What is Christmas?

Our small group had opportunity to meet together for a Christmas celebration last week. We were able to enjoy good conversation and food together. I took a few minutes to share some thoughts about Christmas. I share them here as well.

We all have lots of memories and feelings about Christmas, most of them positive. The majority of them revolved around gatherings of family and friends, food, and giving of gifts. While these things can be wonderful in themselves, they are not the true essence of Christmas. So the question is, what is the essence of Christmas?
We saw the beginnings of it a few weeks ago as we looked at John 1. John records that Jesus was the Word, and was and is eternal, is God, and is the life and light of the world.
God wants to be in relationship with each individual, but that relationship is hindered by sin. That means we are distant from God. Christmas means that God took the initiative. John records that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (literally - pitched his tent among us). The Message translates it this way: "The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood." God didn't wait for us to become good enough to come to Him. He came to us. That is the significance of Christmas.
A name that weas to be given to Jesus was Emmanuel, which means "God with us." He is with us, in our neighbourhoof, not in some distant ethereal existence. We can truly experience Christmas when we recognize Jesus as God with us and allow Him into our lives to change us from the inside out.
So, Christmas can be made into something superficial, such as chintzy decorations and expensive gifts that we give to people we don't like, or it can be about the truth that God gave the greatest gift, Jesus, so that we could be in relationship with Him. We celebrate Christmas in ways that have meaning, but often the meaning gets lost because we forget, or it's not communicated from one generation to the next. My English teacher in grade 12 (I think) told us about what she did when she cooked a ham: she would cut off the end of the ham and then put it in the pan. Her daughter asked her why she did this, and she said, "Because your grandma always did that." So, they asked the girl's grandma why she cut off the end of the ham before cooking it, and she replied, "Because my mother always did that." So, they then talked to the girl's great-grandmother and asked why she cut off the end of the ham before cooking it. Her reply? "Because the pan was too small."
We often do things because that's the way they've always been done. Why do we give gifts at Christmas? Some do it because they feel obligated. Others like the warm feelings they get from giving gifts. But gift-giving at Christmas stems from the first Giver, who gave His Son. Jesus is the greatest gift. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave...."

Only when you receive the first and greatest Gift can you truly appreciate the significance of Christmas. I trust that is Christmas for you. If not, it can be. You'll experience Christmas as you never had before!

Blessings,
David

December 3 - Session Ten

While we are not able to meet this week, we can still consider the truths of the Bible together.
John 1:14-18 (The Message)
The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.
John pointed him out and called, "This is the One! The One I told you was coming after me but in fact was ahead of me. He has always been ahead of me, always had the first word."
We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift. We got the basics from Moses, and then this exuberant giving and receiving, this endless knowing and understanding--all this came through Jesus, the Messiah. No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse. This one-of-a-kind God-expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made him plain as day.
For reflection/discussion:
1. What do you feel when you read that Jesus "moved into the neighborhood"?
2. How does John compare Jesus with Moses?
3. What is the significance of Jesus becoming flesh?
4. What is your favourite part of your Christmas celebrations?

To Go:
Take some time to look at the following verses in light of Jesus revealing God to us.
John 14:1-14
Isaiah 9:1-7
Isaiah 40
2 Timothy 1:8-12

Be blessed, and may you experience the joys of a Christmas centred on Jesus!
David

November 26 - Session Nine

For Here:
Take a look at what John has to say about Jesus coming into the world. The verses are included below. Then consider the questions that follow.
John 1:10-13 (NLT)
He came into the world he created, but the world didn't recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn-not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

For reflection:
1. Why do you think the world didn't recognize Jesus?
2. What do you think John means by saying "become children of God"?
3. What is the difference in the births John is referring to?
4. What is teh best gift you have ever given or received?

To Go:
Take some time this week to read and reflect on the following verses and consider what they say about birth and new birth:
John 3:3-8
1 Peter 1:3-5
1 John 4:7-9
2 Corinthians 5:17

Be blessed!
David

November 19 - Session Eight

For Here:
Take a look at what John records about Jesus coming into the world. The verses are included below. Then consider the questions that follow.

John 1:5-9 (NLT)
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

For discussion/reflection:
1. What images does the word "light" bring to mind?
2. What does referring to Jesus as "light" tell us about Him?
3. What light have you experienced in your life?
4. What is your favourite Christmas memory?

To Go:
Take some time this week to look at the following verses and consider what they say to us about life, light, and God. You can look them up at www.biblegateway.com.
John 8:12
Psalm 13:1-6
Isaiah 42:1-9
Micah 7:8-9

Feel free to post questions or comments!
Blessings,
David

November 12 - Session Seven

For Here:
Take a look at what John records about Jesus coming into the world. The verses are included below. Then consider the questions that follow.
John 1:1-4
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men."

For discussion/reflection:
1. What does "Word" make you think of?
2. What do you think that Word refers to?
3. Why do you think John used "Word" in this way?
4. What do you look forrward to most about Christmas?

To Go:
Take some time this week to read the following verses and consider what they say to us about life, light and God. If you wish, you can look them up at www.biblegateway.com.
Psalm 3:6
Isaiah 55:10-11
John 14:5-7
Isaiah 9:1-2

We're always happy to hear from you. Feel free to post comments or questions.
Blessings,
David

November 5 - Session Six

For Here:
Take a look at Jesus' teaching about obedience. Then consider the questions that follow.
Matthew 7:24-29
"Therefore anyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law."

For discussion/reflection:
1. Why do you think Jesus stresses obedience so much?
2. Why were the people amazed at His teaching?
3. Have you ever "built foolishly"?
4. What do you need to put into practice?

To Go:
Take some time to look at the following verses to see what they have to say about obedience. Look them up in your Bible or at http://www.biblegateway.com/
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
Zechariah 6:15 (The Message)
2 Corinthians 9:12-15
Philippians 4:8-9

We're always happy to hear from you. Feel free to post comments or questions.
Blessings,
David

October 29 - Session Five

For Here:
Take a look at Jesus' teaching on the greatest commandment. Then consider the questions that follow.
Matthew 22:34-40
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment int he law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments."

For discussion/reflection:
1. Why was Jesus asked about the most important commandment?
2. How do these two commandments summarize the law?
3. Have you ever lived under 'law'?
4. How is Jesus' teaching different from following the law?

To Go:
Take some time this week to read the following verses and consider what they tell us about loving God and each other. You can look them up at www.biblegateway.com.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Romans 13:8-10
Leviticus 19:18
Colossians 3:17, 23-24

We're always happy to hear from you! Feel free to post comments or questions.
Be blessed,
David

The Order on the Side

I encountered this article today on the web. It's a good illustration of what God is calling us to be. http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/sep/19/health/chi-0920-sun-nightcook
Bettye Tucker has a great ministry in the hospital where she works.
Pay particular attention to the last few paragraphs.
I think as followers of Jesus that this is what we should be like in our areas of work.
Be blessed!
David