Rejected at the inn and born in a stable, Jesus' humble birth speaks to the rejection and displacement many feel today. Yet, in the face of rejection, Jesus offers an open invitation to all. The manger scene is not just a symbol of poverty, but a symbol of God's radical welcome. From the lowly shepherds to the foreign wise men, Jesus' birth story shows that God welcomes everyone—outcasts, strangers, and those who have been marginalized. This message will challenge us to adopt the same posture of welcome in our own lives. Just as Jesus invites us to come to Him as we are, so too are we called to welcome others into His presence with open arms. Join us as we explore how the way of Jesus is one of hospitality and radical inclusion, calling us to extend the same welcome that we have received from God.

Deuteronomy 7:6 – For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.

Luke 2:15 –  When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Matthew 2:11 – They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Luke 2:9-11 – Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 

Matthew 2:9-10 – And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 

Isaiah 49:6 – I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.

John 8:12 – Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Ephesians 5:8 – For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

1 John 1:7 –  But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

John 1:12 –  But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 

Matthew 1:5-6 – Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).

Deuteronomy 23:3-4 – No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants for ten generations may be admitted to the assembly of the Lord. These nations did not welcome you with food and water when you came out of Egypt.

In Jesus’ birth, he welcomed all to come to him. In Jesus’ life, he went out to reach those on the margins. In Jesus’ death, he reconciled humanity back to God. Through his life, we can have life!

Romans 5:10-11 – For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

1 John 4:10-12 – This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

Matthew 25:35 – For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.