After all the hoopla, the birth of Jesus caused very little disruption to the busy first-century world. Then, as now, those who were impacted were those who were watching, waiting and willing to respond. The only right response to a real understanding of Jesus' birth is that of worship.

The story of Jesus' birth meant far more than a miraculous baby conceived in the womb of a teenage girl. The language of Matthew makes it quickly apparent that the birth of Jesus was a breakthrough within human history and a divine solution to the central problem of humanity. Every aspect of Matthew's telling is there to remind us that we are in need of rescue and that a Rescuer has come.

At first glance, the beginning of Matthew is a long and dry recounting of many generations of Israelites. However, like the rest of Matthew's gospel, the treasure lies beneath the surface. In this list of names we find an invitation into the story of God and a clear reminder that, regardless of who we are, we are all invited.

Shadows are always an indicator of something. The Old Testament created a series of shadows that foretold the coming of Jesus and who He would be. The Christmas season is also full of shadows—and these shadows can bring great joy as long as we stay focused on the reality to which the shadows point.

Learning the discipline of gratitude is not only an act of worship, but it is formative in our spiritual lives. When we fail to practice gratitude, we develop undue attachments and chase after desires that are never fulfilled. However, when we practice gratitude, we are able to say that we are content in all circumstances because we recognize the blessing and grace of Jesus in our lives.

Teaching, practice and community are vital to our spiritual formation. However, if all we do is engage those three things in our strength, we still wouldn't become like Jesus. The power of the Holy Spirit is the fuel for our transformation. The way He works in "the moment" is important, but it's even more important to see how He works “in the moment after the moment."

Teaching, practice and community are vital to our spiritual formation. However, if all we do is engage those three things in our strength, we still wouldn't become like Jesus. The power of the Holy Spirit is the fuel for our transformation. He works in us both in crisis and progressive experiences, working in us individually and as a part of the body of Christ.

Community is a vital aspect of our spiritual growth. We need to learn to celebrate one another, care for one another, and even challenge one another in healthy ways. While structures and programming can create a venue for gospel community, authentic community must be pursued and developed with intentionality.

Our spiritual lives are often marked by the “starts and stops” of trying harder, of intermittently succeeding and failing, and then of giving up… until we are convicted and the process starts all over again. However, engaging the practices of Jesus with effort and intentionality develops our spiritual muscle so that we can do what Jesus did.

The Word is the only real foundation for our spiritual formation. Through the reading and teaching of the Word, we encounter Jesus, the glorious image of the Father, and have the opportunity to be transformed into His image.