A. What are you hoping to "gain" from Christmas this year? What's the "point"?

- Culture says, "Giving Gifts"/Presents = Answer to the "Problem"

1. Netflix, Christmas Chronicles - When Santa doesn't deliver presents, people's "love" begins to grow cold (prisons begin to fill up, violence in the streets, etc)

2. Culture = spend lots of time/money on the "right" presents, and it will bring happiness, joy, and "merriness" to life. Is that really how it works?

B. John 1:1-5, "The Light shines in the darkness" (Do gifts bring light to darkness?)

1. What does the Bible mean when it discusses "Darkness"? Light?

2. What does the Bible mean when God says, "Humans are living indarkness?"

a. Isaiah 9:2, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light"

b. Acts 26:18, "... may turn from darkness to light"

c. 1 John 1:5, "God is Light, and in Him, there is no darkness"

d. Eph 5:6-14, "You were once in darkness, but now live in the light"

"You once were blind, but now you see"

C. Living in Darkness = Living Blind

1. Physical Blindness - pretend living 1 day with a blindfold on. Why a problem?

2. Spiritual Blindness - pretend living every day being spiritually blind. Problem?

- John 9:39-41, "Those who see, becomeblind; those who are blind, will see"

- The Example of Christmas Chronicles = gifts/possessions will make us happy VS. Lk 12:15, "Your life does not consist of the abundance of your possessions."

a. Mark 10:17-27, "Sell all you own, give to the poor, then come follow Me

b. Mt 16:24, "Say no to yourself, take up your cross, and be my disciple

c. John 15:9, "Remain in Me, and I will lead you to true abundance in life"

D. The Big Idea = We (humans) are blind when it comes to "seeing" the Wayto acquiring not only what we (1) want; but even more, what we, (2) need

E. John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the WAY"

a. Acts 24:14, Paul claims to be a follower of "The Way"

b. The "Way" to what? = everything we truly want and need

What do you really want this Christmas? = love, peace, joy, hope?

What you need? = "SIGHT" (a Way/Path)on how to get there

F. The Way of Jesus is the only Truth that Leads to Abundant Life (wants + needs)

- Psalm 119:105, "Thy Word is a light unto my path, a lamp for my feet"

VS. “Most people lead lives of (blind) aimless distraction, hoping that the confusion of their lives will somehow fill the emptiness of their hearts"(Rick Warren)

- John 10:10, "I came that you might have life, and life in abundance"

a. But it's not simply belief, rather it is Faith+Works (must WALK the path)

b. Condition: John 15:9, "Remain in Me... by keeping my commandments"

G. Application? Jesus Lights the Path (shows the Way), but you still must Walk It

- Spiritual Disciplines = STEPS along Jesus' WAY (no believing without doing)

a. Daily devotionals, Sabbath holiness, tithing, serving the poor, witnessing to your faith, all are literally how we walk the narrow path of Jesus.