1. Beginnings and Brokenness Luke 2:22-35

2. BACKSTORY

3. The Trinity Chose To Create Us As at Creation, all three persons of the Trinity are involved in the Christmas story As at Creation, all three persons of the Trinity are involved in the Christmas story We are not accidents of time and circumstance We are not accidents of time and circumstance We are the crown of God’s creation We are the crown of God’s creation

4. The Trinity Chose To Create Us We are made in God’s image “Image and Likeness” Similar to and made to represent

6. The Trinity Chose To Create Us Being made in His image means Being made in His image means that we have been made to FELLOWSHIP FOR ETERNITY “I am not mad at you I am mad about you” “I am not mad at you I am mad about you”

7. Our Greatest Problem is Relational “It is hard to avoid the conclusion that there is something fundamentally wrong with the world.” T. Keller “It is hard to avoid the conclusion that there is something fundamentally wrong with the world.” T. Keller Obviously what is wrong is sin Obviously what is wrong is sin

8. Our Greatest Problem is Relational In the birth narratives there are In the birth narratives there are many references to sin Jesus—name before conception—shall “save His people from their sins” Jesus—name before conception—shall “save His people from their sins” A “savior” born in the city of David A “savior” born in the city of David Simeon held the “Lord’s Salvation” Simeon held the “Lord’s Salvation”

9. Our Greatest Problem is Relational To say that sin is breaking a To say that sin is breaking a a commandment does not go far enough and does not get at the heart of the problem Sin is “cosmic treason” (R.C. Sproul) Sin is “cosmic treason” (R.C. Sproul) Sin is loss of “shalom” Sin is loss of “shalom”

10. Our Greatest Problem is Relational What is missing from my life is What is missing from my life is the relationship for which I was created Until that is right life will ultimately just be empty noise Until that is right life will ultimately just be empty noise

11. Our Biggest Hurdle Is Faith He could die in peace for He He could die in peace for He had shalom restored through Jesus Like Simeon, we must exercise trust in what God has said and receive His Son Like Simeon, we must exercise trust in what God has said and receive His Son