Unmet Christmas Expectations
What do you expect from Christmas? I don’t mean what presents do you expect, but what do you expect from the whole experience we have come to call Christmas?
What do you expect from Christmas? I don’t mean what presents do you expect, but what do you expect from the whole experience we have come to call Christmas?
Some joy experienced at Christmas is seasonal. Is our joy only related to Christmas because of all the pleasant things associated with it? Or is it “all-weather” joy like the tires, good to run on all year through all seasons?
In this message, Chuck Swindoll reminds us that God sovereignly gets His way, even through the most unexpected circumstances. The magnetism of God’s plan that led Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and that drew the shepherds and summoned the wise men to worship the baby Jesus still draws us together at Christmas to worship our Saviour and Lord.
Keep this familiar story from losing its wonder by pondering the incredulity of the God of the universe arriving on earth as a newborn infant. Oh, what a glorious night!
Pastor Chuck Swindoll revisits the Saviour’s quiet entry into the world in Luke 2:1–20. You’ll be challenged to open God’s gracious present to you anew and to marvel at the humble beginnings of God’s most wonderful gift.
As citizens of that world to come, our work today—whether in our homes, our cities, or around the world—should be to live out and encourage the ideals of that world to come with every fibre of our beings.
Boredom is the real danger we face when we approach the Christmas story. It’s so familiar, our minds just hit the highlights, because we think we’ve already plumbed the depths of every detail. But if we could approach the nativity as if we’ve never read it before, we’d discover something new and exciting—we’d discover the birth of Jesus is a gift too wonderful for words.
“Don’t be afraid!...I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” Come with Pastor Chuck Swindoll to witness this spectacular moment preserved in Luke 2:8–20 and hear the message of rejoicing that still echoes today.
Christ didn’t arrive with the flare of trumpets or with flags flying. He didn’t demand an announcement for whole the world to hear, though He deserved it. Jesus just walked in. Take some time to reflect on the nature of Jesus Christ’s Incarnation—born to peasant a girl in a smelly barn in an obscure town and worshipped by a few people. This humble story reveals the character of our Messiah, who humbled Himself to save the people He loved.
Want to make this Christmas season one to remember? Let’s consider how to move into the neighbourhood with our celebration. Let’s help people know God’s love this season by being generous inside and out, true from start to finish.