Born of a Woman at Just the Right Time

In one paragraph

Preston preached a Christmas message drawn from Paul's letters rather than the nativity accounts, tracing how God sent Jesus into history at precisely the right moment to rescue people who could not rescue themselves. The organizing idea was the Greek distinction between kronos, ordinary clock time, and kairos, the opportune moment, and what it means that God acted in the fullness of that kind of...

Read together

1. Luke 2:8-11 read during the Advent candle lighting to announce the birth of the Savior
2. Psalm 29:2 referenced as the source of 'ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name' during the offering
3. Galatians 4:4-5 quoted to show God sending his Son at just the right time to redeem those under the law and grant adoption
4. Romans 5:6 quoted to show Christ coming at just the right time to die for utterly helpless sinners
5. Romans 5:8 referenced to show Christ died for us while we were still sinners, before any turning
6. Galatians 1:3-5 quoted as Paul's opening grace greeting and statement that Christ gave himself to rescue us from this present evil age
7. Galatians 2:20 quoted as Paul declaring he has been crucified with Christ and now lives by faith in the Son of God
8. Galatians 3:10 quoted to show all who rely on works of the law are under a curse
9. Galatians 3:11 quoted to show no one is justified before God by the law because the righteous will live by faith
10. Galatians 3:24-25 quoted to show the law served as a guardian to lead us to Christ so we may be justified by faith
11. Galatians 3:27-29 quoted to show all who are baptized into Christ are one, heirs according to the promise
12. Galatians 4:1-7 quoted to show heirs held under guardians until the fullness of time when God sent his Son for our adoption
13. Galatians 5:1 quoted as the call to stand firm in the freedom Christ has won and not return to slavery
14. Galatians 5:14-15 quoted to show the whole law is fulfilled in loving your neighbor as yourself, with a warning against devouring one another
15. Galatians 5:19-23 quoted listing the deeds of the flesh contrasted with the fruit of the Spirit
16. Galatians 5:25 quoted as the call to keep in step with the Spirit if we live by the Spirit
17. Galatians 6:6-10 quoted with focus on not becoming weary in doing good, reaping at the opportune moment
18. Galatians 6:18 quoted as Paul's closing grace blessing to the brothers and sisters
19. Ephesians 1:9-10 quoted to show God making known the mystery of his will to bring all things together in Christ at the fullness of times
20. Ephesians 1:22-23 quoted to show Christ as head over all things to the church, which is his body and fullness
21. Ephesians 2:8-9 quoted to declare salvation is by grace through faith, a gift of God and not of works
22. Ephesians 2:10 quoted to show believers are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works prepared beforehand
23. Ephesians 3:8-11 quoted as Paul describing his calling to preach to the Gentiles and make known the multifaceted wisdom of God through the church
24. Ephesians 3:14-19 quoted as Paul's prayer that believers be strengthened inwardly and filled to the fullness of God
25. Ephesians 4:11-13 quoted listing gifts Christ gave to the church for equipping the saints until unity and maturity in Christ are reached
26. Ephesians 5:1-2 quoted as the call to imitate God as beloved children and walk in love as Christ loved us
27. Ephesians 6:23-24 quoted as Paul's closing blessing of peace, love, faith and grace to those who love Christ with an incorruptible love
28. Romans 3:19-24 quoted to show all are accountable before God, none justified by the law, but righteousness comes through faith in Christ
29. Romans 3:25-26 quoted to show God displayed Christ as a propitiation in his blood to demonstrate his righteousness as both just and justifier
30. Romans 5:1-5 quoted to show that justified by faith we have peace with God and hope that does not disappoint through the Holy Spirit
31. Romans 5:7-8 quoted to contrast human willingness to die with God showing his love by sending Christ to die while we were still sinners
32. Romans 8:1-4 quoted to declare no condemnation for those in Christ, freed from the law of sin and death by what God did in sending his Son
33. John 7:6 quoted as Jesus telling his brothers his opportune time has not yet come but theirs is always ready
34. Galatians 5:13 quoted in closing prayer as the call to use freedom not for self-indulgence but to serve one another in love

Talk about it

1. Pastor Preston spent time on the difference between chronos time and kairos time. Can you think of a moment in your own life where you recognized a kairos moment, either when you seized it or when you realized it had passed?
2. Pastor Preston read from Galatians that it was 'for freedom that Christ has set us free,' and described the Galatian believers being pulled back toward trying to earn their standing through the law. Where do you find yourself tempted to earn what God has already given freely?
3. The fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Which of these do you find hardest to walk in right now, and what do you think gets in the way?
4. Pastor Preston said that Ephesians describes us as God's workmanship, created for good works that He prepared beforehand for us to walk in, and he connected that to kairos moments we might miss if we are not paying attention. How are you currently trying to stay open to recognizing those prepared works when they appear?
5. Pastor Preston pointed to Mary's response to the angel, 'may it be to me just as you have said,' as an example of grabbing hold of the moment. What would it look like practically for you to respond that way when God puts something in front of you this week?