Action Plan: Listen to last week's and this week's episodes of Doable Discipleship with your family. Enjoy this special audio presentation of the Christmas Story told by Pastor Buddy. Click here to listen to part one, and here for part two.
A PERSPECTIVE TO HOLD
The angels were joyful — Luke 2:10-14
The shepherds were joyful — Luke 2:20
The wise men were joyful — Matthew 2:10
The baby John leaped for joy in his mother's womb — Luke 1:44
Mary was joyful — Luke 1:47
"Mary said, 'My soul praises the Lord's greatness! My spirit finds its joy in God, my Savior, because he has looked favorably on me, his humble servant.'" Luke 1:46-48 (GW)
"Wait with hope for the Lord. Be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Yes, wait with hope for the Lord." Psalm 27:14 (GW)
• TO "WAIT WITH HOPE" MEANS TO ANTICIPATE WITH JOYFUL CONFIDENT EXPECTATION
A PROMISE TO CLAIM
"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored!The Lord is with you.'
"Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.'
"'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?'
"The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.'
"'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me according to your word.'" Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he made us highly favored (accepted) in the beloved." Ephesians 1:6 (NKJV)
• GRACE PRINCIPLE: WHEN THE FAVOR OF GOD RESTS ON YOU, THE POWER OF GOD IS RELEASED THROUGH YOU.
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." Acts 1:8 (NLT)
"[He] is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
A PROCESS TO EMBRACE
• PREPARE YOURSELF
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry . . . You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips . . . You have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator . . . Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts . . . Be thankful . . . Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly . . . Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:5-16 (NIV)
Action Plan: Who do you need to forgive? Who do you need to ask forgiveness from? Seek to make right relationships in your life.
• PREPARE YOUR ENVIRONMENT
"So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness." 1 Peter 1:13-16 (Message)
• IS THERE SOMETHING GOD IS WAITING FOR ME TO GIVE UP OR START UP TO MAKE MYSELF READY FOR HIS ARRIVAL?
Action Plan: What do you need to give up or start up? Spend time thinking this through and make a commitment to do what you plan. Consider asking someone to be your accountability partner in this.
Doable Discipleship: This week's SPECIAL EPISODE of Doable Discipleship features Pastor Buddy Owens continuing his narration of the Christmas story in a unique audio experience. New episodes release every Tuesday. To watch or listen,click here
Talk It Over: Have you ever discussed the weekend message in your small group? Talk It Over provides weekly small group discussion questions as a way to bring the weekend message into your small group. To view this week's Talk It Over,click here.
