Christmas isn’t just about a baby being born—it’s about God coming near, entering human
vulnerability, and launching a kingdom that never ends. The question becomes:
Do we really know what His coming means for our lives today?

The Announcement: Favor, Calling, and Fear

Key text: Luke 1:30–33

• “Do not be afraid… you have found favor… His kingdom will never end.”
• Mary’s tension: joy + confusion + social cost (misunderstanding, gossip, uncertainty).
• Takeaway: God’s calling often comes with both promise and pressure.

The Great Contrast: King in a Crib

Key texts: Micah 5:2; Luke 2:8–14; Colossians 1:16–17; Hebrews 1:6

• No palace. No spotlight. A stable. An obscure town.
• Worshippers: not the powerful—the lowly shepherds.
• Heaven’s reality: the One worshipped by angels is now held in Mary’s arms.
• Takeaway: God’s power shows up in humility—and that should reshape what we admire.

The Shadow in the Story: A Mission, Not Just a Moment

Scenes to highlight

• The Magi and gifts that hint at purpose beyond infancy.
• Fleeing danger—God’s plan is real life, not a fairytale.
• “Mary’s Prayer” reading: tender love + awareness that hard days are ahead.
• Takeaway: the cradle already points toward the cross—and ultimately the resurrection.

Watching Jesus Grow: Awe, Confusion, and Cost

Key texts: Luke 2:41–52; Luke 4:16–21

• Age 12 in the temple: “I must be about my Father’s business.”
• Rejection in His hometown after reading Isaiah: good news for the poor, freedom, sight, jubilee.
• Ministry pressure: family misunderstandings, even siblings not believing at first.
• Takeaway: following Jesus isn’t about familiarity with Him—it’s about faith in Him.

The Turning Point: Death, Then Resurrection

Key texts: Mark 8:31; John 19:26–27

• Jesus predicts suffering, death, and rising again.
• Mary’s grief meets God’s plan.
• The resurrection flips everything: even those who doubted become believers.
• Takeaway: Christianity isn’t built on vibes—it’s built on a risen Jesus.

Landing Question: “Do You Know?”

• What happened “changed the course of history.”
• “The Creator became the created… God with us.”
• “He will save His people from their sins… and make us sons and daughters.”
• Push it home: Christmas invites a response, not nostalgia.

Communion Tie-In

• Simple focus: remember His coming, His sacrifice, and His victory.
• Gratitude that becomes action: “Now we want our lives to reflect that gratitude.”

Discussion / Application (Pick 2–3)

1. Where do you most need “Do not be afraid” right now?
2. What’s one way you’ve been chasing “palace” versions of faith instead of Jesus’ humble way?
3. If Jesus truly came to “set free,” what’s one bondage you need to bring into the light?
4. What’s one concrete thing you’ll do this week to live like a grateful son/daughter of God?

Action for This Week

• Write one paragraph answering: “Do I know what His coming means for me—today?”
• Choose one practice: daily gratitude prayer, one act of generosity, one hard conversation
  you’ve been avoiding, or one step back toward God.