The Glory of Christmas

The Glory of Christmas

John 1:14-18

John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh…

I. His Eternity

John 1:1-5 - “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

John 8:28 - Jesus said, “…I speak just as the Father taught me.”

John 10:37-38 - “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”

What difference is it making in me that God and His promises are the same yesterday, today and forever?

 II. His Incarnation

John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh…”

What difference is it making in me that God has entered my life?

III. His Dwelling

John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us…”

What difference is it making in me that God is with me wherever I go?

IV. His Manifestation

John 1:14 - “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the intimacy of the Father, He has explained Him.”

John 1:12-13 - “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

What difference is it making in me that God is always ready to reveal who He is and what He can do?

 Faith Sheet  

Monthly Verse - Genesis 50:20 - “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Weekly Verse - Micah 5:5a - “This One will be our peace...”

Reviewing this Past Sunday

The Glory of Christmas    

John 1:14-18

1. What are some places of poverty or suffering in our world where people feel “forsaken” by God? What do these places have in common?

2. Why is it important that God chose to make this world His home and reveal His glory?

3. In what specific ways does Jesus Christ show us what God is like?

4. In what way, can you encourage those you influence to look to Christ and not you?

5. How does our living in Christ’s grace and in His truth, help us bear witness to God to other people?

6. How would you respond to someone who said that the holy figures of world religions all lead to God?

7. Who is Jesus to you?

“And there was no illusion or deception in this: the babyhood of the Son of God was a reality. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as is this truth of the Incarnation.”    –J. I. Packer

Hebrews 1:3 – “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature…”

 Preparing for Next Sunday

Wise men: The God who Sends

Matthew 2:1-21

1. Read the passages and ask the Lord to reveal Himself and His truth. (Matthew 2:1-21)

2. HIGHLIGHT a verse or truth that stands out to you and write it out.

3. EXPLAIN the text in your own words to make sure you see the big picture of God’s Story.  (Who wrote it and why was it written? To whom it was written? What is the context? How does the text point to the Father, Son or Spirit? What is the text telling us about our new identity as believers in Christ or what we are to be doing?)

4. APPLY a truth from the text to your own life. (Focus on what God is saying to you and what is your act of obedience, confession, praise, giving thanks, etc.)

5. RESPOND in prayer and go apply what God reveals to you from the Scriptures.

John 17:17 - “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth”.