Our series at the end of 2015, “God Is…” ended with the wonderful news that God is Here – as Jesus Christ. So, this new series for 2016 picks right up on that theme!
We’ll be learning about Jesus from some key stories in the Bible.
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CloseRyan Sim - December 17, 2013
Tuesday - Study It - The Night That Changed the Poor
In our series on Christmas as the Night that Changed Everything, this week we’re looking at how it’s the night that changed the poor. The poor have a priveleged place in the story of Jesus' birth at Christmas. Here is where that really shows: 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (Luke 2:4-7) When a politician visits a troubled area, it’s important. I recall after the 1998 ice storm in Eastern Ontario, the Prime Minister visited Wolfe Island, where I used to volunteer as a paramedic. Years later, people would still talk about how the Prime Minister had come, and how. They knew in that moment that he’d seen what they were dealing with, through his own eyes. Here in the Christmas story we see God doing that. He has come to visit our broken and hurting world, and has let the entire population know that he is here with us – from rich to poor, young to old. It’s so apparent in that he comes to earth not like pampered royalty, but as a homeless baby. His parents are on their way to Bethlehem for the census. They must travel, even though Mary is pregnant and close to birth. They arrive, apparently without plans for accomodations (or their plans are cancelled when an unmarried pregnant woman arrives) and find no room in any inns. If they had money, you can imagine they might buy their way out of trouble, but it doesn’t happen, and they end up in a stable. The baby is born, wrapped in cloths, a poor, defenseless baby whose parents are doing the best they can, which isn’t much. The word translated as stable may be a building dedicated to animals like we think, or it’s possible it represented a one room house with both animals and people, but either way it was modest. This is not a story of privelege and power. Why would God – who we would expect to come in majesty and splendour – arrive in this way? Question: What might God be trying to tell us in coming to earth in this way? Reminder: We are reading the Bible in sync as one community - so check out today's reading here.
Related Topics: Christmas, Poor, Poverty, Shepherds | 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.
More Messages From Ryan Sim...
Introduction to Daily Challenges | November 2, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - New Idea - Poor in Spirit | November 12, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Poor in Spirit | November 13, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Poor in Spirit | November 14, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Poor in Spirit | November 15, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Poor in Spirit | November 16, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Those who Mourn | November 19, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Those Who Mourn | November 20, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Those Who Mourn | November 21, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act - Those Who Mourn | November 22, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Those Who Mourn | November 23, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Meek | November 26, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Meek | November 27, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Meek | November 28, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act - Meek | November 29, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Meek | November 30, 2012 | Music | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - A New Idea - Poor in Spirit | December 3, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Righteousness | December 4, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Righteousness | December 5, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Righteousness | December 6, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Righteousness | December 7, 2012 | Music | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - A New Idea - Merciful | December 10, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Merciful | December 11, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Merciful | December 12, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Merciful | December 13, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Merciful | December 14, 2012 | Music | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - A New Idea - Pure in Heart | December 17, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pure in Heart | December 18, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pure in Heart | December 19, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pure in Heart | December 20, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pure in Heart | December 21, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Christmas Eve | December 24, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Christmas Day | December 25, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Boxing Day | December 26, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - December 27 | December 27, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - December 28 | December 28, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
New Years Eve - Growth | December 31, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
New Years Day - Groups | January 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - January 2 - Grace | January 2, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - January 3 - Generosity | January 3, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - January 4 - God | January 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Peacemakers | January 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Peacemakers | January 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Peacemakers | January 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act - Peacemakers | January 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Peacemakers | January 11, 2013 | Music | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - A New Idea - Persecuted | January 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Persecuted | January 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Persecution | January 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act - Persecuted | January 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Persecuted | January 18, 2013 | Music | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - New Idea - Living Backwards | January 21, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Living Backwards | January 22, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Living Backwards | January 23, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act on It - Living Backwards | January 24, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Living Backwards | January 25, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Salt | January 28, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Salt | January 29, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Salt | January 30, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Salt | January 31, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Salt | February 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Light | February 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Light | February 5, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Light | February 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Light | February 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Light | February 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Law | February 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Law | February 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Law | February 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Law | February 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Law | February 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Anger | February 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Anger | February 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Anger | February 20, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Anger | February 21, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Anger | February 22, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - The Look | February 25, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - The Look | February 26, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Study It - The Look | February 27, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Look | February 28, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - The Look | March 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Truth | March 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Truth | March 5, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Truth | March 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Truth | March 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Truth | March 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Retaliation | March 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Retaliation | March 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Retaliation | March 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Retaliation | March 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Retaliation | March 15, 2013 | Listen | |||
Monday - A New Idea - Neighbours | April 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Neighbours | April 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Neighbours | April 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Neighbours | April 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Neighbours | April 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Perfection | April 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Perfection | April 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Perfection | April 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Perfection | April 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Perfection | April 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Generosity | April 22, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Generosity | April 23, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Generosity | April 25, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Generosity | April 26, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pompous Prayer | April 29, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pompous Prayer | April 30, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pompous Prayer | May 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pompous Prayer | May 2, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pompous Prayer | May 3, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Self Denial | May 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Self Denial | May 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Self Denial | May 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Self Denial | May 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Self Denial | May 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Forgiveness | May 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Forgiveness | May 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Forgiveness | May 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Forgiveness | May 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Forgiveness | May 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen |