Christmas: The Hidden Truth - Mark Brauss

☼  The Wonder  → Incarnation …. Matthew 1:18-23

     ◊ An Angel?

     ◊ The Miracle

     ◊  Immanuel – 3 truths

• He is God … • He is human … • He is One of us …

 H T→   Christmas reveals the baby in the manger is God!

☼  The Big Question …. Matthew 2:1-6

       → Where is the King?

• The Big Evil …. Matthew 2:13-16

            ⌂ Jesus – a refugee?

          ⌂ Where does Evil come from?

              □ 2 Spectrums  →  rich ↔ poor

              □ The real source …. Luke 14:26 / Romans 8:7-8

HT  → Christmas reveals the little King Herod in each of us.

☼ Seeking the Real God? …. Romans 3:10-11

    ⌂  No one seeks God?  > 2 Questions

1. Have we created a God of our own desires?

2. Is the God we follow the One who reveals

            Himself in the Bible

    ⌂ Hostility?

    ⌂ The Problem of Control

HT → Christmas exposes our resistance and hostility.

☼  The Paradox of Weakness & Power

          ⌂ A Strange King from Nazareth?

              Matthew 2:22-23 / John 1:46

            ⌂ The Opposite Way

          ⌂ The Comfort and The Challenge

HT →  Christmas challenges our prejudices.