Who Needs Christmas Study Guide

Description

The details of the Christmas story are amazing . . . and can seem a bit unbelievable. There is the angelic announcement to Mary that she will give birth to the Messiah. The dream from God that convinces Joseph to take Jesus as his own son. The story of Zechariah, who lost his ability to speak for many months for doubting God's word. The angelic host who announces Jesus' birth to the shepherds. The wise men who visit Jesus and bring gifts. The madness of a king who tried to put an end to Jesus' life. The narrative of Jesus' birth is both miraculous and incredible. But as pastor Andy Stanley explores in this four-session video study (DVD/digital downloads sold separately), when you look at all the events in the Old Testament leading up to this point in time, the unbelievable story of Christmas becomes quite remarkable. For the story does not begin with angels announcing Jesus' birth in the Gospels but with God making a promise to a man named Abraham in the book of Genesis-a promise that all peoples in the world would be blessed through him. It was only "when the set time had fully come" that God sent Jesus into the world "that we might receive adoption to sonship" (Galatians 4:4-5). God sent Jesus to do what laws and regulations, judges and prophets, and exile and punishment could not accomplish. He sent Jesus so that individual people could have a relationship with him. He sent Jesus, the author of life, to document his great love for his rebel race. He sent Jesus not merely to deliver us from the penalty and consequences of our sin, but to actually break the power of the enemy and free us from our slavery to sin. Through Christmas, we are reminded God is active even when it seems like he is not. We are reminded that even when it seems God is silent, he is always working. And we are reminded that God sent Jesus not simply to be the Savior of the world but to be the Savior in our world. Through Christmas, we are reminded that God always keeps his promises to us. Sessions include: The Story Behind the Story (Genesis 12:3) The Author of Life (Acts 3:15) The Message of Christmas (Matthew 1:21) Ready or Not . . . He Is Coming (Luke 1:37) Designed for use with the Who Needs Christmas/Why Easter Matters Video Study (sold separately).

Communicator, author, and pastor Andy Stanley founded Atlanta-based North Point Ministries in 1995. Today, NPM consists of six churches in the Atlanta area and a network of more than 70 churches around the globe that collectively serve nearly 118,000 people weekly. As host of Your Move with Andy Stanley, which delivers over seven million messages each month through television and podcasts, and author of more than 20 books, including The New Rules for Love, Sex & Dating; Ask It; How to Be Rich; Deep & Wide; Visioneering; and Next Generation Leader, he is considered one of the most influential pastors in America. Andy and his wife, Sandra, have three grown children and live near Atlanta.