Barnabas was an encourger, he saw potential in others and exhorted them to full that potential. The church at Antioch was one such place. We all need to be encouraged and taught and to have our potential maximized.

Many religious leaders questioned Jesus- Pharisees, Sadducee, etc. We live in a critical day where criticism seems to be the law of the day. There is a war on words. The religious leaders wanted to get rid of Jesus, he made them uncomfortable. Jesus always used the holy scripture to answer any question put to him.

We all suffer to a certain extent every day--we are born for suffering. We are saved by the finished work of Christ, We are forgiven -our sin- and adopted into the family of God. We are made heirs with Christ.--Much of life is not -happy- and we have not been placed here to have a happy life. When we lose personal control we are made to realize that someone else-God-is in control.

The temptation of Jesus is no small thing. Satan temps Jesus in 3 different ways. The word tempt means o test the quality of something. Jesus is lead by the Spirit. We often do not give Satan his due, he is the master of this world until Jesus comes back.--Contrast these temptations with those of Adam and Eve.

The account of the coming of Christ is fulfilled. Nobility came to worship the Lord -the wise men-. They were from a foreign land, God has his people wherever He Pleases. --They inquired of Herod the King, where the Christ child could be found, they wished to worship Him. They brought gifts for a King. Herod was depravity itself-contrasting with Joseph and Jesus.

Jesus is the true tradition- the centrality of Christ in the believers life. We are to hold fast to the Centrality of Christ in the church. The heart of Christmas is Christ, enjoy the season, but put Christ first.

The reality of the Lord's supper.

Christ is the Light of the World, known even as far back as Isaiah. He fortells the birth of Christ, even the Son of God.--the World is dark and in darkness, and Jesus is the light.--The darkness neither comprehended the light nor was able to control it.

John approaches the birth of Christ from a different perspective than the other Gospel writers. He wants to make sure we know Jesus as God, in His fullness. He gives us an eternal perspective, that Jesus is very God of very God the 2nd person of the Trinity, God's very Word, Light. Jesus comes into the world with humility, in humble circumstances, but God nevertheless.

The Price of Freedom is eternal vigilance.--We are to always be on our guard.--The Church's definition of freedom is not the same as the worlds. We have been freed from ignorance and sin--we have been given the Truth in Jesus- He has told us we shall know the truth and it shall make us free. Freedom comes from the truth of the Word of God.