Various      Questions About a Baby      Fintry, 25/12/2002, am
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
- See CPAS resource sheet from Church Leadership, issue 37

What's his name?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Thinking today about the birth of a very special baby!
   - how many babies do we have here today?
   - who do you think is the youngest baby here today?

- Find a family with a baby; introduce them just where they are!
   - often one of the questions people ask when a new baby is born - what's 
     his/her name?

- I'm sure shepherds would have asked Mary & Joseph - reply, "Jesus!"

- Ask family/others why they chose a particular name? Mean anything?
   - Jesus means God saves
- At that time the name you gave a child was very important: said something 
  about what they might be like, or might become.
- Jesus had come to save/rescue us from the muddle we make of our lives and 
  the wrong that we do:
   - his name was very important!

- Does baby have any other names?
- Other names for Jesus?
   - Christ - anointed one, special person sent from God, Messiah;
   - Emmanuel - God with us;
   - Son of David - descended from David; God made lots of promises about 
     David's family, and many of them came true in Jesus.

Who is he like?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Who does baby look like?

- Who was Jesus like?
   - Mary, other people (grew up, got tired sometimes, was full of life at 
     other times);
   - also like his Father, God - not how he looked, but how he behaved! Good, 
     knowing what God wanted him to do in each situation!

- When he grew up, Jesus said "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father 
  also"!
   - sometimes say of people, "he's just like his dad..."; could say that of 
     Jesus!

- Want to know what God is like? Look at Jesus!
- Want to know how to live? Look at Jesus!

- Who are you like?
   - all like our parents in some ways;
   - now living as God's children - can people say "if you want to know what 
     God is like, look at XXXX"?

What do you think he'll do when he grows up?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Wonder what babies here will be when the grow up?
   - talents? career path?

- Wonder what Mary & Joseph said when they were asked that?
   - maybe they said, "Well, he might begin by working in Joseph's carpentry 
     shop";
   - but perhaps they went on to say, "We have both been told that our child 
     is going to change the world. Somehow he is going to make it possible for 
     people to be free. We're not sure how this will happen, but we have a 
     feeling that it will cost him a great deal..."

- I wonder what God wants to do in your life this coming year?
- Are you ready and willing for God to do what he wants to do?
- I hope I am.... I hope you are.