Countdown to Christmas Devotional

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alex Ehly, Allison Dykhouse, Bethany Simm, Brad Mock, Bryant Belknap, Caleb Baumann, Craig Walter, Dan McClannan, Dawn Gentry, Jed Logue, Jessica Hawley, Jim Ratte, Joshua Lillie, Karl Pagenkemper, Marc Montanye, Mark Ashton, Mary Claire Johnson, Matthew Johnson, Mykaila Norton, Steve Yost, Wendell Nelson

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EDITORS Bethany Simm, Jed Logue, Jonathan Norton, Marie Dufour, and Rachel Bebee KIDS PAGES JoLeen’s Designs (coloring page) and Parent Cue (advent calendar) BIBLE VERSES Unless otherwise noted, all scripture is from the New International Version (NIV), Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica; accessed through BibleGateway.com Copyright 2020 Christ Community Church.

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Letter From Mark Hey Family!

Advent is the season of waiting—waiting for the Messiah, waiting for the baby in Bethlehem.

One of the blessings of 2020 is that Christmas is less rushed, with fewer parties and traveling than normal. Let’s fill that time with more Jesus! This Advent devotional is a small gift to help you focus on the light of Jesus during this season. I hope you take one for your household and one for a friend so that you can spread the light a little further this Christmas!

We wanted to let you know about a special gift we purchased for every family in the church for Christmas in 2021. It is a subscription to Right Now Media—thousands of devotions, messages, and videos from brilliant Bible teachers like Francis Chan, Tony Evans, Bianca Juarez Olthoff, and Jennie Allen. These resources can feed your mind and your soul as you wait on Jesus. Check out more information on page 29!

Merry Christmas!

Your Lead Minister,

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December 1:

Assured Hope Written by Mark Ashton

Key Verse

The Holy Spirit whispered to Simeon, “This is the one!” I imagine the old saint walking over to the couple and asking, “Can… can I hold him?”

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Simeon burst with joy. Hope met reality. Old covenant met new covenant. Expectation met truth.

As the messiah rested in his arms, a tear rolled down his cheek and he quoted Isaiah, “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).

Read Isaiah 9:2–7

Reflect In our house, Kelle has made a felt calendar for the nativity. Every day of advent, there is a different felt figure that goes up on the calendar. A sheep, a king, a star—each day one character, one story, one symbol. Our four kids rotated who got to put the whimsical figures on the calendar, but everyone wanted to put up the final felt figure. On the last day, the baby comes. One lucky kid got to put the felt baby in the felt manger. The baby is the promise everything points toward, and it is the guarantee of the 25th of December. It is not merely a wish, but everyone knew the baby would come on the 25th every year.

Not only was this the climactic moment in Simeon’s life, it was the climactic moment in world history.

It was where promises to Abraham, Moses, and David came true. It was where promises to Israel shot out to the nations of the world—a salvation and revelation that was for Gentiles as well as Jews. A promise for people from Omaha to Oaxaca, Okinawa to Ouagadougou.

This baby grew up to make his own promises, offering hope to you and me. He promised forgiveness to those who trust him, a resurrection to those who follow him. He promised to return to defeat evil and bring justice, once and for all. All of these promises are hope accelerators.

That is hope. Hope is not merely wishful thinking, but it is the assurance of things we have not yet seen. The hope that God brings is as sure as hoping in the sunrise tomorrow morning.

His promises are not just wishful thinking, they are guaranteed hope.

Simeon had this hope. He was an old dude. Born in the first century before Jesus, he was waiting for the Messiah to appear. It was true, God had not spoken for 400 years. But Simeon had hope, based in a promise from God. God had promised Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Messiah.

Your hope is as sure as Simeon’s hope in the Messiah. As sure as the final felt figure comes on the 25th, you can bet your future on Jesus.

Respond It’s important to continually fill our hearts with the hope of God’s promises. Commit to read each devotional and respond to what God has for you daily.

One day, this righteous, devout, hope-filled man exploded with joy. Simeon was at the temple and a teenage couple with a brand-new baby showed up.

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WEEK ONE:

December 2:

H o pe fo r th e Futu r e Written by Jed Logue

Key Verse

no wonder she had mixed emotions. Even so, her response was humility and obedience to what God had promised. After Mary’s angelic encounter, the Bible describes Mary hurrying down to her relatives, Elizabeth and Zechariah. When Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant herself, saw Mary, the baby within Elizabeth leapt in her womb, and Elizabeth exclaimed, “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:45)

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:45)

Read Luke 1:45–55

Reflect

You can almost feel the hope well up in Mary’s heart! What God had promised her was coming true and the hope of what would be was shared by her close relatives! This time, Mary responded with a song (vv. 46–55).

When I was a boy, my heart leapt for joy as our home began to prepare for Christmas. It was our tradition to decorate shortly after Thanksgiving.

We’d haul out the old tree, ornaments, garland, and lights from storage and begin the process of transforming our home into a winter wonderland.

We’d hang up Christmas stockings on the fireplace mantle. Dad would adorn the outside of our house with twinkling lights, while Mom would fill our home with amazing smells of fresh baked cookies. I remember sitting in the living room gazing upon the lights while listening to Mannheim Steamroller in the background, just dreaming about Christmas. But the thing that really ramped up the anticipation in my heart was as Christmas Day approached, beautifully wrapped gifts would start to appear under the tree, one by one. It was customary for us kids to scour over the tags to see which one was meant for each, holding each box and gently giving the gifts a shake to try and guess what could be inside.

I think that the hope of what was inside these gifts was almost as good as the gift inside… almost.

There is just something about the future. It is filled with endless possibilities, countless opportunities, and overwhelming feelings of anticipation of what could be. Hope in what could happen. Hope in what could be experienced. Hope in things not yet seen. Christmas is a beautiful time of remembering and reflecting on the great hope that we share in the birth of Jesus.

Respond Today, take a moment to listen to a favorite Christmas carol or hymn. Listen for the hope in the song. Be present with Jesus and thank him for the gift that he gave to the world.

In Luke 1, Mary was visited by an angel and learned that she was going to be carrying the greatest gift ever given. She would be the mother of Jesus, even though she was still a virgin and not yet married. I imagine she was both delighted and frightened all at once, to think of all that could be. The mother of Jesus? The Son of God? It’s

Use your mobile device to scan this code or visit bit.ly/ccc-playlist for CCC’s Spotify Christmas playlist.

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December 3:

The God of Hope Written by Mary Claire Johnson

Key Verse

one that created the majesty of the mountains and the depths of the oceans. He knit you together and formed you in his likeness (Genesis 1:27). He does not grow tired but remains alive and active. His wisdom is too magnificent to understand. As we reflect on God’s character, we begin to understand how completely dependent we are on him. Out of his power and grace, we are able to receive.

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”

(Isaiah 40:29–31a)

Read

We often wish to avoid being weak or weary, but that is exactly where God wishes to meet his children.

He gives strength to and increases power in those who are weak, not the strong. Even the youthful will grow weary, but those who hope in the Lord will have their strength renewed. Those who hope in the Lord—who wait on, expect, and endure—will find fresh strength. This strength is given to us as we rely on him alone, and allows us to persevere towards him. It is not prideful strength, but humble strength found in weakness and weariness. Would we remember who he is, and in response, be driven to hope in God alone.

Isaiah 40:28–31

Reflect In middle school, nothing filled me with as much dread as the one-mile run did in my physical education class. This bi-annual test was marked in my calendar, constantly looming in the back of my mind. As an adult, I remember my exaggerated fears and now laugh. However, the emotions I experienced then are still emotions I experience now, just in different contexts. Back then, I was afraid of the physical weariness I would face—the feeling of being out of breath and red in the face.

I was anxious of what others would think of me, if they would see me as weak or lesser than. Now, I find myself mentally and emotionally exhausted from the ever-changing world around me. I choose superficiality over authenticity to ensure that people view me as strong and capable, out of fear of being seen as weak and vulnerable. However, the passage in Isaiah demonstrates that God loves to renew those who are weak and weary. Are you exhausted from running in your own strength? Me too. In response, let us remind ourselves of who God is and find renewed strength in him alone.

Respond Our culture in the United States encourages us to run hard and fast in our own strength, leading to burnout and exhaustion. We are called to run hard, but through the strength of Jesus Christ alone.

Read Hebrews 12:1–2. What areas of your life have been you running apart from Jesus? What sin hinders you that can you throw off to run faster towards Jesus?

Listen to the song linked below. What lyrics stood out to you? What could God be communicating to you through this song?

Before telling the Israelites of what God can do, Isaiah first reminds them of who God is: Everlasting L ord and Creator. He is from eternity to eternity, his existence is continuous and knows no boundaries. He spoke the earth into existence and is the

Scan with your mobile device or visit bit.ly/dancing-on-waves to listen to “Dancing on the Waves.”

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WEEK ONE:

December 4:

Hope In Suffering Written by Jessica Hawley

Key Verse

produce fruit. Sufferings produce perseverance, character, and hope.

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3)

Dear one, as you read this today, know that suffering does not put you to shame. The Lord loves you.

If you feel joy and delight as you read this passage, praise the Lord today for the love and hope he has poured on you. If you feel pain and sorrow, know that our Heavenly Father sees you and cares about your pain. His promise of hope does not change or expire.

Read Romans 5:1–5

Reflect

When we think about God sending his son in the form of a baby, we do not often think about how, years later, this baby would suffer on our behalf.

He would take on the shame and hopelessness of this world on the cross, so that we could have that hope spoken of in Romans 5. That sweet baby would give his precious life because your suffering was not meant to rest on your shoulders. You are loved that deeply.

Have you ever faced immense challenges in your life?

Perhaps you have been toe-to-toe with heartache, seen someone hurt so deeply and not known what to do or how to help them. Maybe you have felt a hurt so deep in your soul that you questioned if and when it would end, asking, ‘When will God show himself and bring relief?”

I have felt grief I prayed I never would have to experience again. I have deeply yearned for relief, for comfort, and ultimately, for hope.

What an amazing gift we have in Jesus, not just at Christmas, but all year round!

Respond

I have asked, “Is God real? Is he good? Does he hear me? Does he love me? Does he care?”

Spend time talking to God about your suffering.

Invite him into a hard space that he does not often get invited into. Find something, however small, to thank him for. Nothing is insignificant. If it is hard to thank him today, sit with him in the hurt and meditate on his promises to you from this passage.

Christmas is a unique time where we can be knee-deep in joy and then suddenly be struck with thoughts of who we wish was still with us or how we wish something was different. Sweet times of joy are met with the bitterness of the sin and suffering this world holds.

Now that you have found some hope, share it!

Think of someone who may be suffering or grieving during this season. Send them a card, call, or find another way to encourage them and let them know you remember them during this time.

When you are in those moments, remember the Lord’s sweet and precious promises to you.

I will never leave you. I will never forsake you.

I am with you always.

In Romans 5, God gives us hope in the midst of our sufferings and the promise that our faith will

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December 5:

H o pe i n G o d’ s Fo rg iv i n g Lov e Written by Reid Brown

Key Verse

In verses 5–8, notice how the Psalmist links the gift of forgiveness with our redemption from a life tainted with sin. Interestingly, “wait for the Lord” is repeated and likened to the watchman looking for the dawn of day. Waiting reflects the attitude and actions of expectation and readiness, the working out of our hope. Watchmen would keep an eye open for any threats and were relieved from their post by the dawn of daylight as things could be seen clearly. The enemy threatens us with the darkness of guilt and powerlessness to resist sin. But because Jesus redeems us from our sin, the darkness breaks with the light of freedom and the power to resist sin. One of the biggest questions in life is, who are we? An even bigger and more important question is, whose are we? We belong to Jesus because we are redeemed (purchased) by his shed blood (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). Belonging to Jesus is a wonderful thing that produces freedom (Romans 7:4). We are free to enter his presence while serving and loving others like he does (Galatians 5:13).

Last Christmas, we were blessed with Elevation Worship’s new song “Here Comes Heaven.” It is in the third verse we sing:

“Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.”

(Psalm 130:7–8)

Read Psalm 130

Reflect Christmas is a season of hope and many of this year’s hopes have been influenced like never before by the events of 2020. I hope to be able to shop for Christmas gifts this year. I hope my family will be all be together for Christmas. I hope to be healthy and safe. It is also a season in which we end a year and start a new one. I hope this next year will be more “normal”. I hope that my relationship with the Lord deepens and my life changes. Throughout the Bible, God’s message is one of hope to everyone.

The hope of God’s forgiving love was around long before Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection. The Psalmist conveys a stunningly deep hope in Psalm 130. In verses 1–4, no one can stand before the Lord without sin. We all fall short, but God looks favorably upon us because of his loving forgiveness.

What have you been listening to this past week that gives you a hope in God’s forgiving love? Many of the songs of Christmas remind us of God’s forgiving love. “O Come O Come Emmanuel” sings of the need for God to ransom captive Israel! The first verse of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” proclaims God and sinners reconciled. Being ransomed and reconciled are a result of God’s forgiving love. Listen intently to the songs of the Christmas season and join in by singing from the depths of your being to worship the Lord this Christmas.

Over all who mourn Breaks the dawn of salvation Darkness reigns no more, oh For Jesus is greater He is greater

Respond Take a moment right now and ask the God of forgiving love to free you from the guilt and slavery of sin. Then, boldly ask God to free you to be more loving with someone you tend to be loveless toward and see what happens. This might turn into one of the best Christmases ever!

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WEEK ONE:

December 6:

Con fi dence i n ou r Hope Written by Brad Mock

Key Verse

The New Testament covenant we have with God today is amazing! There is no longer a veil (verse 16). We have God’s Spirit in us (verse 17). God is transforming us into his image (verse 18). Around two thousand Christmases ago, Jesus was born as a baby, lived a perfect life, died on a cross, and then rose from the dead three days later to prove everything he did and said was true. We no longer have a good covenant, but a great covenant with God! Through the work of Jesus, we can approach whatever we face this Christmas season not with wishful thinking, but with a confident hope.

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Read 2 Corinthians 3:12–18

Reflect Is the hope in your life this Christmas season a wishful thinking or is it a confident hope? In 2 Corinthians 3:12, we read, “since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” Our hope, our confidence, is in Jesus, and in the glorious new covenant God has made with us!

Respond Before you move on to what’s next in your day, take a few minutes to list things that have stolen, or could steal, your hope this season.

Now, take a few minutes to pray through each of those, proclaiming a confident hope in Jesus.

Today’s passage refers to Moses’ veiled face. In Exodus 34, we read about Moses meeting with God and coming down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands.

In addition, Moses’ face was glowing—he had met with God—which made a difference in his life! As time passed from Moses’ meeting with God, his face didn’t glow as brightly, which Moses didn’t love. As his face dimmed, he would veil his face until he went up to the mountain to meet with God again.

Meet God. Face glows. People see it. Lose the glow.

Veil the face. Repeat.

We need to meet regularly with God so that he can fill us with hope and joy. But even deeper, this cycle in Moses’ life highlights the glorious new covenant we have with God! The Old Testament covenant was very good, but it wasn’t perfect. The covenant had a pretty intense system of sacrifices and laws that were ultimately impossible to obey. The glow on Moses’ face was really cool when he met God, but it wasn’t perfect—the glow eventually went away.

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December 7:

Go d’s G i ft o f Peace Written by Wendell Nelson

Key Verse

of justice and peace; “The Spirit of Lord, […] the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, and the Spirit of the knowledge and of the fear of the Lord” (v. 2). It is this empowerment that will enable the Branch to establish an environment where peace reigns. This restoration will be of similar quality to the life that Adam and Eve experienced in Eden. It will be Eden restored.

“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:2–3a)

Read

The good news is that we can have a relationship with the Branch and enter “his place of rest” emotionally and spiritually amid the chaos of our broken world (v. 10). All of his giftings and character are available to us today through our union with the risen King.

Isaiah 11:1–10

Reflect Peace is hard to come by in our world these days.

We are not only dealing with the unknowns of a pandemic, but economic uncertainty and racial tension. Politicians have learned that if they can tap into people’s fears funds flow into their coffers, so they fuel our fears. We live in a fear driven world.

Respond Create space to rest in the presence of our King throughout the holiday season.

There is no better source of peace than a king who has stellar character and who is competent. In our text Isaiah focuses on God’s equipping of the Branch with seven Spirits to establish a kingdom

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WEEK TWO:

December 8:

O n e n ess an d Peace i n Ch r i st Written by Dawn Gentry

Key Verse

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility...” (Ephesians 2:13–14)

Our choice to live in peace is a choice to release our will, our fear, our struggles into the hands of Jesus.

Jesus then offers us reconciliation with God—we have access to the Father—which allows us to receive his peace, even when we don’t yet “feel” peace for ourselves. The difference between our striving and peace is Jesus. Jesus serves as a bridge between the life we once had, and the future we look forward to.

Read Ephesians 2:11–18

Once we were far, now we are near. Once we were separate from Christ, now our lives are in Christ.

Once we lived with hostility, now we are reconciled to God. Once we were orphaned, now we have access to the Father. Once we were two, separated by a wall. Now we are one, together in God’s Kingdom.

Reflect Has there ever been an Advent or Christmas season where we longed more for peace? Peace for hearts weighed down with sorrow. For relationships strained through political differences. For relief from COVID-19 symptoms. For refreshment in seasons of quarantine. All of us are longing for peace.

Respond

Peace can be illusive and misunderstood. An absence of conflict may bring “peace,” but sometimes at the expense of honest relationships. A ceasefire during war may only be temporary without bringing true, lasting peace. Oneness—true unity—is only found in relationship with other Christ followers, because true peace can only be found in Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. Jesus makes us one, just as he and God are one (John 10:30, 14:20, 17:21).

Where do you need to experience the peace of Jesus today? Is there a relationship that needs to be mended? A hostile word that needs to be forgiven?

A neighbor or stranger who needs to be welcomed?

A family member that needs to be invited back to your table? Does your own heart need to be turned back toward Jesus? The Prince of Peace invites you to be reconciled today and to serve as God’s reconciler with others. Take the next step and experience God’s peace.

Dear God, we pray that you would soften our hearts to welcome your peace. Remind us of your own sacrifice for us, so that we are open to making sacrifices for others. Give us patience to forgive and willingness to seek reconciliation, even as you provide reconciliation for us. Thank you for being our peace.

Charles Wesley captured this truth in a hymn from the 1700s:

Peace, I ask, but peace must be, Lord, in being one with Thee.

Prince of peace, control my will; Bid this struggling heart be still: Bid my fears and doubtings cease: Hush my spirit into peace.

Thou hast bought me with Thy blood, Opened wide the gate to God;

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December 9:

Peace i n So r row Written by Marc Montanye

Key Verse

information, wants to be absolutely sure—and needs a perfect solution to the problem.”

“And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrow, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!” (John 16:33, The Passion Translation)

What is true for all of us, believers or not, is that Jesus is the perfect solution to the problem. As a matter of fact, Jesus is the only solution, the only one that can truly claim, “I have conquered the world!”

In Christ we hold to a promise, that although we will experience sorrow in this world, we will also rejoice (2 Corinthians 6:10). In this world we can expect to encounter sorrow, but in the hope of a Savior we can know that he is working our sorrows for an ultimate good (Romans 8:28). It may seem that the more suffering we endure, the more chaotic and fearful our lives become, yet Jesus offers peace that is greater and more permanent than the temporary problems and turmoil we experience in this world.

Read John 16:33

Reflect As I write this, our nation continues to face the reality of civil unrest as we’re only days away from an election. Additionally, the world continues to face a virus that was unleashed from the gates of hell.

My hope for us all is that these realities will have passed as you read this, however, my soul cannot set aside Jesus’s words: “For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrow”.

Respond Brothers and sisters in Christ, take heart that Jesus is near (Psalm 34:18) and he understands our suffering (Hebrews 4:15). Rest in Christ and you will find peace. Pray, lament, and listen for his voice.

Bring your needs before him (Philippians 4:6).

Lament by sharing your troubles and sorrows with Jesus (Psalm 18:6). And finally, listen for his voice and accept the peace that only Jesus can provide (Psalm 25:4–5).

As you read this devotional, you have the knowledge of who won an election and hopefully you’ll know that a cure has been discovered for this insidious virus. Have the spectrum of thoughts, feelings, and emotions that lead to some internal trouble or sorrow gone away? Has anxiety and worry that turn into fear or terror subsided in your heart, soul, and mind? For some, the answer will be yes, yet for many others, the answer will be more difficult.

Find healing and wholeness amidst the challenges of life. The Care Network at CCC includes counseling, prayer, one-on-one care, Renewal Groups, and more.

Dr. Robert Leahy, past president of the International Association of Cognitive Psychotherapy writes, “For most people, confronting something scary is terrifying at first, and then quickly becomes easier to deal with. But worriers stay upset, rather than becoming less anxious over time. Worriers also can’t tolerate uncertainty. A worrier always wants more

Use your mobile device to scan this code or visit cccomaha.org/care for more info about Care Network.

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WEEK TWO:

December 10:

P e ac e t h at T r a n s c e n d s A l l U n d e r s ta n d i n g Written by Matthew Johnson

Key Verse

us feel pain or anything else. Like a social worker who, in order to deal with the constant trauma they witnessed, becomes numb to all of it and is no longer able to feel pain or joy as their clients regress or recover. We suppress our bad emotions, but we end up becoming hardened and calloused towards the things that bring joy and the people who love us.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 4:6–7)

In Philippians, God claims to have a special peace for us that isn’t fragile and won’t prevent us from feeling passionately. We cannot create it within ourselves by engaging our will or straining to ignore present troubles in light of future hope because this peace is only acquired through the direct intervention of God. However, it is promised to those who bring everything to God in prayer; all of their worries, concerns, fears, hurts, joys, praises, and hopes. We can’t force ourselves to experience peace, but we have a God who wants to give it to us when we draw close in prayer.

Reflect Upon reading the title and verse, you may have already identified the irony that the goal of this devotional is to help us understand a peace that, by nature, transcends understanding. Nevertheless, many of us might say that we haven’t experienced it, even though we desire to! It often feels like what we actually experience is chaos. Why? The pursuit of peace was extremely relevant in the historical setting of the New Testament. Entire schools of philosophy were constructed out of a desire to experience tranquility. Epicureans tried to find peace by avoiding anything and everything that could cause them pain. Stoics tried to find it by detaching themselves from the world and their feelings so that nothing could affect them.

Perhaps we could compare it to the feeling of a child as they are wrapped in their mother or father’s arms. When a loving parent gives their kid a big hug, everything somehow becomes okay. Have you seen this happen? I remember seeing a boy throwing a tantrum in a public park once. His mom picked him up and held him tightly in her arms as he wiggled and cried, and eventually, the boy fell asleep. He was totally at ease in his mother’s arms. What a powerful peace is given by a parent who hugs their kid, even when their kid comes to them screaming and upset.

Today, many seek peace through similar means.

We might try to find it by distracting ourselves from difficult realities. Perhaps we overindulge in entertainment or abuse substances to achieve a momentary escape. Maybe we avoid people who seem threatening or different because they could steal our sense of peace. When we do this, we end up leaning on a fragile foundation as the next tragic experience could shatter the tranquility we have worked so hard to maintain.

Respond We are the children of a God who wants to embrace us. Draw close in prayer. Set a timer or other reminder to help you pray every day this month.

Continue this after Christmas!

Maybe we can’t seem to avoid the things which tend to cause us pain, so we try to find peace by building up defensive walls until nothing can make

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December 11:

A di ffe r e nt Ki n d o f Peace Written by Mykaila Norton

Key Verse

and resurrection—and he is preparing the disciples for what they will go through next. Jesus promises them that even though he will no longer be on earth with them after his resurrection and ascension into heaven, that he will send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to them to teach and remind them of everything Jesus had ever said to them. He also promises that the Holy Spirit’s presence in their lives will bring peace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Read John 14:27

Reflect

Jesus says to his disciples in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

I asked my four year old what peace was and she said, “everyone being kind.” That is a pretty good answer for a preschooler. I am curious: how would you define peace?

When problems surface in your life, you can have peace—not the peace that world offers, which is temporary, but a kind of peace that comes into your heart and helps you to go on when you feel like you can’t.

Would you would say quiet, when no one is arguing or fighting, or when everything is checked off a to-do list? Or maybe it is when you and your loved ones are healthy, have a comfortable bank account and a clean house, or plan to go on a relaxing vacation.

Perhaps peace is when everything works out the way you expected.

We can have peace in the midst of chaos when we focus our minds on Jesus. He promises his peace; he does not promise an easy life (John 16:33). So how do we find this peace? Isaiah 26:3 provides us with an answer: God will keep in perfect peace those whose mind is steadfast, because they trust in him.

Maybe something on this list resonates with you or perhaps you would add something else. Regardless of the specifics of your definition of peace, we as humans tend to desire that things are easy and have smooth sailing throughout life, without bumps or problems. Amazon Prime, fast food restaurants, and the invention of the microwave are just a few of life’s “easy buttons.”

Respond As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, take a moment to reflect on what may be troubling your heart. Confess it to the Lord and ask him to give you his peace. Read Isaiah 26:3 and meditate on what it means to keep one’s mind steadfast on the Lord.

Write down attributes of who God is to focus your heart and mind on him. God told his people over and over again in the Old Testament to remember his faithfulness, because he knew we would forget.

Let’s remember today how great our God is and the unexpected peace that can only come from him.

How do we experience peace in a chaotic season when money may be tight and tempers are short, during a year that has been nothing short of unexpected?

Today’s verse is a quote from Jesus, which takes place thirty-three years after his birth, just before his death. He’s talking to his disciples during their last meal together. Jesus knows what is about to happen to him—his arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, 9 14 3

WEEK TWO:

December 12:

Peace make rs Written by Karl Pagenkemper

Key Verse

The noun “peacemakers” is used only here (the verb is used once in Colossians 1:20), and its use is rare in the ancient world, often applied to emperors who typically enforced “peace” in harsh terms.

Israel was well-aware of such “peace.” Palestine in Jesus’ day was actually quite factional, very much as we are today! Political zealots agitated for Israel’s self-rule through guerrilla-warfare tactics of divide-and-conquer; meanwhile, religious leaders created wide-ranging divisions through sectarian loyalties. Quite counter-intuitively, God’s true peace is brought by those who proclaim good news to all people: “Your God reigns” (Isaiah 52:7). In this proclamation, God’s people do not force God’s hand toward peace, but wait patiently and humbly on God, as people of peace (cf. Isaiah 25:6–9, 26:8, 40:30–31, 64:4; Lamentations 3:25–26; Micah 7:7; James 5:7–9; etc.). We get to be different!

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

Reflect As someone has said, wars are more easily won than peace. The wounds of war and internal strife were hard to heal after the American Civil War, and violence often characterized American expansion west. It was often not pretty. In the 1870s, Samuel Colt developed a single-action revolver popular with ranchers and lawmen (not to mention outlaws). This sidearm was nicknamed the “Peacemaker.” The irony of naming a firearm a “Peacemaker” was not lost on many, but was hardly unique. The Convair B-36 was one of the first intercontinental bombers (huge!) designed to carry nuclear weapons during the 1950’s Cold War. They called this plane (can you guess?) the “Peacemaker.”

With the inauguration of God’s kingdom, Jesus himself is the ultimate peacemaker. And it is characteristic of his people to “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14; cf. Romans 12:18, 14:14). This can be costly. It was for Jesus. It usually involves overcoming our natural desires for advantage and retribution. And while it certainly applies to largescale healing amidst war, it extends naturally to personal relationships.

The theme of “peace” permeates scripture. This is unsurprising; sin has fractured all human experience, and God intends to heal it all! But when Jesus describes characteristics of his kingdom people (Matthew 5–7), he does not say “blessed are the peaceful,” or “blessed are the peace-lovers,” or “blessed are the “peace-keepers” (certainly they are blessed!). Rather, he says, “blessed are the peacemakers.” Jesus’ followers are expected to help heal the injuries sin creates between people.

Respond With whom are you at enmity? Who comes into your mind as you read this? Do you truly wish to reflect the character of God to those around you?

Of course, peacemaking is difficult! But God is a God of the impossible, right? What should be your first step? Will you act upon it? The one whom we celebrate in this season is identified as the “Prince of Peace.” If he is your Lord, perhaps you have steps to take. What better season in which to make peace with people.

The 7th Beatitude goes further: peacemakers bear a family likeness (as “children”) to their heavenly Father, who treats even his enemies well (Matthew 5:43–48). While the kingdom message itself may offend, and even lead to hostility (cf. Matthew 10:34), Jesus’ disciples should help heal fractured relationships in a world where aggression and hurt is everywhere. When God’s final shalom is established, peacemakers will be shown as authentic members of God’s family.

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December 13:

O u r S o u r c e o f J oy Written by Jim Ratte

Key Verse

Over 700 years earlier, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

Immanuel means “God with us.” Those who looked upon the face of Jesus saw the face of God. He had come to rescue, to save, to heal, and to abide with us. That was the good news and a cause for great joy! Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophesy because he was literally “God with us”; he was fully human, yet still fully God.

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

Read Luke 2:8–20, Isaiah 7:14, John 1:14, John 3:16

Reflect I came to a saving faith in Jesus late in life, so for over five decades Christmas was mostly about a few days off with family and the big three: Santa, tree, and presents. In most years, I found the holiday hustle replaced by post-holiday bills and a return to the same old pattern of life. Shortly after I gave my life to Jesus, the strangest thing happened while on a plane bound for the east coast. To my surprise, while reading about the birth of Jesus, I began to sob uncontrollably. I got some crazy looks, including from my wife. When she asked why I was crying, all I could get out was that Jesus was just born. I remember feeling such incredible joy, an incredible happiness and peace that I couldn’t explain or contain. I look back and ask the question, why should this surprise me?

The real Christmas story is the story of God’s becoming a human being in the person of Jesus.

“For God so loved the world that he gave us his one and only Son...” (John 3:16). I think that was the realization that hit me that day on the plane and does every time I read about the birth of my Savior; such great joy for such great news that I am so loved by God. Although our earthly lives may be filled with troubles and trials of all sorts, we have a reason for hope. Because Jesus came the first time and is poised to come a second time, we can sing with conviction, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her king!” Come, Lord Jesus, come.

Respond

The world was lost in darkness before Jesus came the first time. God had not spoken through his prophets for over 400 years. The period between Malachi and Matthew was silent, setting the stage for the greatest event in all time: God would become a man and live among us (John 1:14). When the angel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds in the field, his first words were, “Do not be afraid.

I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” That great news that brought even greater joy was that the God who seemed far off had come to them in human flesh.

Who in your life needs to hear this good news of Jesus? Pray for an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus this Christmas. When he brings that person to mind, step forward with boldness and love!

Scan with your mobile device or visit bit.ly/ccc-christmas-song-1 to enjoy a Christmas song with Ryan & Erin.

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WEEK THREE:

December 14:

N o O n e C a n St e a l o u r J oy Written by Bethany Simm

Key Verse

indescribable joy in the next.

“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:22)

In the same way, being a Christian does not insulate us from the devastating sorrows of the world. When Jesus said, “Now is your time of grief,” he refers to his upcoming death on the cross. The disciples were about to experience their hardest season yet.

Jesus would not only be arrested and killed, but they too would be persecuted for following him. Yet even in this darkest moment, he said their sorrow will turn to joy when they see him again. We too can have this same lasting joy, knowing that sorrow will not have the final say. Jesus has beaten sin and death. One day, there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. He will wipe away every tear in our eye and we will see our Savior, our Creator, fully.

Read John 16:21–22

Reflect If there ever was a year out to steal our joy, it is 2020. Between COVID-19, quarantine, wildfires, murder hornets, social unrest, and more, there haven’t been many moments we felt like we could simply pause and enjoy life. Hardships seem a monthly expectation. One of my favorite memes is of a young kid sitting down to play a video game and selecting his preferred level of difficulty: easy, medium, hard or 2020.

This steadfast joy Jesus offers is unlike anything the world promises. We won’t find it by turning on the TV or scrolling through our social media feed. We won’t find it in on our Christmas shopping lists, in the perfect job or relationship, or even in 2021. The joy Jesus talks about can only be found in knowing him personally. His presence in our life must be our foundation for lasting joy.

In the face of such a challenging season, what is this secure and everlasting joy Jesus talks about?

To help his disciples understand joy in the midst of suffering, Jesus gives them the unexpected example of childbirth. This may seem like a strange illustration for Jesus to give a group of guys, but if we dive deeper, we can start to understand why. I have three amazing daughters and on their birthdays, they love hearing stories of the day they were born.

Interestingly, when I look back on those moments, the stories which come to mind are not horror stories of pain and agony. Instead, vibrant moments of intense joy fill my thoughts. I tell them of the excitement I felt in seeing their faces or hearing them cry for the first time. I recall the look on my husband’s face when he finally got to hold each of his daughters in his arms. The very thing that had given me anguish in one moment gave me

Rest assured that when Jesus is your joy, no one can take it away.

Respond Reclaim God’s joy in your life today. Write a letter to Jesus, thanking him for the gifts you have received throughout the year.

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December 15:

T h e J oy o f t h e Lo r d i s o u r S t r e n g t h Written by Joshua Lillie

Key Verse

In Nehemiah 8:10, this chosen family celebrates after God has delivered them once again, after they had grown old and were unconvinced of God’s strength, choosing to trust in their own things. In a moment of reminder of all that God had done for them throughout history, the remnant of Israel found their strength in the joy of the Lord. This, however, did not last long.

“Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.

This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Read Nehemiah 8:10

Centuries later, we see the man Jesus stepping onto the scene. Perhaps the least heroic figure in all of scripture—a wandering teacher with no possessions, a carpenter’s son, speaking in riddles and hanging out with rough crowds—God shows us true strength through this Suffering Servant.

Reflect Most people want to be strong. As kids, we dream of having superpowers—flying, stopping falling objects, and saving the day. But then we grow up and grow fearful. We stop believing in superheroes or superpowers, and we begin finding strength in health, wealth, relationships, or reputation.

Jesus died on a cross for his claims and God raised him from the dead. The ultimate point of weakness turned into the strongest moment in history, which means a great deal for you and me today.

The Bible is not filled with superheroes, but people like us—people who were once young and dreamt of super strength, flight, and x-ray vision; children who grew up in a hurting world and stopped believing that strength could be used to rescue and protect.

Through the work of Jesus and having been given God’s indwelling Spirit, we can now, for Christ’s sake, “delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when [we] are weak, then [we] are strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

The story of the Bible has one hero. In the beginning, God demonstrated his great strength by pulling together the created world out of nothing.

With words he wove reality together and gave us our being. God demonstrates his strength by preserving and delivering a chosen family from captivity, protecting and providing through deserts and dangers.

Respond Our world today feels very weak, grappling with global crises of disease and social unrest. At the same time, we all seem to be grappling for power, strength, hope, and heroes. If you trust and follow Jesus, how can you and your family draw near and remind each other to find strength in the joy of the Lord?

Even those in the story who seem to be heroes did not ask for such powers and were incapable apart from the Lord. Moses performed miracles and enacted plagues upon Egypt at the command of Yahweh, complaining the whole way. Samson fought for Israel but drew his strength from God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were supernaturally fireproof, but only at the presence of an angelic being with them in the furnace. The joy of the Lord was their strength—even after falling, failing, or despairing.

Read through Psalm 28. Pray through things you relate to or ask about things that confuse you. Talk through these with your family or friends.

Read Hebrews 4:14–16 (bonus—read to 5:10). Do you feel comfort, empathy, and strength in the person of Jesus?

9 18 3

WEEK THREE:

December 16:

Don’t stop; Keep si ngi ng Written by Isaiah Lackey

Key Verse

he is active and powerful, has the power to create and destroy, and cannot be controlled (Psalm 115:3).

We need to recognize and declare that strength and glory belong to him. Every day God will reveal himself to you in one way or another, often in ways you never understood. Maybe he reveals himself in a way you already knew, but it feels new. This is the new song of the believer as God reveals his splendor and glory to us.

“Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.”

(Psalm 96:2–3)

Read Psalm 96

(vv. 10, 13) The song of the world is one of conflict, corrupt systems, immorality, and injustice. But God is giving us a new song: “The L ord reigns!” The old song of the world will not prevail when Jesus comes back and establishes his kingdom here on earth. Our hope is not in the systems of earth, but in God’s kingdom being established here on earth (1 Corinthians 15:23). It will be a peaceful, moral, unprejudiced kingdom that will no longer be prone to corruption by evil.

Reflect Life is full of dull routines. “Eat, sleep, work, repeat” often becomes the “song” of our life. It even becomes the song of our spiritual life. “Read your Bible, pray, go to church on Sunday, repeat.” While spiritual routine is good, and life is doable this way, it is not the song of a people who believe in the One True God. Our boring routines get interrupted by glimpses of joy at times like Christmas. The song of a people who believe in Yahweh is new and filled with celebration each day. Psalm 96 explains this and invites us to sing along.

As we grow in our awareness of God and follow him, it will put a new song in our hearts and on our lips as it did for the Psalmist. Rejoicing for his salvation, rejoicing in the splendor of his holiness, rejoicing in his restoration of humanity. Still not rejoicing? Do not worry, but be patient! God will reveal himself to you, and you will sing a new song! He wants a relationship with you, but do not let it stop with you. Let everyone, in every nation, sing a new song to him (v. 3, 10). Do not stop until making his name famous. Tell everyone, every day, how wonderful he is. Provide them the good news of our great Savior (adapted from Psalm 96:2–3, The Passion Translation).

(v. 2) Grace and mercy makes us sing a new song because they are new every day for each of us (Lamentations 3:22–23). When we daily choose God’s grace and mercy, they are new and different from the day before. You start the day not knowing how God will show you grace and mercy, but with confidence that he will, every day, every time (Hebrews 2:17–18).

Every day he is doing work in us we could not do ourselves (Philippians 2:13). He tells us who we are in Christ, redefining who we are, and transforms us into the likeness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Respond

(vv. 4–10) The Lord is a God beyond human understanding (Isaiah 40:12–31). Great, majestic, powerful, beautiful, righteous, and holy are all words the psalmist uses to describe Yahweh. In contrast, idols are idle; they have no power (Jeremiah 10:14).

God is to be feared because unlike worthless idols,

Sing loudly the good news of Jesus! Invite a friend, coworker, neighbor, or family member who is not connected to a local church to join you online for Christmas Eve Services this year.

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December 17:

R ej o i ce i n th e Lo r d’ s G o o d n e ss Written by Shelley Brooks

Key Verse

in God’s eyes because I have been washed in the blood of Jesus. I praise Jesus for his love for us; though I don’t deserve it, he loves me and keeps me close to him. His promises that I never earned and don’t deserve give me great joy!

“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the L ord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:22–23)

Read

We need look to God and set our hearts on him.

When we face trials or think we cannot overcome, we still need to believe and know that God loves us and wants what is good for us. This carries us through difficult situations and seasons of life. He has made every day, and for that gift itself we can “rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:20–24

Reflect Joy, true joy. What does that look like? Is it dependent upon good things going on in our lives?

Is it hard to see true joy when we are in the midst of a trial? James writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you meet trials of many kinds[...] Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life” (James 1:2, 12). This promise alone should give us great joy, because if God promises to bring joy even in the midst of a trial, what will he bring us when we are not facing trials?

Respond Spend some time today reflecting on all that you have to be joyful about. What makes you smile, laugh, or gives you an inner peace? Jesus paid the ultimate price for each one of us so that we could have a personal relationship with God. Over this Christmas season, find joy by remembering what Christmas is all about.

Cooking around the holidays is a great source of joy to many! Looking for some new holiday recipes?

Check out the link below for some great recipes from CCC’s very own Food Services Manager, Nicole Bruckner.

Psalm 118 brings exceedingly great joy, as it is filled with promises. Verse 20 says, “This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter.” I wonder if am I the righteous. My truthful answer is that I am not, but verse 21 says, “I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.” Wow! What a promise that I am made righteous through my salvation in Jesus and now I can freely pass through the gate of the Lord. Talk about joy!

Verse 22 says, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” I claim that cornerstone for my life as I was once found faulty and rejected.

I am now found faultless and am seen as marvelous

To see Nicole’s Christmas recipes, scan the code with your device or visit bit.ly/ccc-christmas-recipes.

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WEEK THREE:

December 18:

J o y i n a l l C i r c u m s ta n c e s Written by Caleb Baumann

Key Verse

lean into what we are sure God wants us to do: to joyfully and gratefully commune with him. To put it plainly, God’s will for us is to enjoy relationship with him. It is inevitable that we will be transformed by consistent intimacy with God. If we are joyful, thankful people who are intimate with God, we will likely make decisions that are in line with God’s will as well. The struggle we may brush up against is a desire to be done with or have accomplished God’s will, to check the box and move on. The phases always, continually, and in all circumstances indicate that we are never finished obeying these commands. There is no circumstance where it is not God’s will for us to be thankful. There is never an occasion where God does not give us a reason to experience joy. There is never a time when prayer is not the right thing to do.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)

Read Psalm 96

Reflect God’s will for our lives is that we would be joyful, prayerful, thankful people no matter where we are, what we are doing, or who we are with.

There is more to God’s will than what this passage entails, but Paul’s emphasis on these three things can help bring the rest of God’s will for our lives into perspective. Often, when we think of God’s will, we think in terms of the places we are supposed to go and the things we are supposed to do there.

Some of us may worry that God is in Heaven with a clipboard and a pen, shaking his head if we apply for the wrong job or move to the wrong city. Thankfully, God’s involvement in our lives runs deeper than a single plan that we could somehow irreparably ruin.

God’s wisdom and loving sovereignty accounts for human fallibility. God does care deeply about each detail of our lives, but he is not confounded by the good or bad, right or wrong choices that we might make. God cares about what he created us to do, but this passage specifically emphasizes how much God cares about what kind of people he has created us to be—people made in his image and likeness.

Respond Thank God using this prayer or write your own.

God, thank you for the atoning work of Jesus that allows us permanent access to your presence. Thank you that we can joyfully commune with you in prayer and for the ability to hear your voice and know your will. Thank you that you are just as committed to making us who we are supposed to be as you are to informing us of what we are supposed to do. Your Holy Spirit gives us the strength and the wisdom to find reasons to rejoice and give thanks no matter what.

Thank you that you are a good God worthy of our constant attention and affection.

It is God’s will that joy, prayer, and thankfulness would mark the lives of his people in any and all circumstances. When there are gaps in our understanding of what God wants us to do, we can

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December 19:

G o d ’ s G r e at G i f t o f L o v e Written by Dan McClannan

Key Verse

Jesus is good and we are not, so it seems backward.

We should give up our lives for him! God could have chosen to offer salvation through some other means or only to people who met some criteria, but he chose the most costly way and opened it up to anyone—no matter how undeserving—to receive this gift.

“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the L ord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:22–23)

Read John 3:16

The gift is eternal life, which is also a challenge to understand. We may think this life is tough, why would we want an endless version of this? Yet imagine a life without death, sickness, quarantine, ads, tests, conflict, insecurity, loneliness, wars, fighting, enemies, or sin! Imagine a life full of God’s presence, love, peace, joy, and everyone living in unity! We can barely even understand what eternity will be like, but let’s not be lulled into believing that our experience in this life is a reflection of the life to come. In verse 12, Jesus told Nicodemus, “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?”

Reflect Take a moment to remember some of the best gifts you have ever received. They were likely really timely, badly needed, or very costly. A great gift is usually a sacrifice for the giver on behalf of the recipient. God’s love and salvation is just such a gift!

Our passage today is very famous. John 3:16 states, “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.” Many of us learned this verse at some point and could recite it quickly.

This verse is a succinct and powerful expression of the gospel. Jesus spoke these words to Nicodemus, who was struggling to understand the gospel in this moment. Playing into his unbelief, Jesus makes this unbelievable claim. May our familiarity with this passage not rob it of its power.

I find it much easier to focus on what is right in front of me, but Jesus invites us to trust him with all of it. The temporary and eternal—Jesus is Lord of both. Our task is to believe in him, and after all, God went first. While we were still sinners Christ died for us. In Christ, God says, “I believe in you, I want you in my family, I have made a way, and your sin and shame are no more” now is our turn to respond.

When I set out to accomplish something, I usually consider what is the least costly way to accomplish it, and I bet you do the same. One reason this statement is so unbelievable is because of the great cost of this gift. God did not choose a low-cost way to demonstrate his great love or even a high-cost way, but chose the highest possible cost to communicate the highest possible love for us! God did not offer us a thing, but a person so dear to him, though he would be mistreated and even murdered!

Respond Give someone the gift of love today. Donate your time, pay for someone’s groceries, send a note or text of encouragement. What act of kindness could you perform for another person?

Another reason this seems so unbelievable is because of our unworthiness to receive such a costly gift.

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WEEK FOUR:

December 20:

G o d S h ows u s H i s Lov e Written by Bryant Belknap

Key Verse

would humble himself to die so that you might love him in return.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

(Romans 5:8)

It may be simple to accept this as fact. It sounds nice and reads even better, but until we’re able to let this truth sink down into our hearts, it will never have the ability to change us, to make us more like him, and motivate an unending love for him in return.

Maybe you know that God loves you. Whether you grew up singing “Jesus Loves Me” or have caught on to the theme woven through scripture, have you experienced it yourself? Can you point to a time that his love was so real you could almost reach out and touch it, when the only response you could muster in return was to tell him how much you love him too? Sometimes, I think we can be made to feel obligated to love God, but when we experience his love first hand there’s no obligation necessary to be utterly head over heels for him and those he loves.

Read Romans 5:8

Reflect Sometimes it’s easier to think we believe something than to really let it sink down and change us. That’s often how I feel when I read Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” It feels utterly unbelievable for a perfect God to leave heaven and the presence of his Father, be born as a defenseless child in a sin-laden world he created, only to grow up to die a gruesome death on a cross for us, knowing full well that many would hear and see but never choose to receive the free gift he offers. Yet that’s exactly what Jesus did for us. He took the biggest risk imaginable. Why? To show us his love for us.

Words just weren’t enough for us to believe that we had worth to him, so Jesus came to demonstrate that love, that always and forever love. Paul’s words are beautifully written. Jesus demonstrates his love in this, it’s ongoing. He may have died once for all in the past, but he’s still demonstrating that love today. Paul implies that the action of Christ’s death for us should be ever resonating in our hearts.

Nothing could compel us to love him more than to truly believe that he chose to endure death for us.

Respond Take some time today to ask for a fresh revelation of his love for you. His death was once, but he continues to demonstrate his love through the Holy Spirit that fills us. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what he loves about you, be patient as you listen and don’t argue with him. What we may see as a weakness the Lord may use as a strength.

He did it for you, even before you were conceived.

Jesus chose you, with all your flaws, your anger issues, your depression, your pride, your hardheadedness, your immorality, your sin. He wants you to see how much you are valued, honored, needed, known, and loved, that the God of the universe

Use your mobile device to scan this code or visit bit.ly/christmas-milo for a fun kid’s activity with Milo.

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December 21:

Sacr i fi cial Lov e Written by Allison Dykhouse

Key Verse

friends.” Jesus, after sharing an image of abiding and remaining in the Lord, lays down the ultimate representation of love… sacrificing one’s life for another. While Jesus is clearly talking about the death he is about to die on the cross, there is more to the story. Just a couple chapters back, Jesus finds out his friend Lazarus has died in Jerusalem. Jesus knows he must go to Jerusalem and he knows he will raise Lazarus from death. He also knows that when he does this, the already anxious and angry religious leaders will finalize their plans to kill him. In other words, Jesus knowingly laid down his life, so that his friend could live.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

Read John 15:13

Reflect Christmas is a beloved holiday by many because of the traditions, the beauty of twinkle lights and garland, family around fireplaces and the childlike wonder that can be found in people of all ages. We love the story of God coming to earth in the most unassuming way, that he trusted his own creation to care for his only son. But we tend to overlook the sacrifice that started even before Mary knew she was with child, the sacrifice planned from the beginning, a sacrificial love of God for his friends.

Most of us are not going to be commanded to sacrifice our life, but we are all commanded to love as Jesus loved. How did Jesus love? He looked to meet the needs of others, even if they could not do the same for him. He gave dignity to the outcast, opened doors to the lower class, and advocated for women and children. There are so many more ways his love was shown that we can imitate, and that is just what we are called to do—to love each other as he has loved us.

We do not usually think about sacrificing with one’s life at Christmas—that image is usually reserved for Easter. But we do sacrifice in different ways, like using our precious vacation time to visit out-of-state family. We sacrifice the money in our savings account to put the perfect present under the tree. We sacrifice time from our normal routines to serve at a homeless shelter or church, or to help a neighbor. By doing this we bring hope and joy to those we are serving. This year, we have to sacrifice even more due to the risks of exposing others to the virus or being exposed ourselves. We may choose to celebrate virtually or in smaller gatherings, buy gifts online, or serve our community/neighbors by dropping food and gifts off on porches, rather than sitting around tables sharing life together. It is a hard season for many this year.

Respond Pray and ask the Lord who he would have you love sacrificially this season. How can you love others sacrificially in community with your small group or neighbors? Joining a serving team is a great way to find community and use your gifts to love others!

Use your mobile device to scan this code or visit cccomaha.org/connect to get connected to a serving team!

Our passage today is John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s

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WEEK FOUR:

December 22:

G o d R e j o i c e s ov e r yo u w i t h lov e Written by Steve Yost

Key Verse

compassion. But Zephaniah promised that in the end, God’s love would overcome their failures. God would take away their punishment and he would rejoice over them. He would gather his children into his arms and bring them home to restore them.

“The L ord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

Zephaniah 3:17 tells us he not only delights in us, but our heavenly Father sings over us! He “…will rejoice over you with singing.” Can you imagine it?

God’s love for us is astonishing, especially when it touches us in a difficult season of life. During our darkest times, the Lord comes to us with his joy, his love, and his song.

Read Zephaniah 3:17

Reflect I have many photographs displayed on the shelves in my office. Pictures of people who mean a lot to me, d ear friends and colleagues I’ve had the honor of serving alongside through the years. But the photos I’ve placed closest to me are ones that celebrate moments with my four boys. Reflecting on pictures of my sons bring me an immense amount of joy.

Like God’s people during Zephaniah’s time, we surely don’t deserve this unconditional love, but God still finds great delight as he sings over us with unfathomable joy. Though we can’t fully comprehend, God knows our failures and weaknesses, but we still find favor in his eyes. Like an earthly parent beams with pride when seeing a son or daughter walking with the Lord, God, too, finds great delight when his children draw near to hear his voice and place their lives in his hands.

When I catch a glimpse of those pictures, I can’t help but pause and ponder who they’ve become.

The boys have matured in many ways, but what brings me the most pride and joy is knowing each of them have trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

But the photographs also remind me of the trials and disappointments they’ve faced and make me especially thankful for the Lord’s graciousness and provision in each of their lives. The bottom line is that I love my boys unconditionally and they bring me great delight.

Respond Carve out quiet times to spend with the Lord this week. Pause and sense God’s pleasure knowing he delights in spending intimate times with his children in prayer, study, and reflection.

The next time you worship the Father in song, remember that as you sing of your love for him, he in turn sings his song of love over you!

Have you ever considered that you bring God delight and pleasure? In the book of Zephaniah, the prophet brings a powerful message of God’s presence and love to his people during a dark time, “The L ord your God is with you… he will take great delight in you.”

Scan with your mobile device or visit bit.ly/ccc-christmas-song-2 to enjoy a Christmas song with Ryan & Erin.

God’s people had not earned this love. They had failed to obey him or to treat each other with

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December 23:

Lov e O n e an oth e r Written by Craig Walter

Key Verse

one another, they will see Jesus in us. There is no greater way to represent Jesus than by how we love the people around us. The people in your life may not understand Jesus, they may not even like Jesus, yet in you they can see what is at the center of Jesus’ heart, a deep and abiding love for people.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34–35)

This is why Paul says in Galatians 5:14 that the entire Old Testament law is summed up on one idea, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Wow, how fun is that? How simple is that? How freeing is that? We display the best of Jesus when we love the people around us. You best represent Jesus when people look at you and can’t help but wonder why you are so loving and kind to people.

Read John 13:34–35

Reflect If there is any single word that encapsulates the teaching of the New Testament in regards to living out the Christian life, it has to be the word LOVE. We are told the three greatest commands are to love God, love our neighbor, and in this passage (John 13:34) to love one another. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul talks about three great pillars of the Christian life— faith, hope, and love­—and yet he says the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Why is this and how does this influence the way we live our lives?

Respond 1. Ask Jesus, “Who in my life might not see me as very loving?”

2. When Jesus gives you an answer, figure out at least one way to show them crazy, unusual, Jesus-inspired love this Christmas season.

3. Go back to #1 and do it again!

This idea of love being at the heart of a person’s walk with God was very new to the people living at the time of the New Testament. The typical Jew was focused on obedience and following the burdensome laws handed down by the Old Testament and manipulated by the spiritual leaders of the day. Yet Jesus comes along and blows this up with a brandnew model of a faith-filled life, a life centered on loving other people as the way we show love for God. You might think, “Didn’t God always require this of his people?” Did you notice that Jesus says this is a “new command” for his followers?

In John 13:35, Jesus gives us a glimpse of why this is so important for us a Christ-followers. When people around us—our family, our friends, our co-workers, and our community—see us loving them and loving

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WEEK FOUR:

December 24:

N o S e parati o n fro m th e love o f Ch r i st Written by Alex Ehly

Key Verse

this earth cannot fully satisfy because we were created to experience a love that outlasts any gifts we will unwrap.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39)

Stitched into the fabric of the Christmas story is a promise of unbroken love. It is the story of a father who has spared nothing to provide this gift.

In Romans 8:32, Paul points to this reality saying, “He (God) who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Jesus was an eternal investment of God’s grace and love for you wrapped in human flesh. Unlike any present sitting under the tree this year, this gift has been presented to each of us with an eternal guarantee and our only job is to accept it. I love how Paul frames up this promise as he continues in Romans 8:35–39.

Read Romans 8:35–39

Reflect Undoubtedly, one of every person’s favorite part of Christmas is unwrapping gifts. Whether you are the gift giver or the recipient, there is something special about that moment. The effort of saving money, making lists, waiting in lines, crafting creations, and tying a bow around it all build unrivaled anticipation. When the moment comes to finally open the presents that have been nestled under the tree for so long, time seems to slow down. Every part of the process feels worth it to see eyes filled with wonder, hear voices filled with joy, and to have feelings of bliss.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The reason we cherish these moments so much is that they do not last. Whether a matter of hours, weeks, months, or years later, inevitably toys break, screens crack, scarves tatter, and something newer and better comes along. It’s no wonder we find ourselves trying to recreate this scene every year. The traditions that we create as a family and celebrate together is our attempt to fulfill our deepest Godgiven longings. They are the things that scratch the itch, if even for a moment, it lessens the longing.

It’s no surprise why the nostalgia of Christmas is so alluring and sacred, both inside and outside of the church. Our hearts are longing for things that

Respond Gather your family together for CCC’s online Christmas Eve services! They stream live on CCC’s Facebook page and at cccomaha.tv at 4 & 6 PM. For more information, scan this code with your mobile device or visit AnUnexpectedChristmas.com.

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December 25 Written by Jed Logue

Key Verse “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10b–12)

Read Luke 2:1–20

Reflect Today is a day worth celebrating. For me it’s generally in my special Christmas PJs with a hot cup of coffee and some Reese’s Holiday Peanut Butter Trees. Maybe for you it’s a family dinner, sitting by the fireplace, watching a favorite movie, or enjoying a new toy with your son or daughter. Regardless of how you spend today, I believe this day is so special, because it was on this day nearly 2000 years ago where the light of God broke through the darkness with the unexpected gift of his son, Jesus. God came to live among us so that we could experience his everlasting peace. I hope that through all of the hustle and bustle of this day that you spend some time reflecting on this gift. Pause. Breathe. Enjoy the presence of God. He is with you, and he loves you.

Respond I hope that your journey of faith doesn’t stop here! It would be our joy to walk with you in whatever your best next step may be. Maybe that means making church a regular rhythm of your life or signing up for a class or one of our community groups! CCC has great online and on-site ministry options, and we’d love to help you get connected. One simple way to do that is by taking two minutes to fill out our connect form at cccomaha.org/connect.

May God bless you this Christmas!

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We got you a present!

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iPhone & iPad

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Break out the cookie cutters and bake Christmas cookies together.

The shepherds leave their flocks and hurry to find Mary, Joseph, and the baby, who is lying in a manger like the angel said.

Get those phones ready and have a silly, Christmas-themed photoshoot.

When the shepherds see the angel, they’re afraid!

Gather your extra towels and blankets, and wash and dry them.

Then, as a family, go together to donate them to an animal shelter.

Joseph brings Mary, who is pregnant, to his hometown of Bethlehem to be counted.

Have a family picnic in front of the Christmas tree.

Gabriel shares with Mary more details of God’s plan: “Jesus will be great and will be called God’s very own son!”

Kick off the month with hot chocolate for everyone. Take turns talking about your favorite past Christmases.

A young couple, Mary and Joseph, get engaged.

The shepherds return to their flocks, praising God for all they have seen and heard.

Enjoy a family board game night in front of the Christmas tree.

Call or FaceTime a family member and sing them a Christmas carol.

Grab blankets and popcorn, and have a Christmas movie marathon together.

“A Savior, the Rescuer you’ve been waiting for, is born today!” the angel proclaims to the shepherds.

Grab some stuffed animals and towels or small blankets. Look up how to swaddle a baby. Encourage everyone to try it, then have a contest to see whose is best!

Mary gives birth to Jesus, wraps him in swaddling cloths, and lays him in a manger because there is no room for them anywhere else.

Hide candy canes around your house. Then, have a family candy cane hunt—see who can collect the most!

“I serve God with my life and want all that you have said to happen,” Mary tells the angel, and he leaves.

Decorate your bedroom doors with wrapping paper, and put up a sign with a Christmas greeting.

Mary is greatly troubled when she hears the angel’s greeting.

After they see the baby, the shepherds excitedly go and tell the good news to everyone they see!

Create a playlist using everyone’s favorite Christmas song. Then, crank up the volume, press play, and have a family dance party!

The angel tries to calm the shepherds, saying: “Don’t be afraid.

I bring wonderful news that will bring joy to all of the world!”

Eat dinner together by candlelight or Christmas lights.

While Joseph and Mary are in Bethlehem, the time comes for the baby to be born.

Read a Christmas book or Google a story online. Read it aloud together.

Mary doesn’t understand how she can have a baby without being married, but the angel, Gabriel, assures her of a great truth: Nothing is impossible with God.

Ask everyone to choose someone and write them a personalized Christmas card. Put each card in an envelope, address them, stamp them, and mail them.

One day, God sends the angel, Gabriel, to Mary. Gabriel has some very special news!

FamilyAdvent 2020 Gather around every day this month to read the story of how God sent joy to the world with the gift of his Son, Jesus. While you’re at it, spread some joy of your own as a family!

Choose a scene from the Christmas story, assign roles, and act it out.

Mary names the baby Jesus, just as the angel told her to do.

The big day is almost here! To prepare, turn up the Christmas music, assign chores, and clean the house from top to bottom.

The angel explains the shepherds will find the Savior wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.

Bundle up and go outside after nightfall. Look at the stars—those are the same stars the shepherds saw in the sky the night Jesus was born.

At night in a nearby field, shepherds are watching their flocks.

Have a gift wrapping competition.

Who can wrap the fastest?

Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth, and is so overwhelmed with God’s goodness, she sings a song of praise.

Take a car ride or walk on foot to see Christmas lights and decorations in your neighborhood or community.

Gabriel responds to Mary, saying: “Don’t be afraid. God is very happy with you!”

Read the story of Jesus’ birth from Luke 1:26–2:21. Remember the greatest gift of all—the hope we have in our Savior, Jesus!

God has sent Jesus to rescue us because he loves us so much!

Declare that today is Red & Green Day! Tell everyone to dress in red & green—even if it doesn’t match!

More angels come to celebrate the good news—they arrive at the shepherd’s field and begin praising God!

Ask everyone to sign a family thank-you card to your mail carrier.

Feel free to add a bottle of water and a $10 gift card for lunch!

The sky lights up—God has sent an angel to tell the shepherds the good news of Jesus’ birth.

Do a Google search for Christmas traditions around the world.

Ask your family to vote on a new tradition to adopt.

Caesar Augustus wants to know how many people are in his empire, so he tells all the people to go back to their hometown to be registered and counted.

Clean out the toy bins, closets, and drawers. Donate items to a local shelter or thrift store.

Gabriel tells Mary the special news: she will have a baby boy, and he will be named Jesus.

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An online Christmas experience with Christ Community Church on December 23 & 24 at 4 & 6 PM ANUNEXPECTEDCHRISTMAS.COM