The King is Coming: A Christmas Reminder

We’re standing in that holy “in‑between” Advent space—remembering that Jesus has come and living awake to the promise that He will come again. Today I wanted to keep it simple. Luke 2 doesn’t need hidden codes or elaborate theories to be powerful. A census from Caesar moved Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem—ordinary politics, extraordinary providence. God’s work is often quiet and behind the scenes, but it is never fragile. What He begins, He finishes, in history and in us.

There was no room, plans shifted, and it was messy. That’s familiar ground for most of us. Yet Emmanuel—God with us—meets us right there. We plan, yes, but we also leave room for the God who surprises. Christmas reminds us that greatness grows small: a back‑roads town, an unnoticed couple, blue‑collar shepherds, a feeding trough. That’s hopeful for everyday people like us. If we only look for God in the spectacular, we’ll miss Him in the simple.

Even the “sign” the angels gave wasn’t mystical. A baby wrapped and lying in a manger—that’s how the shepherds would recognize Him. No secret code, just a concrete way to find Jesus. In the same way, simple faithfulness—quiet acts of love, a steady presence in someone’s grief, generosity that no one posts about—still points people to Christ. I think of the joy of serving 180 kids through Angel Tree this week. Love in action clears a path to the manger.

The angels’ song still rings true: good news of great joy for all people. That doesn’t erase hardship, but it gives us a ground to stand on—hope when things don’t go as planned, peace that is more than calm feelings, joy that doesn’t need perfect circumstances, love that outlasts loss. Here’s the question I’m asking my own heart this week: Who needs to hear or experience this story through me? Don’t overcomplicate it. Tell the story of Jesus. Practice the story of Jesus. And wait with expectation. He came. He is with us. He will come again.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God works behind the scenes When the census rolls out and rulers flex, God still threads His promises through ordinary events. The quiet sovereignty of God doesn’t erase our responsibility; it steadies it. Trust grows when we look back and see His fingerprints in places we missed in real time. Pay attention to the unspectacular; that’s often where providence hums. [54:45]
• 2. Christ meets us in chaos No room, changed plans, and less‑than‑ideal timing—yet Emmanuel arrives right there. We’re not asked to pretend life is tidy; we’re invited to look for Jesus inside our interruptions. Plan faithfully, but leave margin for God’s interruptions. The good news is not fragile; it can handle a crowded inn. [61:02]
• 3. Greatness grows in humble places Nazareth, Bethlehem, a manger, and shepherds remind us God isn’t impressed by platforms. He delights to work through smallness—a word well‑timed, a gift no one notices, a steady faith over many years. This reorders our ambitions and frees us from chasing what dazzles. Holiness often looks ordinary up close. [64:13]
• 4. Simple signs still point true The cloths and manger weren’t secret codes; they were clear markers to help the shepherds find Jesus. In the same way, our everyday faithfulness can become signposts—meals delivered, prayers offered, burdens shared. Clarity beats complexity when it comes to helping others find Christ. Let your life be a readable arrow. [66:31]
• 5. Share the story this week The shepherds didn’t hoard the news; they spread it. Evangelism isn’t pressure to make people like us; it’s a faithful telling and tangible showing of what God has done in Jesus. Choose one person and one simple act, and trust the Spirit to do the heavy lifting. Good news travels best on ordinary feet. [71:41]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [14:04] - Christmas Eve service details
• [17:32] - Angel Tree gratitude
• [30:21] - Advent candles: hope, peace, love
• [40:51] - Prayer needs and comfort
• [54:45] - Keep Christmas simple
• [58:19] - Luke 2: Birth in Bethlehem
• [61:02] - When plans change, God remains
• [64:13] - Greatness in small, ordinary gifts
• [66:31] - The sign: cloths and manger
• [69:05] - Good news of peace and joy
• [71:41] - Who will you tell?
• [74:41] - Closing prayer to respond
• [81:03] - Benediction and sending

1. In Luke 2:1-7, what ordinary thing moved Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, and what simple details mark how Jesus was actually born?
2. According to Luke 2:12, what exact “sign” would help the shepherds find the child—and why would that be practically helpful in a real town with real babies?
3. Who is the good news for in Luke 2:10-11, 14? What phrases make that clear?
4. What real-life example of “love in action” was shared to show simple, concrete faithfulness in our community this week? [17:32]

1. What does Luke 2 teach about how God works “behind the scenes” through normal events (like a census)? How could that shape the way a person trusts God to finish what He starts? [54:45]
2. If Emmanuel means “God with us,” what does that say about seasons when plans change and there’s “no room”? How might someone look for Jesus inside interruptions rather than outside of them? [01:01:02]
3. Why might God choose a small town, a manger, and shepherds to announce Christ’s birth? What ideas about greatness and success does that correct? [01:04:13]
4. If the sign in Luke 2:12 was straightforward, not mystical, what might that say about how God often guides people today? How can everyday faithfulness become “signposts” that point others to Jesus? [01:06:31]

1. Looking back over this year, where can you now see God’s “quiet fingerprints” that you missed in real time? Share one moment and why it matters for your trust today. [54:45]
2. What part of your week feels most crowded or most likely “not to go as planned”? How will you both plan faithfully and also leave margin for God’s interruptions? Be specific. [01:01:02]
3. Where has your heart been chasing what dazzles—platforms, applause, “big” results? What humble, ordinary practice could you embrace this week instead (a note, a visit, a phone call, a small gift)? [01:04:13]
4. Choose one simple act of love that will be a clear signpost to Jesus. Who is the person, and what is the act (a meal, a prayer, a quiet gift, sitting with someone in grief)? When will you do it? [01:06:31]
5. Pick one person to tell the Jesus story to—in plain words. Who is it? How will you share it naturally (over coffee, a text, a card, a conversation during a walk)? [01:11:41]
6. Where are hope, peace, joy, or love hardest to sense right now? What small step could help anchor you in those promises this week (Scripture to read, a candle to light at dinner, a daily prayer)? [01:09:05]
7. Serving 180 kids through Angel Tree showed how ordinary love makes a real difference. What is one “ordinary feet” opportunity near you, and what step will you take toward it this week? [17:32]