John 1:14

STAIRS FROM HEAVENSTAIRS FROM HEAVEN

● ● The Christmas story includes a big step down The Christmas story includes a big step down from glory, honor and praise…a good model for me from glory, honor and praise…a good model for me to follow.to follow.

● ● A life lived genuinely and compassionately is A life lived genuinely and compassionately is convincing and powerful.convincing and powerful.

● ● I need to do more than tip my hat to the baby I need to do more than tip my hat to the baby Jesus…it is time to emulate the grown up One.Jesus…it is time to emulate the grown up One.

WORSHIP THROUGH SONG

WORSHIP THROUGH SONG

THE STORY OF A GOD WHO CAME DOWN …THE STORY OF A GOD WHO CAME DOWN …DIVINE DESCENTDIVINE DESCENT

300 PROPHECIES TOLD OF THE MESSIAH'S 300 PROPHECIES TOLD OF THE MESSIAH'S BIRTHPLACE, QUALITY LIFE AND HORRIFIC BIRTHPLACE, QUALITY LIFE AND HORRIFIC

DEATHDEATH

WHO’D HAVE THOUGHT OF WHO’D HAVE THOUGHT OF THE FINAL DRAFT …GOD THE FINAL DRAFT …GOD COMING TO LIVE AMONG COMING TO LIVE AMONG

US!?US!?

● ● The Old Testament The Old Testament record is one of record is one of special messengers …special messengers …Judges, Priests and Judges, Priests and ProphetsProphets

● ● Yet the big surprise Yet the big surprise was ‘God so loved the was ‘God so loved the world that he gave his world that he gave his Son’!Son’!

● ● Yikes! This is Yikes! This is unique…nothing like the unique…nothing like the behavior of Greek gods.behavior of Greek gods.

● ● In flesh and blood In flesh and blood Jesus demonstrated the Jesus demonstrated the essence of God’s love, essence of God’s love, character and purposecharacter and purpose

Remembering the Greatest Remembering the Greatest Promise Keeper even to the Promise Keeper even to the death on a cross.death on a cross.

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I have chosen to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior.

Returning to God out of our Returning to God out of our abundance. A gift of thanks.abundance. A gift of thanks.

THE LESSON IS CLEAR…TO REACH AND THE LESSON IS CLEAR…TO REACH AND TOUCH THE LIVES OF THE LOST AND LONELY TOUCH THE LIVES OF THE LOST AND LONELY

WE NEED:WE NEED:

● ● TO MOVE INTO THEIR SPACETO MOVE INTO THEIR SPACE ● ● RESPECT THEIR CULTURERESPECT THEIR CULTURE ● ● WALK ON THEIR TURFWALK ON THEIR TURF ● ● SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE ● ● MAKE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THEIRMAKE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THEIR STORIES AND GOD’S STORY STORIES AND GOD’S STORY ● ● IT’S HOW PEOPLE BEST COMPREHENDIT’S HOW PEOPLE BEST COMPREHEND LOVE AND COMPASSION LOVE AND COMPASSION ● ● JESUS PERFECTLY MODELED GODLY JESUS PERFECTLY MODELED GODLY PERSUASIONPERSUASION

THE WORLD REJECTS RELIGION AND THE WORLD REJECTS RELIGION AND HYPOCRISY, BUT IT HAS GENERALLY HYPOCRISY, BUT IT HAS GENERALLY

RESPECTED JESUSRESPECTED JESUS

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● ● The Christmas story includes a big step down The Christmas story includes a big step down from glory, honor and praise. A model of humility from glory, honor and praise. A model of humility and compassion that I will follow.and compassion that I will follow.

● ● I will live a life that is genuine, compassionate, I will live a life that is genuine, compassionate, convincing and powerful.convincing and powerful.

● ● I will more than tip my hat to the baby Jesus I will more than tip my hat to the baby Jesus …I will emulate the grown up One.…I will emulate the grown up One.

Christmas: Christmas: God came to usGod came to usResponse: Response: Be there for othersBe there for others