“Too busy to notice Christmas?” (John 1:19-24)
Published 22 Dec. 2025
Scroll down for “Lessons Learned…”
Designed for Personal Bible Study or for Bible Teaching
⚠️ Lessons Learned – Warnings
- 1️⃣ Busyness can blind us to God’s activity (Lk 10:40–42).
- 2️⃣ It is possible to miss God while being religiously active (Matt 2:4–6).
- 3️⃣ A rushed heart cannot perceive spiritual truth (Ps 46:10).
- 4️⃣ Refusing God’s invitation hardens the heart (Heb 3:15).
- 5️⃣ Ignoring God’s prompting forfeits blessing (Lk 1:20).
💥 Lessons Learned – Failures
- 1️⃣ Bethlehem missed the miracle happening in its streets (Lk 2:7).
- 2️⃣ Herod rejected God’s invitation and brought destruction (Matt 2:16).
- 3️⃣ Many ignored the shepherds’ testimony (Lk 2:17–18).
- 4️⃣ People valued comfort over seeking Christ (Matt 2:3–5).
- 5️⃣ Crowds were preoccupied with the census and missed God’s movement (Lk 2:1–5).
🚫 Lessons Learned – Sins
- 1️⃣ Choosing convenience over obedience (Matt 1:20–24).
- 2️⃣ Hardening the heart like Herod (Heb 3:12).
- 3️⃣ Ignoring God’s supernatural work (Lk 1:34–35).
- 4️⃣ Treating Jesus as unimportant (Jn 1:10–11).
- 5️⃣ Allowing worldly noise to drown out God’s voice (Mk 4:18–19).
🏆 Lessons Learned – Successes
- 1️⃣ Zechariah and Elizabeth trusted God despite impossibility (Lk 1:13–18).
- 2️⃣ Mary surrendered fully to God (Lk 1:38).
- 3️⃣ Joseph obeyed God regardless of cost (Matt 1:24).
- 4️⃣ Shepherds responded immediately to God’s revelation (Lk 2:15–17).
- 5️⃣ Magi sought Jesus despite distance and danger (Matt 2:1–12).
🌱 Lessons Learned – Spiritual Growth
- 1️⃣ Christmas is an invitation to slow down and notice God (Ps 27:4).
- 2️⃣ God often works quietly in ordinary places (Mic 5:2).
- 3️⃣ Spiritual sensitivity grows in uncluttered hearts (Ps 46:10).
- 4️⃣ Saying yes to God unlocks divine purpose (Lk 1:38).
- 5️⃣ God invites each generation to join His redemptive story (Jn 1:12–13).
🧭 Lessons Learned – Leadership Principles
- 1️⃣ Leaders must refuse Herod-like resistance to God’s work (Matt 2:3).
- 2️⃣ Leadership requires creating space to hear God (Mk 1:35).
- 3️⃣ Leaders respond urgently to God’s revelation (Lk 2:15).
- 4️⃣ Leaders influence their families’ Christmas focus (Deut 6:6–7).
- 5️⃣ Leaders guide others to notice God’s movement today (Jn 1:19–24).