Today's journey is six miles — the distance between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. It's the same path Mary and Joseph walked in obedience. The same road the wise men traveled, leaving Herod's deception for Christ's truth. The same distance that separated religious performance from God's presence.

As we walk these six mile markers together, you'll discover this isn't about trying harder to be generous. It's about letting God's generosity at Christmas transform how you see everything else.Some of you feel exhausted by the demands of this season. Others feel guilty that your giving doesn't match your gratitude. Many of you wonder if your faith is real when your heart feels cold toward others' needs.

This message is for you.

The journey from Jerusalem's religion to Bethlehem's relationship isn't about manufacturing feelings or forcing behavior. It's about discovering that when we truly grasp what God gave at Christmas, we can't help but be changed.

The birth of Jesus shows us that God keeps His promises and nothing is impossible for Him.

1. Luke gives us the story through Mary’s eyes

2. Matthew gives us the story through Joseph’s eyes

ANGLE #1 THE PROBLEM

Matthew 1:18–19 NLT

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

“Christmas is not sentimental. It is the story of God breaking in where the world is breaking apart. -Tim Keller

ANGLE #2 THE REVELATION

Matthew 1:20 NLT

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

“Joseph, this is not your crisis — it’s My calling.”“This is not a scandal — it’s a sign.”“This is not chaos — it’s fulfillment.”

ANGLE #3 THE PROPHECY

Matthew 1:22–23 NLT

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ ”

Isaiah 7:14 NLT

All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

Christmas is God proving He is faithful even when it feels like everything is falling apart.

ANGLE #4 THE SIGNIFICANCE

Matthew 1:21 NLT

And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Christmas is not good advice; it is good news. It is not about what we do; it is about what God has done.

ANGLE #5 THE IMPOSSIBLE

Luke 1:37 NLT

“…For the word of God will never fail.”

Matthew 1:20–21 NLT

“…the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife…’”

Isaiah 7:14 NLT

All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

Isaiah 9:6–7 NLT

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

Luke 2:11 NLT

The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!

“Where you see barriers, God sees beginnings.”“Where you see endings, God sees new creation.”“Where you see impossible, God sees Immanuel.”

Angle #6 JOSEPH’S RESPONSE

Matthew 1:24–25 NLT

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Angle #7 OUR LIFE APPLICATION

1. Trust God when life doesn’t make sense.

2. Believe that God’s timing is perfect.

3. Surrender to God’s call even when you don’t have all the details.

4. Remember that God is with you.

ANGLE #8 GOSPEL INVITATION

The heart of Christmas is that God didn’t wait for us to come to Him —He came to us.

Sermon Notes

A LIGHT HAS DAWNED

John 1:1–9 NLT

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.

The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

THE WORLD IS DARK

Isaiah 9:2 NIV

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

“The world is a dark place, and we will never find our way unless Jesus becomes our Light.”

- Tim Keller

THE LIGHT CAME TO US

John 1:14 NIV

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

God didn’t shout His way into the world. He slipped in quietly, humbly, vulnerably.

Why?

Because God wasn’t coming to crush us — He was coming to rescue us.

CHRISTMAS DEMANDS A RESPONSE

Christmas isn’t sentimental — it’s confrontational.

And that brings us to the three invitations of the Christmas story:

1. RECEIVE THE GIFT WITH HUMILITY

John 1:16 NIV

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

2. WALK IN THE LIGHT WITH SURRENDER

John 1:5 NLT

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Will you surrender your darkness to His light?

3. SHARE THE LIGHT WITH GENEROSITY

Generosity is not something we do — it’s something we become.

Isaiah 9:2 NIV

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Response:

1. For those who need light:“Jesus, be my Light. I surrender my darkness.”

2. For those giving toward Legacy:“Jesus, use my gift to shine Your Light into the world.”

3. For our church:“Jesus, help us walk in the Light as You are in the Light.”