Use these for group work, or to assist your personal reflection.
- What have you learned new about Christmas this year, either from this passage or in a service of worship, or in any other way?
- How can we best celebrate the Good News at Christmas time? Do people want to hear the Gospel at Christmas during the story of the nativity?
- How may we best pass on the spiritual heritage of faith we have received, especially the news of Christ’s coming at Christmas?
I offer You my praise, Lord Jesus. You are God, and You have made Him real to me. Without You, I would not know God, I would not know truth, and I would not know that I can have a relationship with the one and only God who has made the world. Alleluia! AMEN
Topis covered by this text
- The mystery of the incarnation
- The nature of the Gospel found in the coming of the Word
- The glory of God come to earth
- Grace and truth
Personal comments by author:
Personally, I am fascinated by the words at the end of this passage, ‘full of grace and truth’. I know that God came in Jesus to show us the redeeming love of God, and His gracious offer of salvation. However, John says squarely that this is ‘truth’. It is fashionable today to stand back from any claims of religious truth, yet for me, if Christianity is not ‘true’ in the fullest sense of this, it is a lie. Frankly, I do not want to live a religious life supported by a lie, I want to live by the eternal truth; nothing is worth more, and I am convinced I have found this in Jesus. I do not wish to make other people believe this, but I believe it is right for all people to have religious freedom so that in questing for the truth, people are able to consider the claims of the Gospel and of Jesus Christ.
Ideas for exploring discipleship
- Consider for a few moments whether you feel able to speak to people about the Gospel this Christmas. Can you celebrate Christ’s coming to earth by telling another person that this story of Jesus is the truth; moreover, it is not just that the nativity story is true, but it is true that God has indeed come, in Jesus.
- Do your best to bless all those you meet, by your manner and the graciousness of your speech and the quality of what you do.
Please refer to the general advice on the page ‘discipleship challenges’
The notes below are offered to help you think about the challenges of God’s Word. Read the notes and suggestions below, but don’t try to follow through any more than one thing at any one time!