Hey Gang,
I want to open this series of lessons this week with a beautiful song by Amy Grant, entitled "Welcome to Our World."
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What does Christmas really mean to you? Is it God's greatest gift? Is it just a holiday when we celebrate Santa Claus? Is it just a time of year for parties? Is it just a time of year when we give and receive gifts? Why is Christmas so stressful for so many people? Is it supposed to be? Is Christmas just about a baby in a manger? Is Christmas just Jesus’ birthday? What makes Jesus so unique? Why do you think the birth of Jesus was so important that it split history into two parts?
The greatest gift that God gave to humanity was the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. This study is a reminder of the life-changing significance of Christmas. Has it changed you? Most people agree that Christmas is a special time of the year, but not everyone recognizes the essential message of Christmas – Jesus coming into the world.
To recognize God’s gift, adults must understand and value the complete story of Jesus. He is more than a baby in a manger.
C.S. Lewis once wrote, "You must make your choice, either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse."
In 1965, Paul Harvey delivered a radio Christmas story that goes along way in explaining why Jesus came to earth.
John’s use of Believe (John 20:31)
We are studying from the Gospel of John this week. John often used the word believe in referring to the human response to Jesus Christ. What does it really mean to believe in Jesus Christ? This word has several levels of meaning. Sometimes it refers to facts that we accept as true. At its deepest level, however, to believe is more than a set of facts we accept to be true. John emphasized the personal trust and commitment of faith. This is the kind of believing that saves.
Summary
The Word of God was in the beginning and was with God and was God. He was God’s agent in creation. He brought true life and light to the world, but the world rejected Him. Some, however, received Him and became children of God. The eternal Word became a human being in whom God dwelt with people and through whom God revealed Himself and saved those who believed.
C.S. Lewis once wrote, "You must make your choice, either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse."
In 1965, Paul Harvey delivered a radio Christmas story that goes along way in explaining why Jesus came to earth.
Click Here
John’s use of Believe (John 20:31)
We are studying from the Gospel of John this week. John often used the word believe in referring to the human response to Jesus Christ. What does it really mean to believe in Jesus Christ? This word has several levels of meaning. Sometimes it refers to facts that we accept as true. At its deepest level, however, to believe is more than a set of facts we accept to be true. John emphasized the personal trust and commitment of faith. This is the kind of believing that saves.
Summary
The Word of God was in the beginning and was with God and was God. He was God’s agent in creation. He brought true life and light to the world, but the world rejected Him. Some, however, received Him and became children of God. The eternal Word became a human being in whom God dwelt with people and through whom God revealed Himself and saved those who believed.
We are concentrating on three main points this week: Jesus is completely God, Jesus is completely man, and Jesus is completely necessary.
I. JESUS IS COMPLETELY GOD – JOHN 1:1-4
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men.
John’s prologue might be the greatest passage in the Bible detailing the true identity of Jesus. Matthew and Luke’s gospels include the birth narratives of Jesus. Mark introduced his Gospel with Jesus’ ministry as an adult. But John began in eternity past. John’s prologue brilliantly shows the birth of Jesus as not only a great gift but the greatest gift ever given in history.
What does it mean to you that Jesus is completely God? How does it change your attitude and behavior?
How is Jesus different from other religious leaders?
- Muhammad, Buddha, Confucious
- Jehovah's Witness, Islam, Mormonism
Recognizing that Jesus is fully God should change how we live. He didn’t come to earth merely to be the centerpiece of an ornamental nativity scene. As God, He is to be worshiped and obeyed. He also should be proclaimed!
II. JESUS IS COMPLETELY MAN – JOHN 1:10-11, 14-15
10 He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.
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14 The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning Him and exclaimed, "This was the One of whom I said, 'The One coming after me has surpassed me, because He existed before me. ' ")
God broke into history to be with His people. God met us on our level. That is why Jesus is called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” What better way to relate and communicate with people than to live amongst them as one of them?
Why is believing Jesus is completely man so important? (Isaiah 53:2)
Do you think people didn't recognize Jesus as the Christ or did they just refuse to recognize Him? What would make someone turn down Jesus?
What's easier for you to comprehend - that Jesus is fully God or that He is fully human?
Why do you appreciate that Jesus lived a day-to-day life as we do? What are you most glad that He "gets" about your life?
- Jesus experienced normal life stages just as we do. He set the example of how we should live and respond to life situations.
- Jesus lived a life free from sin. That shows a human being can resist sin; but we often don’t.
- We can be encouraged when we face difficult or tempting situations and circumstances that God will equip us to flee the temptations or endure the difficulties of life, just as He did for Jesus.
- The “Word became flesh and took up residence among us” again reminds us of the meaning of Immanuel, God with us (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23).
Last thoughts:
- Jesus offered Himself for sinful humanity; but people, even His own people reject Him.
- Receiving Jesus involves personal trust and commitment.
- Those who believe in Jesus experience a new birth and become God’s children.
- At a specific time, the eternal Word became a human person of flesh and blood.
- Those who saw the incarnate Word as He was testified that He brought grace and truth.
- God most fully revealed Himself in His only Son.
III. JESUS IS COMPLETELY NECESSARY – JOHN 1:12-13, 16-18
12 But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
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16 Indeed, we have all received grace after grace from His fullness, 17 for although the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son — the One who is at the Father's side — He has revealed Him.
What makes Jesus so completely necessary?
- Faith in Christ is necessary for salvation.
- Saved people become children of God.
A healthy relationship with Jesus cannot be forced or rushed. Take time to consider what it truly means to follow Jesus, and pray for the courage and strength to obey.
If Jesus dwells in your heart by faith, what new commitments are you making this Christmas season?
Prayer of Commitment
Lord, help me to see You not merely as a baby in a manger, but as the Lord of my life. Amen.
This is a great opening lesson for the Christmas season. Please be in prayer this week that your hearts will be open to God's Greatest Gift and that you will recognize it this season.
See you on Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
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