Embracing Humility: Responding to God's Presence

 

Summary

In this Advent season, we reflect on the profound story of Jesus' incarnation, His birth in Bethlehem, and His arrival on Earth as Emmanuel, God with us. This narrative invites us to consider how we respond to God's presence in our lives, especially when faced with unexpected events. The Christmas story is filled with characters like Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, and even Herod, each responding differently to the divine interruption in their lives. Their responses teach us about humility and the importance of aligning our reactions with God's will.

The formula "E + R = O" (Event + Response = Outcome) reminds us that while we cannot control the events in our lives, we can control our responses, which ultimately shape the outcomes. The great event of Jesus' birth, though unexpected and humble, changed the world forever. It challenges us to respond with humility and trust in God's plan, even when it defies our expectations.

The story of Jesus' birth is a testament to God's relentless pursuit of closeness with humanity. Despite the brokenness and injustice of the world, God chose to enter it in the most humble way, demonstrating His love and commitment to us. This humility is a model for how we should live our lives, entering situations with a spirit of humility and openness to God's presence.

Humility is not about diminishing ourselves but recognizing our need for God's guidance and grace. It involves letting go of our desires for control and trusting in God's redemptive work. The Welcome Prayer, which encourages us to embrace everything that comes our way as part of our healing, is a powerful tool for cultivating this humility.

As we navigate the complexities of life, we are reminded that God is safe, consistent, and worthy of our trust. By welcoming the events in our lives and responding with humility, we align ourselves with the grand event of Jesus' coming and open ourselves to the transformative power of His presence.

Key Takeaways:

- Humility in the Unexpected: The Christmas story teaches us that humility is key to responding to unexpected events. By embracing humility, we align ourselves with God's will and open ourselves to His transformative work. [04:43]

- E + R = O: This formula emphasizes that while we cannot control events, we can control our responses. Our responses shape the outcomes, and by responding with humility and trust, we align with God's purposes. [05:00]

- God's Relentless Pursuit: The incarnation of Jesus is a testament to God's desire to be close to us. Despite the world's brokenness, God entered it humbly, demonstrating His love and commitment. [08:01]

- The Welcome Prayer: Embracing everything that comes our way as part of our healing helps us cultivate humility. By letting go of control and trusting in God's presence, we open ourselves to His redemptive work. [20:04]

- Trust in God's Consistency: God is safe, consistent, and worthy of trust. By welcoming events and responding with humility, we align ourselves with the grand event of Jesus' coming and experience His transformative power. [24:50]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:42] - Journey with God
- [01:28] - Finding God in Humility
- [02:48] - Responding to the Christmas Story
- [03:18] - Different Responses to God's Call
- [05:00] - Event + Response = Outcome
- [06:12] - The Great Event of Jesus' Birth
- [07:02] - A New Exodus
- [08:01] - Emmanuel: God with Us
- [09:12] - The Humility of Jesus' Birth
- [10:19] - The Unexpected Cast of Characters
- [11:15] - Living with Humility
- [12:36] - The Need for Adventum
- [13:58] - The Unlikely Message of Hope
- [15:38] - Personal Journey Towards Humility

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Humility of the Christmas Story

Bible Reading:
1. Luke 2:1-20 - The Birth of Jesus
2. Matthew 1:18-25 - The Birth of Jesus Christ
3. Philippians 2:5-8 - The Humility of Christ

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Observation Questions:

1. How do the different characters in the Christmas story, such as Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men, respond to the birth of Jesus? What does this reveal about their understanding of God's presence? [03:18]

2. What is the significance of the formula "E + R = O" (Event + Response = Outcome) as discussed in the sermon, and how does it relate to the Christmas story? [05:00]

3. How does the sermon describe the world into which Jesus was born, and what does this context tell us about the nature of His incarnation? [07:28]

4. What role does humility play in the responses of the characters in the Christmas story, and how is this highlighted in the sermon? [04:43]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the humility of Jesus' birth challenge our modern understanding of power and success? How does this contrast with the world's expectations of a king? [09:28]

2. How does the concept of "E + R = O" encourage believers to focus on their responses to life's events rather than the events themselves? What might this look like in practical terms? [05:00]

3. The sermon mentions God's relentless pursuit of humanity through Jesus' incarnation. How does this pursuit reflect God's character and His desire for a relationship with us? [08:01]

4. How does the Welcome Prayer, as discussed in the sermon, help individuals cultivate humility and openness to God's presence in their lives? [20:04]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent unexpected event in your life. How did you respond, and how might you apply the "E + R = O" formula to shape a different outcome in the future? [05:00]

2. Consider the humility demonstrated by the characters in the Christmas story. How can you incorporate a similar humility in your daily interactions and decisions? [04:43]

3. The sermon emphasizes trusting in God's consistency and safety. Identify an area in your life where you struggle to trust God. What steps can you take to deepen your trust in His plan? [24:50]

4. The Welcome Prayer encourages embracing all aspects of life as part of healing. What is one situation you are currently facing that you can welcome as an opportunity for growth and healing? [20:04]

5. How can the story of Jesus' humble birth inspire you to approach your own life challenges with a spirit of humility and openness to God's guidance? [09:12]

6. Identify a person or situation in your life where you need to let go of control and trust in God's redemptive work. What practical steps can you take to release that control? [20:21]

7. Reflect on the idea that God is safe and consistent. How can you remind yourself of this truth in moments of doubt or fear? What practices can you implement to reinforce this belief? [24:50]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Humility in Life's Surprises
In the Christmas story, we see a profound lesson in humility through the responses of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men to the unexpected event of Jesus' birth. Each character faced a divine interruption that required them to set aside their own plans and expectations. This narrative invites us to consider how we respond to God's presence in our lives, especially when faced with unexpected events. Humility is not about diminishing ourselves but recognizing our need for God's guidance and grace. By embracing humility, we align ourselves with God's will and open ourselves to His transformative work. [04:43]

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent unexpected event in your life. How can you respond with humility and openness to God's presence in this situation today?


Day 2: Shaping Outcomes Through Our Responses
The formula "E + R = O" (Event + Response = Outcome) reminds us that while we cannot control the events in our lives, we can control our responses, which ultimately shape the outcomes. The great event of Jesus' birth, though unexpected and humble, changed the world forever. It challenges us to respond with humility and trust in God's plan, even when it defies our expectations. By responding with humility and trust, we align with God's purposes and open ourselves to His transformative power. [05:00]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a situation where your response could change the outcome. How can you choose to respond with humility and trust in God's plan today?


Day 3: God's Desire for Closeness
The incarnation of Jesus is a testament to God's relentless pursuit of closeness with humanity. Despite the brokenness and injustice of the world, God chose to enter it in the most humble way, demonstrating His love and commitment to us. This humility is a model for how we should live our lives, entering situations with a spirit of humility and openness to God's presence. By welcoming the events in our lives and responding with humility, we align ourselves with the grand event of Jesus' coming and experience His transformative power. [08:01]

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How can you open yourself to His presence and closeness today?


Day 4: The Power of the Welcome Prayer
The Welcome Prayer encourages us to embrace everything that comes our way as part of our healing, helping us cultivate humility. It involves letting go of our desires for control and trusting in God's redemptive work. By letting go of control and trusting in God's presence, we open ourselves to His redemptive work and align ourselves with His purposes. This practice of welcoming and trusting can transform our lives and deepen our relationship with God. [20:04]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to let go of control? How can you practice the Welcome Prayer in this area today?


Day 5: Trusting in God's Consistency
As we navigate the complexities of life, we are reminded that God is safe, consistent, and worthy of our trust. By welcoming the events in our lives and responding with humility, we align ourselves with the grand event of Jesus' coming and open ourselves to the transformative power of His presence. Trusting in God's consistency allows us to face life's challenges with confidence and peace, knowing that He is with us and working for our good. [24:50]

"For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed." (Malachi 3:6, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a challenge you are currently facing. How can you trust in God's consistency and faithfulness in this situation today?

Quotes


The Christmas story in a lot of ways is something unexpected happening to Mary and to Joseph and to the Shepherds and Herod and the wise men and I know you got thoughts even about this character Zachariah and they all respond to it differently so as we all think about family dinners we're going to be gathering together around tables thinking about what our life is going to look like. [00:04:24]

The great leadership coach Jack Canfield had this mathematical formula he said e plus R equals o um and he said you don't control the events that's the e um the r is the response and the O is the outcome he said the only thing that you control is your response to the events and that actually equals o and that's that's what creates the outcome. [00:02:57]

The beauty of the Christmas story really is how will you respond to what God is up to will you humble yourselves and go I believe that God is doing something will you surrender and walk in that or is it something that you just will avoid at all costs and hold on to whatever you think that that you have um and Miss what God is up to. [00:04:39]

The great event the great event has already happened the great event that we're all waiting for that we think might come tomorrow the next day actually did happen in the most unusual obscure unlooked for way and that was the coming of Jesus talk a little bit about why is it that that event has changed the world so much. [00:05:44]

The beauty of the Christmas story is you know that between the Old Testament and the New Testament there was 400 years and it's almost as if there's a a new Exodus that is that is happening that is beginning and not in the the greatest City not in the best hospital not worthy of a king um a child is born and this child um is born into a world that is broken. [00:07:01]

God gave his son two names one being I'm with you I'm with you in the good I'm with you in the hard I'm with you when it makes no sense I'm with you when it's not fair I'm with you and I'm Mighty to rescue Yeshua I'm mighty to save salvation is close and so I feel like for me this this story of Jesus coming in the lowest of places. [00:08:03]

The characters that he invites to the story they're not actually the characters that you think would be the ones that would be there you'd think it would be all the religious leaders You'd think it would be it's Gentiles it's Shepherds it's it's somebody's with with influence and money and it's nobody's with a bunch of sheep like and but all of the cast of characters that you think would be there just aren't. [00:10:01]

I think it's it's the humility is I know who God made me to be I know who I'm called to be in this present moment I know what it means to walk with God and I know my place I know my place I know I need his guidance his wisdom his goodness his grace his Mercy to carry me and I have it and I'm going to walk with that not as if I'm God but as a follower. [00:11:59]

I can't do it I can't save myself I can't rescue myself I have pain in my life and I can't fix and uh I'm going to bet it all on this man all this Carpenter on this little baby in a manger and I was just reading today uh I don't think I had seen this before there was a German Theologian yugan moldan and about 50 years ago he distinguished between two different ways of looking at the future. [00:12:55]

The Welcome Prayer by Thomas keading and Mary morowski actually um kind of brought it more into the the the the public eye but it it goes like this and it it was really really helpful because I found myself going why is this happening like this shouldn't be happening to me why why is this happening to um the women why is this happening and I came across this prayer and it it changed the r for me. [00:19:53]

Welcome welcome welcome I welcome everything that comes to me today because I know it's for my healing I welcome all thoughts feelings emotions persons situations and conditions I let go of my desire of power and control I let go of my desire for affection esteem approval and pleasure I let go of my desire for survival and security I let go of my desire to change any situation conditioned person or even myself and I open myself to the love and presence of God and God's healing action within amen. [00:20:01]

Trust equals safe plus consistent again and again over and over on repeat if someone is safe and consistent again and again over and over on repeat they're worthy of trust if someone is unsafe and inconsistent they're not worthy of trust and I think part of our role as pastors and leaders and Shepherds is to remind people that God is safe and God is consistent and God is worthy of trust even when the events that are unfolding around us make no sense. [00:24:20]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?