Heaven is Here - Part 3 [Notes]

You are invited to Heaven is Here, a four-week series that helps focus our hearts and minds on Jesus this Christmas season. Together we will look at His birth and life through the unique lens of each of the four Gospels and discover that Jesus is the King, Servant, Savior, and Light of the World. 

Takeaway: Jesus is the Savior of the world

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people, and we must be saved by it.
– Acts 4:12 (HCSB)

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,  because He has visited and provided redemption for His people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
– Luke 1:67-69 (HCSB)

To redeem: To deliver someone from bondage by making a payment or ransom.

And child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.
– Luke 1:76-77 (HCSB)

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
– Luke 1:26-30 (HCSB)

Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?” The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God.” “I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
– Luke 1:26-38 (HCSB)

Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus.
– Luke 1:31 (HCSB)

…Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
– Matthew 1:20-21 (HCSB)

The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
– Luke 1:35 (HCSB)

Mary could not have missed the significance of that terminology. The fact that her Baby was to be called the “Son of the Most High” pointed to His equality with Yahweh. In Semitic thought a son was a “carbon copy” of his father, and the phrase “son of” was often used to refer to one who possessed his “father’s” qualities...
– J.A. Martin

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.
– Luke 1:32-33 (HCSB)

When your time comes and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
– 2 Samuel 7:12-13 (HCSB)

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!
– Luke 2:8-14 (HCSB)

Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.
– Luke 2:11 (HCSB)

When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child.
– Luke 2:15-17 (HCSB)

1. Did your family have any special Christmas traditions when you were growing up?  
2. What do you think most people think the true meaning of Christmas is?  How do you think we, as Christians, should answer the question of the meaning of Christmas?
3. Read Luke 1:26-35. What are some things we learn about Jesus from this passage? How do these descriptions of Christ uniquely qualify him to be our Savior?
4. Read Luke 2:8-14.  What are some lessons we can learn from this story?
5. The shepherds were among the first “evangelists” to the coming of Christ to save the world. How do you think we can use the Christmas season to point other people to our Savior?

Joy to the World // Hark the Herald Angels Sing // How Great is Your Name // Same God

You can watch or listen to past messages online!

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