is there a place or relationship where you "put on a costume" of faith and then take it off? Name that place and one practical step you will take this week to be consistently the same person there as you are at church. [55:02]
Name one area of need (deliverance, provision, identity, purpose) you are believing God for. What is one faithful action you can take this week to "step out" in expectation that God will work with you and confirm His word? (Pray specifically, speak Scripture, give, visit, invite, lay hands, etc.) [52:59]
Who in the group could you ask to hold you accountable for becoming a visible, steady witness—someone who helps you keep from reverting to private-only faith? What will you ask that person to do and when will you follow up? [36:22]

Notes for group leader
- Begin with the Bible reading (Colossians 1:27). Let two people read it and then sit in silence 30–60 seconds.
- Use the Observation questions to draw out what the passage and the imagery mean. Let the group tell the stories behind their answers.
- Use Interpretation questions to help the group think theologically (what is at stake) and pastorally (how this changes how they live).
- Use Application questions to make simple, measurable commitments before you close. Ask people to name one action they will take and, if possible, pair them for accountability.

Sermon Clips

now when i see the christmas tree i think about the families that gather around it i think about the gifts that willget under it or be under it i see how it becomes the centerpiece of a celebration go look at your social media you're going to see a lot of pictures with what a tree behind the people or people around the tree it becomes a center point in their life when i see that it also brings traditionit brings togetherness it brings a transformation it brings a trust it brings a testimony [00:29:10] (43 seconds) #TreeOfTogetherness

towhat's on the outside but they're really just drawn on what's on the inside of you because what's on the inside of you will display on the outside of you the fruit of the spirit yes because the spirit's in you and the fruit is evident that's how you know you have fruit because now that is the product of the spirit inside of you that comes out just like the light and when that happens they will know you by your what your fruit [00:33:49] (26 seconds) #KnownByYourFruit

it's because of who we host it's who's on the inside is what brings the glory brings the attention that makes people drawn to you you are willing or you're a walking announcement when patrick walked in in this tree like he did it was a walking announcement it got your attention you started watching and listening and seeing and what is going on notit's because what of who we host it's because of who we host if we're a walking announcement hope is still alive [00:35:08] (43 seconds) #HostThePresence

preach the word it's time to preach what's what do you preach the good news the gospel of jesus christ you think you think about speak life and not death give hope give encouragement the body of christ the church is here what strengthen build up and encourage we're not here to cut down not here to burn up we're not here to mulch them up no we're here to encourage [00:37:52] (28 seconds) #SpeakLifeNotDeath

``if we're going to preach the word we need to make sure we preach what faith you got to preach a word of what faith a word of faith a word of faith the world likes the the word of factsthey're all about facts i'm all about faith without faith it's what impossible to please god i'm saved by grace through what faith i'm not saved by grace through facts i'm saved by grace through faith [00:38:40] (37 seconds) #SavedByFaith

i see someone with a new mind and an old mind i see someone that's still living in the forest and i see someone that's been cut out of the forest and lives in this world but it's not of this world that knows how to walk by faith and not by sight because this person over here is moved by circumstances and whatever you see is subject to change but this person over here walks by faith and he they know are confident in who they are in christ and they know their gifts their talentsand abilities they know our steps of a righteous person are ordered by the lord and god's never going to leave me or forsake goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life [00:50:17] (38 seconds) #WalkByFaithNotSight

preached where everywhere everywhere everywhereyou go you're a walking christmas tree you walk into your house you're a christmas tree you walk out of your house you're a christmas tree you you driving down your car that's in everywhere at work is in everywhere at a party is everywhere in the restaurant is everywhere on the lake is everywhere everywhere [00:54:09] (30 seconds) #WalkingChristmasTree

christ in you becomes a mouthpiece of god you are that mouthpiece of god well i don't like to speak that's okay the spirit will give utterance that's what the bible says he that's why he used moses mosek had a stuttering problem he lacked confidence he was not the man for the job by the world standards but youknow what world ain't picking god made you god already had a hope a plan and a purpose for you [01:11:28] (37 seconds) #MouthpieceOfGod

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