Rewind — the teaching platform built on your church’s own preaching

The big idea

Christmas is about a mission, not a moment — God went on a mission for us in Jesus, and now He wants to continue that mission through us.

Christmas isn't a season we pack away once the feeling fades — it's the story of God's unfailing love and faithfulness breaking into the darkness through Jesus. Pastor Bill shows from John 1 that Jesus came to restore the light and life we lost, and that He now invites us to come and see, and come and be part of that same mission.

Christmas is about a mission, not a moment

— Pastor Bill Bush

Point 1 of 6

We treat Christmas like an ugly sweater — worn proudly for a season, then packed away.

Pastor Bill opens with the tradition of ugly Christmas sweaters and holiday decorations, noting how we bring out extra joy, generosity, and faith during the season but then put it all away once the moment passes, treating the meaning of Christmas the same way we treat decorations.

Point 2 of 6

John's gospel tells the Christmas story differently, focused on who Jesus is and why He came rather than the birth narrative details.

Pastor Bill explains that John, writing decades after the other gospels as the last living original disciple, skips the manger scene and instead starts 'in the beginning,' echoing Genesis, to show Jesus as the eternal Word who created the very world He entered.

He is God in a bod

— Pastor Bill Bush

Point 3 of 6

Jesus is the light the darkness can never extinguish, and He came to restore what sin had broken.

Working through John 1, Pastor Bill points out that Jesus is called the Word because He is God's glory, His unfailing love and faithfulness, made visible; even though His own people rejected Him, the darkness could never put out the light He brought.

Point 4 of 6

John the Baptist models the mission: he pointed away from himself and toward Jesus.

Pastor Bill shows that John's job description — to be a witness who testifies to the light — is the same calling given to every follower of Jesus; when challenged about his authority, John made clear the mission was never about him.

The darkness can never extinguish the light

— Pastor Bill Bush

Christmas isn't a season. It's a savior

— Pastor Bill Bush

Point 5 of 6

Jesus' question, 'What do you want?' and invitation, 'Come and see,' exposes whether we're living for a moment or a mission.

Pastor Bill unpacks the exchange with the first disciples, arguing Jesus was asking a deeper question about their expectations, not just where He was staying, and that His answer, 'come and see,' calls people to follow rather than demand.

We have to choose to just go and see where Jesus wants to take us

— Pastor Bill Bush

Point 6 of 6

We often want a toy from Jesus when He's offering a tool for real life.

Pastor Bill tells the story of receiving a World Book Encyclopedia for Christmas at age six and being disappointed, only to realize years later his mother's gift reflected real love and lasting purpose; he applies this to how we treat Jesus like a vending machine for momentary wants instead of trusting His deeper, faithful plan.

I didn't want a tool

— Pastor Bill Bush

A story from life

Preacher's childhood Christmas story about receiving a World Book Encyclopedia and initially rejecting it, later recognizing its lasting value

Take it into your week

Pastor Bill frames the charge as choosing to come and see, and come and be part of Jesus' mission rather than staying stuck in the moment.

Application

Ask what you actually want from Jesus
Sit with Jesus' question, 'What do you want?' and be honest about whether your answer is a moment answer (fix this, give me that) or a mission answer that trusts His deeper purpose.
Surrender your expectations of what Jesus should do
Like Israel expecting a political savior, or a child expecting a toy, recognize when your disappointment comes from expecting the wrong thing from Jesus rather than trusting His unfailing love and faithfulness.
Choose to come and see
Follow Jesus into whatever He's doing rather than waiting for Him to meet you where you already are; trust that following leads to greater things than you can currently imagine.
Point others to Jesus like John and Philip did
Take up the same calling given to John the Baptist and Philip: be a witness who testifies about Jesus and invites others, 'come and see,' rather than making the mission about yourself.

Keep going

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