God’s Choice

Main Point: God lovingly chose to send Jesus to earth with a mission that only He could fulfill.

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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. —John 3:16-17

God’s motive

Reveal Answer

was to rescue a world that He loves.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. —1 John 4:9-10

God’s desire

Reveal Answer

was to demonstrate His love through His Son.

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. —Galatians 4:4-5

God’s timing

Reveal Answer

was, and is, perfect.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. —Ephesians 2:4-5

God’s mercy and grace

Reveal Answer

are what makes salvation possible.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:6-8

God’s ultimate goal

Reveal Answer

was the cross, not the manger.

Takeaway: This Christmas, celebrate the incredible lengths that God went to reveal His love and grace to you!

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Discussion Questions

1. What does John 3:16-17 reveal about God’s motive for sending Jesus into the world? How does this impact the way you view Christmas?

2. What does Galatians 4:4-5 teach us about the timing of Jesus’ arrival? Why is God’s perfect timing significant in our lives today?

3. Why do you think it was important for God’s ultimate goal to be the cross rather than the manger? How does this change the way you celebrate Christmas?

4. In what ways can we demonstrate God’s love and grace to others during the Christmas season?

Table Discussion Question: Reflecting on all the Scripture passages shared, which one speaks to you most this Christmas, and why?