It’s the most wonderful time of the year, or so the song says. But do we take the time to stop and understand what the Christmas story really says? The peaceful nativity scenes that we see this time of year mask the fact that the story of Jesus’ birth as found in the Bible is a scandalous story of God breaking the rules.

A virgin gets pregnant. A carpenter decides not to divorce his suddenly pregnant fiancé. Smelly shepherds tromp into town to visit a baby that has been born in an equally smelly animal stall. And God even goes against His own law by choosing heathen astrologers to be the first official visitors to this miracle child. From every angle, the holiday that we celebrate every December 25 with candles, garland and bows, toys, and peaceful songs broke the rules.

Maybe we need to take the time to stop and understand what the story of the birth of Christ really says. Maybe we need to look unflinchingly at the scandal so that we can see Christ as He really is and therefore follow Him as He really is. Maybe we need to meet Christ the Rulebreaker – the One who breaks the rules for those broken by the rules.

Cursive shmursive. The bane of my 3rd grade existence. (grammar shmammar) I have never experienced failure like I did when learning to write in cursive (shmursive). It was like trying to "push" on a "pull" door, only at the end you got graded on how well you got inside. My slants always went “the wrong way” (left-handed) and my hand always “dragged through” and “smeared” the freshly penned ink (neatness counts).

Sadly (or not), my career in cursive ended as quickly as it began. (My penmanship is still like a 3rd grader’s.) I got out before I was communicatively ruined - because at its root, cursive (like it or not) is about communicating an idea. I still like to communicate. I also like when my slants go in different directions. I like to smudge and smear. I like to color outside of the lines. I like to make the sky not blue.

God made the sky not blue when He broke the rules of nature. He smudged and smeared when He broke the rules of law and society, and He colored outside the lines when He broke the rules of religion. (rules shmules)

I don't think that the rules are inherently bad. I know how to stay within the lines (sometimes I do). And I know how to make my slants go in the right direction (sometimes I do, but not as often). I also know when the rules need to be rejected with reckless abandon because, in my core, I'm trying to accomplish something and sometimes that is greater than the rules. And I can do all this because I know the Rulebreaker.

Master Teacher's Guide [ view sample ]
The Master Teacher's Guide is designed for use in large-group settings such as Wednesday night gatherings, combined Sunday School classes, summer camps, and other worship gatherings. It contains background information, explanation and application points, opening illustrations and stories, prompts for personal stories, and life-changing Turning Point activities.

Leader's Guide [ view sample ]
The Small Group Leaders Guide is perfect for use in Disciple Now settings, in-home small groups, individual Sunday School classes, and other settings with one leader and 10-15 students. It contains background information, explanation and application points, group activities, discussion questions, and life-changing Turning Point activities.

Gathering Tool
The Gathering Tool is designed to provide an opening illustration for groups that meet together in a large group before dividing into small groups or Sunday School classes. This will allow small groups to experience the series video and will add to the overall experience of going through the series.

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