Last week we started 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:

  1. The Night That Changed the Religious
  2. The Night That Changed the Powerful
  3. The Night That Changed the Poor
  4. The Night That Changed You
  5. The Night That Changed the Wise

This week we’re looking at how it changed the poor.  Often the poor are excluded from important events – there were reports of homeless people being temporarily removed from the streets before the Atlanta Olympics, for example.  When the world was watching, Atlanta didn’t want them seeing poverty.

But strangely, the Christmas story puts poor people front and centre.  Mary and Joseph themselves are travellers with apparently modest means.  The first visitors to see the baby are shepherds.

We’ll explore this week why it’s significant that the poor are so prominent in this important event.

Question: What role do the poor play in our world?

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Ryan Sim - December 12, 2013

Thursday - Act On It - The Night That Changed the Powerful

The Night that Changed Everything

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!

Related Topics: Christmas, Herod, Magi, Power, Wise Men | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio

From Series: "The Night that Changed Everything"

In preparation for Christmas, our Daily Challenges are going to explore the lifechanging significance of Jesus' birth so long ago. It's more than a sentimental story, or a time for generosity, Christmas celebrates The Night that Changed Everything. We'll explore the original Christmas story from the Bible, and its impact on five kinds of people.

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