Christmas is the celebration of the Incarnation, which is the central point of God's mission to the nations of the world. When we find our place in story of the mission of God we find the reason for the season!

1. RETHINKING the Reason for the Season
The Mission of God for the glory of Christmas
“But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid;
for behold, I bring you good news of great joy
which will be for all peoples” Luke 2:11

2. What is the Christmas Story?

3. What is the Christmas Story?

4. What is the Christmas Story?

5. “The Almighty appeared on earth as
a helpless human baby, needing to
be fed and changed and taught to
talk like any other child. The more
you think about it, the more
staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction
is so fantastic as this truth of the
Incarnation.” ~J.I. Packer

6. Defining the Story - metanarratives of scripture
The Incarnation
"Word became flesh" in the Messiah. Everything leads up to this in the Bible, or from it.
The Christo-centric Approach
The Christo-centric approach to the biblical metanarrative relates the entire Bible to Jesus.
Salvation History
The Bible is the story of God's self-revelation to the world through a chosen people.
The Mission of God
The Bible describes the mission of God to redeem the world.
The Kingdom of God
God's mission to the world results in the reign of God.

7. The Bible is written with the belief that God loves the
world (John 3:16, 1 John 4:16). It regards Creation as an
act of love, with God desiring to know and to be known.
Creation

8. Where God’s Story Begins
“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.” Genesis 1:26
God, the omniscient one, is the limit of our knowledge
Ontology:
Epistemology:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…” Genesis 1:1
God, the self-existing one, is the beginning point of all things
the study of knowledge and justified belief.
the study of the nature of reality.
Teleology: reason for something in function of its purpose
“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the
earth” Genesis 1:28
God, the omnipresent one, defines our purpose for everything

9. Where our Story Begins
“Then the Lord God formed a man….” Genesis 2:7
God is a purposeful God
Theology:
Missiology:
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing” Genesis 2:1
God is an active God
the study of the movement of God
the study of the nature of God.
Anthropology: the study of the condition of man
“Adam and his wife were both naked” Genesis 2:25
Man is therefore dependent upon God

10. “For in him we live and
move and have our being.”
Acts 17:28

11. “and they hid from the LORD God” Genesis 3:8
Fall

12. God’s Mission Begins
A Promise to Abraham:
“and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:3
“and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have
obeyed me.” Genesis 22:18
A Promise Confirmed to Abraham’s Offspring:
To Isaac: “and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed” Genesis 26:4
To Jacob: “A nation and a community of nations will come from you.” Genesis 35:11
To Joseph: “and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” Genesis 49:10

13. God’s Mission Confirmed
Thru Moses: “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all
nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine.”
Exodus 19:5
Thru David: “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among
all peoples.” 1 Chronicles 16:24
Thru Isaiah: “In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his
name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his
name is exalted.” Isaiah 12:4
Thru Daniel: “He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations
and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting
dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be
destroyed.” Daniel 7:14

14. God’s Mission Summarized
May God be gracious to us and bless
us and make his face shine on us—
so that your ways may be known on
earth, your salvation among all
nations.
May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
May the nations be glad and sing for
joy, for you rule the peoples with
equity and guide the nations of the
earth.
May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
The land yields its harvest; God, our
God, blesses us.
May God bless us still, so that all the
ends of the earth will fear him.
Psalm 67

15. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling
among us. We have seen his glory….” John 1:14
Incarnation

16. God’s Mission Initiated
JESUS BAPTISED
“For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of
all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people
Israel.” Luke 2:30-32
JESUS CHOSEN
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him….In his name the nations will put their hope.”
Matthew 12:18,21
JESUS FOCUS
“And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a
house of prayer for all nations’?” Mark 11:17

17. God’s Mission Clarified
JESUS’ PRIORITY
“And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.” Mark 13:10
JESUS’ MANDATE
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a
testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14

18. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for
one's friends.”
John 15:13
Redemption/Restoration

19. God’s Christmas Gift
GOD’s GIFT OF THE SON:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
THE SON’s GIFT TO THE FATHER:
"I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have
given Me to do.” John 17:4
OUR GIFT TO THE SON:
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as
faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

20. A GIFT TO GIVE
Give the gift that gives eternally!

21. Reaching
The
Nations
By Reaching
Our
Neighbors

22. Bless Your Neighbors with the Story of Jesus

23. Consummation
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that
no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,
standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9

24. He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love
That day is coming soon!

25. Creation Fall Incarnation Redemption Consummation
God’s Story Explained in 5 Steps
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations!”
Matthew 28:19
Genesis 1:1 Genesis 3:8 John 1:14 John 15:13 Revelations 7:9

26. Contact Information
Brian@ChristforAllPeoples.org