Go into the world the way Jesus came into the world.

John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2  He was

with God in the beginning.  3  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made

that has been made.  4  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  5  The light shines

in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome [a]  it.

Why did He come into the world?

Why do we go into the world?

Why did He come into the world?

John 3:16-17

16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him

shall not perish but have eternal life. 17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn

the world, but to save the world through him.

He came to save us…sin separates us from God

Romans 5:12-19

12  Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this

way death came to all people, because all sinned—

13  To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against

anyone’s account where there is no law.  14  Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to

the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who

is a pattern of the one to come.

15  But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how

much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus

Christ, overflow to the many!  16  Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s

sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many

trespasses and brought justification.  17  For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned

through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of

grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

18  Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one

righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.  19  For just as through the

disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of

the one man the many will be made righteous.

So we need saving from our sin that separates us from God…Only Jesus, through His birth, life,

death and resurrection could atone for the sin of humanity.

Why do we go into the world? – well…because He said so

Mark 16:15

15  He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 

Matthew 28:16-20

16  Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to

go.  17  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  18  Then Jesus came to them

and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  19  Therefore go and make

disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy

Spirit,  20  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with

you always, to the very end of the age.”

So how do we go into the world the way Jesus came into the world?

GENEROUSLY

Romans 5:8

8  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2 Corinthians 9:11-15

11  You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through

us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

12  This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also

overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  13  Because of the service by which you have

proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your

confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with

everyone else.  14  And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the

surpassing grace God has given you.  15  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

1. God enriches us…He provides for us to always be generous (every occasion)

2. Our generosity will result in people thanking God

3. Through the service of generosity, people will see your obedience that accompanies

your action…they will see your faith in action…as you confess the gospel of Jesus

4. They will see you loving them as a result of your faith, and praise God

So yes, to go into the world the way Jesus came to the world, we would need to do it

generously.

SACRIFICIALLY

Philippians 2:1-11

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from

his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  2  then make my

joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one

mind.  3  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above

yourselves,  4  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6  Who, being in very nature [a]  God,

    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7  rather, he made himself nothing

    by taking the very nature [b]  of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

8  And being found in appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    by becoming obedient to death—

        even death on a cross!

9  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

    and gave him the name that is above every name,

10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11  and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.

- Another version – the ESV - says that He emptied Himself

-

- Yet, He was fully God and fully Man

-

- It could mean that He set aside the privileges of deity that stand between the divine

Christ and the shame and degradation and suffering and death of the cross. That’s the

point of Philippians 2:5–8. He moved from such height to such shameful degradation on

our behalf.

-

- And that’s the mind-set we’re supposed to have as we serve others.

Matthew 22:36-40

36  “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all

your mind.’ [a]   38  This is the first and greatest commandment.  39  And the second is like it: ‘Love your

neighbor as yourself.’ [b]   40  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

John 13:34-35

34  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love

one another. 35  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one

another.”

That kind of goes back to people seeing our faith in action and praising God

BUT…

John 15:13

13  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

What does it mean to “lay down one’s life” for someone?

It most certainly means die for them

It could also mean to live for someone

1 John 3:16-18

16  This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought

to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  17  If anyone has material possessions

and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God

be in that person?  18  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions

and in truth.

-back to love in action

It’s easy to say that we would die for someone – because it’s incredibly unlikely

- Make a mental list of folks you would die for…you would lay down your life for

- Would you live your life for the same people…now we’re talking about laying

down our life…

Do you see a trend?...to go like Jesus came is to live generously and sacrificially

-It doesn’t just honor God, but it shows people your faith in action and they will glorify

Him for it.

COMPASSIONATELY

To extend love to others requires that we first understand something about their needs. That

means trying to put ourselves in their shoes. 

- It may mean we observe and ask questions to better understand people’s situations

- It may first start by CARING about people

Empathy is our feeling of awareness toward other people's emotions and an attempt to

understand how they feel. Compassion is a response to empathy or pity and creates a desire to

help…it’s empathy and pity in action…doing something about it.

- Really loving our neighbor requires that, once we understand something about

another person’s pain, we do what we can to ease it or to somehow lighten the

burden. This is where empathy is transformed into compassion.

Matthew 9:35-38

35  Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the

good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.  36  When he saw the crowds,

he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a

shepherd.  37  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  38  Ask

the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

- Jesus is telling the disciples, from a place of compassion, to ask God to send us out-

o To live like Him

o To love compassionately – to love in action – so that people will come to

know Him

Luke 7:11-15

11  Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went

along with him.  12  As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the

only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with

her.  13  When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

14  Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still.

He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”  15  The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus

gave him back to his mother.

This story gets me, because this is also my story.

John 11:33-35

33  When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also

weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  34  “Where have you laid him?” he

asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

35  Jesus wept.

Romans 12:15-18

15  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  16  Live in harmony with

one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low

position. [a]  Do not be conceited.

17  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of

everyone.  18  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

How do we show compassion like Jesus?

1. Compassion is an action, not just pity.

a. Action makes our love easier to see than just pity. In fact, At the end of the day,

what the world needs most isn’t a bunch of Jesus' followers who feel

compassionate but don’t act on it. It needs followers of Jesus who are willing to

be compassionate, and act on it. If it’s in your power, or through the power of

God, then do something…but be helpful…pray for wisdom and discernment.

b.

2. We need to be open to interruption and involvement in people’s lives

a. What are our friends and family currently going through?

b. Who has God put on your heart right now?...

c. Let’s pray that God would show us

Generously…. sacrificially and compassionately

Galatians 5:22-23

22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness,  23  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Matthew 7:16

16  By their fruit you will recognize them….

Are we generous to the point where people will glorify God

Are we sacrificial? Are we living our lives for others or ourselves?

Are we compassionate? Do we act on our pity and even empathy?

- If we go into the world the way Jesus came into the world, people will see our faith in

action…that’s being disciples who make disciples…

So how do we do that…other than the obvious things we’ve already talked about?

1. If we’re loving generously, sacrificially and compassionately, we’re keeping Christ in

Christmas.

2. If there is a “war on Christmas”, it’s because the soldiers lost their focus and abandoned

their positions

3. We’re not called to verbal battles over “merry Christmas” vs “happy holidays”.

Is it possible that we’re telling the world to keep Christ is Christmas, but not doing it ourselves?

Are we more likely to show Christian outrage more than outreach? We need a re-set if we’re

really going to show people who Jesus is.

Poinsettias – elderly or sick – take one…don’t take the trees

December 10, 2023 Scripture References

John 1:1-5

John 3:16-17

Romans 5:12-19

Mark 16:15

Matthew 28:16-20

Romans 5:8

2 Corinthians 9:11-15

Philippians 2:1-11

Matthew 22:36-40

John 13:34-35

John 15:13

1 John 3:16-18

Matthew 9:35-38

Luke 7:11-15

John 11:33-35

Romans 12:15-18

Galatians 5:22-23

Matthew 7:16