Embracing the True Meaning of Christmas

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing the Fullness of Jesus' Story

Jesus Christ's life and sacrifice are central to understanding God's love and mercy. By studying the scriptures, believers can grasp the depth of Jesus' story and God's character, which in turn enriches their faith and relationship with the divine. This pursuit of knowledge is not merely academic but a heartfelt journey towards spiritual maturity. [38:58]

Hebrews 1:1-3 - "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word."
Reflection: How can you make time this week to delve deeper into the life and teachings of Jesus to better understand God's character?

Day 2: Experiencing God's Intimate Presence

The myths that God is distant, uncaring, and unmerciful are dispelled by Jesus' teachings, which reveal God's intimate presence and care. Believers are encouraged to recognize and embrace the reality of God's closeness and His involvement in the details of their lives, leading to a more profound experience of His love and mercy. [37:01]

Psalm 34:18 - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Reflection: Can you identify a moment from the past week where you felt God's presence in the details of your life? How did it impact your perception of His care for you?

Day 3: The Depth of God's Love in Despair

The story of Betsy and Corey during the Holocaust serves as a powerful example of God's love, which remains steadfast even in the deepest despair. This love is not abstract but personal, inviting each individual to experience it in their own lives, regardless of their circumstances. [52:17]

Lamentations 3:22-23 - "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Reflect on a time of despair in your life. How can you open your heart to experience God's love more deeply in the midst of current or future trials?

Day 4: Personal Relationship Beyond Religion

The true story of Christmas emphasizes a personal relationship with Jesus, which goes beyond religious practices and traditions. This relationship is about a heartfelt acceptance of Jesus as our savior and walking in His word, which transforms lives and brings true meaning to the celebration of Christmas. [55:49]

James 1:22-24 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."
Reflection: What is one way you can move beyond the rituals of religion to cultivate a more personal relationship with Jesus this holiday season?

Day 5: God's Direct and Intimate Love

The incarnation of Jesus is a testament to God's direct and intimate love for us. Unlike a distant deity, God chose to come to us in human form, offering His full presence. This act of divine love calls for believers to reciprocate by giving their full presence to God, fostering a deeper connection. [46:07]

1 John 4:9-10 - "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
Reflection: How can you offer your full presence to God today, just as He has given His presence to us through Jesus?

Sermon Summary

In the sermon titled "Sunday, December 17, 2023 | True Story | The Truths of Christmas," the pastor begins by acknowledging personal shortcomings but reassures that through Jesus Christ's redemption, believers are seen favorably by God. Jesus' life demonstrated God's love and mercy, and He came to reveal God to the nations as the light. The pastor urges the congregation to look to Jesus to understand God's nature and to read the Bible to deepen their understanding of His story.

The pastor expresses gratitude for the church community and outlines upcoming events, including a Christmas morning teaching on favor and a Christmas Eve service. They encourage participation and service during these events and lead the congregation in a confession of faith, praying for the Holy Spirit's anointing and focus on the true story of Christmas.

The importance of understanding prophetic words, especially in the book of Revelation, is emphasized, cautioning against literal interpretations. The pastor shares a personal anecdote about modern fulfillment of prophetic symbols and reminds that Jesus came to express God's love, fulfilling the prophecy of Emmanuel. The congregation is highlighted as the reason for the Christmas season.

Three myths about God are addressed: that God is distant, uncaring, and unmerciful. The pastor dispels these myths by emphasizing God's presence, care, and mercy, and encourages the congregation to feel God's presence.

The story of Betsy and Corey during the Holocaust illustrates the depth of God's love, which is high enough to overlook our mistakes. The pastor speaks of God's desire to adopt us into His family and reminds us that life's unfairness is a preparation for eternity.

The pastor refutes misconceptions about God, emphasizing that Jesus came in human form to teach us about God and to correct false ideas. The sermon encourages seeing Jesus in all scriptures and understanding that God is not distant but close to us.

Ephesians 3:18 is cited to describe God's love as four-dimensional, urging the congregation to experience God's love personally. The pastor speaks of God's love as long-lasting, omnipresent, and comforting in our deepest struggles.

The true meaning of Christmas is presented as having a personal relationship with Jesus, beyond religious practices. The pastor invites everyone to accept Jesus as their savior and to walk in His word.

Jesus' coming to Earth is portrayed as a personal act of love for each individual, and the pastor contrasts this with the idea of sending a representative. The importance of giving one's full presence to God is likened to a personal anecdote about the pastor's grandbabies.

The pastor laments that many miss the true meaning of Christmas due to holiday distractions. The first truth of Christmas is that Jesus came to show us the truth about God.

Finally, the pastor reflects on the concept of eternity on a new Earth, envisioning a perfect and fulfilling existence in the afterlife.

Key Takeaways

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Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to John 18:37, what was the primary reason Jesus came into the world? How does this align with the pastor's message about Jesus revealing the truth about God? [34:18]
In John 1:18, how is Jesus described in relation to God? What does this tell us about Jesus' role in revealing God's nature? [34:18]
Ephesians 3:18 speaks of the dimensions of God's love. What are the four dimensions mentioned, and how do they help us understand the extent of God's love? [48:09]
The pastor mentioned three myths about God that Jesus came to dispel. What are these myths, and how did Jesus' life and teachings address them? [35:04]

Interpretation Questions

How does understanding Jesus as the one who reveals the truth about God (John 18:37) change our perception of God's character? [34:18]
What does it mean for us that Jesus is "God with skin on" as described in John 1:18? How does this impact our relationship with God? [34:18]
Reflecting on Ephesians 3:18, how can experiencing the four dimensions of God's love (length, width, depth, height) transform a believer's life? [48:09]
The pastor shared a story about Betsy and Corey during the Holocaust to illustrate God's deep love. How does this story help us understand the depth of God's love in our own lives? [51:30]

Application Questions

The pastor emphasized the importance of understanding the true story of Christmas. How can you ensure that you focus on the true meaning of Christmas amidst holiday distractions? [29:38]
Jesus came to dispel myths about God being distant, uncaring, and unmerciful. Reflect on a time when you felt one of these myths was true. How did you overcome it, or how can you overcome it now? [35:04]
Ephesians 3:18 urges us to experience God's love personally. What practical steps can you take this week to feel, understand, and experience God's love more deeply? [48:09]
The pastor mentioned that Jesus' coming to Earth was a personal act of love. How can you reciprocate this love by giving your full presence to God and others this Christmas season? [46:07]
The story of Betsy and Corey illustrates that God's love is deeper than any pit we might find ourselves in. Identify a current struggle in your life. How can you remind yourself of God's deeper love in this situation? [51:30]
The pastor spoke about the importance of reading the Bible to understand God's story. What is one specific way you can incorporate more Bible reading into your daily routine? [41:40]
Reflect on the pastor's message about life's unfairness being a preparation for eternity. How can this perspective help you deal with current challenges or injustices you are facing? [54:28]

Sermon Clips

"Remember there is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still; He's reaching for you this morning. It's not important where you've been, it's important where you're headed because His love is reaching you." [52:17] (Download)

"God wanted a family; He didn't want to have Heaven by himself. He said there's no way that anybody can make it here on their own, so I'm going to send my son to show you how much I love you. God wanted you in his family." [53:04] (Download)

"This life that you live right now is preparation for those trillions and trillions and trillions of years of eternity. Life is not always fair, but it's a preparation for something far greater than we can comprehend." [54:28] (Download)

"Jesus didn't come for religion, he came for a relationship. He came for you to Simply say with your life I do." [55:49] (Download)

"2023 years ago Jesus came in human form to teach us about God; he erased false ideas about God by what he taught and by how he lived. By his example and by his teachings." [33:39] (Download)

"Jesus was God with skin on, that's called Emmanuel. So Jesus came to shatter a bunch of myths about God, including the myth that God is distant and detached." [35:04] (Download)

"God's love is four-dimensional... that you may be able to feel and understand... how long, how wide, how deep, how high his love really is and to experience this love for yourself." [48:46] (Download)

"He doesn't want you just to let somebody else experience up here but he wants you to experience that... how long is God's love? It's long enough to last forever... there is no end to God's love, it lasts forever and ever and ever." [49:30] (Download)

"Every Christmas poses the story to the world: what is the true story, the true meaning of Christmas? The majority of people will miss what Christmas is all about. We can get so caught up in things that we do and we can miss the truth." [30:14] (Download)

"The greatest gift that some of you can give at this Christmas time is your full presence to those that you love and not only that but our full presence to the King of Kings and the Lord of lords that we love." [46:43] (Download)

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