Embracing the Joy and Humility of Christmas

 

Summary

The Christmas season is a time to reflect on the profound mystery and joy of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. In Luke chapter 2, we read about the humble circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus, a moment that changed the course of history. Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy and the census decree, and there, in a simple manger, Jesus was born. This event was heralded by angels to shepherds, who were the first to hear the good news of great joy meant for all people. The angels proclaimed peace on earth, a peace that resonates deeply with us today, especially in times of turmoil and uncertainty.

The incarnation is a testament to God's trust in His creation. Jesus, the Word made flesh, entered the world as a vulnerable infant, experiencing life as we do. This act of divine humility shows us that God values His creation and desires to be intimately involved in our lives. Jesus lived among us, sharing in our joys and sorrows, and through His life, He demonstrated how we are to live in relationship with God and one another.

Interestingly, the birth announcement of Jesus lacks any physical description, emphasizing instead His identity and purpose. He is the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord. This focus reminds us that our worth is not in our appearance but in our identity as children of God and our purpose to glorify Him. The shepherds, upon witnessing the newborn Jesus, became evangelists, spreading the news of His birth. Their encounter with the divine transformed them, illustrating the power of experiencing God's glory.

As we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded that we are created for God's glorious purpose. Our lives are meant to reflect His glory and to enjoy His presence forever. In a world often obsessed with appearances and material success, the message of Christmas calls us back to the heart of our faith: to glorify God and to find peace in His presence.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Humble Birth of Jesus: The birth of Jesus in a manger signifies God's profound humility and His willingness to enter into the messiness of human life. This act of divine love invites us to embrace humility and recognize the sacred in the ordinary. [29:28]

2. God's Trust in His Creation: By becoming human, God demonstrated His trust in His creation. Jesus' life among us shows that God values and understands our human experience, calling us to live in a way that reflects His love and grace. [35:14]

3. Identity Over Appearance: The lack of physical description in Jesus' birth announcement highlights the importance of identity and purpose over appearance. Our true value lies in being God's children and living out His purpose for our lives. [39:17]

4. The Transformative Power of Encountering God: The shepherds' encounter with Jesus transformed them into evangelists. Experiencing God's glory compels us to share His love and truth with others, becoming vessels of His message. [49:34]

5. Created for God's Glorious Purpose: We are created to glorify God and enjoy His presence forever. This realization brings peace and fulfillment, reminding us that our ultimate purpose is found in relationship with our Creator. [56:29]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [28:23] - Introduction to Luke Chapter 2
- [29:28] - The Birth of Jesus
- [30:41] - The Angel's Message of Peace
- [31:35] - The Record of Jesus' Birth
- [32:30] - Faith in the Word of God
- [33:30] - God's Trust in His Creation
- [35:14] - The Incarnation and Our Humanity
- [36:12] - Learning from Jesus' Life
- [38:03] - The Power of the Incarnation
- [39:17] - No Physical Description of Jesus
- [41:06] - The Significance of Jesus' Identity
- [42:11] - The Shepherds' Encounter
- [49:34] - Experiencing God's Glory
- [56:29] - Our Purpose in God's Plan
- [58:59] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 2:1-20
- John 1:14

Observation Questions:
1. What were the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus as described in Luke 2? How did these circumstances fulfill prophecy? [28:23]
2. How did the shepherds react to the angel's message, and what did they do after visiting Jesus? [30:41]
3. What does John 1:14 reveal about the nature of Jesus and His relationship with humanity? [31:35]

Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the humble birth of Jesus in a manger signify about God's character and His approach to humanity? [29:28]
2. How does the lack of physical description in Jesus' birth announcement emphasize the importance of identity and purpose over appearance? [39:17]
3. In what ways did the shepherds' encounter with Jesus transform them, and what does this suggest about the power of experiencing God's glory? [49:34]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced humility in your own life. How can embracing humility help you recognize the sacred in the ordinary? [29:28]
2. How can you live in a way that reflects God's love and grace, knowing that God trusts His creation and values our human experience? [35:14]
3. Consider your own identity and purpose. How can you focus more on your identity as a child of God rather than on outward appearances? [39:17]
4. Have you ever had an encounter with God that transformed you? How can you share that experience with others to spread His love and truth? [49:34]
5. In what ways can you glorify God and enjoy His presence in your daily life, especially during the Christmas season? [56:29]
6. How can you find peace in God's presence amidst the turmoil and uncertainty of the world today? [30:41]
7. Identify one specific way you can reflect God's glory in your interactions with others this week. How will you put this into practice? [56:29]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

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Day 1: Embracing Divine Humility
The birth of Jesus in a manger is a profound demonstration of God's humility and His willingness to enter into the complexities of human life. This act of divine love invites us to embrace humility in our own lives and to recognize the sacredness in the ordinary moments we often overlook. Jesus' humble beginnings remind us that God is present in the simple and mundane aspects of life, and it is in these moments that we can encounter His grace and love. As we reflect on the humble birth of Jesus, we are called to let go of pride and to seek God's presence in the everyday experiences that shape our lives. [29:28]

"And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a situation where you can choose humility over pride today. How can you invite God's presence into this moment and recognize its sacredness?

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Day 2: Trusting in God's Design
The incarnation of Jesus is a testament to God's trust in His creation. By becoming human, God demonstrated His deep understanding and value of the human experience. Jesus lived among us, sharing in our joys and sorrows, and through His life, He showed us how to live in relationship with God and one another. This divine trust calls us to live in a way that reflects God's love and grace, acknowledging that our lives are part of His greater design. As we consider the incarnation, we are encouraged to trust in God's plan for our lives and to live with the assurance that He values and understands us deeply. [35:14]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you struggle to trust God's design? How can you take a step today to align your actions with His purpose for you?

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Day 3: Valuing Identity Over Appearance
The birth announcement of Jesus lacks any physical description, focusing instead on His identity and purpose. This emphasis teaches us that our worth is not found in our appearance but in our identity as children of God and our purpose to glorify Him. In a world that often prioritizes outward appearances, we are reminded that our true value lies in who we are in Christ. As we reflect on this truth, we are encouraged to seek our identity in God and to live out His purpose for our lives, knowing that our worth is defined by His love and calling. [39:17]

"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'" (1 Samuel 16:7, ESV)

Reflection: Consider how you define your worth. What steps can you take today to focus more on your identity in Christ rather than external appearances?

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Day 4: Sharing the Transformative Encounter with God
The shepherds' encounter with Jesus transformed them into evangelists, illustrating the power of experiencing God's glory. When we encounter God, we are compelled to share His love and truth with others, becoming vessels of His message. This transformation is a testament to the impact of God's presence in our lives, urging us to spread the good news of His love and grace. As we reflect on the shepherds' experience, we are encouraged to seek encounters with God that transform us and to share these experiences with those around us. [49:34]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent encounter with God that has impacted you. How can you share this experience with someone in your life today?

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Day 5: Living for God's Glorious Purpose
We are created to glorify God and enjoy His presence forever. This realization brings peace and fulfillment, reminding us that our ultimate purpose is found in relationship with our Creator. In a world often obsessed with appearances and material success, the message of Christmas calls us back to the heart of our faith: to glorify God and to find peace in His presence. As we reflect on our purpose, we are encouraged to live in a way that reflects God's glory and to seek His presence in all aspects of our lives. [56:29]

"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." (Colossians 1:27, ESV)

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally glorify God in your daily routine? How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of His presence in your life today?

Quotes



The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father full of grace and truth. Amen. [00:31:35] (14 seconds)


God trusts his creation enough to submit himself to it. Has anybody in here ever built anything? Oh, come on. Somebody has built something. Very good. Now, have you ever tried it and trusted yourself to it? Yeah. Now, we have a video clip. Make sure you turn the sound down on this. [00:33:30] (24 seconds)


And when he sent Jesus, he sent Jesus into a world that he created, and he trusted the creation, even as part of his mother's womb, coming through his mother's womb, being an embryo, being born, being born in a stable, no less. Think about it. [00:35:18] (23 seconds)


Jesus entered this world the same way all of us entered this world, and he lived in it. I believe Riley spoke last week. We don't have a high priest that doesn't sympathize. He doesn't sympathize with us. But we have a Savior that lived every moment of his life the same way that we live our life. [00:36:01] (20 seconds)


He says, Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, like a root out of dry ground. Now listen, he had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. [00:39:17] (20 seconds)


There's a clear description of who Jesus is and what his purpose is. Did you notice this? It doesn't tell us, you know, anything about his appearance, but it tells us, it tells us in the text that he's the Savior of the world. And we know what his purpose is, and we know what he came for. [00:44:01] (37 seconds)


And they began to tell everybody what they were doing. They had seen in that beautiful little stable, in that humble abode, they experienced the glory of God. And when they came out, they sounded like gold telling people. [00:54:00] (16 seconds)


Created you for his glorious purpose. Notice what it says. It does not say, fear not, God created you for your glorious purpose. It says, God created you for his glorious purpose. Do you know what it is, church? First and foremost, you're here to glorify God and to enjoy him, to be with him forever. [00:56:29] (34 seconds)


The Bible says, therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Do you have that peace this morning? Because I'm here to tell you, in the next couple days, everybody's going to be wondering, is that gift what they wanted? [00:57:06] (20 seconds)


And may his glory extinguish all our fears, all our worries, all our troubles. Lord, would you touch us and bring healing, physical, mental, spiritual to us. And allow us today just to relax and rejoice in God our Savior. His name is Jesus. He is our Messiah. Amen. [00:58:59] (28 seconds)


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Transcript
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