It's a Wonderful Life in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Use shared culture to point to the Creator

Paul's example on Mars Hill shows how to connect with people using what is familiar to them, then turn that familiarity toward the true God. When one notices an "altar to the unknown," it becomes an opening to proclaim the Creator who gives life, breath, and everything. Christians are called to observe cultural touchpoints and lovingly redirect them toward the gospel of Jesus, who was raised as assurance of God's judgment and mercy. [33:05]

Acts 17:22-31 (ESV)
22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 25 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 26 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. 27 Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we are indeed his offspring.' 29 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."

Reflection: What cultural "altar" (a movie, holiday tradition, song, or common saying) do you see people around you attached to this season, and how will you use that specific point as a bridge to say one sentence about who God is?

Day 2: Pray for open doors and speak with wisdom

Believers are instructed both to pray for opportunities and to make the best use of the time when those doors open. Prayer for a clear door to declare the mystery of Christ should be paired with a wise, gracious, and salted speech that preserves life and piques interest. Preparation means asking God to open opportunities and practicing brief, winsome ways to answer each person so the gospel is made clear. [37:14]

Colossians 4:3-6 (ESV)
3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Reflection: Name one person you will pray for daily this week and describe the specific "door" you will ask God to open for the Word; then write the first gracious, salt-seasoned sentence you will use if that door opens.

Day 3: Jesus exemplifies sacrificial service and abundant life

George Bailey's sacrificial life points to a greater reality: Jesus laid down his life for his sheep so they might have abundant life. The good shepherd does not merely tell about love—he embodies it by laying down his life and rising again, exercising authority in obedience to the Father. Pointing others to this sacrificial love helps people see that true wonder and lasting life are found in Christ, not merely in sentimental stories. [59:44]

John 10:9-11 (ESV)
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Reflection: What is one real sacrifice or habit you already practice that you can use this week to explain Jesus' sacrificial love to someone; write the one-sentence way you'll connect your service to the gospel in conversation.

Day 4: From spiritual death to life by God's mercy

The Bible confronts the reality that apart from Christ people are spiritually dead in their trespasses, but God's rich mercy makes the difference. Even when humanity is dead in sin, God—because of his great love—makes sinners alive with Christ by grace, and that new life is the foundation for hope and changed living. This mercy moves believers to tell others that life in Christ is not self-earned but is God's gracious gift. [01:01:51]

Ephesians 2:1, 4-5 (ESV)
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Reflection: Where do you still feel "dead" or stuck because of habits, shame, or fear, and what one truth from these verses will you claim this week with one concrete action (a prayer, confession, or an invitation) to live as one made alive in Christ?

Day 5: Believe and confess to receive salvation

The gospel is both simple and decisive: confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised him, and you will be saved. Faith comes from hearing the message, and the plain call is to trust and to confess—to move from assent to personal submission to Christ. This truth undergirds invitations to faith and guides how to gently lead someone toward salvation in conversation. [01:04:33]

Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)
9 because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Reflection: If you were to confess "Jesus is Lord" today, what two fears or objections would you need to acknowledge first, and write the honest, two-sentence confession you would say aloud to God or to a trusted believer.

Sermon Summary

December invites us to remember the first coming of Christ, not as a cultural ornament but as the “fullness of time” when the Father sent the Son to redeem and adopt us. Like Paul in Athens, I want us to see how we can use what people already know—their stories, songs, and traditions—as bridges to the gospel. Paul began with the Athenians’ “unknown god,” quoted their poets, and then pointed them to the true Creator and the risen Judge. That same wisdom and gracious clarity is our calling today. So I reached for a cultural icon many love at Christmastime—It’s a Wonderful Life—not to draw theology from it, but to show how its themes can open doors for gospel conversations.

George Bailey’s life paints a picture of sacrificial service: rescuing his brother, standing up for a child’s life, giving up dreams to strengthen families through affordable homes, and surrendering his honeymoon to save his community. Those moments can lead naturally to the greater love that Christ names and embodies: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life so His sheep may have life—abundantly and eternally. Films can stir us, but only Scripture reveals our true condition—dead in sin, following desires that enslave and destroy—and the true cure: “But God, being rich in mercy…” Through the cross and the resurrection, Jesus bore wrath we deserved and offers a new union with Him, a life no longer ruled by sin but animated by grace.

This season, pray for open doors, speak with gentleness and respect, and use points of common grace—stories, traditions, even “holiday” itself—to turn conversations toward Christ. Ask permission to share, ask good questions, and let the Word do the heavy lifting. For those who haven’t yet trusted Christ, today can be the day to confess Him as Lord and believe in His resurrection. For those who have, come to the Table in faith, remembering His body and blood, receiving strength to live as a people set apart—gracious, wise, and ready to answer with hope.

Key Takeaways

1. Build bridges from culture to Christ Paul started where people were—idols, poets, curiosity—and moved to the living God and the resurrection. We can do the same by finding shared touchpoints and then pivoting to Scripture. It’s not about cleverness; it’s about love that listens and aims for clarity. Pray for open doors and step through them with wisdom. [36:46]
2. Sacrificial service shapes a community George Bailey’s life shows how costly choices for others change the fabric of a town. Scripture shows the fuller pattern: love lays down its life, and that love is most clearly seen in Christ. When we serve sacrificially, we bear witness to the One who served us unto death. People taste the gospel when they taste this kind of love. [54:26]
3. Jesus offers abundant, eternal life The Good Shepherd does not simply rescue; He gives life that is full, secure, and guided by His voice. Abundance is not the absence of trouble but the presence of the Shepherd who laid down His life and took it up again. This gift is received by faith, not earned by merit. His cross and empty tomb are the doorway. [59:22]
4. Our condition: dead, but God Apart from Christ we are not merely misguided—we are dead in sins, enslaved, and under wrath. The two most hope-drenched words in the Bible are “But God,” rich in mercy, who makes us alive with Christ. Grace does what effort cannot: it resurrects. New life begins where self-reliance ends. [61:25]
5. Share with grace, clarity, courage Ask permission, pose thoughtful questions, and let Scripture cut to the heart with kindness. Gentleness is not compromise; it’s the chosen tone of those who know they’ve been shown mercy. Clarity honors God and our neighbor; courage trusts God with the results. This is wise speech, seasoned with salt. [65:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[25:41] - Christmas season and Advent focus
[28:47] - Series plan: a creative approach
[29:30] - Paul in Athens: cultural bridges
[36:04] - Open doors and salty speech
[39:04] - Introducing “It’s a Wonderful Life”
[41:38] - George Bailey’s crisis and backstory
[45:51] - The bridge and a world without George
[47:56] - Restoration and community generosity
[49:37] - Films inspire; Scripture defines theology
[51:42] - Evangelism exercise: segue from story to gospel
[54:26] - Theme: sacrificial service to others
[59:22] - Jesus the Good Shepherd gives life
[67:19] - Communion: remembering Christ’s sacrifice
[79:16] - Benediction: wise, gracious witness

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- Acts 17:22–31 (ESV)
Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted seasons and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is actually not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Observation questions

What cultural items or phrases did Paul point to first in his Areopagus address to gain attention (an altar, a poet’s line, a shared idea about the gods)? Why would these have been effective openings? [32:12]
How does Paul describe the Creator’s relationship to temples and to human needs in Acts 17:24–25, and what contrast is he drawing with idol worship? [33:05]
What headline claim does Paul make about judgment and the resurrection as the proof of Jesus’ authority (Acts 17:30–31)? How would this shape the main point of his message? [33:05]
What examples from the film’s story were used to illustrate sacrificial service (saving a brother, preventing harm, sacrificing personal dreams, giving up a honeymoon, rallying community support)? How do those scenes highlight the theme of costly love? [54:26]

Interpretation questions

How does starting from what listeners already know (an altar to an unknown god, a familiar poet) function as a bridge to present the gospel to people who hold different beliefs? [31:47]
What does the statement “he is actually not far from each one of us” imply about God’s accessibility and human responsibility to seek and repent? How does that shape the urgency of the gospel call? [33:05]
In what ways does the portrait of sacrificial service in the film point beyond itself to the deeper, decisive sacrifice of Christ? What is similar and what is different between human sacrifice for neighbors and Christ’s laying down his life? [54:26]
How should the claim that the resurrection is “assurance to all” affect the clarity and boldness with which the gospel is presented to those who are curious but not yet convinced? [33:05]

Application questions

Identify one cultural touchpoint you regularly share with unbelieving friends or family this season (a movie, song, tradition, or holiday activity). How could you use that touchpoint this week to ask a short permission question and segue to a gospel conversation? Be specific about the question you will ask. [36:04]
Think of a recent or past act of sacrificial service you performed (big or small). How did that act either open the door to speak of Christ or not? What one next action could you take to let that kind of service point more clearly to the gospel? [54:26]
The Bible says people are “dead in trespasses” but God makes us alive by mercy. Where are you tempted to depend on your own effort instead of trusting “but God” for new life? Name one concrete step you will take this week to rely on grace (a confession, a Scripture to memorize, a prayer to pray). [01:01:25]
Prepare a short, gentle question you can use with an unbelieving friend or family member that invites spiritual reflection (for example: “Do you ever wonder if there’s more to life than this?”). Practice it now and decide when you will ask it in the coming days. [37:44]
Who is one person in your immediate holiday circle you can pray for this week, asking specifically for an “open door for the Word”? Write that person’s name and commit to pray for an opportunity to lovingly share with them. [36:46]
If you will participate in the Lord’s Supper this month, what practical preparation does faith require from you (confession, reconciliation, renewed dependence on Christ)? If unresolved sin remains, what is one step you will take this week toward repentance before the Table? [01:07:19]

Use this guide to pray, discuss, and plan concrete steps this week. Keep the conversations gentle, brief when needed, and always ready to point others to Christ as the only one who gives true abundant life.

Sermon Clips

Well, although Paul did not get all the way through the entirety of the gospel, at least in what is recorded there in Acts 17, nevertheless, he was able to establish that there is one true Creator God who is sovereign over all and to whom all are accountable. And that, in fact, everyone will be judged in righteousness by the man whom he's appointed, the man he raised from the dead, whom we know, of course, is Christ Jesus. But I want you to see, did you see how Paul used things that his audience were familiar with in their culture to make connections and a segue into sharing the truth? [00:34:48] (38 seconds) #UseCultureToConnect

He used the altar to the unknown God. So they had all these altars everywhere and one of them, they just came, well, there's got to be another one out there we're not sure about, so let's just build one for him. You know? And so they used that, he used that as a segue and then he also quotes from some of their poets. And it's genius. [00:35:26] (20 seconds) #BridgeWithTheirCulture

So, right there, context is everything. So, he's like, this isn't just about me and us, what we're doing, it's you too. Make the best use of your time in sharing Christ. Be wise about it. Be gracious about it. Season your conversation with salt, right? Salt has a preserving and a flavoring effect. And likewise, our speech should have a preserving, life-preserving effect, and it should be interesting, it should be stimulating. And within the context of being wise and knowing how to answer the Lord, the aim, answer each one, the aim ultimately should be pointing them to Christ. [00:37:04] (39 seconds) #SeasonSpeechWithSalt

And so, as followers of Christ, we are called to do these things, to not only be ready to give a reason when people ask us in a gentle and respectful way, but to look for opportunities for those who do not yet have the hope within them through belief in Christ. We should pray for such opportunities and then use whatever creative means are available to us to make connections with those who have yet to believe in order to share the hope in the gospel of Christ. [00:37:59] (32 seconds) #PrayAndShareHope

And then what happens is all these friends and all these family members, everybody starts showing up to rally their support with a collection that they've gathered together to pull them out of the trouble, to save their family and their building alone from going bankrupt and being ruined. And it's a touching scene, right? And George came to realize through that time that, you know, one life can make a difference, that he had made a difference in people's lives and he wanted to live and even though that life is full of problems, it's still worth the living, that it's a wonderful life. [00:48:17] (38 seconds) #OneLifeMakesADifference

Now as good and perhaps inspirational as it is, we don't get our theology from it. There are things in it that contradict the Bible, especially regarding angels, right? What's more, there's no clear presentation of the gospel of Christ. No, we don't get our theology from movies or the world. However, let me get a couple points on that. First, sometimes believers, true believers, do intertwine biblical truth and principles and even the gospel in their work. There are some really good Christian work out there. [00:50:04] (34 seconds) #TheologyFromScripture

Secondly, we can, regardless of it overt or not, we can see biblical themes and principles often illustrated. And in the case of It's a Wonderful Life or such films or stories that are not overtly Christian but are well-known and loved in our culture, we can use them to create conversations with those who do not yet know Christ as their Savior and Lord. [00:50:38] (22 seconds) #FilmToFaith

``You know, Christmas time is another one of those opportune times to share Christ, right? Christ is the root word of Christmas. And so many people in our culture are throwing out the word Christmas and it's posted here and there and everywhere. Well, you have a ready-made opportunity there. Or holidays. Anyone want to say, oh, happy holidays. Okay, they want to do that? Well, great. You know what that means? Holy days. Why are they holy? Well, let me tell you about that. [01:06:11] (26 seconds) #ShareChristAtChristmas

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