Focusing on Jesus: The Heart of Christmas
Summary
The sermon emphasizes the importance of maintaining focus on Jesus Christ amidst the distractions of life, particularly during the Christmas season. The speaker introduces the sermon series "God With Us," highlighting the significance of Emmanuel, which means "God with us." The message underscores that it is not our own goodness but God's goodness living through us that reflects His nature. The analogy of the moon reflecting the sun's light is used to illustrate this concept. The speaker also discusses the Levites, who had no land but had the Lord as their special possession, to convey the idea that sometimes giving up material things can lead to a deeper appreciation of what is truly important.
The speaker shares a personal story from college, where they were advised to switch majors, which they now see as beneficial. This story is used to illustrate that God, as the author of our destiny, knows what is best for us. The sermon also references the Apostle Paul, who considered his achievements worthless compared to knowing Christ, encouraging the audience to prioritize their relationship with God above all else.
The speaker reassures listeners that Jesus is with them in life and death, simplifying the gospel message to Jesus liking us, wanting to forgive us, and having paid the penalty for our sins. The sermon also addresses the issue of idols, which can be anything that takes precedence over God in our lives, leading to multiplied sorrows.
God is portrayed as a good shepherd and a warrior who guides, protects, and defends His followers. The speaker assures that God keeps what is meant for us, including our heritage and the blessings passed down through our lineage. The sermon concludes with the reminder that Jesus offers unconditional love and acceptance, as exemplified by the story of the thief on the cross, and invites the Holy Spirit to affirm faith and trust in Jesus.
Key Takeaways:
- The true essence of Christmas is found in the deep and satisfying relationship with Jesus Christ, who should remain the central focus amidst the season's festivities. This relationship is akin to the special possession the Levites had in God, which surpassed any material inheritance. [12:57]
- God's goodness is not a reflection of our own merit but rather His presence living through us. This is exemplified by the moon's reflection of the sun's light, reminding us that our understanding of good is shaped by God's nature and actions. [10:07]
- The Apostle Paul's realization that his past accomplishments were insignificant compared to knowing Christ serves as a powerful example of the value of prioritizing our relationship with God. Everything else pales in comparison to the richness of knowing Jesus, who is the author of our destiny. [16:04]
- The presence of Jesus in our lives is a constant, even in the face of death. The gospel message is simple yet profound: Jesus likes us, wants to forgive us, and has paid the penalty for our sins. This relational aspect of the gospel assures us that Jesus personally comes for us, as He is already with us. [31:43]
- The sermon warns against the dangers of idolatry, which can be anything that we prioritize over God. These idols, even if not inherently bad, can lead to increased sorrows and a loss of peace and freedom. Identifying and discarding these idols is crucial for maintaining a single-minded focus on God's constant presence in our lives. [05:02]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 1:21-23 (NIV)
> "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
2. Psalm 16:5-11 (NIV)
> "Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
3. Philippians 3:8 (NIV)
> "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does the name "Immanuel" mean, and how is it significant in the context of Christmas? ([02:00])
2. In Psalm 16, what does the psalmist mean when he says, "The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup"? ([08:24])
3. How does the Apostle Paul describe his past achievements in Philippians 3:8, and what does he consider more valuable? ([16:04])
4. What analogy does the speaker use to describe how God's goodness is reflected through us? ([10:07])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "God with us" (Immanuel) change the way we view the purpose of Christmas? ([02:00])
2. What does it mean for God to be our "portion" and how can this understanding impact our daily lives? ([12:57])
3. Why does Paul consider his past achievements as "garbage" compared to knowing Christ, and how can this perspective influence our priorities? ([16:04])
4. How can identifying and discarding idols in our lives lead to a deeper relationship with God? ([05:02])
#### Application Questions
1. The sermon emphasizes the importance of maintaining focus on Jesus amidst distractions. What are some specific distractions in your life that prevent you from focusing on Jesus, especially during the Christmas season? How can you minimize these distractions this week? ([00:55])
2. Reflect on the analogy of the moon reflecting the sun's light. In what ways can you better reflect God's goodness in your daily interactions? ([10:07])
3. The speaker shared a personal story about changing majors in college, which was ultimately beneficial. Can you think of a time when a change you initially resisted turned out to be for the best? How did you see God's hand in that situation? ([18:33])
4. Paul considered his achievements worthless compared to knowing Christ. What are some things in your life that you might need to re-evaluate in light of your relationship with Jesus? ([16:04])
5. The sermon warns against idolatry. Are there any "idols" in your life that you need to identify and discard? How can you take steps to do this? ([05:02])
6. The speaker reassures that Jesus is with us in life and death. How does this assurance affect your view of life's challenges and uncertainties? ([31:43])
7. The sermon concludes with the reminder of Jesus' unconditional love and acceptance. How can you share this message of love and acceptance with someone in your life this week? ([33:45])
Devotional
Day 1: Christ, Our Central Celebration
Amidst the Christmas festivities, it's crucial to remember that the true essence of the season lies in a deep, satisfying relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship is more valuable than any material inheritance, akin to the special possession the Levites had in God. It's a time to refocus on the spiritual wealth found in Christ, which outshines the transient glitter of holiday distractions. [12:57]
Hebrews 13:5 - "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"
Reflection: How can you prioritize your relationship with Jesus over material distractions during this holiday season?
Day 2: Reflecting God's Goodness
Our goodness is not an inherent trait but a reflection of God's presence living through us. Like the moon reflecting the sun's light, we are called to reflect God's nature to the world. This understanding shapes our actions and attitudes, reminding us that our capacity for good comes from Him. [10:07]
James 1:17 - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
Reflection: In what ways can you better reflect God's goodness in your daily interactions?
Day 3: The Supremacy of Knowing Christ
The Apostle Paul's realization that his past accomplishments were insignificant compared to knowing Christ is a powerful reminder of the value of our relationship with God. Prioritizing this relationship above all else brings a richness to life that surpasses all other achievements. Knowing Jesus intimately is the ultimate fulfillment of our destiny. [16:04]
Philippians 3:8 - "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ."
Reflection: What achievements or status symbols might you need to devalue in order to elevate your relationship with Christ?
Day 4: The Simplicity of the Gospel
The gospel message is simple yet profound: Jesus likes us, wants to forgive us, and has paid the penalty for our sins. This relational aspect of the gospel assures us that Jesus personally comes for us and is with us in every moment, even unto death. Embracing this truth brings peace and assurance. [31:43]
1 Timothy 1:15 - "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst."
Reflection: How does understanding the simplicity of the gospel change your perspective on your relationship with Jesus?
Day 5: Identifying and Discarding Idols
Idolatry can subtly infiltrate our lives, with anything taking precedence over God leading to increased sorrows. Identifying and discarding these idols is essential for maintaining a single-minded focus on God's presence. This process frees us from the chains of misplaced priorities and restores peace and freedom. [05:02]
1 John 5:21 - "Dear children, keep yourselves from idols."
Reflection: What idols have you allowed to take precedence in your life, and how can you begin to remove them to focus more on God?
Quotes
"We're coming up on Christmas time and I want to pitch to you there's a lot of potential for you to enjoy a relationally deep and satisfying time with Jesus Christ but there's also a lot of potential to be very distracted with a bunch of other good stuff that just isn't the main thing." [01:28] (Download)
"Compared to knowing Christ, everything else is garbage that I would sweep up and throw away if it meant getting more Jesus. That kind of radical following of God gets you more Jesus, the experience of His fellowship." [16:38] (Download)
"Sometimes things are going to be withheld from you... but Emmanuel, God is with you, and He says, 'I know about it, I'm your portion. I want to give you me,' and it may mean that I need to constrict you from some things so that you have more of me." [17:16] (Download)
"When all hell breaks loose in your life, when the Sorrows are beginning to be multiplied, it's time to find those little idols you're going to throw them overboard and you're going to run to the Refuge of the Lord." [07:48] (Download)
"We're the moon and He's the Sun; the moon has no light source of its own, it just reflects the light of the sun. And you and I, we choose to do good, but really even our understanding of good is shaped by God." [10:07] (Download)
"Jesus likes you, he likes you and he wants to forgive you, and he can because he paid the penalty for your sin. He likes you, he wants to forgive you, he can forgive you if you trust him." [32:20] (Download)
"God with you goes with you even in death. He's your companion even in the hardest moment, even when you're afraid no one's going to be there." [30:44] (Download)
"He's Emmanuel, He's God With Us, He is the author of your destiny... God knows even in the future... it's going to come back to you to your family line in 50 years because He knows their destiny, He knows what's best." [17:57] (Download)
"God is with you as the Chooser of your destiny. Just let Him choose. Some things are right for people, but God says, 'It is good, it's just not right for you.' Let me be the chooser of your destiny." [20:14] (Download)
"Jesus we just want to start right here again we put our hand in yours we thank you that you like us that you can forgive us if we'll just trust you." [37:05] (Download)
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