Dear Friends,

It’s just a few weeks from Christmas. I really hope you can make gathering together with the TFBC community a priority during this season. This is a great time to invite friends who don’t regularly attend any church to come with you. I promise I will do my best to preach the gospel in a simple practical way.

This Sunday we will talk about the wonder of the incarnation. It is easy to have a wonderless faith just because we never take time to wonder. Mystery is not something we like but it is essential for true faith.

We want to be able to explain everything and have answers to all questions. This is not possible for those who truly know and love God.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

I am praying I get to see your face Sunday.

Blessings,

Joe

Please read and prayerfully consider the following scriptures and questions.

Try to invite at least one person to come with you.

Make some room in your schedule to go to a small group downstairs to talk about this topic.

 

 

What are ways you refocus your attention on Christ birth during the Christmas season?

 

Please share a favorite Christmas experience or tradition.

 

What does Christ being born in a manger{cave} tell us about Gods ways?

Luke 2:6-7 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.

 

 

Why is the incarnation [ God becoming flesh} so important yet such a mystery?

1 Timothy 3:16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.

John 1:1-3 In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

John 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.

 

 

Why does Jesus claiming to be God create so much conflict?

John 8:48-59 The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49  Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50  “But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.’ 53 “Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?” 54  Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; 55  and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. 56  “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57  So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58  Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” 59  Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.

 

 

What does God coming into the physical creation and the human family tell us?

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 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. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

 

 

How can we pray for you?