Focus 4 | ...for grace.
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Consider this ice breaker as you gather for the Spotlight.
What is the strangest Christmas present you have ever received?
What is the strangest Christmas present you have ever received?
See what this Spotlight—and series—is focused on.
Tap on the words "Focus 4" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.
Tap on the words "Focus 4" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.
Let’s dig into Oh the Places You’ll Go again (even if there are Christmasier books by Dr. Seuss out there…)
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So…
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
You’re off the Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So… get on your way!
According to Dr. Suess, there’s a 1.25% chance you’ll fail. Those are not bad odds, but they aren’t perfect.
God can give you better, but when he does, it’s by doing the opposite of this story. It’s by him going—not you. Under those circumstances, permit the following adjustments to the poem…
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(Two-thousand-and-twenty percent guaranteed.
And even with faith like a small mustard seed,)
KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So…
be your name Sydney or Isla or Gus,
or Harvey or Beck, here’s a truth you can trust:
You’re off the Great Places!
Today is your day!
The Lord will go with you.
So… get on your way!
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So…
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
You’re off the Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So… get on your way!
According to Dr. Suess, there’s a 1.25% chance you’ll fail. Those are not bad odds, but they aren’t perfect.
God can give you better, but when he does, it’s by doing the opposite of this story. It’s by him going—not you. Under those circumstances, permit the following adjustments to the poem…
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(Two-thousand-and-twenty percent guaranteed.
And even with faith like a small mustard seed,)
KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So…
be your name Sydney or Isla or Gus,
or Harvey or Beck, here’s a truth you can trust:
You’re off the Great Places!
Today is your day!
The Lord will go with you.
So… get on your way!
Listen and sing along to this song.
Lyrics for O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
Oh, come, O Root of Jesse, free
your own from Satan’s tyranny;
from depths of hell your people save
and bring them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
Oh, come, O Dayspring from on high,
and cheer us by your drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
Oh, come, O Key of David, come,
and open wide our heav’nly home.
Make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
Oh, come, O Root of Jesse, free
your own from Satan’s tyranny;
from depths of hell your people save
and bring them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
Oh, come, O Dayspring from on high,
and cheer us by your drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
Oh, come, O Key of David, come,
and open wide our heav’nly home.
Make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
Welcome Perspective
Let's review: So far…
Explore the differences between wickedness, rebellion, and sin.
Here are some simple definitions to get us started…
https://padlet.com/kent40/ukcg209a2io6ysbl
- You’ve seen how a compassionate and gracious God brings commiseration to your journey.
- You’ve seen how a slow to anger God brings patience to your journey.
- You’ve seen how an abounding in love and faithfulness God brings balance to your journey.
Explore the differences between wickedness, rebellion, and sin.
Here are some simple definitions to get us started…
- Wickedness: The word translated “wickedness” talks about an intentional, deliberate twisting, destroying, or ruining.
- Rebellion: The word translated “rebellion” connotes a direct disobedience of authority for the sake of subverting that authority.
- Sin: The word translated “sin” speaks to a failed attempt - a shot that what an honest try but missed the mark.
- Forgive: The word translated “forgiving” is all about removing, carrying away, and otherwise getting rid of something.
https://padlet.com/kent40/ukcg209a2io6ysbl
Thank God that he would trade his Son for all of this!
Consider the significance of the Christmas moment.
Let’s look at Exodus 34:8–9, with Moses’ prayer, to set up the significance of this fussed-over child.
Consider the significance of the Christmas moment.
Let’s look at Exodus 34:8–9, with Moses’ prayer, to set up the significance of this fussed-over child.
Let’s read through Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth.
Play this as background music as you read through the account—Luke 2—below.
Play this as background music as you read through the account—Luke 2—below.
The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Worship Perspective
Let’s examine the difficulty and art of maintenance.
We’ll do this by taking a look at the book, “Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.”
Maintaining a motorcycle is a process, and it is never finished. So it is with grace (“maintaining love to thousands…” as Exodus 34 puts it.) God doesn’t want grace to be done. He wants it to be true.
Consider how these quotes from Robert Pirsig’s story of a father teaching his son how to understand life through maintaining a motorcycle enhance your understanding of this.
Quote 1
The pencil is mightier than the pen.
Quote 2
Grades really cover up failure to teach. A bad instructor can go through an entire quarter leaving absolutely nothing memorable in the minds of his class, curve out the scores on an irrelevant test, and leave the impression that some have learned and some have not. But if the grades are removed the class is forced to wonder each day what it’s really learning. The questions, What’s being taught? What’s the goal? How do the lectures and assignments accomplish the goal? become ominous. The removal of grades exposes a huge and frightening vacuum.
Quote 3
To live only for some future goal is shallow. It’s the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here’s where things grow.
Quote 4
“Dad?"
"What?" A small bird rises from a tree in front of us.
"What should I be when I grow up?"
The bird disappears over a far ridge. I don't know what to say. "Honest," I finally say.”
Quote 5
Other people can talk about how to expand the destiny of mankind. I just want to talk about how to fix a motorcycle. I think that what I have to say has more lasting value.
Quote 7
The past exists only in our memories, the future only in our plans. The present is our only reality. The tree that you are aware of intellectually, because of that small time lag, is always in the past and therefore is always unreal. Any intellectually conceived object is always in the past and therefore unreal. Reality is always the moment of vision before the intellectualization takes place. There is no other reality.
We’ll do this by taking a look at the book, “Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.”
Maintaining a motorcycle is a process, and it is never finished. So it is with grace (“maintaining love to thousands…” as Exodus 34 puts it.) God doesn’t want grace to be done. He wants it to be true.
Consider how these quotes from Robert Pirsig’s story of a father teaching his son how to understand life through maintaining a motorcycle enhance your understanding of this.
- Which quote is your favorite and why?
- Which quote would you consider using for yourself in 2021?
- Which quote helps you see God’s unconditional love in a new way?
Quote 1
The pencil is mightier than the pen.
Quote 2
Grades really cover up failure to teach. A bad instructor can go through an entire quarter leaving absolutely nothing memorable in the minds of his class, curve out the scores on an irrelevant test, and leave the impression that some have learned and some have not. But if the grades are removed the class is forced to wonder each day what it’s really learning. The questions, What’s being taught? What’s the goal? How do the lectures and assignments accomplish the goal? become ominous. The removal of grades exposes a huge and frightening vacuum.
Quote 3
To live only for some future goal is shallow. It’s the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here’s where things grow.
Quote 4
“Dad?"
"What?" A small bird rises from a tree in front of us.
"What should I be when I grow up?"
The bird disappears over a far ridge. I don't know what to say. "Honest," I finally say.”
Quote 5
Other people can talk about how to expand the destiny of mankind. I just want to talk about how to fix a motorcycle. I think that what I have to say has more lasting value.
Quote 7
The past exists only in our memories, the future only in our plans. The present is our only reality. The tree that you are aware of intellectually, because of that small time lag, is always in the past and therefore is always unreal. Any intellectually conceived object is always in the past and therefore unreal. Reality is always the moment of vision before the intellectualization takes place. There is no other reality.
Listen and sing along to this song.
Let’s find God’s grace to you by comparing you to the little town of Bethlehem.
Use the clickable arrows below to navigate your way through this interactive presentation.
Use the clickable arrows below to navigate your way through this interactive presentation.
Learn Perspective
Let’s prepare for our 30-Hour Famine.
On Friday, January 1st, 2021, Illume invites you to fast for 30 hours to consider, support, and pray for those who are hungry and in need.
Donations from Illume’s 30-Hour Famine will go to FamilyWorks Seattle.
On Friday, January 1st, 2021, Illume invites you to fast for 30 hours to consider, support, and pray for those who are hungry and in need.
Donations from Illume’s 30-Hour Famine will go to FamilyWorks Seattle.
- Our 30 Hours will begin at midnight, January 1st and go until 6am on January 2nd.
- There will be special programming streamed on YouTube and Facebook most of the day on the 1st.
- We will collect goods at Illume from 12–6pm.
Feel free to submit a prayer request by filling out the below form.
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)
Pray through your requests—together—as a group.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.
Serve Perspective
Sing along—and Merry Christmas!
(Thanks to all who submitted parts for our virtual choir!)
(Thanks to all who submitted parts for our virtual choir!)
Enjoy these Christmas playlists (curated by Illume) for your Christmas festivities this year!
iTunes
https://embed.music.apple.com/us/playlist/illume-christmas/pl.u-WabZ6o7uv5xx27
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/6EJBLMP2DUeEZqvbxK1hPN
YouTube
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoE6OKnryn8oXIzcCuRaj64SZPY-EakIw
iTunes
https://embed.music.apple.com/us/playlist/illume-christmas/pl.u-WabZ6o7uv5xx27
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/6EJBLMP2DUeEZqvbxK1hPN
YouTube
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoE6OKnryn8oXIzcCuRaj64SZPY-EakIw
Read this article to start thinking about this popular hymn on a whole new level.
Sing along with (or listen to) this song to close out this Spotlight.
Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.
Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.
Farewell Perspective
Let's wrap things up by taking a look at what's Current at Illume.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.
Posted in On Letting the Lord Go With
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