3: LOVE [all] The Theology of Christmas: JESUS CAME TO RESCUE THE POOR

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He

has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

LUKE 4:18-19

BECAUSE OF JESUS YOU ARE RICH IN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2 CORINTHIANS 8:9

TO JESUS POVERTY IS PERSONAL

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you

came to me.’ MATTHEW 25:35-36

WHEN GOD CHOSE TO BE BORN HE ALIGNED HIMSELF WITH THE POOR

He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker PROVERBS 17:5

Now What: YOU HAVE TO NOTICE THE POOR

Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own

time of need. PROVERBS 21:13

TELL THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS WITH YOUR LIFE

“If I look at the masses I won’t act, but if I look at the one I will.” Mother Teresa:

Going Deeper/Life Groups: The Christmas story is a love story. Scripture’s grand story of God getting his long-since-fallen people back takes a turn at the manger. It continues with the cross and our Savior’s perfect love transforming even the most tragic defeat into the ultimate victory. This is a season for love to triumph. It’s a season for love to make anything possible. Beyond the white-noise of holiday frenzy, God has never stopped inviting us into his heart. We know how our love story ends. It ends with God and the Church inviting all who are thirsty to drink of the free gift of the water of life. The door to this possibility opens in a manger. We tell the story of Christmas with our lives. It can be about the prophets or about the profits. It can be about a newborn king or a gift-wrapped box and a thing. It can be about time spent with our families and clean water for the least of these, or about shopping, lines, payments, and fines. It can start at the manger and end with redemption, or start at the mall and end with convention. It’s not that there’s something wrong with the shopping mall—it’s that the better story is about loving all.

What are some practical ways you can live out the story of Christmas? Watch “The Story of the Thirsty” at www.vimeo.com/lwi Discuss with your group Pray together Love All.

Giving Opportunity:

   

   

VISIT http://www.water.cc

Living Water is an Organization that provides life saving fresh drinking water in Third World countries. Prayerfully consider a financial gift this Christmas. A special offering will be taken on the weekend of Dec 21 – Make check out to Waipuna Chapel earmarked “Living Water”