Our longing for home is something deep within us. We never seem to fully capture it or hold onto it for very long. This desire, however, is not a product of culture, but a gift from our Creator. God Himself is our home, and He has called us, as His children, to be a spiritual family, built for His name, out of all the people of the world.
The incarnation, what we celebrate at Christmas, is the Bible’s greatest miracle. In it, God not only took on human flesh for the purpose of our redemption, but He kept it. Forever. The eternal divine Son didn’t simply make a cameo in the created world; He forever joined our humanity to His divinity and will be, for all eternity, fully God and fully man.
The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.
John 1.14, MSG
At Christmas we are not simply celebrating the birth of Jesus, but the choice God made to be with us, to be one of us, forever. He made this world His home so we could be home with Him forever. This fundamental truth will be the focus of our December sermon series.
When you become a Christian you not only get a new home, but a new family – not a replacement for your family of origin, but a spiritual family full of people whose lives have also been forever changed by the love and grace of Jesus. People uniquely gifted to encourage, inspire, and challenge you to become all God has purposed you to be.
While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. Someone told Him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Matthew 12.46-50
Our homes can be the first church our friends and neighbors will ever visit.
Finally, to become a Christian is to receive a new calling. As Jesus invited us into His forever home, we can invite others into ours. This requires a certain faith and courage, but it remains the best way to share the true message of Christmas with others.
For many people outside of a relationship with Jesus, the Christian faith is about following the rules or holding certain political positions. They don’t go to church because they assume they wouldn’t be welcomed or find anyone like them there.
But most will say “yes” to dinner or a dinner party. Our homes can be the first church our friends and neighbors will ever visit. And Christmas is a great time to invite someone over.
Once again, Jesus modeled the way:
While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him. When the teachers of the law, who were Pharisees, saw Him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples: “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2.15-17
As Christmastime approaches, Browncroft has two other invite opportunities you may want to consider for friends or neighbors this season:
The first is our Christmas Jam, taking place at Browncroft on Friday evening, December 13th. This event is designed for families and will include games, crafts, food trucks, a tree-lighting, and a holiday program celebrating the story of Jesus’ birth.
We will also have four identical Christmas Eve services, one on Monday, December 23rd, and three on Tuesday, December 24th.
To learn more about our Christmas events and services, and to RSVP, please visit our Christmas page at the button below. And be sure to spread the word! The one time that many will say “yes” to church is at Christmas. Who is God speaking to you about this year?
I look forward to celebrating the Christmas season with you!
Pastor Rob
