1B) Summary and Reflection: Chapter 1 Expect a Miracle
TreyAndKrys
1:31, Luke 2:33 (Easily found at www.crosswalk.com)
A) Santa Claus Jesus: Santa Claus has become the “Golden Calf” at
Christmas that replaces Jesus. Society has assigned qualities to Santa
Claus that are also qualities Jesus and God our father posses. We
naturally expect things from God but at Christmas our expectations of
God become for things of this world, they become materialistic, rather
than for things that are for the Kingdom of God.
B) Preparing for God’s Miracle: We have forgotten that the real
miracle of Christmas is the birth of Jesus. Jesus is God’s only son
and that God chose an unmarried teenager from an ordinary Jewish
family to be the mother of His Son. In our Christmas craze we lose
sight of the extraordinary wisdom and will of God, who takes ordinary
people and uses them to do amazing things in the world. This attitude
causes us to “miss Jesus” and His works in the world during the
season. At Christmas we tend to start expecting God do all the work
rather than ask the question “What would you have me do, Lord?”
C) Are You Willing to Pay the Price? : Being a Christian isn’t easy.
We are called, just as Mary was called, to give sacrificially of
ourselves. This is very hard for human beings to do especially in a
world filled with materialistic values. We are not called to give that
which is easy to give we are called to give that which is the hardest
for us to give. This sacrificial giving causes us pain, growing pains
if you will, but is required of all of us. It is through sacrificial
giving that God is able to truly make miracles happen. Mary an unwed
teenager gave her body to birth Christ and Christ in turn gave his
life to offer us salvation. Both of these gifts came at a great cost
to the giver but their willingness to give was where we see two of
God’s greatest miracles.
D) Conceiving God’s Miracle: We all have the potential to help God
make miracles happen. All that is required of us is a willingness to
be open and available to the miracle that God has planned for us. At
some point God has planted a ministry or miracle seed within each of
us but have we been open to nurturing that seed to see what it grows
into? Have we been available to the possibility that God has chosen us
to be his instrument to work in the life of others? Can you even
consider that you are worthy to God to help Him fulfill His
promises?
What quotes or statements stand out to you? What are your reflections
and or feelings about this chapter?
DAVEOJ1
was in the early 1950's. I was an Army brat whose Father was
stationed in Gernmay. In the German tradition, St. Nicholas's visit
is on December 6th, when accompanied by his assistant, he brought
gifts (toys) to those children who were "good" and lumps of coal to
those who were "not so good. Chirstmas brought a visit from the
Christ child and a different style of gift. There was a clear
separation between the two. Families need to be reminded that the
origin of Santa Claus came from the character of a Greek Bihsop who
had a reputation for secretly giving gifts to the needy, not some
overly cheerful fat guy in a red suit who brings the latest in
electronic gizmos (although a new set of Taylor Made Burner 2 irons
would not be out of the question).
DAVE
Krystina Kyle
topics. It took a great deal of discussion with my husband for me to
really hash out what he was trying to get across. I felt that the
section on "Are You Willing to Pay the Price?" was poorly written and
reflects a theology that has turned people off of church. After
talking to my husband I began to understand that what Slaughter was
saying. There is a cost for following Chirst especially because we
live in a world filled with temptations and easy excuses. I do believe
that God's grace is free and that we do not have to pay for it. In
that context I think the "price" Slaughter is referencing comes from
our stuggle to "live in the world" verses "of the world".
DAVEOJ1
an active, participating Christian. When we live in a world that has
Costco putting out stuff for Christmas the week after Labor day, and
KOST playing Christmas music around the clock the week before
Thanksgiving, it is easy to loose the fact that Christmas is only
important because of the Easter resurrection. A few years ago we did
an 11:00 pm serivce called "A Dumpster Christmas" We actually took
the attenddes ( not too many I have to admit) to the Embassy Suites
in Downey, out back to their trash dumpsters, in a slight drizzle,
and conducted the Christmas Eve service in something like a dirty
smelly manger. It took away all the trappings and just let us focus
on the event of Christ's birth, and the miracle that it was. While
God's grace has no price attached, (thnakfully) what being reciepients
of the grace are called to do can extract a heavy toll. If we are
called to create God's Kingdom on earth, in Bellflower, Downey, Long
Beach, etc. then we are challenged to put ourselves in oppostion not
just to populare culture, but in many cases to our Government, and the
things that our country does in conducting it's businness. And that
opposition can cost us our families, our fortune, and in some cases
our freedom (Check out Peter, Paul, and Mary''s song, "Have You been
to Jail for Justice"). To create a world that is "Just" in God's
terms is to stand aginst almost all of what our culture would have us
do. And, frankly, most of us who claim to be Christian are not
willing to pay the price that building that Kingdom requires.
On Nov 27, 9:28 pm, TreyAndKrys <treyandk...@gmail.com> wrote: