Wonder: Recapturing Christmas
Part 1: The Response of Wonder

He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
—Luke 2:5-7 (NLT)


Four Ways to Respond to the Wonder of Christmas:

1. Worship Christ

“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
—Luke 2:10b-14 (NLT)


2. Share Christ

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,
—Luke 2:15-18 (NLT)


3. Reflect on Christ

All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.
—Luke 2:18-19 (NLT)

4. Give to Christ

And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
—Matthew 2:9b-11 (NLT)


Key Thought: The wise men brought gold for His royalty, frankincense for His deity, and myrrh for His humanity

…they presented to Him gifts [fit for a king…
—Matthew 2:11b (AMP)