Teaching Series

When Heaven Came Close

The King Has Come — Jesus Our Saviour

After all the preparation, decorating, food, and gifts, have you made room for Jesus in your heart?

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. — So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.” Luke 2:1, 4 (NIV)

“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together... so that in everything He might be preeminent — so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” Colossians 1:17–18

“In His name the nations will put their hope.” Matthew 12:21 (NIV)

Jesus Light Of The World

“Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Lk 1:78–79 (NIV)

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 (NIV)

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” — St. Francis of Assisi

The Word Became Flesh

“While they were there, the time came for the Baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Luke 2:6-7 (NIV)

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory… full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (NIV)

“The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child… The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets.” — J.I. Packer

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent Him to buy freedom for us… so that He could adopt us as His very own children.” Galatians 4:4–5 (NLT)

God’s Glory in Humility

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby…” Luke 2:12 (NIV)

“The Messiah who showed up, however, wore a different kind of glory, the glory of humility.” — Philip Yancey

"Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh.” 1 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV).

Godliness doesn't start with us trying harder; it starts with God coming closer.

“He became what we are that He might make us what He is.” — St. Athanasius

The Cradle, The Cross And The Crown

“Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you…” Luke 2:11 (NIV).

"The Child in the cradle became the King on the cross. And because He did, the only thing that marks my record is grace." — Adapted from Max Lucado

Have you ever felt like you're on the outside looking in—wondering if God has overlooked you?

When Heaven Came Close

Heaven’s First Invitation

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” John 1:14 (NIV)

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood.” John 1:14 (MSG)

God Meets Us in the Ordinary

“There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them.” Luke 2:8-9 (NIV).

"Christ was not only born on the level of the world, but even lower than the world… The hands that had made the sun and stars were too small to reach the huge heads of the cattle. God was a baby." — G.K. Chesterton

“Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?” Psalm 113:5-6 (NIV)

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel.” Micah 5:2 (NIV)

God’s“energetic action” takes “from the midst of the world… those individuals whom no one judged worthy of attention and made them the bearers of His kingdom.” — Anthony C. Thiselton

“God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise… the weak… the lowly… so that no one may boast before Him” 1 Corinthians 1:27–29 (NIV)

“The shepherds were not looking for a Saviour. They were looking out for sheep. They were not religious men. They were working men... God speaks to us in our work, not just in our worship.” — Frederick Buechner

God’s Grace Speaks to Our Fear

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Luke 2:10 (NIV)

“The shepherds had no performance to offer, so they were the perfect candidates for grace.” — Brennan Manning. (The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out)

The Sign of the Servant King

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12 (NIV)

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped…” Luke 2:12 (NIV)

‣        At His birth: “She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger.” Luke 2:7 (NIV)

‣        At the Last Supper: “He wrapped a towel around His waist.” John 13:4 (NIV)

‣        After the cross: “Joseph… wrapped the body in linen cloth.” Mark 15:46 (NIV)

“The manger is the sign that God’s victory will be won through self-giving love, not force.” — N.T. Wright

Responding To The Saviour

“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened…” Luke 2:15 (NIV)

“Do not merely listen to the word… Do what it says.” James 1:22 (NIV)

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8 (ESV)

“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” — Oswald Chambers

“When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this Child.” Luke 2:17 (NIV)

“They were unschooled, ordinary men… and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 (NIV).

“Today… a Saviour has been born to you.” Luke 2:11 (NIV)

Mary’s Surrender

When Heaven Waits for a “Yes”

Luke 1:26–38

God uses ordinary people to carry extraordinary purposes.

Your yes to God opens the door for Him to work in and through your life.

At Christmas, we revisit a familiar story—Mary and Joseph, shepherds and wise men, a manger and a newborn King. Yet before the angels sang and the star appeared, the story began quietly with a young woman receiving unexpected news that would change everything.

In Luke 1:26–38, we meet Mary—young, ordinary, and from Nazareth, a town of little significance. She wasn’t a queen or a priest, didn’t hold power or influence, yet God chose her. Her only distinction was her willingness to be used. God often works this way, choosing ordinary people to carry extraordinary purposes.

When the angel Gabriel appeared and declared God’s favour, Mary was confused and troubled. She was told she would conceive and give birth to a son who would reign forever. This moment became a crossroads—a “sliding doors” moment—where Mary had to decide how she would respond. Like her, we all face moments where faith and fear collide, where obedience feels costly, and surrender feels uncertain.

Imagine if Mary had allowed fear to outweigh trust—if she had turned away. God’s plan would still have stood, but the privilege of participation would have passed to another. This imagined version of the story reminds us that while God’s purposes are unstoppable, our involvement is a choice.

But Mary didn’t say no. When faced with the impossible, she trusted God. She asked honest questions, listened, and ultimately responded with surrender:

“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

That simple yes changed history.

Mary’s response shows us what surrender looks like. It is not passive resignation but active trust. It often interrupts comfort, challenges our desire for control, and requires obedience without full understanding. Fear will always speak, but faith chooses to trust the One who sees the full picture.

Scripture reminds us that God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55), and when we surrender, His Word produces fruit—peace, joy, and lives that honour Him. Saying yes does not remove hardship, but it places us at the centre of God’s purpose.

So what does surrender look like for us?

First, it flows from relationship. Mary’s trust came from knowing God, not simply knowing about Him.
Second, it looks like obedience in uncertainty—trusting God’s character when the path is unclear (Proverbs 3:5–6).

Third, surrender produces transformation. When we say yes, God works all things together for good (Romans 8:28), shaping our lives into testimonies of His grace.

The question for each of us is simple but challenging: What is the yes God is asking of you? It might involve forgiveness, courage, obedience, or letting go of control. Whatever it is, your yes matters.

Mary’s story invites us to go deeper—to deeper trust, deeper surrender, and deeper partnership with God. When we say yes, God’s extraordinary purposes flow through our ordinary lives.

Matthew 1:18–25 (NIV)

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

1. WHEN GOD’S PLAN DISRUPTS OUR OWN

2. GOD SPEAKS INTO OUR WRESTLING

Oswald Chambers:

“The golden rule for understanding in spiritual matters is not intellect, but obedience.”

3. OBEDIENCE OVER REPUTATION

Philippians 2:5–7 (NKJV)

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

The willingness to become of no reputation in order to fulfill the will of God.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said:

“Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.”

4. JOSEPH: THE QUIET YES THAT USHERED IN THE MESSIAH

God trusted Joseph with Jesus before He entrusted Jesus with the world.

God invites you into His eternal plan at moments that don’t make sense.