The Unexpected Gift: Embracing God's Love at Christmas
Summary
Summary:
Today, we reflect on the profound truth that God has come to us in the most unexpected way, through the birth of Jesus Christ. This event, often overshadowed by cultural traditions and commercialism, is the cornerstone of our faith. It is a reminder that God, unlike any other deity in human history, chose to leave His place of glory to dwell among us, offering the greatest gift—Himself. This gift, wrapped in the vulnerability of a baby, is the embodiment of salvation, revelation, and glory.
Christmas is not merely a date on the calendar or a season for exchanging gifts; it is the celebration of God’s intervention in our broken world. The birth of Christ is a testament to God’s love and His desire to bring peace, joy, and salvation to all people, regardless of their background or circumstances. The story of Simeon, who awaited the consolation of Israel, illustrates the hope and fulfillment found in recognizing and receiving this divine gift. Simeon’s encounter with the infant Jesus signifies the promise of eternal life and the peace that surpasses all understanding.
In a world filled with anxiety and uncertainty, the gift of Christmas offers us a new perspective. It invites us to embrace the light and life that Jesus brings, guiding us into a relationship with God that is marked by peace and joy. This gift is not earned by our efforts but is freely given, inviting us to lay down our burdens and receive the abundant life that God offers. As we celebrate this season, let us remember the true meaning of Christmas and open our hearts to the transformative power of God’s love.
Key Takeaways:
1. Unexpected Gift of God: God’s gift of salvation came in the most unexpected form—a baby. This challenges our expectations and reminds us that God’s ways are higher than ours. The incarnation is a profound act of humility and love, showing that God meets us where we are because we cannot reach Him on our own. [03:20]
2. True Meaning of Christmas: Christmas is more than a cultural tradition; it is the celebration of God’s greatest gift to humanity. When we focus solely on the commercial aspects, we miss the profound significance of God’s intervention in our world. The true gift of Christmas is life in Christ, which brings peace and joy. [05:02]
3. Salvation for All: The gift of salvation is available to everyone, regardless of their background or past. God’s love is inclusive, and His salvation is for all who are willing to receive it. This challenges us to see beyond our limitations and embrace the grace that God offers. [20:24]
4. Revelation and Light: Jesus is the light that reveals the truth and guides us into peace. The gift of Christmas is a sign pointing us to a new and eternal hope. By following this light, we find the life and peace that God desires for us. [25:55]
5. Glory Through Sacrifice: The gift of God is glory, but it comes through the sacrifice of Jesus. We are called to lay down our lives and follow Him, sharing in His glory and experiencing the fullness of life that He offers. This requires us to let go of our burdens and embrace the life God has for us. [27:26]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:20] - The Unexpected Gift
- [05:02] - True Meaning of Christmas
- [08:28] - The Story Behind the Gift
- [10:40] - The Worth of the Gift
- [12:18] - The Gift of Eternal Life
- [13:55] - Simeon's Encounter
- [15:16] - Consolation and Comfort
- [16:25] - Hope in the Face of Death
- [17:40] - Release from Burdens
- [18:34] - The Gift of Salvation
- [20:24] - Salvation for All
- [22:36] - Receiving the Gift
- [24:40] - Revelation and Light
- [26:37] - Glory Through Sacrifice
- [29:21] - Sharing in God's Glory
- [31:58] - The Gift of God's Love
- [33:24] - Joy and Peace in Christ
- [35:29] - The Reminder of Love
- [37:13] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 2:8-14
2. Romans 5:12-17
3. Luke 2:25-35
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the reaction of the shepherds when the angel appeared to them, and what message did the angel bring? [00:00]
2. How does the sermon describe the way God gave His gift to humanity, and why was it unexpected? [03:20]
3. What does Simeon's encounter with Jesus reveal about the nature of God's gift? [13:55]
4. According to the sermon, what are some of the cultural perceptions of Christmas that might cause us to miss its true meaning? [05:02]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the significance of God coming in the form of a baby, and what does this reveal about God's character? [03:20]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the commercialization of Christmas can distract us from its true meaning? [05:02]
3. How does Simeon's response to seeing Jesus challenge our understanding of what it means to be ready for eternity? [16:25]
4. What does the sermon imply about the inclusivity of God's gift of salvation, and how does this challenge our own perceptions of who can receive it? [20:24]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you received an unexpected gift. How did it make you feel, and how can this experience help you appreciate the unexpected nature of God's gift in Jesus? [03:20]
2. In what ways have cultural traditions or commercial aspects of Christmas overshadowed its true meaning in your life? How can you refocus on the spiritual significance of the season this year? [05:02]
3. Simeon was ready to depart in peace after seeing Jesus. What does being "ready for eternity" mean to you, and how can you live in a way that reflects this readiness? [16:25]
4. The sermon mentions that God's gift of salvation is available to everyone. How can you actively share this inclusive message with those around you, especially during the Christmas season? [20:24]
5. Consider the areas of your life where you feel burdened or anxious. How can embracing the peace and joy of God's gift help you release these burdens? [17:40]
6. How can you incorporate the light and revelation of Jesus into your daily life, guiding your decisions and interactions with others? [25:55]
7. The sermon speaks of sharing in God's glory through sacrifice. What sacrifices might you need to make to experience the fullness of life that God offers? [27:26]
Devotional
Day 1: The Humility of God's Gift
The unexpected arrival of Jesus as a baby challenges our preconceived notions of power and divinity. Unlike any other deity, God chose to enter the world in the most vulnerable form, demonstrating profound humility and love. This act of incarnation shows that God meets humanity where they are, bridging the gap that humans could never cross on their own. It is a reminder that God's ways are higher than ours, and His plans often defy human expectations. The birth of Jesus is a testament to God's willingness to be with us, offering Himself as the ultimate gift. [03:20]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you have set expectations for how God should act. How can you open your heart to the unexpected ways God might be working?
Day 2: Rediscovering the Heart of Christmas
Christmas is often overshadowed by cultural traditions and commercialism, but its true meaning lies in celebrating God's greatest gift to humanity. The birth of Christ is not just a historical event but a divine intervention in a broken world. It is a reminder of God's love and His desire to bring peace, joy, and salvation to all people. By focusing on the commercial aspects, we risk missing the profound significance of this event. The true gift of Christmas is life in Christ, which brings peace and joy beyond worldly understanding. [05:02]
Luke 2:10-11 (ESV): "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.'"
Reflection: How can you intentionally shift your focus from the commercial aspects of Christmas to its true meaning this year?
Day 3: Embracing Inclusive Salvation
The gift of salvation through Jesus is available to everyone, regardless of their background or past. God's love is inclusive, and His salvation is for all who are willing to receive it. This challenges us to see beyond our limitations and embrace the grace that God offers. The story of Simeon, who awaited the consolation of Israel, illustrates the hope and fulfillment found in recognizing and receiving this divine gift. It is a call to open our hearts to the transformative power of God's love and to share this gift with others. [20:24]
Acts 10:34-35 (ESV): "So Peter opened his mouth and said: 'Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.'"
Reflection: Who in your life might need to hear about the inclusive love and salvation of God? How can you share this message with them today?
Day 4: Following the Light of Christ
Jesus is the light that reveals truth and guides us into peace. The gift of Christmas is a sign pointing us to a new and eternal hope. By following this light, we find the life and peace that God desires for us. In a world filled with anxiety and uncertainty, the light of Christ offers a new perspective, inviting us to embrace the life and peace He brings. This light is not earned by our efforts but is freely given, inviting us to lay down our burdens and receive the abundant life that God offers. [25:55]
John 1:4-5 (ESV): "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
Reflection: What is one area of darkness or uncertainty in your life where you need to invite the light of Christ? How can you take a step towards embracing His guidance today?
Day 5: Sharing in God's Glory Through Sacrifice
The gift of God is glory, but it comes through the sacrifice of Jesus. We are called to lay down our lives and follow Him, sharing in His glory and experiencing the fullness of life that He offers. This requires us to let go of our burdens and embrace the life God has for us. The story of Simeon's encounter with Jesus signifies the promise of eternal life and the peace that surpasses all understanding. As we celebrate this season, let us remember the true meaning of Christmas and open our hearts to the transformative power of God's love. [27:26]
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: What burdens are you holding onto that prevent you from fully experiencing the life God offers? How can you begin to lay them down and embrace the glory that comes through following Jesus?
Quotes
God gave us his best gift in an unexpected way. It came in the form of a baby. You know, he told us a Messiah was coming. He told us salvation was coming. He told us deliverance was coming. He told us what the list, you know, we knew what we needed. We knew. We needed help. We knew that our lives are fallen and broken, and we know that our world is messed up and full of darkness, and we know that evil seems to prevail. And we knew what we were wanting, freedom, deliverance, just God to come in and show up. God knew what we wanted, and God said, I'm telling you what I'm going to give you. I'm giving you a Messiah. But when the Messiah came, he came in the most unexpected way. [00:02:39] (37 seconds)
That baby was not just a normal child. That baby was God. God manifested himself in the flesh. Think about that. I alluded to that in my prayer. But if you survey all the religions of humanity, you will find that men's job is to reach towards the gods. Men's job is to go upward towards the gods. No God comes down to man. No God humbles himself and takes on the most weak, vulnerable form to be among his creation. Only our God is willing to come to meet us where we are because it's impossible. It's impossible for us to go where he is. [00:03:20] (38 seconds)
And Christmas, just for those that don't know, is not, you know, just a date on the calendar. It's the day that Christ was born, the day we celebrate that Christ was born. It's not just a historical event. And the truth is, is that it's kind of, in our culture, becomes so commercialized or just so culturally acknowledged that it's just a tradition. It's just a time of the year. It's just a time to buy stuff. It's just a, it has lost so much of its significance. [00:04:19] (30 seconds)
If we receive the gift of Christmas then the bible tells us we're going to arise in salvation we will rejoice and revelation and we will remain in perfect peace and i'll tell you right now what we need so many of us is the peace of god how many y 'all are gen z's any gen z's in here afraid to raise your hand i see i i know some of y 'all are gen z i'm looking at thank you appreciate that uh i i just heard a study that gen z's are the most anxious people uh in our society and they spend the most time on their phone and they they they uh really suffer from anxiety and and yet there's a a flip side to that a positive note to that that if the gen z's that have gotten into their bible have discovered that they have more peace than all their peers by like 50 or something like that it's just such a radical difference but but it's just a symbol of kind of what's happening in our world there's so much stress so much worry so much anxiety so much fear and god says listen if you'll receive the gift of christmas you'll receive freedom from those things you'll receive peace that guards your heart you'll receive joy that is unspeakable and full of glory christmas is a gift from god to us to satisfy the desires of our aching hearts [00:05:59] (83 seconds)
Romans 5, verses 12 -17 tells us a little bit why this gift is different. The Bible says, Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned, for until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed where there is no law, nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned. According to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who was a type of him who is to come. But the free gift is not like the offense, for if by one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned, for the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift, which came from many offenses resulted in justification. [00:11:03] (59 seconds)
Simeon, Simeon was waiting for the gift of God. He was anointed by God. He had a word from the Lord. Think about that. He had a word that he wasn't going to die until the Savior had come. And he believed that and he trusted that and it was true. And he had a relationship with God such so that the Holy Spirit said, go to church. And the day that he went to church was, the day that baby was come to being presented. And he saw that baby and he saw the truth that God's gift had come. Do you know what consolation is? It's comfort. [00:15:01] (35 seconds)
Simeon starts off saying this gift is the gift of salvation for all people, for every one of us. You didn't have to be raised religious. You didn't have to grow up in church. You could be a... Chinese, Japanese, African, European, American, Australian, it doesn't matter. You can be Arab, you can be Jew, it doesn't matter. Salvation is for you. No matter what your ethnicity is, no matter where you were born, no matter where you were placed on this earth, no matter what language you speak, no matter where you come from, salvation is for all people. [00:19:44] (40 seconds)
The gift of Christmas was also the gift of light, of light and life. Pastor Annette read it. In him was light and that light was the life of men. We beheld him as the glory of the only God. And we beheld him as the glory of the only God. And we beheld him as the glory of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth. Jesus was given as a sign to the nations, not a sign in like a miracle. Sometimes we're looking for miracles. God, show me a sign. Let this happen and let this happen. And I'll know it's you. No, he was there to reveal like light, to show the way, to open our eyes, to help us see. A sign pointing to a better life, a sign pointing to a better way. [00:25:15] (38 seconds)
The free gift of salvation came at a cost. That cost was that baby who would grow up to be a man. It was the life of Jesus. And if we're going to receive that life, he said, listen, you have to take up your cross and follow me. He said, anyone who willingly gives up their life or loses their life for my sake, we'll find it. He who holds on to his life, to live in his way, doing it his way and thinking that he can control or she can control her destiny, we'll find out that they can't hold it. Not for long. [00:27:23] (33 seconds)
Christmas is the day that God came in the flesh and he came bearing the greatest gift that we could ever receive, the gift of himself, the gift of relationship, the gift of intimacy, the gift of being able to come into his presence without fear, knowing that you are loved, knowing that you are chosen, knowing that you are new. Isn't that wonderful to think that you can come into the presence of God with your head held high, not down in shame, not trembling in fear, but you can run right up to the God who created you, the God who calls you by name, the God that loves you, the God that has a purpose for your life. You can come right into his presence and you can talk with him. You can enjoy him. You can receive from him. [00:29:52] (44 seconds)
Because Jesus came, because that baby gift was placed into his hand, Simeon was ready for eternity. And if we see, if we receive the gift that God gives to us, then we too will see the salvation of the Lord, and we will receive the gift of life that's found only in Christ. So today, I want to remind you of the gift of Christmas. And I remind you, or I invite you, to not reject that gift, but to receive that gift in everything that comes with it. It's a precious gift. It's a lasting gift. [00:36:16] (40 seconds)
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