Extraordinary Grace in Ordinary Moments: Living the Gift of Christmas
Notes
Transcript
Text: John 1:14, Philippians 2:5-8
Theme: The extraordinary gift of Christ transforms the ordinary rhythms of life.
Subject: The incarnation of Jesus Christ.
Thesis: The incarnation reminds Christians that the extraordinary grace of God infuses every moment of their ordinary lives with eternal significance.
Christmas is a wonderful time of year.
As kids, often the two most anticipated times of year are our birthdays and Christmas.
Why?
Because we get gifts!
As adults, we may still look forward to receiving gifts, but we also realize that Christmas has more to offer.
We not only receive gifts, we give gifts, we spend intentional time with family.
Christmas is an interruption to our day to day lives.
And a welcome one at that.
Jesus didn’t come though to only interrupt out lives a Christmas time.
Jesus came to have an impact on our lives everyday.
The extraordinary gift of Christ is meant to transform the ordinary rhythms of life.
The big theological word used to describe Jesus coming to earth is called the incarnation.
Incarnation” means literally “en-fleshment” or, slightly more fully, “embodiment in flesh.”
God taking on flesh.
It is important for us as Christians to have a understanding of the incarnation of Jesus for one at Christmas time.
But more importantly for impact it has on our lives as a whole.
What I hope for us to take away this morning is that Christmas is a reminder of the grace that God infuses every moment of our ordinary lives with eternal significance.
Pray
The Extraordinary Event: God Made Flesh
The Extraordinary Event: God Made Flesh
At Christmas we are celebrating the event John tells us about in John 1:14.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
A. The miracle of the incarnation
The truth that John is telling us about in this verse is truly a miracle.
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" –
Think about that statement for a moment -
The infinite God stepped into finite human history.
C. S. Lewis says it this way:
The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation.
They say that God became Man.
Every other miracle prepares the way for this, or results from this.
God’s glory is revealed in the humility of Jesus' birth.
God’s basis for this act is His divine plan to reconcile humanity.
That implication is extremely profound.
B. The profound implications for believers
The fact that Jesus was born proves to us that God is not distant but near.
Throughout the Old Testament, God was often depicted as a mighty figure, but the birth of Jesus radically changed that image.
The prophet Isaiah spoke about Emmanuel, 'God with us.'
With Jesus' arrival, we see not a God afar but one who took on flesh and became accessible.
It is through the fragility of a newborn that the almighty creator shows His willingness to enter our reality, proving His closeness and partnership with us.
In believing that God became a man.
That the Creator became part of the creation.
That the infinite became finite.
That Almighty God took on the form of a man and was born as a tiny baby.
We hold to an understanding that God is not some far off heavenly being casting lightning bolts to smite those he does not like.
But rather that he is like a friend riding with us in the car.
I don’t know about you, but I still struggle with this idea at times.
Who has stood outside on a clear night looking up at the vast star filled sky, seemingly going on for eternity.
It feels overwhelming.
And it is God who created all of it.
Throughout the Scriptures, the overwhelming size of God's presence is reiterated, yet His closeness is equally emphasized.
For instance, in Isaiah 66:1,
1 Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?
He states that heaven is His throne and the earth His footstool, showcasing His might,
yet earlier in the book God provides comfort
15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
This powerful contrast reminds us that no matter how immense God is, He longs to meet us in our lowliness, offering a hand of fellowship.
The God who created it all is not distant.
He knows every star by name.
And in Jesus he came to earth to be born as a baby to live and die for us and invite us into a close and personal relationship with Himself.
We were recently in Luke chapter 15 and if your remember that chapter is one about lost things.
A lost sheep, a lost coin, and lost sons.
In each, the effort to find what’s lost reveals the fervent love of a God who does not stand far off.
Instead, He actively seeks us out.
Just as the father in the Prodigal Son runs to embrace his wayward child, so our God runs toward us, showing that He is always near and waiting with open arms.
He’s always near, ready to forgive and welcome us back.
And when we accept His love, even the ordinary moments of our lives are filled with meaning and purpose.
God pursues us so that our ordinary lives can be infused with divine purpose.
This is a truth we can and need to embrace.
Do you need to rekindle your relationship with the Lord this Christmas season?
You might begin by noticing God in the ordinary things of daily life.
Beginning with creation - observe the beauty around you.
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Have you become lax in your time with the Lord?
Prayer and bible reading can feel like an obligation, but they are really a way to experience the nearness of God.
Perhaps there is a mindset shift that needs to take place.
If you are feeling spiritually stagnant this Christmas, consider setting aside a little bit of time each day to reflect, even on a single verse.
Something that can serve as a reminder of God’s support.
A couple of verses I return to often
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Do you have a verse or verses that you turn to?
Write it on sticky note, write it on your mirror, set a reminder in your phone.
Whatever you need to do to have the reminder throughout the day.
Even pastors are not immune to this, this is a reminder for myself as well.
It’s so easy to lose sight of our relationships with God.
Staying connected to God while balancing life can be such a difficult task.
It it is something we can do because we have God with us!
The reason we need to know God is because we are to imitate Christ.
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
The announcement of Christ’s birth brings joy and peace, but it also calls us to follow the example of the One who came in extraordinary humility.
Jesus humility shapes our everyday lives.
The Extraordinary Humility: Christ’s Example in Our Ordinary Lives
The Extraordinary Humility: Christ’s Example in Our Ordinary Lives
Paul writes for us in
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
A. Christ’s humility and obedience
Have you considered the fact that Jesus coming to earth to be born like us was an act of obedience?
Paul writes these verses and reminds us that Jesus had everything.
He was in the form of God.
Jesus as part of the triune God.
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit - Three in one yet separate.
Jesus did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.
Ephesians–Philemon Comment
because of who he was, he did not think it appropriate to exploit his status as equal with God
Even though Jesus is God, within His role as God, He emptied himself.
Jesus humbled himself.
He humbled himself for you and for me!
English Standard Version Chapter 2
by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Jesus life and death show us extraordinary humility in the face of ordinary human challenges.
Culture may have been different 2000 years ago, but he faced what you are facing today.
Jesus faced sickness, he faced rejection from others, he rejoiced with friends.
Most importantly Jesus’ life and death show just how much God cares.
We’ve all heard the phrase, nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.
We God knows everything - look at how much He cares!
And because of that, our call is to imitate Christ.
B. Our call to imitate Christ
In coming to earth, Jesus humbled himself.
If we are going to imitate Christ, we must humble ourselves as well.
Humility transforms daily life by enabling us to serve others selflessly.
In Christ, every act of love and service becomes extraordinary in God’s eyes.
How do we do this during the Christmas season?
I know many of us do this well but it is always good for us to think about.
How might we serve others this Christmas season?
Perhaps helping with cleanup after gatherings.
Consider the often-overlooked service workers who are tirelessly making things easier for everyone else.
Whether it's a cashier at a store or a barista at a coffee shop, take a moment to acknowledge them with kindness.
Perhaps you are going out to eat, you might consider leaving an encouraging note and a generous tip, reflecting the Christ-like humility we are called to embody. S
hare a word of gratitude for their hard work.
This small act can uplift someone’s spirit and encourage them to carry the joy of the season forward.
No matter what we are doing we can approach every task, no matter how mundane, with the mindset of Christ, knowing it is part of your worship to God.
Christ’s humility not only serves as an example for us but also points to the extraordinary hope we have in God’s eternal plan.
Jesus’ humility gives Christians a lens through which to see their everyday lives as significant.
When we follow His example of humble service, our ordinary moments take on a greater significance.
Even our ordinary moments become acts of worship and opportunities to display God’s love.
From the extraordinary event of the incarnation to the extraordinary hope we carry in our hearts, Christmas reminds us that God’s grace transforms our ordinary lives.
Conclusion
Conclusion
As we reflect on the extraordinary events of Christmas—the Incarnation of Christ—and the extraordinary humility He displayed,
let us consider how this shapes our lives.
The message of Christmas is not confined to a single season;
it is a call to live every day in light of God's nearness, His grace, and His purpose for us.
Christmas is a time of celebration, but it is also a time of transformation.
When we truly grasp that God became flesh to dwell among us,
we realize that our ordinary lives are infused with divine meaning.
Christ came not just to give us hope for eternity, but to transform how we live now—
in our relationships, in our work, and in our acts of service.
This week, let’s take practical steps to live out the wonder of Christmas:
Spend intentional time with God, whether through prayer, reflection, or Scripture reading.
Let His presence guide you in every moment.
Embrace Christ’s example of humility by serving others selflessly,
especially those who may be overlooked or struggling during this season.
Share the love and hope of Christ with someone who may need encouragement,
a listening ear, or a reminder of God's grace.
Remember, Christmas is not just an interruption to our routines;
it is an invitation to a transformed life.
As we leave this place today, let us carry the extraordinary truth of Christmas into our everyday lives.
Through the birth of Jesus, God is with us—
Filling every moment with eternal significance.
Let’s pray:
Father, thank You for the extraordinary gift of Your Son. Help us to embrace the humility of Christ, to see Your hand in the ordinary moments of our lives, and to serve others with the love You have shown us. May the message of Christmas transform our hearts and draw us closer to You every day. Amen.
