Just a Ruler… Counting

December 15, 2024

Pastor Steve Poole

TEXT – Luke 2:1-7

1. Jesus’ birth is historical--not mythical.

* Luke 1:5

* Luke 3:1-2

2. Jesus’ kingdom is out-of-sync with the kingdom of man.

* 2 Cor. 8:9

* Phil. 2:6-8

* Mark 10:43-45

3. Hope, peace, love and joy come from being in-sync with Jesus’ kingdom.

“…we seek to be/remain out of sync with the world and in sync with Jesus.”

NEXT STEPS

1. Believe in Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas.

2. Reflect on your Christmas plans and consider how they reinforce the “Christmas lie”.

3. Reflect on these questions:

* How are you too in-sync with the world right now?

* How is God calling you to get better in-sync with His kingdom?

GO DEEPER

Luke 2:1-7 - "In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."

2 Cor. 8:9 - "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich."

Phil 2:6-8 - "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."