SERMON SUMMARY  

God incarnated Himself in Jesus so that Jesus would be incarnated in us. Living out this great mysterious reality is the key to growing as a follower of Jesus.

SERMON SCREENSHOTS & KEY POINTS

The very first written account of the Incarnation of Jesus is not found in the Gospels, but rather, it’s found in the book of Galatians, (hence, “Christmas in Galatians”), specifically in Galatians 4:4-7. …“God sent His Son [into the world} born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem us from the curse of the law.” … But, there’s actually a second incarnation found in this passage. “God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying “Abba! Father” so that we are no longer slaves but full heirs with Christ.

This “double incarnation” is the key to growing in the Christian life.

‘Christ living in us' is the same idea as ‘walking by the Spirit’ (5:16), And, “walking by the Spirit” is the same idea as ‘Jesus living in you to live His life through you’ (Gal2:20). Always remember that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus and that the Spirit of Jesus is the Holy Spirit. It will help you relate to the Holy Spirit in a more personal way. In fact, one of the main roles of the Holy Spirit is to make our relationship with God personal.

Cultivating a growing awareness of this “fact”(Jesus living in you to live His life through you) is the key to growing as a Christian. It’s what sanctification is all about.. So, it’s not just a possibility. It’s not just for some Christians, but not for others. And, it’s not something you achieve over time, it’s something you receive at the moment of salvation. … Incarnational reality is the key that unlocks the question, “If obeying the rules, commands, and principles found in Scripture are not the way we grow in Christ, then how do we grow in our faith? And the answer is: by cultivating a moment-by-moment awareness of this great truth—God incarnated Himself in Jesus so that Jesus would be incarnated in us. And that translates into our daily lives as: Jesus lives in me to live His life through me. The awareness of that mysterious, personal reality is something we are to cultivate and then apply to all the events and circumstances of our lives.

*We are a church located in Greenville, South Carolina. Our vision is to see God transform us into a community of grace passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus.

SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY GROUP QUESTIONS                  

Remember, these are “suggested” questions. You do not have to go through every single one of them. In fact, some of these questions may prompt other questions that may be important to group members. So, feel free to explore other questions as long as they don’t become “rabbit trails.”

1. What are some of your favorite Christmas memories, and how do they shape your current celebration of the holiday?

2. What are some of your favorite things about Christmas? …Like: What Christmas movie holds a special place in your heart, and why? What foods or meals do you associate with Christmas in your family? Do you have any special traditions around Christmas meals? Which Christmas carol resonates most with you, and what emotions or memories does it evoke?

3. What is your favorite Biblical account of the Christmas story, and what aspects of it stand out to you?

4. How do you interpret Paul’s overall message to the Galatians in the context of the Christmas story? Why do you think Paul introduced the Incarnation in 4:4-7? …How does the idea of the incarnation shape his whole discussion regarding grace vs legalism?

5. Imagine you are talking to a ten-year-old child; how would you explain the idea of Christmas being about a “double incarnation?” 

6. Why is this “double incarnation” so important to understanding how to live the Christian life? … How do you think it informs what Paul will talk about next in Galatians—the idea of “walking by the Spirit?

7. What are some ways we can continue to shift our thinking away from an outside-in approach to Christian living (like, “Here are the rules and principles we live by—do them!”) to an inside-out approach (“Invite Jesus who is in you to live His life through you.”)? 

8. What else? …What “aha’s” did you have from this passage and message?