The Wonder of Christmas [Large Print]: Once You Believe, Anything Is Possible

by Ed Robb, Rob Renfroe

Overview

No other time of the year captures our imagination as much as Christmas: God coming into the world on a dark winter’s night; a baby’s cry that would change the course of human history; the heavens bursting into song; the certain hope that God will have the last word over our brokenness. This season fills our hearts with the wonder that anything is possible.


This year, rediscover the true wonder of Christmas by sharing the love of Christ with others. Each chapter centers on one element of the Christmas story, looking to the Christmas story and the stories of real people today to offer inspiration and ideas for reflecting the light of Jesus at Christmas and throughout the year.


Chapters Include:


The Wonder of a Name

The Wonder of a Star

The Wonder of a Manger

The Wonder of a Promise



The Wonder of Christmas is also perfect for an all-church study and includes resources for all ages, teaching video, worship ideas and visuals, and preaching guides, all areas of church life weave together for a wonder-filled Advent celebration. The adult study book is the centerpiece of the program, serving as the adult small group resource and the source of content for worship planners and leaders.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781501823237
Publisher:	Abingdon Press
Publication date:	09/20/2016
Series:	Wonder of Christmas series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Dr. Ed Robb is Senior Pastor at The Woodlands UMC in Houston, Texas. Serving the church for more than forty years, his vision and leadership have led the church to become one of the fastest growing churches in Methodism, with over 14,000 members. He is the author of The Wonder of Christmas, Under Wraps, and Mountaintop Moments. He and his wife, Beverly, have three adult children.
Rob Renfroe is Pastor of Discipleship at The Woodlands UMC in Houston, Texas, leader of the popular men's Bible study Quest, attended by over 500 men, and the author of The Trouble with the Truth and A Way Through the Wilderness. He also is President of Good News—a national organization committed to the doctrinal integrity and spiritual renewal of The United Methodist Church. He and his wife, Peggy, are the parents of two adult sons.

Read an Excerpt

The Wonder of Christmas

Once You Believe, Anything Is Possible

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By Ed Robb, Rob Renfroe

Abingdon Press

Copyright © 2016 Abingdon Press
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5018-2323-7

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CHAPTER 1

The Wonder of a Star

Rob Renfroe

"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

Matthew 2:2 NIV

My wife, Peggy, has a habit that drives me crazy — and brings me lots of joy. Wherever we are, whatever we're doing, however late we might be, she'll stop and take a picture — several pictures. Usually her unplanned photography is preceded by her stopping, bending over, and saying, "Isn't that amazing?" Often what has grabbed her attention is something I have already passed by without noticing. Even when she points it out, it seems rather mundane and ordinary to me. It's just a rock on a path or a shell on the beach or some berries in a bush or some fungus on a decaying tree branch.

Here's the strange thing. When we get home and she enlarges the picture and shows it to me, I see it — the interplay of different colors in a stone she spotted lying in a riverbed; the pattern of stripes on the wings of a bug she saw crawling on a blade of grass; the design of a flower's petals as intricate and delicate as the stitching of a quilt; the brilliant hues of berries in a field, hiding their glory under a carpet of wild grass. When she shows these things to me, I can see the beauty that she saw, the magnificence of little things I had walked by and missed.

Peggy is an artist — she paints, creates, and imagines. Like every artist, she sees the world with a sense of curiosity and appreciation — actually, it is the gift of wonder. The gift of wonder is the ability to be amazed by little things — to see more when other people see less; to be surprised again by the beauty you've seen a hundred times, feeling about it the way you did the first time you saw it — and to wonder how life could give you such a marvelous gift.

As we explore the wonder of Christmas together in the coming weeks, you are invited to see the world — and what God has done — through the gift of wonder; to believe there is more to this world than the eye beholds; to look for the beauty in what God has done and allow yourself to be amazed by a story you've heard a hundred times; to come to this season with a spirit of curiosity, trusting that if you will slow down and open your heart, Creation's Artist will astonish you with gifts that are waiting for you.

A passage from a sermon written by Frederick Buechner, "The Face in the Sky," is a good way to begin talking about the wonder of Christmas:

Those who believe in God can never in a way be sure of him again. Once they have seen him in a stable, they can never be sure where he will appear or to what lengths he will go or to what ludicrous depths of self-humiliation he will descend in his wild pursuit of man. If holiness and the awful power and majesty of God were present in this least auspicious of all events, this birth of a peasant's child, then there is no place or time so lowly and earthbound but that holiness can be present there too.

Buechner is saying that once you believe in Christmas, the world becomes a place of wonder — a place where God is waiting for us. Waiting to show us the beauty and the goodness of life. Waiting to show us something that will stop us in our tracks, speak to our hearts, and amaze us. Waiting to show us something that will lead us to God. But we must have eyes to see.

Let's begin by exploring the wonder of a star that first heralded the coming of Christ into the world — a star that captivated the attention of certain wise men who appeared after the birth of Jesus to worship him. What can we learn from them that can help to awaken us to the wonder of Christmas?

The Eyes to See

Though the wise men play an important part in the nativity story, the truth is that we do not know much about them. In all likelihood, they arrived a good deal later than the shepherds. We are told in Matthew 2:11 that the wise men found the family in a "house," so there had been sufficient time for the family to move from the stable into a more permanent dwelling.

Matthew's Gospel tells us they were from the east (Matthew 2:1) — which would have been in the direction of Babylon and ancient Persia. The Greek word magos, which is used to describe them in the original text, indicates they were scholar-priests. Certainly they would have been highly educated and culturally sophisticated. Without a doubt they enjoyed positions of privilege. The fact that they were able to make the kind of trip that is implied in Matthew's account tells us that they were men of great wealth.

These wise men had all of the material wealth that anyone could have desired, yet still there was something inside them that wanted more — something that compelled them to travel hundreds of miles through foreign lands and barren terrain on the back of a camel; something that told them their lives were incomplete, and they were made for more.

Most of us sense we were made for more. We feel that something is missing — that we need something more for our lives to be right. But not all of us recognize what this need truly is. In fact, many people who yearn for something more focus on getting more of the same, thinking that more of what they already have will satisfy the need. So they set out on a journey to acquire more wealth, more success, more recognition, more stuff, more pleasure — more of everything that has already left them unsatisfied and unfulfilled. As a result, their life's journey becomes nothing but a distraction, keeping them from finding the "more" they are longing for.

The wise men were wise because they knew that what they needed was not more of the same but more in the sense of something different — something they had not yet experienced. The longing within was a yearning for something more than this world could provide. So they set out on a spiritual quest to find something that could fill the longing within their souls.

We like to think that we have come so far as a human race, and in many ways we have. But the most important truth about us human beings has not changed: wealth, power, positions of privilege, and physical pleasures are not enough to satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. Something within the wise men knew that they were made for more, and something inside you knows the same. Something within you wants more than this world can provide. That's why you can have everything and still feel empty inside.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has placed eternity in our hearts. Even if your head has forgotten this, your heart still remembers. At your core, you are a spiritual being. Because you are more than the stuff of this earth, the stuff of this earth will never be enough to satisfy your heart or give you peace. You long for a profound connection to realities that are eternal and spiritual. As the psalmist wrote, "Deep calls to deep" (Psalm 42:7 NIV). At some time in our lives we all feel it — something deep within telling us not to be satisfied with the shallow things of life because we were made for more.

Many of us lose that yearning along life's way. We become distracted with making a living and raising kids and paying the bills and a million other things. But then Christmas comes along, and as we're gathered around the tree we feel it again — the hope that comes from believing that maybe God can be found in a manger and in the mundane places of our lives. We feel both the dissatisfaction with what is and the courage to believe that maybe our lives can be different — better than they have been. Christmas brings the wonder of seeing the world anew, as an artist perceiving that there is more to reality than meets the eye, more than the things that can be seen and touched. And once again we feel deep calling to deep, telling us we were made for something more.

The wise men were wise because they were not blinded by the fact that they had everything. They did not allow their souls to be anesthetized by possessions and success. They wanted more. But they were wise for another reason: they recognized the sign that God placed before them.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, the wise men asked King Herod: "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him" (Matthew 2:2 NIV). What is remarkable about the wise men is not that they saw the star. Everyone who looked into the night sky saw the same star. No, what made them wise is that they recognized the star for what it was: a sign that could lead them to God.

Scholars still debate what the star actually was. Some have suggested it was a nova, a newborn star that burned exceedingly bright for a short period of time. Others have said it was a comet. In recent times some have posited that it might have been the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, appearing to the naked eye as a single, brilliant star.

Once scientists agree upon a definitive answer, they still will know less about that star than the wise men if they do not recognize that it was more than a cosmic phenomenon. Whatever else it was, it was a sign that could lead men and women to Christ.

Life is full of signs. Your life is full of signs. Take, for example, the struggle you experience inside. You so want to be unselfish and accepting and forgiving, but when you're honest, you find it hard to be the person you want to be and easy to be the kind of person you despise. What kind of sign do you think that is? It's a sign that, like the rest of us, you're made in the image of God yet flawed inside and in need of help. It is a sign pointing you to God.

Here's another sign you've experienced if you are a parent: the way you felt when you first held your newborn child. How impossible it seemed that anything so wonderful could come from you. Sure, you understood the biology and the genetics, but when you looked into that tiny face and felt your child's heartbeat next to yours, every argument about life being meaningless and accidental seemed ridiculous. What kind of sign is that? It is a sign that life has meaning and is grounded in something larger than itself. It is a sign pointing you to God.

Maybe for you the sign is how you feel when you gaze upon the beauty of a sunset or stand surrounded by the majesty of the mountains. Maybe it's the stirrings you experience as you listen to great music and find yourself longing for something — you're not even sure what. You can't explain it, but there is a sense of wonder telling you that there is another dimension to who you are — something that science and reason alone cannot explain.

Maybe a sign has come in a time of tragedy and suffering, when you seemed lost and alone but found yourself buoyed by a strength you knew was not your own. Some little act of kindness, perhaps from someone you barely knew, told you that someone cared and that life could be good again. And it was enough to get you through the darkness and pain.

On Christmas morning as you open presents with family and friends and find yourself experiencing more pleasure from the gifts you've given than from the gifts you've received, what do you think that is? It is a sign that at the heart of reality there is a heart of compassion that loves to give and share life with others. It is a sign pointing you to God.

Life is full of signs, and what distinguishes the wise from the foolish is the ability to recognize them for what they are. I pray that, like the wise men, you will have the gift of wonder this Christmas — the eyes of an artist that see the beautiful patterns and remarkable colors God has placed in your life. And I pray that you will be amazed at all God has done and is doing to reach out and reveal himself to you.

The Courage to Follow

The wise men not only had the eyes to see the star as a sign, they also had the courage to follow the sign until they found Jesus.

What I find most amazing about this story is not that the wise men traveled to Bethlehem; it is that no one — other than their own entourage, which would have been traveling with them — went with them. When they first went to King Herod in Jerusalem and told him about the star, he did not scoff, saying "You've got it wrong. There is no prophecy," or, "You're mistaken. The star means nothing. It's not a sign." No, he believed their report.

In Matthew's Gospel we read, "When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him" (2:3 NIV). Herod called the chief priests and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him it would be in Bethlehem of Judea.

Why do you think Herod was so disturbed? Because he could see the star for himself — as could the chief priests and all of Jerusalem. They recognized the sign for what it was. But when the wise men went to find the newborn king, the Messiah, the Scriptures do not indicate that anyone from Jerusalem went with them. This astounds me. Why didn't any of the people go to Bethlehem to check out this baby — even if there was only the slightest chance that he might be the Messiah? After all, they were familiar with Isaiah's prophecy:

For to us a child is born,
to us a child is given, ...
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
Isaiah 9:6 NIV

It is almost inconceivable to think that no one went with the wise men to see Jesus, but that is what we can assume from Matthew's account. The question is why?

Perhaps they were too busy. It sounds crazy to say they were too busy to find the Messiah, but isn't that the excuse we often make? "I've got too much going on in my life to spend time on spiritual matters. I've got responsibilities; I can't just rearrange my schedule to make time to pray and read the Bible, much less join a Bible study or small group." Often we allow busyness with matters that are temporal to keep us from seeking the eternal. We respond to pressing matters that appear "urgent" and fail to pursue what is truly and forever important. So it's not impossible that a king and his chief priests thought themselves so occupied with their busy schedules and pressing responsibilities that they did not make time to go with those who were wise enough to seek the one born King of the Jews. But here's what I think the real reason was: they were afraid. No doubt they knew that if the Messiah truly had come into the world, then they would have to change their beliefs, their priorities, and their lives. That would explain why, when the wise men set out for Bethlehem, Herod and the others stayed in Jerusalem, doing what they had always done, living how they had always lived, and being who they had always been.

We do the same thing. When we're angry and want to stay that way, we stay away from Jesus because we know he will make us change. When we're selfish and proud and want to stay that way, we stay away from Jesus because we know he'll make us change. When we're full of self-pity and want to hold on to our hurt, we stay away from Jesus because we know he'll make us change. When we're unfaithful to what we know is right because that is easier than having integrity, we stay away from Jesus because we know he will make us change. Why? Because he loves us!

When we want to be in charge of our destiny and refuse to get off the throne of our lives, we stay away from Jesus because we are disturbed by the idea that he will tell us to step down and let him change our lives. And here's the crazy part. Every time I've gone to Jesus and he has made me change, I have loved what it felt like to be forgiven. I have loved being free of bitterness, letting go of selfishness, and getting rid of fear and pride. Every time I have let go of what's holding on to me so that I could take hold of Jesus, it has brought me peace and joy.

But let's be honest. King Herod knew there was room for only one on the throne, and we know the same thing. It's either Jesus or us. So, sometimes when we recognize the signs for what they are, we still choose not to follow them to Jesus because of our fear.

Make no mistake about it: Jesus was not born into our world to be oohed and ahhed over as a newborn baby or a young toddler. He was born King of the Jews — and of all humankind. He came to rule. When you know that, it requires courage to come to him. When you sense that he may take from you what you have trusted for your sense of worth and security and require you to trust him alone for a sense of well-being, a very natural and understandable reaction is fear. King Herod must have wondered, "If there is a new king in my place, who will I be without my position and my crown? If he is indeed the king, will I be expected to be his servant?"

We must all ask ourselves a similar question: If Jesus takes the throne of my life, what will I be called to give up? This leads to other questions. Who will I be if I am no longer the ruler of my own life, defined by my successes and accomplishments and free to do whatever I desire? If Jesus requires that I let go of habits and patterns that have brought me comfort and peace of mind, will his grace be sufficient? What if he calls me to forsake my plans and pursue a different purpose? Will I be willing to make such a change and trust him? Will Jesus reigning in me be enough if that is all I have?

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from The Wonder of Christmas by Ed Robb, Rob Renfroe. Copyright © 2016 Abingdon Press. Excerpted by permission of Abingdon Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction,
Using an Advent Wreath to Celebrate the Wonder of Christmas,
1. The Wonder of a Star,
2. The Wonder of a Name,
3. The Wonder of a Manger,
4. The Wonder of a Promise,
Notes,