CHRISTMAS PRESENCE

The characteristics of God's love: 1. Love enters into brokenness. It doesn't retreat. ("God so loved the world..." John 3:16a) 2. Love gives what's valuable. It doesn't withhold. ("that He gave His one and only Son" John 3:16a) 3. Love saves. It doesn't condemn. ("but to save the world" John 3:17)

Those fill with joy in Christ's presence are also: 1. Filled with humility (Luke 1:48) 2 Filled with God's Word (Luke 1:46-55)

Responding to Peace in Christ's Presence: Those who have experienced that peace...1. Long to SEE Christ for themselves (Luke 2:15-16) 2. Desire to SHARE Christ with others (Luke 2:17) 3. Have gratitude to SING praise to Christ. (Luke 2:20)

Finding Hope in Christ's Presence: 1. We have hope that our gloom, the effect of sin and death, has been and will be forever taken away. 2. We have hope that the Light, who is Christ, reveals how to live a better life. 3. We have hope that the dawn, Christ's first arrival, will ultimately lead to His second coming.