Intro – The world constantly calls us to spend our precious energy on buying things we don’t need with money we don’t have or could use on better things. Pills and programs that are going to fix everything from weight to overactive bladder. Many of these things are distractions from our deeper yearnings for love and belonging. So all year we are leaning into the question – What Would Jesus Do? For Christmas we will look at how Jesus came and particularly the names he is given as the Messiah – hence our title – And He Will Be Called

Series Overview

Jesus is the promised Messiah to people struggling during crazy overwhelming times

Jesus is both a savior and a blueprint for living – then and now!

We will draw from the text of Isaiah 9:2-7 and particularly verse 6 which says

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

Each week we’ll look at how Jesus fulfills one name in his powerfully unique way

Jesus doesn’t throw away everything that came before – he builds on it and turns it upside down

Series Big Picture Points

Jesus is a great disruptor. He was exactly what they were waiting for and nothing like they expected. He didn’t come to change who was in power but to change the very nature of power.

Jesus was able to hold the personal and the political. Speak into the lives of individuals and call out systems.

Jesus had a very simple message – Love God, Love Neighbor, Love Self. On the personal level all the way up to the political. That is simple and it is very hard.

Reflection Questions

Take some time to think about Jesus as the great disruptor. Spend some time naming systems in our world that need to be disrupted. Name dynamics in your life and community that need to be disrupted. How might these be a place of prayer for you in this Advent season?

Jesus was able to pay attention to the needs of individual people while also calling out systems of injustice that were hurting people. Most of us tend to lean more to one of these than the other. Where do you lean? How can you use this Advent season to find more balance like Jesus?