The Story of Christmas Begins in a Garden

In one paragraph

Christmas Eve 2022 was held outdoors in Jackson's town square, and Brian Hunter brought a message centered on one question: where does the story of Christmas actually begin? His answer traced the whole arc from the garden to Bethlehem and pointed everyone present, locals and visitors alike, toward the gift that was waiting for them. Brian opened by pushing back on the familiar starting points....

Read together

1. Isaiah 9 quoted at length as a prophecy of the coming savior, including the virgin birth and names of the coming child
2. Luke 2 (paraphrase) the nativity narrative read aloud, covering the census, birth in Bethlehem, and the angels appearing to the shepherds
3. John 3:16 quoted to make the point that the gift of a savior was given to the whole world, not Israel alone

What was said

• If you have been holding the gift of a relationship with Jesus at arm's length, take time this week to actually receive it by asking him to forgive your sin and inviting him to be the leader of your life.
• If you have already placed your faith in Jesus but that relationship has gone quiet, take it off the shelf this week and let it be what it was meant to be.
• Come to the Tuesday night gathering on December 27 at 6:30 PM, where Tribe fam shares a meal together before worship.
• If you are ready to go public with your faith, sign up or tell someone you know to sign up for the baptism service on Sunday, January 1.
• If you or someone close to you is in financial need this holiday season, find Tim Better, who was pointed out at the service as the person to talk to about Tribe's benevolent giving.

Talk about it

1. Brian said the story of Christmas begins not in Bethlehem or in third-century Europe, but in a garden. What does it change for you, if anything, to think about Christmas as part of a story that stretches all the way back to creation?
2. Brian described the gift of free will as something God gave at great risk, and said mankind used it to pursue independence apart from a relationship with God. Where do you see that same pull toward independence from God showing up in your own life?
3. The angel told the shepherds the news was 'for everyone everywhere,' and Brian pointed out that the gift of a savior was not given exclusively to Israel but to the whole world. What does it mean to you personally that this gift was not limited to one group of people?
4. Brian drew a picture of someone who receives a gift, says thank you, and then sets it on a shelf without ever opening it. If you are honest with yourself, would you say the gift of a relationship with Jesus is something you have fully received, something sitting unopened on a shelf, or somewhere in between?
5. Brian closed by saying Jesus came once to redeem us and will come again to establish his physical leadership on earth, so that we will live together with him as family forever. How does that future hope shape the way you are living right now?