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What Did Jesus Give Up To Become Human?
We’re well aware of Jesus’s sacrifice when He died on the cross. But we often overlook the immense sacrifice He made just to come down to earth in the first place. Today on Discover the Word, we will consider what Jesus gave up when He chose to be born as a human baby. More of […]
His Birth and Our New Birth
His Birth in History. “. . . that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He did not emerge out of history; He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being the human race can boast of— He is a Being for whom the human race can take no credit at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate— God coming into human flesh from outside it. His life is the highest and the holiest entering through the most humble of doors. Our Lord’s birth was an advent— the appearance of God in human form.
Winter Snow
In winter, I often wake to the beautiful surprise of a world blanketed in the peace and quiet of an early morning snow. Not loudly like a spring thunderstorm that announces its presence in the night, snow comes softly.
In “Winter Snow Song,” Audrey Assad sings that Jesus could have come to earth in power like a hurricane, but instead He came quietly and slowly like the winter snow falling softly in the night outside my window.
Jesus’s arrival took many by quiet surprise. Instead of being born in a palace, He was born in an unlikely place, a humble dwelling outside…
“The Christmas Backstory”
It’s usually easier to understand a person and why they do what they do when you understand where they came from and how they got to where they are today. And that’s true for the story of Jesus and Christmas. Today on Discover the Word, we begin exploring “The Christmas Backstory.” Don’t miss the start […]
Joy to the World
“Joy to the World” remains one of the favourite Christmas carols sung in church services during the Christmas season. It was written by Englishman Isaac Watts in the eighteenth century; many consider him the greatest hymn writer of all time.
Watts wrote…
Ponder It
During Oswald Chambers’ years at the Bible Training College in London (1911–15), he often startled the students with things he said during his lectures. One young woman explained that because discussion was reserved for the following mealtime together, Chambers would frequently be bombarded with questions and objections. She recalled that Oswald would often simply smile and say, “Just leave it for now; it will come to you later.” He encouraged them to ponder the issues and allow God to reveal His truth to them.
To ponder something is to concentrate and think deeply about it. After the events leading to the…
The Virgin Birth And God’s Divine Plan
At first, the story of a young virgin having a baby by the Holy Spirit sounds, well . . . crazy. But today on Discover the Word, we will show how a prophetic Old Testament passage in Isaiah provides evidence of God’s divinely orchestrated plan to redeem the world through a baby, born to a […]
Don’t Be Afraid!
Nearly every time an angel appears in the Bible, the first words he says are “Don’t be afraid!” Little wonder. When the supernatural makes contact with planet Earth, it usually leaves the human observers flat on their faces in fear. But Luke tells of God making an appearance in a form that does not frighten. In Jesus, born with the animals and laid in a feeding trough, God takes an approach that we need not fear. What could be less scary than a newborn baby?
On earth Jesus is both God and man. As God, He can work miracles, forgive sins,…
A Hopeful Solution
Every birth is a miracle. But when Mary claimed to be both pregnant and a virgin, her fiancé didn’t know what to believe. That’s not how having a baby works! Today on Discover the Word, we imagine the wild range of emotions Joseph must have felt until an angel came and offered a hopeful solution! […]
“Embracing Christmas”
When Joseph discovered that his fiancée, Mary, was pregnant, ancient Jewish law dictated one very harsh option, have her publicly stoned to death. Today on Discover the Word, the team looks at how Joseph rejected that option and did what he knew was right in his heart. We’re continuing the series called, “Embracing Christmas,” today […]
A Christmas Letter
Every Christmas, a friend of mine writes a long letter to his wife, reviewing the events of the year and dreaming about the future. He always tells her how much he loves her, and why. He also writes a letter to each of his daughters. His words of love make an unforgettable Christmas present.
We could say that the original Christmas love letter was Jesus, the Word made flesh. John highlights this truth in his gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). In ancient philosophy, the Greek for Word, logos,…
Joseph’s Role In The Christmas Story
Any man would be angry and brokenhearted to learn that his fiancée was pregnant—and he’s not the father. And today on Discover the Word, we look at the role Joseph played in the Christmas story, and consider how Mary’s pregnancy put him in a painful spot. Join us today at Discover the Word!
Jesus’s Family Tree
For many, it’s tradition to read the Christmas story aloud on Christmas Day. But not many read the loooong genealogy that begins Matthew’s account. Today on Discover the Word, we take time to look at Jesus’s family tree, for a very important reason. They’re beginning a new series called, “Embracing Christmas” today on Discover the […]
Lonely Christmas
The loneliest Christmas I ever spent was in my grandfathers’ cottage near Sakogu, northern Ghana. I was just 15, and my parents and siblings were a thousand kilometers away. In previous years, when I had been with them and my village friends, Christmas was always big and memorable. But this Christmas was quiet and lonely. As I lay on my floor mat early Christmas morning, I remembered a local song: The year has ended; Christmas has come; the Son of God is born; peace and joy to everybody. Mournfully, I sang it over and over.
My grandmother came and asked, “What song…
Questions at Christmas
Well before the calendar flips to December, Christmas cheer begins to bubble up in our northern town. A medical office drapes its trees and shrubs in close-fitting strings of lights, each a different color, illuminating a breathtaking nighttime landscape. Another business decorates its building to look like an enormous, extravagantly wrapped Christmas present. It’s difficult to turn anywhere without seeing evidence of Christmas spirit—or at least seasonal marketing.
Some people love these lavish displays. Others take a more cynical view. But the crucial question isn’t how others observe Christmas. Rather, we each need to consider what the celebration means to us.
A…
