Dear Friends,

Christmas is coming soon. Thanks so much for your faithfulness as we went through first Peter. When you make attending the preaching service and a small group it really encourages others more than you can know.

As we remember the Gospel stories about Christ’s birth it is good for us all to reflect on how different God thinks and acts. We get tied up in the fears and issues of the news and think we have it all figured out. It’s funny how easy it is to forget we thought we had it all figured out last time we were wrong. Our opinions and remedies seem so correct. Our views on how to fix others or the world make sense to us.

Then comes Christmas and we come to realize Gods way of doing things is so different. God’s way often makes no sense at all. We just can’t see it.

Isa 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. (9)  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

God’s ways are indeed mysterious. God expects us to walk by faith not sight.

This Sunday we will remember and learn how the birth of Christ shows us that God solutions begin in ways that seem foolish.  This is a theme throughout the gospel.

1 Co 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Please come Sunday and invite a friend or family member. If you have a newborn in your family this will be interesting. The title, IT STARTS WITH A BABY “

I can’t wait to see you.

Blessings,
Joe

Please pray and read the following scriptures:

 1 Peter 5:8-11 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (9) But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. (10) After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. (11) To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1. Was this a good time for Mary to be pregnant?
2. Was this a good time to bring a baby into the world? Why or why not?
3. How different are ways of thinking and acting than the ones we repeat from the media and culture?
   Isa 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. (9) “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.
4. Share an experience where God worked out a solution in a way you could not see or understand?
5. What does God coming as a baby and growing up dark-skinned, poor oppressed minority in the Roman Empire teach us about His sympathies and compassion?
   

   Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

   Joh 1:14  And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

   Luke 2:1-7 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. (2)  This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. (3)  And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. (4)  Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, (5) in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. (6)  While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. (7)  And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

    

6. How should the ways and thoughts of God inform and change the way we think and act toward people Jesus lived with and cared about?
   

   Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

   1 Jn 2:6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

7. How can we pray for you specifically in one minute or less?