Embracing the Joy of Christmas: A Deeper Story

 

Summary

The story of Christmas is not just a tale of a baby born in a manger; it is the most significant event in history, where God became flesh. This narrative begins with a decree from Caesar Augustus, a historical event that sets the stage for the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. While Caesar, the most powerful man of his time, believed he was orchestrating events, God was weaving a deeper story. In a small, unnoticed corner of the Roman Empire, the true King of the world was born, fulfilling ancient prophecies. This story reminds us that God's plans often unfold in the most unexpected places and ways.

As we reflect on this story, especially in the challenging year of 2020, we are reminded that the only truly unprecedented event is the incarnation of God. The angel's message to the shepherds, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy," is a timeless invitation to experience God's peace and joy. This message is not just for the shepherds but for all people, offering a Savior who brings hope and salvation.

Dallas Willard's framework invites us to linger over this text, moving from receiving information to longing, affirmation, invocation, and finally, conviction. We are called to let go of fear and embrace the joy and salvation that Jesus offers. This Christmas, may we invite God to make this story real in our lives, transforming our fears into joy and our doubts into faith.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Christmas story is rooted in history, reminding us that God's plans often unfold in unexpected ways and places. While human power may seem to control events, God is always at work, weaving a deeper narrative that fulfills His purposes. [00:39]

2. The angel's message to the shepherds, "Fear not," is a powerful reminder that God's presence dispels fear. In a world filled with uncertainty, we are invited to trust in the good news of great joy that Jesus brings, a joy that transcends circumstances. [05:45]

3. The birth of Jesus is a universal message of hope and salvation, intended for all people. It challenges us to consider what it means to have a Savior today, offering deliverance from fear, pain, and sin. [06:18]

4. Dallas Willard's framework encourages us to move from information to longing, affirmation, invocation, and conviction. This process invites us to deeply engage with the Christmas story, allowing it to transform our lives and deepen our relationship with God. [08:18]

5. The story of Jesus' birth is an invitation to experience a life beyond fear, filled with God's love and joy. As we embrace this story, we are reminded that it is not just a historical event but a present reality that can change our lives today. [09:10]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:25] - The Historical Context
- [00:51] - Two Stories Unfolding
- [01:27] - The Unprecedented Event
- [02:18] - The Journey to Bethlehem
- [03:09] - The Birth of Jesus
- [03:22] - The Angel's Announcement
- [04:02] - The Shepherds' Response
- [05:06] - The Great Story
- [05:26] - Fear Not: A Personal Invitation
- [06:43] - From Information to Longing
- [07:39] - From Longing to Affirmation
- [08:18] - Invocation: Asking God
- [09:10] - Conviction: And So It Is
- [10:02] - Merry Christmas

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 2:1-20

Observation Questions:
1. What historical event set the stage for the birth of Jesus according to the sermon? How does this event highlight the contrast between human power and God's plan? [00:39]
2. How did the angel's message to the shepherds challenge their initial reaction to fear? What was the content of the message? [03:22]
3. What was the shepherds' response after hearing the angel's announcement and witnessing the heavenly host? [04:14]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon describe the significance of the Christmas story being rooted in history rather than myth? What does this imply about the nature of God's work in the world? [00:39]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the birth of Jesus is a universal message of hope and salvation? How does this challenge contemporary understandings of salvation? [06:18]
3. How does Dallas Willard's framework of moving from information to longing, affirmation, invocation, and conviction help deepen one's engagement with the Christmas story? [08:18]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt that human power was controlling events in your life. How can the story of Jesus' birth encourage you to trust in God's deeper narrative? [00:39]
2. The angel's message to the shepherds was "Fear not." What fears are you currently facing, and how can you invite God's peace and joy into those areas of your life? [05:45]
3. Consider what it means to have a Savior today. How can you actively seek deliverance from fear, pain, and sin in your daily life? [06:18]
4. Dallas Willard's framework encourages moving from information to longing. What specific longing do you have this Christmas season, and how can you bring that before God in prayer? [06:43]
5. The sermon invites us to experience a life beyond fear, filled with God's love and joy. What practical steps can you take this week to embrace this invitation and let go of fear? [09:10]
6. How can you make the Christmas story real in your life this year, transforming your fears into joy and your doubts into faith? [09:10]
7. Identify one person in your life who might need to hear the good news of great joy. How can you share this message with them in a meaningful way this Christmas season? [05:45]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Plans in Unexpected Places
God's plans often unfold in the most unexpected places and ways. The Christmas story, rooted in history, reminds us that while human power may seem to control events, God is always at work, weaving a deeper narrative that fulfills His purposes. The decree from Caesar Augustus, a historical event, set the stage for the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. While Caesar, the most powerful man of his time, believed he was orchestrating events, God was weaving a deeper story. In a small, unnoticed corner of the Roman Empire, the true King of the world was born, fulfilling ancient prophecies. This story encourages us to trust that God is at work in our lives, even when we cannot see it. [00:39]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: Think of a situation in your life where things are not going as planned. How can you trust that God is working behind the scenes, even if you cannot see it right now?


Day 2: Fear Not, Embrace Joy
The angel's message to the shepherds, "Fear not," is a powerful reminder that God's presence dispels fear. In a world filled with uncertainty, we are invited to trust in the good news of great joy that Jesus brings, a joy that transcends circumstances. The shepherds, ordinary people going about their daily lives, were the first to hear the announcement of Jesus' birth. This message is not just for them but for all people, offering a Savior who brings hope and salvation. In the challenging year of 2020, we are reminded that the only truly unprecedented event is the incarnation of God, and His presence offers peace and joy amidst fear. [05:45]

Psalm 94:19 (ESV): "When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul."

Reflection: Identify a fear or worry that is weighing on your heart today. How can you invite God's presence into that fear and allow His joy to replace it?


Day 3: A Universal Message of Hope
The birth of Jesus is a universal message of hope and salvation, intended for all people. It challenges us to consider what it means to have a Savior today, offering deliverance from fear, pain, and sin. The story of Christmas is not just a tale of a baby born in a manger; it is the most significant event in history, where God became flesh. This narrative invites us to experience God's peace and joy, a timeless invitation that transcends circumstances. As we reflect on this story, we are reminded that Jesus' birth is an invitation to experience a life beyond fear, filled with God's love and joy. [06:18]

Titus 2:11-12 (ESV): "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age."

Reflection: Consider what it means for you personally to have a Savior. How can you embrace the hope and salvation Jesus offers in your daily life?


Day 4: From Information to Transformation
Dallas Willard's framework encourages us to move from information to longing, affirmation, invocation, and conviction. This process invites us to deeply engage with the Christmas story, allowing it to transform our lives and deepen our relationship with God. As we linger over the text, we are called to let go of fear and embrace the joy and salvation that Jesus offers. This Christmas, may we invite God to make this story real in our lives, transforming our fears into joy and our doubts into faith. [08:18]

Colossians 3:16 (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."

Reflection: Reflect on how you can move from simply knowing the Christmas story to allowing it to transform your life. What steps can you take to engage more deeply with God's Word this season?


Day 5: Embracing a Life Beyond Fear
The story of Jesus' birth is an invitation to experience a life beyond fear, filled with God's love and joy. As we embrace this story, we are reminded that it is not just a historical event but a present reality that can change our lives today. The angel's message to the shepherds, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy," is a timeless invitation to experience God's peace and joy. This message is not just for the shepherds but for all people, offering a Savior who brings hope and salvation. [09:10]

2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV): "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where fear is holding you back? How can you invite God's love and joy into that area, allowing His presence to transform your fear into faith?

Quotes


Tim Keller notes the story does not start once upon a time. That's how fairy tales or myths begin. Luke wants us to know this story is rooted in history, a decree from Caesar Augustus. This really happened. Tom Wright notes that there's really two stories going on: the one that human power thinks is being written and then the one that God is telling. [00:28:24]

Caesar Augustus, the most powerful man in the world, issues a decree and everybody in the world jumps to obey. But it happens that in an obscure little corner of the empire that he will never visit, a couple, Joseph and Mary, that he has no idea exist, travel to a little town, Bethlehem, of which he has never heard. [00:51:03]

While they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. There were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. [02:56:16]

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. The angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be to all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." [03:18:87]

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." And when the angel had gone back into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." [03:32:08]

They went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad all that had been told them concerning the child. And everyone was amazed at what the shepherds had said. But Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. [04:16:00]

The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, which was just as had been told to them. Now that is the great story that is making everything new, the King who came, who will come, and who comes right now to be with you. [04:44:00]

Dallas Willard used to teach a little framework for lingering over a text of scripture to find God in it, and I'll invite you to do that on this last time together. Begin, Dallas would say, just by receiving the information: "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be to all people." [05:26:48]

What does it mean for you to fear not? What does it mean that God wants you to have good news of joy, not just joy, great joy? What does it say about God that this is intended for all peoples? What does it mean that you have a Savior today? [05:59:84]

I would like to fear not, to have a life where I'm not afraid. God, I would really like that as I face this coming year. I would love to have good news of great joy. I want a savior from my fears, from my troubles, from my pain, from my circumstances, from my regrets, from my guilt, from my inadequacies, from my sin, from death. [07:17:28]

Dallas would say to affirmation, this must be so. In our world, it must be possible to have a life beyond fear with a God like our God. Others have experienced this before me, what it is to have good news and great joy and a savior. It must be so, this must be so. [07:47:84]

God, would you take away my fear? Would you allow me to have your love cast out fear? God, would the good news, the gospel of Jesus, bring great joy into my life? Could I know that today? Could I know that in this season? God, would you make Jesus not just the savior but my savior? [08:25:12]

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