1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 2: Hey everyone, welcome back to How to Study the Bible. 3 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 2: Before we jump in today, just wanted to ask something 4 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:09,040 Speaker 2: of you. 5 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 3: If this podcast has been meaningful to you. 6 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 2: If you found it encouraging, I'd love for you to 7 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 2: leave us a five star rating over on wherever you 8 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 2: get your podcast. It's just one of the simplest ways 9 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 2: you can help other people find these conversations and a 10 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 2: really wonderful gift to us as we continue to reach 11 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 2: as many people as possible with the good news of 12 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:33,040 Speaker 2: Jesus and the reality that scripture is real and relevant 13 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 2: in our lives. 14 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 3: So it would love for you to do that. 15 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:37,680 Speaker 2: Thanks for helping out. And one more thing for you, 16 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,320 Speaker 2: I have a gift for you as well. I created 17 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 2: a free Christmas Eve liturgy. This actually came out of 18 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 2: the COVID season when everything was sort of upside down 19 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 2: and many people, whether it was from illness or family 20 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 2: situation or church situation, we're not able to be together 21 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 2: for worship, and so I created this family liturgy. You 22 00:01:57,480 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 2: can use it with your family, you can use it 23 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 2: with the family you choose, your roommates, your friends. It's 24 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:08,079 Speaker 2: just a simple scripture reading, prayer, candle lighting, opportunity and 25 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 2: you can download that at Nicole Yunis dot com slash Christmas. 26 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 2: It's my gift to you this season, and I hope 27 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 2: that it might create meaningful moments for you and the 28 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 2: people that you love. And so today we're going to 29 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 2: get into and continue this series on Christmas hymns, and 30 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 2: I'd love to ask you a question to start, which is, 31 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 2: why do you think hymns move us so deeply? Why 32 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 2: is music what moves us maybe more even than a 33 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 2: sermon or a scripture reading. Do you think it's nostalgia? 34 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 2: Does it bring it back, bring us back in time? 35 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 2: Is it the beauty and just the skill of the 36 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 2: people singing and playing. Is there something in the poetry 37 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 2: and the melody that opens up our souls to a 38 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,679 Speaker 2: different way of experiencing God. I think it's really all 39 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 2: of those things, and particularly at Christmas time, we have 40 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 2: all of those things come together in these familiar words 41 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: that maybe we've heard since we were children, or maybe 42 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 2: these are words you have never really paid attention to before, 43 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 2: but you realize, wow, this is the music that's playing 44 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 2: in the background at the department store or at the 45 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 2: coffee shop. And if you've ever heard that music and 46 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 2: realize that it's familiar, and you've heard you'r and felt 47 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 2: sort of your heart swell or your eyes just fill 48 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 2: up with tears and you just feel so moved by it. 49 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 2: There is a reason these hymns have so much depth 50 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 2: to them, so much theological insight, and I think what 51 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 2: we really are trying to do over these next few 52 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 2: weeks is just take a pause, connect to what these 53 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 2: hymns really are about, so that as you play them 54 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 2: in your home and in your car, and as you're 55 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 2: out in the just the world doing what we do 56 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 2: before Christmas, you might have a moment where you get 57 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 2: to stop and worship in your heart wherever you are 58 00:03:52,560 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 2: because of the reality of Jesus Christ coming into the world. 59 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 2: So let's talk a little bit today about Oh Holy Night. 60 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 2: Spoiler alert. This is my favorite Christmas sem and most 61 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 2: of it is because not only is it musically so demanding, 62 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 2: so challenging that when you hear someone sing this song, 63 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 2: you're just moved by their outpouring that they're giving to 64 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 2: the music, but also because of a particular few words 65 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 2: within this song that just to me have captured my 66 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:37,799 Speaker 2: own experience of life with Christ. And all that Jesus 67 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 2: has for us, and so I'm excited to spend some 68 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 2: time with you guys. Let's jump into Oh Holy Night. 69 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 2: So there's a several allusions to scripture that are in 70 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 2: these lyrics, unlike our last two hymns that had a 71 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:54,160 Speaker 2: lot of like direct direct illusions, you know, twenty eight 72 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: thirty two different verses within, we really are getting kind 73 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 2: of a overview of the Chris story. And we have 74 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 2: four strong illusions that I want to make sure that 75 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,160 Speaker 2: we talk about today. The first, of course, is the 76 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,280 Speaker 2: star and the birth of Christ that is talked about 77 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:10,600 Speaker 2: here in Matthew chapter two. 78 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 3: We see that Jesus was. 79 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 2: Born in Bethlehem in Judea, and that people were seeing 80 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 2: his star as it rose and they came to worship him. 81 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 2: The other thing that we see that's an illusion within 82 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 2: this song is the longing of a broken world, this 83 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 2: idea that long lay the world in sin and errorhining 84 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 2: meaning like groaning, moaning for relief, crying out for help. 85 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 2: And it says in Romans five, verse six, while we 86 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 2: were utterly helpless, Christ at just the right time came 87 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 2: and died for us sinners. And we get this sense 88 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 2: of like this gap between the experience that we have 89 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 2: in the world and this heaviness and this burden, this darkness. 90 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:56,719 Speaker 3: That is the world. 91 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 2: And then that is juxtaposed with this other lyric, which 92 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 2: is the soul felt its worth. And in first John 93 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 2: four verse nine, it says God showed how much he 94 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,600 Speaker 2: loved us by sending his one and only son into 95 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 2: the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 96 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: So we have this long lay the world in sin 97 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:22,720 Speaker 2: and error, pining, just like our brokenness are our desperation, 98 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,039 Speaker 2: our desire to be whole, but not able to do 99 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 2: it ourselves. And then he appeared. Christ appeared, and the 100 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 2: soul felt its worth. It's like everything that we ever 101 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 2: hoped would be true, that really we have significance, that 102 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 2: we are seeing, that we are loved, that we matter, 103 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,839 Speaker 2: that we have purpose in this world. All of that 104 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 2: was brought to reality through Christ. And then it goes 105 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 2: on and says he proclaimed freedom for the captive. Luke 106 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:53,599 Speaker 2: four verse eighteen says, the spirit of the Lord is 107 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,479 Speaker 2: upon me, for he has anointed me to bring good 108 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 2: news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim 109 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 2: that captives will be released. And this is where it says, 110 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 2: for the slave is our brother, and we're going to 111 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 2: talk about that in just a moment, and that whole 112 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 2: concept and how that was written in this story, and 113 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 2: then finally the response of worship. Right, So like this 114 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 2: whole idea that's fall on your knees. Here he is, 115 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 2: like he has come in beauty and majesty. He has 116 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 2: come as the answer to every question of our soul. 117 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 2: And in Philippians too, it says that the name of Jesus, 118 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 2: every need would bow in heaven and on earth and 119 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 2: under the earth, and every tongue declared that Jesus Christ 120 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 2: is Lord. So when we think about these four themes, 121 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 2: really this song is a Bible study set to music. 122 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 2: It announces hope, it announces our dignity, our freedom, and 123 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 2: it gives us the response, and the proper response is worship. 124 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 2: So let me tell you a little bit more about 125 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 2: this song in case you don't know. So this, this song, 126 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 2: Oh Holy Night, actually began as a French poem and 127 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 2: it was written by a wine merchant. It was not clergyman, 128 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 2: it was not a church person who wrote it. And 129 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 2: then the music to go with the poem was written 130 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 2: by Adolph Adam who was Jewish and his Jewish heritage 131 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 2: actually made some church leaders hesitant to embrace the song 132 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 2: at first, but thank God that they did. 133 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 3: That's so beautiful. 134 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 2: And then John Sullivan Dwight was the one who translated 135 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 2: this him into English, and he was an abolitionist, so 136 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 2: he was actually working against slavery, and he saw how 137 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 2: much profound meaning there was in the line chains shall 138 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 2: he break, for the slave is our brother, and so 139 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 2: that was actually written into the original song, but then 140 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 2: when translated, it kind of came into new life in 141 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 2: this time in American history when Christians were beginning to 142 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 2: really speak out against slavery. And so the other little 143 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 2: cool thing about this is that many people believe that 144 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:57,959 Speaker 2: this was the first song ever broadcast over the radio. 145 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 2: That's so interesting in nineteen oh so this has been 146 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 2: around for a long time. Originally written as a poem 147 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 2: in eighteen forty three, still sung in many many churches 148 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:11,959 Speaker 2: every Christmas Eve. Such a beautiful song that really helps 149 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:16,079 Speaker 2: us understand what it means that Jesus came. 150 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 3: So we know that these themes. 151 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 2: That Christ enters a world that is longing, a world 152 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,439 Speaker 2: that is broken, a world that is desperate for help, 153 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 2: but that can't solve the problem themselves. And that's a 154 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 2: huge part of our understanding of the Christian faith is 155 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 2: that we don't work our way to God. God enters 156 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 2: into our weakness. This is what stands apart in the 157 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 2: Christian faith is this concept that you can't work your 158 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 2: way to a different level or to a different level 159 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 2: of holiness. It's God who comes to us when we 160 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 2: are utterly helpless, when we are dead in our sin. 161 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 3: Christ makes us alive. 162 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 2: And this is so beautiful and simple, and it sounds 163 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 2: so good when we say it actually very difficult to 164 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 2: accept because to accept this reality is to understand that 165 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 2: you yourself do not have it within you to create 166 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 2: the good life that you're looking for. And it's to 167 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:18,080 Speaker 2: actually be so utterly helpless, so humble that you would 168 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 2: accept love given to you. And if you wonder if 169 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 2: you struggle with this, if you have ever been down 170 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 2: and out in any way, Let's say that you've had 171 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 2: an injury, or you've had surgery, or you've had a 172 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 2: rough patch and you've needed help, think about how hard 173 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 2: it is to accept help. A few years ago, I 174 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 2: tore my aclin skiing, and I had to make it 175 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 2: back home from there, and I remember just absolutely hating, 176 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 2: just hating being pushed in a wheelchair in the airport. Now, 177 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 2: interestingly enough, when someone else is being pushed in a 178 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 2: wheelchair in the airport, I don't think anything of it. 179 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 3: I don't think. 180 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 2: I don't have much for that except for compassion, Like 181 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:00,200 Speaker 2: I'm very I'm like, oh gosh, I hope that they 182 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:01,680 Speaker 2: get where they need to go, and I'm so glad 183 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 2: that they have someone to take them there, etc. Like 184 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 2: I don't think the same thing. But when it's me 185 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 2: who has to get help, the humbling aspect of that, 186 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 2: the reality that I can only do or go where 187 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 2: this person who's pushing this wheelchair will take me, and 188 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 2: I'm not in control at all, that is a hard 189 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 2: thing to accept. I think it is the number one 190 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 2: barrier for people. Accepting faith is recognizing that we cannot 191 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:29,960 Speaker 2: work our way to God, and that God is the 192 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,679 Speaker 2: one who comes to us and he enters into our weakness. 193 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 2: He understands who we really are. He sees us from 194 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 2: the inside out. He knows us on our worst day 195 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:40,839 Speaker 2: that we've ever had in the past, and our worst 196 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 2: day that we have yet to come and he loves 197 00:11:42,880 --> 00:12:00,120 Speaker 2: us still accepting that is what grace really is. The 198 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 2: second thing that I think we can take from here 199 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 2: is this concept again difficult to accept, that the soul 200 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 2: has infinite worth, that God has showed us how much 201 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 2: he loves us by sending his one and only son, 202 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:16,440 Speaker 2: that when we read in Genesis about the creation of 203 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:19,320 Speaker 2: male and female, it says that God created this world 204 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:22,559 Speaker 2: and it was good. It started good. Our souls were 205 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 2: created in good. Now sin has corrupted our experience of good. 206 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 2: But that God, in his love for us, sees the 207 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:35,440 Speaker 2: infinite worth of every soul, every single one, whether that's 208 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 2: the person that irritates you this season, whether that's the 209 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 2: person that you have a hard time forgiving, whether that's 210 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 2: the person who's marginalized or was in the corner. Like, 211 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 2: God loves his people, and he loves them so much 212 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 2: that he showed us what love looks like by saying, 213 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 2: my son will come, and he will sacrifice his life 214 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 2: so that you might know how much your. 215 00:12:56,520 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 3: Life means to me. That I might be in relationship 216 00:12:59,679 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 3: with you. 217 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 2: Jesus coming to earth is God's declaration of your value. 218 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 2: It is not earned, It is given to us because 219 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 2: God has declared it. So the final thing that I 220 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 2: think we really want to see here is that Christ 221 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 2: always brings freedom. 222 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 3: In many ways. 223 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 2: This kind of freedom has been perhaps overemphasized as a 224 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 2: personal freedom in the evangelical church in America in the 225 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 2: last several generations. It's been a very very personal experience, 226 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 2: like I am a sinner and God will set me free. 227 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 2: That is true, but it is not just a personal experience. 228 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 3: It is a social reality as well. 229 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 2: Luke four says that Jesus said that God has sent 230 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 2: me to proclaim that captives will be released. Jesus frees 231 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 2: us from our sin, from our fear, from our shame, 232 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 2: from our regret, and then he also invites us into 233 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 2: his work of justice and restoration in the world. So 234 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 2: it's not just a personal freedom, although it certainly is 235 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,679 Speaker 2: a personal freedom, it is a personal freeed that sets 236 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 2: us free. 237 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 3: To have a social impact. 238 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 2: And don't overread into my words as if I'm saying 239 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:06,840 Speaker 2: something political. 240 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 3: This is not political. This is biblical. 241 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 2: This is about what God has called us to and 242 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 2: he says that you are going to be the light 243 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 2: of the world. 244 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,320 Speaker 3: That it actually says in scripture that Jesus said you are. 245 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 2: The light of the world, like he is the light 246 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 2: of the world, and his light in us shines into 247 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 2: the world, and he invites us into places of brokenness, 248 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 2: places of oppression, places of the marginalized, and he invites 249 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 2: us into the work of restoration. So that freedom is personal, 250 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 2: but that freedom is also social. So if that's what 251 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 2: it means theologically, I would ask you what does that 252 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 2: mean for you this week? When you think about going 253 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 2: through your life, as you're walking through getting gifts and 254 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 2: getting ready for Christmas, what does it mean that you've 255 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 2: been freed? And that freedom is for others as well? 256 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 2: And I think that's why so often at Christmas word 257 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 2: spurred to generosity, because we recognize I've been given such 258 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 2: an incredible gift. I want to give that back to 259 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 2: the world because that's what my Jesus commands me to do. 260 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 2: So as you think about what this means for you, 261 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 2: as we wrap up this, Oh Holy Night, and you'll 262 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 2: hear a little bit of it at the end of 263 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 2: this podcast, I wanted to give you this quote from 264 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 2: Frederick Beiegner, who's one of my favorites. He says, the 265 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 2: birth of Jesus made possible not just a new way 266 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 2: of understanding life, but a new way of living life. 267 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 2: So I want to invite you along with me this 268 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 2: week to sit with the phrase from this song, the 269 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 2: soul felt its worth, perhaps even change it to my 270 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 2: soul felt its worth, and ask yourself, do I live 271 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 2: like this is true? Do I live like this is 272 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 2: true of me? And do I live like this is 273 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 2: true of others? And what's like one step I could 274 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 2: take to make that more true? 275 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 3: This season? And again? 276 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 2: If you'd like a simple, just meaningful way to mark 277 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 2: Christmas Eve, whether you're with family or friends, or even 278 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 2: on your own, you can download this free Christmas Eve 279 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 2: liturgy I put together for you at Nicole yunis dot 280 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 2: com slash Christmas. It's designed to help you slow down 281 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 2: to read scripture, to make space for worship, and as 282 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 2: you hear Holy Night this season, let the truth behind 283 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 2: the music truly move you. All Right, everyone, talk with 284 00:16:18,320 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 2: you next week. 285 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 3: Hey listeners, thanks for listening to this special Advent episode 286 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 3: of How to Study the Bible. We wanted you to. 287 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 1: Know that Nicole has put together a great resource for 288 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: you this Christmas, a Christmas Eve Family Liturgy. 289 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,240 Speaker 3: It's a free resource and a simple way to bring 290 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 3: the message of Christ into your family celebration. You can 291 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 3: find Nicole's Christmas Eve family liturgy by going to her 292 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:42,879 Speaker 3: website Nicoleunice dot com slash Christmas. We also put a 293 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:45,640 Speaker 3: link in the show notes. Thanks and from our team 294 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 3: to yours. Merry Christmas.