Message Series: Keeping Christmas Well
Week 4 | Redemption
Scripture: Titus 2:11-13
Other Scripture References:
Ephesians 1:7 - We have been ransomed through His Son’s blood, and we have forgiveness for our failures based on his overflowing grace…(CEB)
Ephesians 2:8 - by grace you have been saved…as a gift
2 Timothy 1:9 - saved us and calls us to a holy life…as a gift
Titus 2:11-12 - offers salvation to all…teaches us to say ‘no’
Hebrews 9:28 - has taken away sin, will come again to bring salvation
Group Check in:
How is it with your soul?
Prayer Request? Praises?
How has God shown up in your life this week?
Icebreaker:
How do you celebrate Christmas day? Who do you celebrate with?
Overview:
What’s this message about? When we think about Scrooge, we always think about Bah Humbug Scrooge, but he undergoes a radical transformation during his journey with the three spirits. His life is changed completely, yet we never think of Scrooge as the conquering hero. He’s always the greedy, grumpy old man. This is how we think about ourselves too often as well. We emphasize areas of brokenness while ignoring areas of victory and redemption. The Christmas story is good news for us all- we have all been redeemed! Move on from your Scroogy past and lean into the redemption we find in the Christmas story. It fundamentally changes our lives and reorients our way of life.
Just as Scrooge was given the gift of a new life, the Christmas story ushers in the gift of new life for all who call on the name of this Christ child. (Titus 2:11-13) And so should our lives look differently- filled with joy and substantive change in the way we treat our neighbors. (Changed life: joy, gratitude, generosity. It’s a true transformation!)
Just like Scrooge, we can’t seem to accept our own redemption at times. We keep ourselves and others in the box of what we think of them. We don’t allow people the ability to change and transform. We focus on our own failures; we only see the shortcomings, emphasizing our/their flaws. But if Scrooge can be redeemed, so can we!
Salvation is open to all people. All we must do is accept it and receive it.
The gift of salvation isn’t just a moment in your life, it is a changed life.
God doesn’t just save us from death, but He saves us for life!
We can't tell people Jesus loves them if we don’t become agents of His love as well. We must show this love in our actions and words as well.
Series Recap:
Past - worship
Present - agent of love
Future - God is not yet finished with the world or with you
Redemption - dive into the hope, peace, joy and love of the Christmas message that light has come into darkness, good news for all people, an eternal throne.
Discussion Questions:
What does it mean to keep Christmas well?
How might you keep Christmas well today and throughout this week?
Have you ever known someone who keeps Christmas well? Who is that person and why do you think of them in this way?
Read Titus 2:11-15. What did Paul say the grace of God tells us to do?
How has God's graced empowered you to live in purpose, instead of focusing on your own needs and interests?
Have you ever felt like you were past the point of redemption? How can your group encourage each other to know God's love is abundant even in our darkest moments of life.
Pastor Matt encourages us to be agents of God's love. What does that mean to you? How can you love your neighbors better this Christmas season?
Read Hebrews 9:28. What is Jesus coming again for and how should that affect our lives now?
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