“Christmas: His Story” - Clover

LIFE GROUP SERMON NOTES

“Christmas: His Story” Sr. Pastor James Lowe – December 9, 2012 WARM–UP (10-15 minutes) Choose a question below to answer, or ask another. No right or wrong answers.   

Who tells (or told) the family stories in your extended family? Who was a colorful figure in your family history? What have you done that you would like the family to pass down in its oral history?

WORD (10-15 minutes) Sermons can be heard online at bethelbrentwood.org/media. History is always colored by the inevitable partiality of those who chronicle and interpret it. "His Story," on the other hand, is given to us in Scripture as God's truthful revelation. When telling our own stories, we usually don't want the whole truth, every sinful detail, mentioned. Instead, we want to present our stories in ways that are ultimately favorable to us. God’s Story is presented to us in the Bible with complete transparency. God’s Story is embedded in our historical experience. Unfortunately, many often do not correctly perceive His Story because of a flawed perspective of human history. But God alone has given us an accurate, true account and understanding of his redemptive interaction and purposes with humanity, which are ultimately centered in Jesus Christ. Humans, both non-Christians and uninformed or misinformed Christians, often have an incorrect understanding of Jesus Christ and God's purposes. We need to make sure that we first of all know and understand God’s Story, so that we might properly contextually our own attempts to understand human history. Hebrews 1:1-4 NIV In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. God has revealed himself and has spoken to us through his Son, Jesus Christ. Our understanding of our own story is impacted when we embrace and interact with His Story. We need God, who is the source of all things, including knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. His Story is... • Worth Knowing • Worth Showing • Helps Growing

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Hebrews 2:1-4 NIV We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. It is not enough to simply know His Story. It must become the governing, preeminent influence in our lives. Jesus must become our Lord, and we must obey him. Not everyone who calls Jesus, "Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do God's will. Hebrews 2:5-11 NIV It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. Humans are uniquely made in God's image and have a special destiny in God's eternal purposes. We are loved and adored in a unique way. We must understand, then, that the suffering we go through should lead us to the God who loves us in order that he might perfect us.

PERSONAL APPLICATION (10-15 minutes) Choose an item below to discuss, or introduce another related topic for discussion.   

How well do you think you grasp the overall big story of the Bible, how all the key parts fit together, and how Jesus is central to all that God is doing and will do? What specific action steps could you take to grow in your knowledge of God's Story? How well do you think you are applying and demonstrating your knowledge of Jesus in your life?

PRAYER (10-15 minutes) Pray for any of the following, as well as any other requests you may have.   

That God would expand our knowledge and understanding of His Story revealed in Scripture. That God would convict us, teach us, and empower us to live more deliberately and consistently to demonstrate the message of His Story. That God would reveal Jesus as Lord and Savior to those with whom we interact.

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