1.2.2 12.9.2018 Get the Timing Down

Time

▾ Start:

Entice: How do you count down the days until Christmas?

▾ Entice: How do you count down the days until Christmas?

Advent calendar

• Advent calendar

Letter to Santa

• Letter to Santa…

X Shopping days till Christmas

• Shopping days till…

"I'll be home for Christmas."

• "I'll be home for Christmas."

Homecomings

• When everyone arrives.

Around the tree

Engage: Christmas is not just about arranging our time, accommodating our schedules, and counting down to our celebrations and times of worship. The timing of Christmas is all about God working out His purpose and plan to bring His incarnate Son into the world to save and sanctify it.

• Engage: Christmas is not just about arranging our time, accommodating our schedules, and counting down to our celebrations and times of worship. The timing of

Christmas is all about God working out His purpose and plan to bring His incarnate Son into the world to save and sanctify it.

Expand: We have to remember that the central story of the Bible is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. That central, saving plot-point begins at Bethlehem. It is neither the beginning or the end of God's saving story. It's in the middle, right at the heart. Everything God did in the OT makes sense in the light of the incarnation and cross. Everything the Spirit does through the Church in the rest of the NT is clarified by the cradle and the cross.

• Expand: We have to remember that the central story of the Bible is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. That central, saving plot-point begins at Bethlehem.

It is neither the beginning or the end of God's saving story. It's in the middle, right at the heart. Everything God did in the OT makes sense in the light of the

Excite: We humans mess up the timing all the time! We forget to mail that letter to Santa… we forget to get the right gift, call mom, or any one of a hundred small omissions.

incarnation and cross. Everything the Spirit does through the Church in the rest of the NT is clarified by the cradle and the cross.

• Excite: We humans mess up the timing all the time! We forget to mail that letter to Santa..

Explore:

• Explore: God's timing is just perfect!

God's timing is just perfect!

Explain: 3 key moments…

• Explain: 3 key moments. …

At the Creation

At the Creation

At the Creaton

John 1:1–5 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

• Before Time

He was there before time preparing

•

Before the beginning, then throughout the ages The Word was working. Revealing God’s purpose and plan till the time came for the Son to intervene personally

▾ At the Incarnation

leading to the

At the Incarnation

Our second key moment

At the Right Time

▾ At the Right Time

•

Galatians 4:4–5 ESV

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

•

Hebrews 1:1–3 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

To make it worth our time

To make it worth our time

John 1:9–14 ESV

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 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.

•

At the Invitation

▾ At the Invitation

Right Now

▾ Right Now.

•

2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV

2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

In the nick of Time

• In the nick of Time

Before it's too late.

• Before it's too late.

•

Acts 2:40 ESV

40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

• 1 cor 1.21

1 Corinthians 1:21 ESV

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 1:21 ESV

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

It’s Time

▾ Shut Down:

Christmas is not just a happy holiday filled with memory making moments.

▾ Christmas is not just a happy holiday filled with memory making moments.

•

Matthew 1:21 ESV

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

The coming of Jesus is the coming of the Savior. Your eternal destiny ultimately rests upon His coming.

• The coming of Jesus is the coming of the Savior. Your eternal destiny ultimately rests upon His coming.

Don't forget about that at Christmas.

• Don't forget about that at Christmas. Take the time. Make the time to find, to love, to follow Jesus.

Take the time. Make the time to find, to love, to follow Jesus.

It is Time

It is Time

Take the time. Make the time to find, to love, to follow Jesus.