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The Wonder of the Christmas Season | Bible Study Pt 1 | Mike Prah

    Nov 29, 2023 | by Mike Prah

    The Wonder of the Christmas Season | Bible Study Pt 1 | Mike Prah

    Christmas is not about what we do, it’s about what God has done.

     

    “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel which means “God with us”  Matthew 1:23 (NIV)

     1. LET US WONDER AT THE MYSTERY OF CHRISTMAS

     Origin

    “So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” John 1:14 (NLT)

     Attributes

    “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.  6 Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.  When He appeared in human form, 8 He humbled himself in obedience to God  and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8 (NLT)

     Diety

    “For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body” Colossians 2:9 (NLT)

     Fulfilled prophecy

    “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you  a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel” Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

     Great mystery of our faith

    “Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)

     2. LET US WONDER AT THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

     A. THE VALUE OF KN0WING THAT GOD THE SON ENDURED HARDSHIPS SO HE CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND AND DELIVER US FOR OUR LIFE CHALLENGES

    • Christmas reminds us that Jesus understands what it means to be human.

    • As believers we can experience the benefit of facing life’s challenges with someone who understands versus facing life’s challenges alone.

     Matthew 26:36-38 (Jesus experienced sorrow)

     “Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Matthew 26:36-38 (NIV)

     Luke 4:1,2 (Jesus faced temptation and felt hungry)

     “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.” Luke 4:1-2 (NIV)

     Luke 8:22-24 (Jesus felt tired and slept)

     “One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm” Luke 8:22-24 (NLT)

     Luke 9:57,58 (Jesus experienced being poor)

     “As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Luke 9:57-58 (NIV)

     John 4:4-6 (Jesus exerted himself through physical effort)

     Jesus had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime.” John 4:4-6 (NLT)

     Luke 2:39,40 (Jesus physically grew from a child to an adult)

     “When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.” Luke 2:39,40 (NLT)

     B. BECAUSE GOD THE SON IS WITH US, WE CAN ENDURE THE DIFFICULTIES OF LIFE 

    “For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” 6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper,   so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6 (NLT)

     “The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.  What can mere people do to me?” Psalm 118:6 (NLT)

     “The Lord is my light and my salvation—  whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1 (NIV)

     “When you go through deep waters,  I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression,  you will not be burned up;  the flames will not consume you.”  Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)

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