SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON ~ DECEMBER 19TH

Worship the King of Kings!

LESSON PASSAGES OUTLINE
1. Jesus: Sent to Save (Matt. 1:20b-23)
2. Jesus Born to Rule (Matt. 2:1-6)
3. Jesus: Worthy of Worship (Matt. 2:7-11)

BIBLICAL TRUTH - God sent Jesus, the promised Messiah-King, to save us from our sins.

Bible Commentary - by John C. Crutchfield; Director of Middle Eastern Studies at Columbia International University (CIU) in Columbia, SC. Dr. Crutchfield & his family worship & serve the Lord at First Baptist Church, Columbia, where he teaches an adult Sunday School class.

A well-known holiday song declares that Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. It’s a time when so many people get busy decorating their houses and yards. We’re planning special meals, wrapping gifts, and getting guest rooms tidied up for holiday visitors.

All this activity can produce a level of stress, but it’s usually a “happy” kind of pressure. That is, we’re filled with positive anticipation about Christmas Day. We draw upon good memories from the past, recalling the childhood times of wonder, joy, and excitement. As children, of course, we probably didn’t give much thought to the amount of preparation that went into making Christmas Day a success. But the extended time of preparation helped build our anticipation. Then out of our anticipation came the joy.

We’re probably right in suggesting that Christmas is the most prepared-for holiday in America. None of us grumbles or resents this preparation; rather, we expect it. It’s traditional. We accept it as part of the celebration. However, many adults today might not be as familiar with the long-practiced Christian tradition of using the time leading up to Christmas Day as a time of spiritual preparation as well. In preparing spiritually, we seek to reflect on what Jesus’ coming into the world as a Child means to us. We consider whether we are ready to receive Him and worship Him.

 What preparations have you made for your Christmas Day festivities? How are you preparing your heart to worship Jesus Christ this Christmas season?