The meaning of Christmas is also our central message: That God has taken the initiative to pursue us, going to extraordinary lengths to bring freedom and forgiveness from sin.

Lesson: God uses the average and mundane to train us for times of pressure and confrontation with evil. We must not become weary in practicing the normal Christian life; it prepares us for the times we are summoned to more dramatic holy work.

God is using the church, the body, to accomplish His plan -- not just a few special individuals. He is revealing His plans and preparing and encouraging people for ministry

As He always has, God is actively superintending His plan to cross over every cultural and racial boundary to take the Good News to every person