Embracing Abundant Life: Welcoming Jesus This Christmas

Devotional

Day 1: Engaging with Loved Ones Who Drifted from Faith

Jesus' words in John 10:10 offer a profound way to engage with loved ones who have drifted from faith. By asking, "Who stole what you had?" we open the door to understanding their journey and potentially guide them back to faith. This question is not accusatory but rather an invitation to explore the personal story behind their departure. It mirrors the approach of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:7, where he emphasizes the personal nature of hindrances to faith. As we approach Christmas, this is an opportunity to reconnect with those who have lost their way and to offer them the hope and life that Jesus promises. [04:10]

Galatians 5:7-8 (ESV): "You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you."

Reflection: Think of a loved one who has drifted from faith. How can you gently ask them about their journey and listen to their story with compassion and understanding today?

Day 2: Recognizing the Thieves in Our Lives

In a world full of voices that steal our joy and faith, it's crucial to recognize these thieves and stop listening to them. Jesus warns us of these thieves who come to steal, kill, and destroy. Recovery begins when we turn our ears to Jesus, who offers life abundantly. By identifying the negative influences in our lives, we can begin to silence them and focus on the life-giving words of Jesus. This process requires discernment and a willingness to confront the things that have been robbing us of our spiritual vitality. [10:09]

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV): "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world."

Reflection: What are the "thieves" in your life that steal your joy and faith? How can you begin to silence these voices and focus on Jesus' life-giving words today?

Day 3: Jesus as the Giver of Life

Jesus is not a thief; He came to give life, not take it away. By picturing our lives as a house with Jesus knocking, we can understand the importance of welcoming Him in to receive the life He offers. Many fear that opening the door to Jesus will mean losing freedom or joy, but in reality, He brings true life. Jesus has life in Himself, a life that cannot be taken away, and He offers this life to us. When we invite Him in, His life becomes ours, filling us with peace, love, and joy. [13:15]

Revelation 3:20 (ESV): "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."

Reflection: Picture your life as a house. What fears are keeping you from opening the door to Jesus? How can you begin to welcome Him in and receive the life He offers today?

Day 4: Abundant Life in Christ

The abundant life Jesus offers is not about material wealth but about receiving more of His peace, love, joy, faith, repentance, strength, and hope. Jesus has more to give than we have yet received, and He invites us to ask, seek, and knock to receive more from Him. This abundant life is a journey of continually seeking more of what Jesus has to offer, allowing His presence to transform us from the inside out. As we approach Christmas, let us not be satisfied with a small measure of what Jesus can give but seek the fullness of His life. [24:13]

Ephesians 3:16-19 (ESV): "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need more of Jesus' peace, love, or joy? How can you actively seek His abundant life in these areas today?

Day 5: Opening the Door to Jesus

As we approach Christmas, let us not be satisfied with a small measure of what Jesus can give. Instead, let us open the door to Him, allowing His abundant life to fill us and overflow to those around us. This act of opening the door is a daily decision to invite Jesus into every aspect of our lives, trusting that He will bring transformation and renewal. By doing so, we not only experience His life more fully but also become conduits of His love and grace to others. [31:53]

Colossians 3:16-17 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Reflection: How can you open the door to Jesus in a new way today? What steps can you take to allow His life to fill you and overflow to those around you?

Sermon Summary

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, we are exploring why Jesus Christ came into the world, focusing on His own words as recorded in the Gospel of John. Today, we delve into John 10:10, where Jesus contrasts Himself with the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus declares, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." This statement is not only a profound promise but also a call to engage with those who have drifted from faith.

Many of us will spend time with loved ones who once professed faith but no longer do. Jesus' words offer a way to engage them. We can ask, "Who stole what you had?" This question opens the door to understanding the story behind their departure from faith. The Apostle Paul asked a similar question in Galatians 5:7, emphasizing the personal nature of such hindrances.

Jesus warns us of the thieves in this world—voices that rob us of faith, hope, and joy. Recovery begins when we stop listening to these thieves and start listening to Jesus. He is not a thief; He came to give life, not take it away. Picture your life as a house with Jesus knocking on the door. If you fear He will take away your freedom or joy, you won't open the door. But if you see Him as the giver of life, you will welcome Him in.

Jesus has life in Himself, a life that cannot be taken away. He offers this life to us, and when we invite Him in, His life becomes ours. This abundant life is not about material wealth or a trouble-free existence. It's about receiving more of what Jesus has to offer—peace, love, joy, faith, repentance, strength, and hope. Jesus has more to give than we have yet received, and He invites us to ask, seek, and knock to receive more from Him.

As we approach Christmas, let us not be satisfied with a small measure of what Jesus can give. Instead, let us open the door to Him, allowing His abundant life to fill us and overflow to those around us.

Key Takeaways

1. Engaging with Loved Ones: Jesus' words in John 10:10 provide a way to engage with loved ones who have drifted from faith. By asking, "Who stole what you had?" we can open the door to understanding their journey and potentially guide them back to faith. [04:10]
2. Recognizing Thieves: In a world full of voices that steal our joy and faith, it's crucial to recognize these thieves and stop listening to them. Recovery begins when we turn our ears to Jesus, who offers life abundantly. [10:09]
3. Jesus as the Giver of Life: Jesus is not a thief; He came to give life, not take it away. By picturing our lives as a house with Jesus knocking, we can understand the importance of welcoming Him in to receive the life He offers. [13:15]
4. Abundant Life in Christ: The abundant life Jesus offers is not about material wealth but about receiving more of His peace, love, joy, faith, repentance, strength, and hope. Jesus has more to give than we have yet received. [24:13]
5. Opening the Door to Jesus: As we approach Christmas, let us not be satisfied with a small measure of what Jesus can give. Instead, let us open the door to Him, allowing His abundant life to fill us and overflow to those around us. [31:53]
** [31:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Introduction to the Series
[00:25] - Jesus Came to Do the Father's Will
[00:43] - Jesus' Purpose in John 10:10
[01:14] - Engaging Loved Ones Who Drifted from Faith
[01:57] - The Question to Ask: Who Stole What You Had?
[03:39] - Recognizing the Thieves in Our Lives
[05:55] - The Tactful Approach of Apostle Paul
[08:01] - Dealing with Thieves
[10:09] - Listening to Jesus' Voice
[11:38] - Painting the Picture: Jesus Knocking on the Door
[15:06] - Jesus Has Life in Himself
[19:18] - How Jesus' Life Enters Us
[22:11] - The Promise of Abundant Life
[24:13] - Seeking More from Jesus
[31:53] - Opening the Door to Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In John 10:10, how does Jesus describe the purpose of His coming compared to the thief? What does this reveal about His mission? [00:58]
According to the sermon, what question does the pastor suggest asking loved ones who have drifted from faith? How does this question help in understanding their journey? [04:10]
What does the imagery of Jesus knocking on the door in Revelation 3:20 symbolize in the context of the sermon? [11:38]
How does the sermon describe the "thieves" in our lives, and what impact do they have on our faith and joy? [10:09]

Interpretation Questions

What might be some modern-day "thieves" that can steal our faith, hope, and joy, as described in the sermon? How can recognizing these help in our spiritual journey? [10:09]
How does the concept of Jesus having "life in Himself" (John 5:26) deepen our understanding of the abundant life He offers? [15:06]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus' abundant life is different from material wealth or a trouble-free existence? [24:13]
How can the question "Who stole what you had?" be a tool for healing and restoration in someone's faith journey? [04:10]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt your faith, hope, or joy was stolen. What or who was the "thief" in that situation, and how did you respond? [10:09]
Consider someone in your life who has drifted from faith. How might you use the question "Who stole what you had?" to engage them in a meaningful conversation? [04:10]
Jesus offers an abundant life filled with peace, love, and joy. Which of these aspects do you feel you need more of in your life right now, and how can you seek it from Jesus? [24:13]
Picture your life as a house with Jesus knocking at the door. What fears or misconceptions might prevent you from fully opening the door to Him? [11:38]
As Christmas approaches, how can you intentionally open the door to Jesus in your life and allow His abundant life to overflow to those around you? [31:53]
Identify a "thief" in your life that you need to stop listening to. What practical steps can you take this week to focus more on Jesus' voice? [10:09]
How can you encourage someone who feels like their faith is a "flickering candle" to find new strength and hope in Jesus? [03:39]

Sermon Clips

Many of us will spend time over Christmas with loved ones who once professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ but do so no longer. I want to suggest to you today that these words of Jesus may give you a way of engaging them, your loved ones who would no longer profess to believe or maybe in difficulties with regards to faith. [00:75:20]

The thief comes to take what you had. The thief steals. A thief may do this of course by force, breaking into a house, can do it by stealth or deception, stealing identity or whatever, but the point is that a thief always takes away what was yours and leaves you with less. [00:135:92]

There is always a story behind any person who moves away from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, always a story. And if you have enough trust in that relationship to be able to ask the person to tell you their story, you may open up a door to fruitful conversation. Here's the question: who stole what you had? [00:270:24]

If it is the case that you have been robbed of faith or of hope or of love or of joy, it is very likely that somewhere along the line you have been listening to the voice of someone who actually was a thief. You didn't realize they were a thief, but the effect of your listening to their voice is that you've been robbed of something that you once had. [00:519:51]

Recovery is going to begin when you stop listening to the thief and you start listening to another voice. And I'm here today to plead with you to listen afresh to the voice of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the first thing he's saying to you from these verses of scripture is you need to realize that you live in a world where there are many, many thieves. [00:591:27]

Jesus Christ is not a thief. He didn't come to take from you; he came to give to you. He certainly didn't come from heaven into this world in order to make your life or anyone else's life less. He came to make our lives much, much more. [00:670:32]

Picture your life as being like a house, and Jesus is on the outside and he's knocking on the door. Now, of course, you'll realize many of you that that comes straight from the book of Revelation, chapter 3 and verse 20, where Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me." [00:700:72]

If you fear that Jesus may take away your freedom to do what you want to do, that he'll somehow kill off what you enjoy, well then there's going to be no way in the world that you will ever open the door to him. But if you were to see and believe that the person who is knocking on the door of your life is not a thief but has come for an entirely different purpose, that he has come in order to give you life as you do not presently have it, well then when he knocks on the door you would have an entirely different response. [00:768:16]

Jesus came so that you could have life, and if you are in Christ, you have it. Life is in Christ, and if Christ is in you, then life is in you. But I want you to notice that Jesus doesn't stop there. He doesn't just say, "I've come that you may have life," period. He says in these four wonderful words, "and have it abundantly." [00:1356:24]

Jesus has more to give than any of us has yet received. That's a wonderful truth. The Lord Jesus Christ has more to give than any of us has yet received. And what does a more abundant life look like? Let me give you seven answers. Gonna be very quick. Seven ways in which we should seek more from our Lord Jesus Christ. [00:1453:03]

The life that Jesus gives, and there's more of it that he has to give than any of us have yet received, that's what makes it possible for you to face life in this world with all of its difficulties, all of its challenges, all of its thieves, all of its pains, all of its disappointments. And if you have suffered loss, these words of Jesus are especially for you. [00:1702:64]

Don't be satisfied with a small measure of what Jesus can give—a little bit of faith, a little bit of peace, a little bit of joy—when this Savior has more to give than any of us have yet received. So why would we not then take seriously his words when he says to us, "Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you"? [00:1745:27]

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