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Review the big story:
God created the cosmos and humans and called it all good. We were created to live in harmony, but sometimes we miss the mark. All of humanity missed the mark, and they had to live with the consequences, but God stuck with them and continued to love them. Then God called a family to be a blessing to the whole earth. Like the humans before them, the generations of this family often missed the mark, but God was faithful.
When the people became slaves in Egypt, God raised up Moses to be their leader. God performed many signs and wonders, and delivered them from slavery. In the wilderness, they learned to be a people of God, trusting in God’s provision, living out God’s commandments, and wrestling with the law in shalom community. As they prepared to go into the promised land, they were given the shema, words of love to keep with their whole beings. Through miraculous works, God brought the people into the promised land. Once there, they had to learn again how to be God’s people. They missed the mark a lot, and God sent judges to guide them. Ordinary people showed creativity and steadfast love in the way they continued the story of the people of God.
When the people demanded a king, God sent prophets like Samuel to try to keep the people faithful to God. Kings Saul, David and Solomon continued to miss the mark, and the kingdom divided into the north (Israel) and south (Judah). God stuck with the people through leaders and prophets, and continued to call the people back to God, even as first the northern, and then the southern kingdom fell to invading powers. Some of the people were sent into exile, and some were left in the ruins of the kingdom. Through prophets and everyday people, God continued to stick with the scattered people and to reveal that God is so much bigger than they imagined. The people were finally able to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the temple. Through all the turmoil, prophets like Isaiah brought comfort to the people.
As we begin the story of the New Testament, Rome is the power in charge and the people of God are waiting for a Messiah. This Messiah is announced, first with a surprising genealogy, then through an angel to Mary. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to participate in the census.
Tell the story: While they were in Bethlehem, it was time for the baby to be born. Jesus was born, swaddled, and had a manger for his first bed. He had special visitors - shepherds who came to see the baby Messiah after a host of angels announced his birth to them. The savior came into the world as a helpless baby, born into arms of love.
Prime the pump:
Microsong: "She Has Her Baby"
While they are there she has her baby. He sleeps in a manger swaddled in cloths.
Shepherds see angels declaring God’s glory and peace among people pleasing to God.
God created the cosmos and humans and called it all good. We were created to live in harmony, but sometimes we miss the mark. All of humanity missed the mark, and they had to live with the consequences, but God stuck with them and continued to love them. Then God called a family to be a blessing to the whole earth. Like the humans before them, the generations of this family often missed the mark, but God was faithful.
When the people became slaves in Egypt, God raised up Moses to be their leader. God performed many signs and wonders, and delivered them from slavery. In the wilderness, they learned to be a people of God, trusting in God’s provision, living out God’s commandments, and wrestling with the law in shalom community. As they prepared to go into the promised land, they were given the shema, words of love to keep with their whole beings. Through miraculous works, God brought the people into the promised land. Once there, they had to learn again how to be God’s people. They missed the mark a lot, and God sent judges to guide them. Ordinary people showed creativity and steadfast love in the way they continued the story of the people of God.
When the people demanded a king, God sent prophets like Samuel to try to keep the people faithful to God. Kings Saul, David and Solomon continued to miss the mark, and the kingdom divided into the north (Israel) and south (Judah). God stuck with the people through leaders and prophets, and continued to call the people back to God, even as first the northern, and then the southern kingdom fell to invading powers. Some of the people were sent into exile, and some were left in the ruins of the kingdom. Through prophets and everyday people, God continued to stick with the scattered people and to reveal that God is so much bigger than they imagined. The people were finally able to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the temple. Through all the turmoil, prophets like Isaiah brought comfort to the people.
As we begin the story of the New Testament, Rome is the power in charge and the people of God are waiting for a Messiah. This Messiah is announced, first with a surprising genealogy, then through an angel to Mary. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to participate in the census.
- Key verses: Luke 2:7; Luke 2:14; Luke 2:19
Tell the story: While they were in Bethlehem, it was time for the baby to be born. Jesus was born, swaddled, and had a manger for his first bed. He had special visitors - shepherds who came to see the baby Messiah after a host of angels announced his birth to them. The savior came into the world as a helpless baby, born into arms of love.
- Read Luke 2:6-20
- Read pages 165-167 in the Shine On story Bible
Prime the pump:
- Things to notice:
- Last week we noted that the story doesn’t mention a donkey. Are there other things you remember from the story that you don’t find here? Every culture puts its own spin on the story. For example, check out the French addition to the nativity scene - look up “caganer.”
- Shepherds often appear in scripture as a positive image. Where else do you remember shepherds from the big story?
- Notice the different names given for Jesus in verse 11. Why do you think all of these are used?
- Background information:
- Have you ever wondered why Jesus is specifically called Mary’s “firstborn”? The original readers would have understood that this meant he was dedicated to God. It would also have sparked a memory for them of Israel as God’s “firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22).
- “Bands of cloth” would be like swaddling a baby today. Some say it also foreshadows Jesus being wrapped in bands of cloth for burial.
- A “manger” is a feeding trough for animals. This is the clue that we use to deduce that Jesus was born in an area that included animals. The article referenced under “conversation starters” can tell you a little more about what that probably meant, but in short, Jesus was probably born in a home instead of in an area reserved for guests. The word translated as “inn” in verse 7 is elsewhere translated as “guest room” (Luke 22:11). Another interesting tidbit: some say that this reference to a feeding vessel anticipates the Last Supper.
- Conversation starters:
- We make a lot of Western assumptions on this story. It’s an imagination-sparking story, and it’s perfectly okay to try to imagine it! But it may also be good to learn a little bit about the culture Jesus was born into. This article (https://sarahbessey.substack.com/p/why-everything-you-know-about-the?fbclid=IwAR0I_EZNMV4V5AphJVosn0JgwrfJCN-NSNgfUplc1CXbrHfRkop_S8lXEeY) makes an interesting case for a less-lonely nativity story.
- The Greek word translated as “the Lord” in verse 7 is kyrios, which is also used consistently in the Septuigent (Greek translation of the Old Testament) to translate YHWH (the name God answers Moses with at the burning bush). What does it mean for Jesus to be proclaimed this way? Who is Jesus???
Microsong: "She Has Her Baby"
While they are there she has her baby. He sleeps in a manger swaddled in cloths.
Shepherds see angels declaring God’s glory and peace among people pleasing to God.
Sing the big song:
This is the story of how it all began. God made matter, and chaos shattered.
Eve and Adam, they tried to hide. The world got violent and God replied with a mark and a flood and a rainbow sign, God’s love written on skin and sky,
And then God called a family to be a blessing to the earth, ohhh ooohhh
A mother and her favorite son wrestle for the blessing, another son becomes a slave, the land is saved from famine.
God’s family grows. Egypt oppresses. They groan to God and God sends Moses.
Ten strange signs say “Please release them!” By the sea God saves them. Oh Ohhhh
The people complain and God rains bread. Daily food and ten new rules.
Five sisters come and ask for land. God says “Yes, amend the law!”
Moses says, “In your new life across the Jordan, love God with your whole heart and with all your being, and your strength, now listen: God is One, only God. God is One, only God!”
Cross over Jordan, stories and stones. Circuits and shouts and the walls come down.
God sends judges like Deborah and the land has rest.
Ruth’s worth more than seven sons; Redeem the lost with steadfast love.
Corruption in the temple and God sends Samuel.
God gives them a prophet, they ask for a king.
Does God need a temple? A wise king forgets.
And when a bully rules the land, the nation tears apart and loses David’s heart…
A widow’s gift and a prophet’s cry. God brings life in desperate times.
Josiah reads this misplaced scroll. He turns to God wholeheartedly like David did. In his time.
God gives Jeremiah a picture of God’s ruined family…
Is there any hope left, is there any hope left, is there any hope left for you, Jerusalem?
Any hope? Any hope left? Is there any hope left for you?
By the streams of Babylon, how can we sing when you are gone, Jerusalem…
I’m in a valley of human bones. These bones are Israel, God’s breath is hope.
Haman plans death for Esther’s exiles. She risks her life so they might survive.
Finally God’s family rebuilds the temple in Jerusalem. God plunges them into a sea of joy and celebration of Only God. God is One, Only God.
Comfort to Jerusalem, your warfare finally ceases.
Matthew lists these generations, Abraham to Jesus
The angel says, “You’ll have a son and God will give him David’s throne.” Mary says, “God looked at me, now I’m the luckiest person around.
Mary, now a pregnant fiancé, makes a grueling journey.
She has her baby, shepherds see angels declaring God’s glory and peace among people.
God loves every one of us, it’s true. And God loves the universe
This is the story of how it all began. God made matter, and chaos shattered.
Eve and Adam, they tried to hide. The world got violent and God replied with a mark and a flood and a rainbow sign, God’s love written on skin and sky,
And then God called a family to be a blessing to the earth, ohhh ooohhh
A mother and her favorite son wrestle for the blessing, another son becomes a slave, the land is saved from famine.
God’s family grows. Egypt oppresses. They groan to God and God sends Moses.
Ten strange signs say “Please release them!” By the sea God saves them. Oh Ohhhh
The people complain and God rains bread. Daily food and ten new rules.
Five sisters come and ask for land. God says “Yes, amend the law!”
Moses says, “In your new life across the Jordan, love God with your whole heart and with all your being, and your strength, now listen: God is One, only God. God is One, only God!”
Cross over Jordan, stories and stones. Circuits and shouts and the walls come down.
God sends judges like Deborah and the land has rest.
Ruth’s worth more than seven sons; Redeem the lost with steadfast love.
Corruption in the temple and God sends Samuel.
God gives them a prophet, they ask for a king.
Does God need a temple? A wise king forgets.
And when a bully rules the land, the nation tears apart and loses David’s heart…
A widow’s gift and a prophet’s cry. God brings life in desperate times.
Josiah reads this misplaced scroll. He turns to God wholeheartedly like David did. In his time.
God gives Jeremiah a picture of God’s ruined family…
Is there any hope left, is there any hope left, is there any hope left for you, Jerusalem?
Any hope? Any hope left? Is there any hope left for you?
By the streams of Babylon, how can we sing when you are gone, Jerusalem…
I’m in a valley of human bones. These bones are Israel, God’s breath is hope.
Haman plans death for Esther’s exiles. She risks her life so they might survive.
Finally God’s family rebuilds the temple in Jerusalem. God plunges them into a sea of joy and celebration of Only God. God is One, Only God.
Comfort to Jerusalem, your warfare finally ceases.
Matthew lists these generations, Abraham to Jesus
The angel says, “You’ll have a son and God will give him David’s throne.” Mary says, “God looked at me, now I’m the luckiest person around.
Mary, now a pregnant fiancé, makes a grueling journey.
She has her baby, shepherds see angels declaring God’s glory and peace among people.
God loves every one of us, it’s true. And God loves the universe