Love Came Down, Week 5: To Adopt Me Into His Family (Christmas Eve)

Join us for this Christmas Eve celebration as we finish up our series, Love Came Down. Title: To Adopt Me into His Family   (John 1:6-9) (NLT) God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.  John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1:10-11) (NLT) He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. (John 1:12-13) (NLT) But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.  (John 1:14) (NLT) So the Word became human and made his home among us.  (Ephesians 1:5) (NLT) God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.   Family Benefits:   1.  I have a place to belong   (Ephesians 2:19) (CEV) You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens with everyone else who belongs to the family of God.   2.    I have a place to share   (Acts 2:44)(NLT) And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.   What do I share?     -Experiences  (Proverbs 21:17) As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. -Home (1 Peter 4:9)(NLT) Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. -Problems (Galatians 6:2) Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.   (1 Thessalonians 2:8)(NLT) We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.   3.    I have a place to contribute   (1 Corinthians 3:9) For we are God’s fellow workers…   (Ephesians 4:16) (NLT) He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.   (Galatians 6:10) Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.