Living Word Live! A Christmas State of Mind

Devotional

Day 1: Adopt Christ's humility as your daily mindset.

Let this mind be in you — choose the posture of Jesus who stooped from glory into our dust, emptied himself, and submitted even to death on a cross so that hearts could be lifted. This is not about shrinking; it is about thinking of others less and loving more, trading grasping for service, and letting humility reshape decisions, relationships, and priorities. Open the door and let his thought-pattern replace yours, beginning with one small, concrete act of obedience today. [44:09]

Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Reflection: What is one habitual thought or behavior you can intentionally set aside this week so you can practice humility in a specific relationship (e.g., listening without defending, serving without recognition)?

Day 2: Jesus brings eternal, righteous, reigning peace.

The birth of the child in Isaiah’s prophecy announces more than a sentimental story — it declares a forever government marked by justice, righteousness, and unending peace. This hope is not merely for warm feelings at Christmas but for real transformation: a King whose reign corrects wrongs and holds the world in compassionate order. Let that promised rule shape how you pray, hope, and live today, trusting the zeal of the Lord to complete what he began. [27:40]

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Reflection: In what one concrete area of your life or your community do you need to invite Jesus' rule and peace this week, and what specific action will you take to open that door to his justice and mercy?

Day 3: Say "Let it be" — trust God's unexpected plan.

Faith chooses to accept God’s word even when the circumstances make no sense, like Mary saying “let it be” to a plan that upends biology, reputation, and comfort. That kind of faith reframes inconvenience and shame into obedience and participation in God’s redemptive work. Practice a small, obedient trust this week that mirrors Mary’s surrender, allowing God to handle what you cannot understand. [56:14]

Luke 1:38 (ESV)
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Reflection: What is one "impossible" or confusing situation you can surrender to God this week by saying, "Let it be according to your word," and what is one immediate, tangible act that would demonstrate that surrender?

Day 4: Risk obedience to seek and honor Christ.

The wise men left safety and convenience behind, following a star into uncertainty to worship and offer costly gifts — a picture of risked obedience that honors Christ above comfort. Choosing risk here means valuing worship and truth over reputation, security, or what others expect; it’s a frame that reshapes priorities and courage. Identify one small but bold step you can take this week that honors Jesus even if it costs you ease or approval. [56:14]

Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV)
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Reflection: What is one safe choice you’ve held onto instead of following where Jesus is leading, and what is the first risky, concrete step you will take this week toward obedient worship?

Day 5: Awe replaces fear; proclaim God's good news.

When angels shone glory into the night, shepherds moved from fear to wonder and heard good news of great joy for all people — a frame that turns dread into proclamation. Choosing awe shifts responses from hiding and anxiety to praise, witness, and community celebration; it invites wonder into ordinary life. Practice replacing one fearful reaction this week with a repeated, simple declaration of the good news until awe becomes your reflex. [56:39]

Luke 2:8-14 (ESV)
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Reflection: When fear arises this week, what short sentence or Scripture (8–12 words) will you speak to yourself to swap fear for awe, and when will you rehearse it daily?

Sermon Summary

We began Advent by lighting the candle of hope and asking God to clear the noise so we can truly see Jesus. I invited us to look at Christmas through Philippians 2—heaven’s vantage point where the Son lays aside glory, takes on flesh, and walks the road from manger to cross. That passage calls us to a different internal posture: “Let this mind be in you.” Our mindset shapes our joy, stress, choices, and relationships, and God wants to form a Christmas state of mind in us.

When you strip away the nostalgia, the first Christmas carried four very human words: inconvenience, disappointment, confusion, and shame. Mary’s 90–mile journey in late pregnancy wasn’t cozy. A stable wasn’t a curated nursery. Mary wrestled with “How can this be?” Joseph lived with whispers—and still stayed. That’s why Paul doesn’t ask us to pick sides in our conflicts; he asks us to pick a mind. Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself—it’s thinking of yourself less. Jesus knew exactly who he was and therefore could stoop, wash feet, and trust the Father to do the exalting.

I offered a simple way to reframe our lives: FRAME—Faith (Mary’s “let it be”), Risk (Joseph, the Magi), Awe (shepherds moving from fear to wonder), Memory (Mary treasured and pondered), and Example (Jesus’ humility and obedience). You and I get to choose our frame. That doesn’t deny grief; it refuses to make grief the whole picture. I shared how I hold my dad’s memory with real sorrow and real hope—every day is one day closer, not farther away.

Practically, we take on Jesus’ mindset through worship (recentering all of life on God’s glory), service (giving ourselves away because we’re secure in him), and confession (not only admitting sin, but declaring, “Jesus Christ is Lord”). Then I asked: where is Jesus knocking—your schedule, habits, fears, anger, grief? Open the door. Communion brought us full circle: the manger shows how low he came; the cup shows how far his love would go. The manger and the cross are carved from the same wood. Receive his humility, surrender your control, and let his mind become yours.

Key Takeaways

1. Choose a Christmas state of mind Our internal posture determines how we interpret life. Paul invites us to adopt Jesus’ mindset—humility, obedience, and trust—rather than defaulting to fear, pride, or offense. This isn’t seasonal sentiment; it’s a new operating system for everyday life. [44:09]
2. Reframe your story with FRAME Faith, Risk, Awe, Memory, and Example give handles for how to see God in hard places. Each Advent character shows a facet of this frame, and Jesus completes it. Reframing doesn’t erase pain; it keeps grace in the picture with the pain. [55:57]
3. Humility flows from deep security Jesus served because he knew who he was; he didn’t grasp, scramble, or defend. When identity is settled in the Father’s love, we can choose the lower place and trust God with outcomes. That’s how conflict is healed and community is rebuilt. [53:49]
4. Let the manger lead to the cross Christmas is the descent; communion remembers the purpose of that descent. He entered our burdens to lift us into his life—so our response is surrender, not control. Hope is not nostalgia but participation in his self-giving love. [67:29]
5. Open the door where He’s knocking Scripture gives us a simple path: let, bow, confess. Invite his mind into the concrete places—your time, cravings, resentments, and fears—and say with your life, “Jesus is Lord.” He’s already done the heavy lifting; your part is welcome. [64:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:43] - Worship and opening prayer
[25:56] - Candle of Hope
[26:54] - Isaiah 9: Promise of a Son
[38:04] - Philippians 2: Heaven’s view of Christmas
[39:28] - A Christmas State of Mind
[44:09] - “Let this mind be in you”
[47:28] - Inconvenience, disappointment, confusion, shame
[52:10] - Be of the same mind
[53:49] - Serving from security, not scarcity
[55:37] - FRAME: Faith, Risk, Awe, Memory, Example
[57:48] - Framing grief with future hope
[61:00] - Practices: worship, service, confession
[67:29] - Communion: manger and cross
[70:53] - The bread and the cup
[72:26] - Closing prayer and feast

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
Philippians 2:1–11
1 If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Observation questions

Read Philippians 2:5–8. What concrete actions describe Jesus’ descent from glory into humanity? Which single phrase stands out to you and why?
Philippians 2:2–4 urges believers to be “of the same mind” and to value others. What behaviors in the passage show what that looks like practically?
The text says, “Have this mind among yourselves” — the sermon framed this as choosing an attitude rather than picking sides. How does the phrase “Let this mind be in you” shape the way a church handles conflict? [44:09]
The sermon called the first Christmas, when stripped of nostalgia, “inconvenience, disappointment, confusion, and shame.” Which of those four words do you see most clearly in the Bible passage or the nativity story, and where? [47:51]

Interpretation questions (third-person, objective)

How should humility, defined as “thinking of yourself less,” alter a believer’s response when personally offended or criticized? [53:25]
How does the image of Jesus “not counting equality with God a thing to be grasped” (v. 6) reframe common Christian motivations like status, recognition, or control? [46:26]
In what ways would “serving from security, not scarcity” change patterns of giving, leadership, or conflict resolution in a local church? [53:49]
FRAME (Faith, Risk, Awe, Memory, Example) was offered as a tool to reframe hard things. How might each element of FRAME shift a person’s interpretation of loss or disappointment? [55:57]

Application questions (specific and personal)

“What part of your life is Jesus trying to get into right now?” Identify one concrete door (schedule, habits, priorities, a relationship, grief, anger, etc.) and name the first small step you will take to open it. [01:02:37]
Choose one element of FRAME (Faith, Risk, Awe, Memory, Example). What is one tangible practice you will do this week to live from that frame (for example: a specific act of faith, a risk you will take to obey God, a worship act to cultivate awe, a memory you will record and treasure, or a person you will model for)? [55:57]
Worship, service, and confession were presented as primary means of adopting Christ’s mindset. Which of the three will you prioritize this week and what will that look like in practice (when and how will you do it)? [01:01:00]
When conflict or offense arises, what are three simple steps you will take to “be of the same mind” rather than picking a side? (Be specific: words to say, questions to ask, a pause or prayer you will use.) [52:10]
If you are carrying grief or shame, what one daily practice will you adopt to keep grace in the picture with the pain (journaling a memory, a brief prayer each morning, calling a friend, setting a weekly remembrance)? How will you measure whether this is helping? [58:29]
The manger and the cross were described as two sides of the same wood. How will remembering both (Christ’s humility and his costly love) shape one decision you need to make this month — about control, surrender, or forgiveness? How will you act differently because of that memory? [01:07:29]

(Spend time praying together after discussion; consider inviting the group to practice one chosen application during the coming week and report back next time.)

Sermon Clips

So, let me ask you again. What state is your mind in today? Are you anxious? Christmas is three weeks away. Are you distracted? Hopeful? Heavy? Grateful? Empty? And another way to say this is, how is your soul today, right now? Not the Christmas version that you post online. The real one that you don't share with anyone, even here in this place. Because I think as I look at what Paul said in Philippians, whatever state you're in, God wants to reshape it through the lens of Christmas and what he did all those years ago. [00:43:03] (54 seconds) #SoulNotSelfie

First of all, that opening line just proves everything that I said before. Make sure that your mindset affects everything. There is more than one mind that's available to us as well. There are different attitudes that you can choose. Different worldviews that you can invite in. Different perspectives that you can live under. For instance, you and I, we can think like culture, can't we? We can think like our wounds, our offenses. We can think like fear, what Matt talked about in prayer. We can think like pride. Or, as Paul says, we can think like Jesus. [00:44:17] (51 seconds) #ThinkLikeJesus

The third one is confusion. Remember the conversation that Mary had with Gabriel. She said, Gabriel, I'm all in. But, you know, there's this biology thing about having a baby. And Gabriel, or God through Gabriel, says, don't worry. I've got it handled. I think it's amazing that the very thing that she thought disqualified her was the thing that God was going to use, he intended to use from the beginning, to bring him glory and to work out the plan of salvation for us. [00:49:01] (38 seconds) #GodUsesTheUnexpected

And when we look at Jesus, the humility of Jesus, Jesus knew exactly who he was. He was fully God, eternally glorious, and he still stooped low. He washed feet. He chose the cross. I think one of the things that comes to my mind when I look at the life of Jesus is he didn't serve. You don't serve because you're worthless. You serve because you're secure. You know who you are. [00:53:34] (32 seconds) #ServeFromSecurity

But every time I saw that picture on my phone, the grief is still real. But so is the hope. Because dad is with Jesus. But I realized at one point that every day that passes moves me one day closer, not one day further away. And that, for me, is the power of frame. You know, I don't deny the pain. It's there. The grief is there. I just refuse to let that pain be the only thing in the picture. I'm moving away from that date when he left here. I'm moving toward another date. Does that make sense? [00:58:54] (53 seconds) #FrameYourHope

So a Christmas state of mind, much to the chagrin of people in my household, is not about jingle bells and hot cocoa. Or not just about jingle bells and hot cocoa. Don't tell her I said that. But what it is, it's about humility in a world of ego. It's about compassion, loving one another in a world of stress. It's about obedience, obeying, even when it doesn't make sense to us, let alone the people around us. It's surrender instead of control. It's courage instead of comfort. It's choosing Jesus, his mindset, over and over and over again until his thoughts start to replace my own, your own. [00:59:48] (59 seconds) #ChristmasStateOfMind

So I guess here's my final question. The one that I want ringing in your heart today and the next day and the next day after that. What part of your life is Jesus trying to get into right now? Is it your schedule? Your thought life? Your priorities, your habits, your relationships, your fears, your anger, your grief? Go on. And what area in your life is Jesus trying to get into? What door is he gently knocking at? And the other question is, will you let him in? [01:02:35] (38 seconds) #LetJesusInNow

Because communion, believe it or not, is the other half of Christmas. See, Christmas shows us how low Jesus was willing to come. Communion shows us how far His love was willing to go. And I believe that the manger and the cross, they're kind of carved out of the same wood. Christmas is the beginning of His descent. Communion remembers the purpose of it. [01:07:27] (43 seconds) #MangerToCross

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