Deep Dive into "Upside Down Christmas: When Dark is Light,"
from December 22, 2024
Summary:
This sermon explores how Christmas Eve holds both light and darkness, using the biblical account of Jesus’s birth and subsequent flight to Egypt to show how even the first Christmas had its struggles. The message offers two key encouragements for those facing difficulties during the holiday season: “Always remember, it could be worse” (drawing parallels with Jesus’s family in Egypt) and “Always remember, it will get better” (pointing to Christ’s ultimate victory over darkness). Through both personal anecdotes and biblical truth, the sermon reminds us that Christmas was made precisely for our difficult times, as it represents God’s plan to overcome darkness through the coming of Christ.
Questions
- Read Matthew 2:13-15 – Why did Joseph and Mary need to flee to Egypt with Jesus? How does this story show God’s protection even in difficult circumstances?
- Study Jeremiah 31:15-17 – How does Matthew’s use of this prophecy connect the past (Rachel’s weeping) with both Jesus’ time and our present hope?
- Examine Isaiah 9:2 and John 1:5 – How do these verses describe the relationship between light and darkness? What does this tell us about Jesus’ mission?
- Look at 2 Timothy 1:10 – How did Jesus “break the power of death”? What does it mean that He “illuminated the way to life”?
- Read Revelation 21:3-5 – How does this passage support the sermon’s message that “it will get better”? What specific promises does God make?
- Study Colossians 1:13-14 – How does this passage explain what God accomplished by sending Jesus into our darkness?
- Consider Luke 2:8-14 and Matthew 2:13-18 – How do these contrasting passages show both the glory and the suffering surrounding Jesus’ birth?
- Examine Romans 8:18-25 – How does this passage relate to the sermon’s message about present suffering and future hope?
- Read Psalm 30:5 – How does this verse support the sermon’s message about weeping and joy? What hope does it offer?
- Study John 16:33 – How does Jesus’ promise here relate to the sermon’s message about facing troubles during Christmas?
- Look at 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – How does this passage help us understand the temporary nature of our “Egypt moments”?
- Examine 1 Peter 1:3-6 – How does this passage connect our present trials with our future hope in Christ? How does this relate to the Christmas message?
