God came to be WITH Us. He came to serve, to demonstrate what real Love looks like. We can learn to be WITH Him and WITH Others in order to serve them and demonstrate His Love.

On September 28, 1928. Alexander Fleming entered his laboratory to find that someone had left a petri dish of Staphylococcus open the night before. That mere mishap concluded with the discovery of Penicillin. Years later Dr. Fleming referred to the event as serendipitous.

We often fail to recognize the significance of an event when it occurs, and Matthew 1:21-23 is one such event.

The miracle of the Virgin Birth is actually a lesser event meant to draw your attention to the much larger miracle regarding the arrival of Immanuel, “God with us”. That the King of Heaven should come to Earth is beyond unprecedented.

- What’s the most stressful part of the Christmas season for you? Why?

- Why do you think Jesus chose to enter this world in such a humble, undignified way?

- Read Matthew 1:21-23. What did the angel say was the primary purpose of Jesus? What does this teach us about humanity and about God?

Real leaders love those they lead. When Queen Wilhelmina was crowned Queen over the Netherlands at the age of ten, the story is told that when she saw the crowd, she asked Queen Emma (her mother) if "all these people belong to me?" "No, my child," replied the Queen-Regent, "it is you who belong to all these people." She lived out that lesson. During World War 2, she was known for encouraging her people by radio and even traveling among her people by bicycle.

Herod was no such King. He commanded the Wise Men to inform him regarding the location and identity of the Christ child, but they were warned by God that Herod had malicious intent. So they escaped Palestine without notifying Herod, which He did not take well.

Herod had the infant sons of Bethlehem killed, which proves him to be a very small man indeed. While Scripture is the only historical record of this event, it is certainly consistent with his behavior in other matters. And, since Bethlehem was a small town, it is likely this atrocity was unknown to the world at large. The simple truth is that the great men of this world are just not that impressive. If they do possess power, their many flaws tend to be magnified. But there IS a King!

Yes, I Know It’s Hard. Have you read a Wyoming history book? People traveled across the west in stagecoaches. People traveled across oceans to work the railroad. They dug out holes in the walls of Bitter Creek for shelter. They build homes out of the dirt just for a bit of freedom and an opportunity to build something for their kids.

If comfort is your measure of God’s love for you, your faith will fail. Because your faith isn’t in God, it’s in his provision. Read John chapter 6 if you would like to hear Jesus' feelings on that matter. The cross is the measure of God’s love for you. If that doesn’t capture your heart, nothing will.

But it doesn’t last. I believe there is worse to come, but it won’t last. Paul believed that one day each of us will forget how hard this life was because we will finally be home. Have you ever been on a bad camping trip? You likely remember it and have forgotten the good ones. This trip is a rough one. But, we will get home soon.

There is so much for which we should be thankful. There is so much for us, in us, and with us. The family reunion is on the calendar. And, everyone who is supposed to be there WILL be there. Let’s give thanks today. Let's find our Thanksgiving.

- Why is the idea of Immanuel, God being with us, so significant?

- Read Luke 4:18-19. What does this teach us about Jesus’ mission on earth? How does this relate to Matthew 1:21-23?

- Think back over the life of Jesus. What are some of the practical ways Jesus served people’s immediate needs?

The passage above is Luke’s account of Jesus reading from the Old Testament in the synagogue of His hometown. It is from Isaiah 61 and is so image-driven that when you read it with a little “Kids Church” knowledge, you can easily visualize a day in the life of Jesus. You are able to see Him among the people, blessing them, touching them, caring for them, and sharing true hope. It was by serving so many that Jesus became…

It has often been pointed out that there was no room for Jesus in Bethlehem so His first night in this world was spent in a barn. Have you ever given your life to Christ? Have you ever let go of your hopes, dreams, and expectations in order to make room for Jesus? You may say, “I couldn’t do that!” But, what if the Father’s heart for you is beyond anything you could possibly imagine? Such a hope could empower you to give everything for Christ and then learn what it really means to stand up for someone else by serving them as Jesus would.

- Think back over the life of Jesus. What are some of the practical ways Jesus served people’s immediate needs?

- What are some of the immediate needs in your community? How could you practically serve them this Christmas?

- Do you think that just meeting immediate needs without addressing the spiritual need is an adequate way to serve as a Christian? Why or why not?

- What are some of the ultimate spiritual needs of your community? How can you practically serve them?