http://bible.com/events/6928282

Luke 2:41-52 (2011 NIV)

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

God with us (Emmanuel), became God like us.

I. Gives value to our humanity.

a. Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on Luke 2 (John Wesley)

i. St. Luke describes in order Jesus the fruit of the womb, Luke 1:42; an infant, Luke 2:12; a little child, Luke 2:40; a child here, and afterward a man. So our Lord passed through and sanctified every stage of human life. Old age only did not become him.

b. Our value and our worth does not come from what we can produce, what we can do, what we have, who we know, or how attractive we are. We are loved, we are valued, and we have dignity because of who we are before God. Human beings, created in his image.

II. Shows our need for a Savior

a. Romans 5:12-17

III. Provides Opportunity

a. Hebrews 2:14-18

b. Hebrews 4:14-16

IV. Points to our mission

a. Matthew 28:16-20

http://bible.com/events/6761338

Here Comes Heaven – Christmas Eve

Luke 1:26-38 
There are so many things about Mary that we do not know, but what we do know is how she responded in the midst of fear and uncertainty.

Luke 1:38

•At no point are we told Mary understands all this, but she believes and obeys.
•And her response – “I am the Lord’s servant…” can be your response – to every call of God on your life, whether you understand it or not, whether you can grasp what the future holds or not.

Perhaps God is calling each of us to respond exactly like Mary did:
“Lord, I don’t know how and I don’t know why, but I know You and I trust You.”

http://bible.com/events/6761259
Here Comes Heaven – Our Place

Luke 2:1-20
Often we invite Jesus into our story, asking Him to bless what we are doing. The truth of Christmas is Heaven is interrupting our story. It’s not inviting God to join into my story, but rather God inviting us to enter into His story. 
The reason the shepherds are so important in this story is because they most clearly represent us.
-By society’s standards, they were not considered exceptional or significant.  

Bottom line: 
Christmas means He came for you.

Jesus is the Savior of all, but often we think that means everyone else except me.

The shepherds help us clearly see that Jesus is the Savior of all, even the ordinary, the outsider, the excluded.

Jesus’ divine interruption is truly a divine invitation….
Christmas means He came for you.

https://www.bible.com/events/6704550

Here Comes Heaven (The Dream)Often God’s plans for our lives are much different than what we imagined for ourselves, but they are ALWAYS better! Thank you for joining us today for our third message of this season of Advent!Last week’s truth: Your greatest interruption may be your greatest opportunity.

Matthew 1:18-25

This series addresses the fact that God intervened in the world through the coming of Christ the Messiah. God didn’t just interrupt history, he interrupted people.In marrying a woman who is already pregnant, Joseph is being asked to do something that would have been socially unacceptable. This interruption was not just surprising or confusing, it was shameful.The bottom line:Sometimes what you have planned isn’t what God has purposed.

Here’s what we know about Joseph:

He was a righteous man

His capacity to love overwhelmed his temptation to be bitter

He was open to hearing from God•Ultimately…he obeyed-He allowed his plans to be interrupted-He trusted God enough to obey
Perhaps the Christmas story asks whether this is true of us today.

The question today is not…-will it be easy?-will it be convenient?-will it make sense?
The question today is…-will I obey?

http://bible.com/events/6631328
Here Comes Heaven – The Interruption

Luke 1:5-25

The Christmas story is not a story of convenience, but rather a story of interruption. 
God intervenes not always according to our plan and our timing.

Bottom Line:
Your greatest interruption may your greatest invitation

God was not just intervening into the lives of Elizabeth and Zechariah, He was setting a course of events that would ultimately lead to the Messiah. 

God intervenes and Elizabeth becomes pregnant
-this shouldn’t really be possible
-this would be laughable to many

God intervenes and Zechariah is silenced
-this is a consequence for his lack of faith, but it is also so much more
-this protected the news from Herod who would feel threatened by the news of someone preparing the way for the Messiah
-this forces Zechariah to depend fully on God

Our posture in response to interruptions is often like Zechariah’s:
I. Fear
    1. “When Zechariah saw him [the angel], he was startled and was gripped with fear.” Luke 1:12
    2. While fear is a logical response, it cannot be our default response, especially for those who are in Christ.
II. Doubt
    1. “Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” Luke 1:18
    2. Fear and Doubt are ultimately about putting my focus on ME. Instead God is intervening and inviting me to put my focus on HIM.

Our posture in response to interruptions should be: “Come Jesus”

In the midst of uncertainty, invite Him in.
He keeps His promises. He doesn’t bow to human rules and expectations. He is not limited by time and circumstance.
Even in the interruptions we can say, “Come Jesus”.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free, 
From our fears and sins release us, 
Let us find our rest in Thee:
Israel’s strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art, 
Dear Desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart.

Other passages to consider:

Luke 1: 67-80 NIV

Luke 1: 67-80 The Message

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