But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
- Luke 2:10-11

There’s nothing quite like the Christmas story. And at the heart it’s a story that introduces something incredible, bright and WONDER-FILLED — even though it makes its entrance into a dark moment in history…after 400 years of God’s silence…and everything was/is certainly not wonderful.
Then or now.

last week we said:
For us to grow in the wonder of God, things don’t have to be completely wonderful. Don’t let the obligations around Christmas drown out the wonder of Christmas

Tonight: we want to grow in the compassion of God, that Christmas introduces

Christmas invites us into the upside-down ways of God!

Our world continually asks:
who’s in, who’s out?
who matters and who doesn’t?
who’s the winners, who’s the losers

Jesus teaches in the beatitudes…that maybe the blessed ones are the ones we’ve passed over.…passed by…

This law of inversion we see through the Scriptures.
(examples):
-the humble are lifted up, the proud are brought down
-it is better to give, than receive
-those who lose their lives to follow Jesus, will actually find it.

*also see: Isaiah 55:8-9
…neither are your ways my ways,
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

The Quiet but Deep Influence of Jesus' Life is unmistakable - whether you believe in Jesus, OR NOT.

One of our biggest challenges in gauging Jesus' influence is that we often take for granted the ways in which he has shaped our world.

The compassion of Christmas – arrived one day in our Savior and continues to ripple forward in history through those who follow Him…

In an unprecedented move of love and compassion - God left Heaven and came into our story.

The beauty of Christmas is not that God made us leave our narrative to try to search and navigate into his, but that He left his, in order to immerse himself into ours.

See Apostle Paul's call to us in: Philippians 2:3-10

Jesus literally moved and was motivated by COMPASSION…
Compassion is the most described emotion of Jesus in the N.T. and as His followers – that’s to be our growing predisposition as well.

Jesus didn’t show compassion because people deserved it, he showed it because they needed it.

Our culture pushes ruthless competition as the goal of life;
Jesus shows relentless compassion as the purpose of life.

We’re not to be reservoirs of God’s compassion, but conduits of His compassion to others…

Questions:
1) who within your reach needs some godly compassion right now?
2) what relationship do you have, that really needs more compassion?

Takeaway:
Friends: as followers of Christ we may be criticized for what we believe from time to time, but we should be famous for our compassion all the time.

We’re to mirror the heart of compassion found in our Savior!

May His compassion continue to grow & expand within you, year after year.
Don’t grow old, grumpy and irritable - that’s the way of our world.
Do grow in your compassion — that’s the way of your Savior.

NEXT WEEKEND - is Christmas Eve:
Invite a friend to join you next weekend & join us for CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES at 4pm or 6pm (candlelit family friendly service)

*Read more about our NYE service and after-party in the app.
May you have a blessed Christmas season friends - we'll see you at Christmas Eve services - 4pm or 6pm.