Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Acts 15

This is exactly what our Wrap Up time looked like today!

Fun, huh?!

Yes, celebrating anyone's birthday is a blast.

But celebrating the birthday of a King...

well, that's something not everyone gets to enjoy.

God WANTS EVERYONE to enjoy celebrating the birth of His Son.

That was the point Peter made in Acts 15:7...

"After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them:

'Brothers, you know that some time ago

God made a choice among you

that the Gentiles might hear from my lips

the message of the gospel and believe.'"

God chose YOU.

He chose you to celebrate with Him.

He chose you to enjoy Salvation.

He chose to love you.

That's something He didn't have to do, but He did.

During our Warp Up time,

we finished decorating our room for Jesus's party.

We all blew up balloons,

hung up crepe paper,

and colored birthday signs for our King.

The students were each asked if any of the other students

in our classes attend the same church as they.

We didn't mention the names or practices of our churches...

only the students we attend with.

Other than siblings standing together,

most everyone stood alone to represent their church.

(This was fun to see just how vast our God's CBS really is!)

It was explained to the students

how some of the churches may kneel in church,

some may stand,

some may sing without instruments,

some may have complete bands,

some may raise their hands while in church,

some may sit the entire time.

Although we don't all worship the same exact way...

we do worship the exact same Jesus.

Although all churches may not agree on everything,

all Christian churches agree on God's one and only Son

and that is Jesus, Christ, the Lord.

Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Judas Barsabas

encouraged the New Church to focus on their

likenesses in Christ, not the differences in their worship.

Sound familiar?

We are God's Church... this CBS class.

We, too, can focus on Jesus

and how He makes us a special people.

And we, too, can take His Good News out into the world.

Will you do that this Christmas?

Will you do something for someone

(even if you don't always agree with their ways)

to let them know

a King was born for them today?

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6

“Where is the one who has been born

king of the Jews?

We saw his star when it rose

and have come to worship him.”  Matthew 2:2

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king.

In fact, the reason I was born

and came into the world is to testify to the truth.

Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”  John 18:37

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!