Advent from the Epistles
Though the Gospels according to Matthew and Luke are famous for their birth accounts of Jesus, some of the earliest discussions of the coming of Jesus in the flesh are in the epistles (or letters) of the NT, some of which pre-date the Gospels!
In other words, before the evangelists set forth the classic infancy stories, Paul (and others) were already discussing the importance of his birth.
Join us this Advent seasons for a fresh look at the meaning of the first Christmas through the lens of these other writings.
Listen
Schedule
| Nov 29 | Gal 4:1-7 | “God sent forth his Son, born of a woman” |
| Dec 6 | Phil 2:1-11 | “Being found in human likeness” |
| Dec 13 | Col 1:15-20 | “He is the image of the invisible God” |
| Dec 20 | Titus 2:11-14 | “The grace of God has appeared” |
| Dec 24 | 1 Tim 3:16 | “He was manifested in the flesh” |
| Dec 27 | Heb 2:14-18 | “He partook of flesh and blood” |
Reflection Questions
The questions below are great to use in a small group or for personal application. Click on the arrow or heading to expand and show the questions.
The Purpose of Christmas (Dec 27, Heb 2:14-18)
- How does the incarnation destroy your lifelong slavery to the fear of death…. especially in a year of so much death?
- Define “propitiation.” How can Christ accomplish this in an effective way where animals didn’t?
- What comfort do you find in the truth that Jesus fully identifies with your suffering?
The Proclamation of Christ at Christmas (Dec 24, 1 Tim 3:16)
- Why is the incarnation (“he was manifested in the flesh”) such a central truth to Christianity, as the first of 6 things that summarize what “we confess”?
- Why is proclaiming Christ to all the nations so important to Christianity? How is “faith” the great equalizer?
- How can your everyday activities proclaim Christ as Lord of all of life?
The Scandal of Grace at Christmas (Dec 20, Titus 2:11-14)
- Why is grace a scandal? Why is it a scandal that such grace can only be found in Christ?
- Why is doing good works out of gratitude instead of to earn grace a scandal?
- Why is waiting for future blessing a scandal?
- Why is the divinity of Jesus a scandal?
- Why is the cross of Christ scandal?
The Preeminence of Christ at Christmas (Dec 13, Col 1:15-20)
- Why does it matter that Jesus is not merely a created man?
- What does it mean to you that Christ created and holds together billions of stars… and billions of miles of DNA in our bodies?
- Reflect: if it is impossible to have too high a view of Jesus, why do we do often lower him? Is your view of him high enough?
- Where are you tempted to place yourself on a cardboard throne and refuse to yield that central position to Christ?
The Mind of Christ at Christmas (Dec 6, Phil 2:1-11)
- Of all the attributes of God that you’re aware of, what strikes you afresh about his humility?
- Savior’s mindset
- Reflect on Christ’s great plunge in humility in terms of not using his divine status for selfish advantage but rather taking on flesh and weakness…and then even death on the cross
- What does it mean to you that He took on eyes to show that he sees us…ears to hear us…hands to touch the leper…a mouth to preach to us
- Savior’s people
- How is counting others more significant than yourself both countercultural and also counter to your own sinful nature? Where are you struggling with that now?
- How can we as a church grow in expressing this unity with one a other?
- What makes pride so distasteful and humility so beautiful?
- Whom do you serve? When and where and how do you serve?
- Savior’s glory
- God’s response to the Son’s humility is universal worship that belongs only to God himself alone
- “The way up is the way down.” Reflect: if we embrace Christ’s sufferings now then we will be blessed when he returns.
The Gifts of Christmas (Nov 29, Gal 4:1-7)
- What things are you specifically thankful for this year, despite the hardship it has brought? How do those earthly things point to even greater gifts provided by Jesus?
- Where do you tend towards “going backwards” towards a legalistic reliance on your own merit to please God? How can you fight to let that immaturity go?
- Reflect on how your own spiritual adoption as a child of God is the great gift of Christmas. How does it explain the “logic” of Christmas?
- Reflect on how the presence of the Spirit and the promise of future inheritance are two tangible signs of your relationship with God.
