When God Becomes Small: Baptism, Christmas, and Grace

This morning we had the joy of baptizing little Adeline, and together we confessed the faith into which she was washed. I reminded her parents and sponsors—and all of us—that baptism is God’s adoption ceremony: not our grip on Him, but His strong, open-handed grip on us. When she stands tall in faith, she stands in His hands; when she falls, she falls within His hands. That promise steadies all of us.

As we move toward Christmas, I named the pressure we feel to make it huge—productions, perfect lights, best gifts, all the comparisons. But Christmas is not a competition; it’s the King of the universe becoming very small for us. Jesus came as a real child, crying from hunger and cold, relying on a carpenter’s rough hands. He became little to live the life we don’t, to bear what we cannot, and to give what we cannot earn.

We talked about how easily our hearts shift from the awe of God to the fear of people. We chase applause, live by comparison, and quietly hand our reverence to celebrities, success, and image. Jesus comes to right-size all of that. He brings peace and joy that comparison cannot deliver. He confronts our idols not to shame us, but to forgive us—He lived in perfect awe of the Father, died for our worship of lesser things, and rose to name us beloved.

Advent aims our hearts forward: the Child who became small will never be small again. He reigns as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace, and He is coming soon. So let’s let Christmas be small enough to hear His whisper and big enough to hold His promises. If you’ve not been baptized, let’s talk; God loves to speak your name with His. And for those baptized, remember: your identity is secure—precious, forgiven, and free. This week, take a moment to be still, to be small before God, and to receive His peace.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Christmas is not a competition We don’t prove anything by bigger shows, brighter lights, or perfect gifts. The Incarnation is not about our scale; it’s about God’s humility. Let your plans be right-sized by the manger: thoughtful, simple, and centered on Jesus. Comparison exhausts; presence restores. [41:48]
• 2. God chose to become small The One by whom all things were made became a child—crying, hungry, and dependent. He did this to inhabit our frailty and heal it from the inside. You don’t have to be impressive to be held by Him; He meets you at your littlest. [44:22]
• 3. Trade fear of man for awe Craving approval shrinks our souls and multiplies anxiety. Awe of God frees us from the tyranny of being seen, liked, or crowned. Let His gaze define you; let His voice quiet the roar of the crowd. [45:14]
• 4. Jesus reorders desire with peace and joy When we chase the gold confetti, we lose the deeper gift. Jesus restores what comparison steals, giving a joy no ranking can threaten and a peace no opinion can undo. Let His sufficiency be enough in the quiet and the noise. [51:18]
• 5. Baptism names you God’s child Your truest identity is received, not achieved. Baptism speaks a verdict stronger than performance, failure, or public opinion: beloved, forgiven, kept. Live from that name, and you’ll find the freedom to love without fear. [56:27]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [20:28] - Confession of Faith for Adeline
• [22:01] - Adoption and Promise Over Her
• [24:33] - Cross, Renunciation, Blessing
• [25:00] - Baptism in the Triune Name
• [25:47] - Church Welcomes a Child
• [37:07] - Prayer: Speak, Holy Spirit
• [39:13] - Christmas as Competition
• [41:48] - The Trap of Comparison
• [43:44] - The King Becomes a Child
• [45:14] - Fear of Man Exposed
• [51:18] - Peace and Joy Recovered
• [53:32] - Forgiveness at the Cross
• [54:07] - Advent: Government on His Shoulders
• [56:27] - You Are God’s Baptized Child

1. In Isaiah 9:6–7, what names are given to the promised Child, and what does it mean that “the government shall be upon his shoulder”?
2. What real-life examples were given of how “we start making Christmas into a competition,” and where did you see yourself in those examples? [40:58]
3. What details were named about Jesus becoming small—His crying, hunger, cold, and dependence—and why do those details matter? [43:44]
4. What exact promise was spoken over Adeline about God’s hold in baptism, especially “when she fails”? [23:04]

1. If the Child of Isaiah 9 is now the reigning Prince of Peace, how should that shape how people approach Advent—both their expectations and their priorities? [54:07]
2. God chose to become small. What does that reveal about His heart, and how does that confront the pull to be seen, applauded, and “big” in the eyes of others? [45:14]
3. If baptism places a person into God’s hands, how does that change how they process failure, comparison, or shame during this season? [23:04]
4. Comparison breeds anxiety, but Jesus gives peace and joy. What is the difference between those two paths, and how can a group help one another choose the better gift? [51:18]

1. Where have you felt the pressure to make Christmas “big”—house lights, gift lists, posting the perfect moment—and what is one specific way you can right-size it this week? (Think smaller, quieter, more Jesus-centered.) [40:58]
2. Where do you most chase approval right now (work, parenting, social media, friendships)? What is one hidden act of obedience you can do this week that no one will see but your Father? [45:14]
3. Name one comparison trigger for you (a neighbor’s décor, a friend’s post, a family expectation). When that trigger hits, what will you do to receive Jesus’ peace instead—pause to pray, breathe a Scripture, step away from the scroll? Be concrete. [51:18]
4. If you are baptized, how will you remember your name this week—beloved, forgiven, kept? (Ideas: write it on a card, set a phone reminder, mark the sign of the cross when you wake.) If you are not baptized, would you like to explore it together? [56:27]
5. Plan a time and place to “be small before God.” When will you sit still (10 minutes?), where will you be, and what will you read or pray (try Isaiah 9:6–7)? Share your plan with the group. [57:31]
6. “What would it be like to not worry about what other people think of us anymore?” Identify one decision or conversation this week you will make under Jesus’ gaze alone, not the crowd’s. [56:03]
7. Who is one person you can gently serve or invite this week—someone God may be putting in front of you? What obstacle usually stops you (time, fear, busyness), and what small step will you take anyway? [59:38]