We are in a new series called, “The Night that Changed Everything.” We’re looking at the significance of Christmas, a night that changed much more than most of us imagine. We’ll see its impact on five segments of society:
The Night That Changed the Religious
The Night That Changed the Powerful
The Night That Changed the Poor
The Night That Changed You
The Night That Changed the Wise
Four of the five happened long ago, with categories of people who look different today – our wise aren’t Magi, our poor aren’t always shepherds, and our powerful are seldom kings.
Today, we’re looking at how it changes us today, not just those long ago. We’re looking at how it changes me, and you.
How can the birth of a baby 2000 years ago impact people today?
Whatever the reason or mechanism, we can simply note that it has. We still date years with AD/BC – a dating system intended to be based on Christ’s life. In popular culture, we see much discussion of Jesus, with new books, blogs and films created regularly. People still quote Jesus to prove their points.
And of course, many people like myself will tell you Jesus is alive and well in their lives today.
Question: What impact do you see Jesus having in the world today?
Reminder: We are reading the Bible in sync as one community – so check out today’s reading here.
Reminder: The best way to grow spiritually this year is to join our Christianity 101 in the Cafe Course in Pickering starting January 22nd. Register for you and a friend today!
Read the Bible in Sync Today
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Jesus is power, personified.
The question is how will we respond to Jesus? Will we cling to power like Herod, or do everything we can to find and worship him, like the Magi?
We all have some degree of power in our lives – over our own choices, over our dependents, over loved ones and others in our lives, or perhaps over employees and corporations.
Given power, Jesus and Herod use it very differently, and Herod and the Magi respond to Jesus’ power very differently. How will you?
The Magi responded in worship and service, and go down in history as first non-Jewish worshippers, first missionaries to the larger world.
So today, with the same history presented to us, we are invited to decide how we will go down in history...as clinging to power, as knowing much but doing nothing, or as worshipping the true King of love and peace.
Challenge: Give some of your power and influence to help others. One great way is to come to the Original Christmas Party and make a generous gift of toys to families who won’t have much at Christmas, but you can find other ways, too!
Reminder: We have a great Christmas event coming December 14th, 2013: The Original Christmas Party. Hope you're coming!
