Most of us are linear thinkers. This means that we tend to think in straight lines, in chronological order, with predictable outcomes. Leaps of thought are difficult for mere humans, that is, thinking in lateral ways, shifting our brains to thoughts on another level, beyond the confines of personal imagination. Trapped in an earthen vessel, spiritual thought is not natural. That’s why Mary couldn’t go where the Archangel Gabriel was taking her. When he announced the immediate future to her, she could only say, “How will this be?” He was asking her to think on another plane. Living under the possibility of God is a miraculous discovery for God’s people. It’s about Him! It’s one of the things we find when we REDISCOVER THE NATIVITY STORY.

The title of today’s lesson is "Possibility" and the scripture we’ll be looking at is Luke 1:37. Most of us are linear thinkers. This means that we tend to think in straight lines, in chronological order, with predictable outcomes. Leaps of thought are difficult for mere humans, that is, thinking in lateral ways, shifting our brains to thoughts on another level, beyond the confines of personal imagination. Trapped in an earthen vessel, spiritual thought is not natural. That’s why Mary couldn’t go where the Archangel Gabriel was taking her. When he announced the immediate future to her, she could only say, “How will this be?” He was asking her to think on another plane. Living under the possibility of God is a miraculous discovery for God’s people. It’s about Him! It’s one of the things we find when we REDISCOVER THE NATIVITY STORY.

The title of today's lesson is "Joy" and the scripture we will be looking at is Luke 2:10. Happy, happy, happy! Everybody wants to talk about happy. This seems to be the great goal of life these days, the pursuit of happiness. And, when we miss it, the important things of life come apart---relationships, marriages, careers, church involvements, and just daily routines. The mantra of our times is "I’m not happy!" Even people of faith experience the challenge of living with fleeting happiness. That is why the Bible does not talk about happiness too much. Some people have translated the word "blessed" to be "happy", but this only cheapens the blessedness of walking with God. No, the Bible speaks about joy. And this is one of the wonderful Bible realities we encounter when we rediscover the nativity story.

The title of today's lesson is "Jesus" and the scripture we'll be looking at is Luke 2:11. We’re people of the tag line, the rhyme, the slogan, the axioms of contemporary pop culture. So, Jesus is the reason for the season---our catchy phrasing to keep the season in focus, to keep us on point. It’s a good thing too. This is truly attention deficit prime time. Trouble is, this catchphrase isn’t complete. It’s correct as far as it goes. But, there’s more, much more. You see, the identity of the little baby born in the stable is one of the stupendous discoveries of life, the full disclosure of which will change your life. When the angels announced his birth they revealed Jesus in all his glory. Meet the Jesus of the Scripture as we REDISCOVER THE NATIVITY STORY a little more this weekend.

The title of today's lesson is "Witness" and the scripture we'll be looking at is Luke 2:12. Breaking news! Film @ 11:00! News anchor phrases made obsolete by Blackberries, iPhones, and Headline News broadcasts. The information age makes news available every second, footage transmitted on the spot, flashes that scroll across the bottom of the screen. Right now somebody on your row is probably texting, the instant message feature that helps connect our electronic social networks. It’s news @ the speed of thought. When something really noteworthy happens, it lights up the fiber optic systems of the whole nation. In the Nativity Story, it was still word of mouth. But, God chose to tell shepherds about Jesus. And, the human grape-vine of Judea could hardly wait to tell others what they had heard and seen. They were amazed. When we REDISCOVER THE NATVITY STORY, all of it, we will be amazed too, and joyfully share the news about the one who was born there.