Christmas Option: Disappointment and Opportunities

Joe Stewart
Sunday, November 30, 2025
Christmas Option
Sunday Morning

Disappointment and Opportunities

We often do the Christmas story a disservice due to its familiarity. More times than not, we romanticize the events of the Nativity as we put them on postcards, in children’s plays, and sing about them in cute Christmas carols. But living through the events of the Christmas story would have at times felt dreadful. A teenage girl with her future ahead of her was rocked by scandal—even though she didn’t do anything wrong. A newlywed couple was uprooted from their home, their family, and their support system during the most inconvenient time of their lives. A king who was already losing his power to a Roman occupation discovered a new king was born that would be an even greater threat to his authority. It seems every life that was touched by the events of Christmas experienced inconvenience and hardship. Yet, through those inconveniences, the greatest opportunities presented themselves. Opportunities for peace in the midst of chaos, for powerful influence, and ultimately for the salvation of all humanity. The Christmas Option is a four-week series that tells the Nativity story in a unique and powerful way.

Locations & Times

First Baptist Church Seminole Tx

202 SW Ave B, Seminole, TX 79360, USA

Sunday 5:00 AM

Messy Christmas

Messy Christmas

Read Plan

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Disappointment could become His appointment.

1, Disappointment Reveals God's Presence, Not His Absence
Luke 1:26-35 NLT

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galileeto a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.

Matthew 1:18-25 NLT

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Faith is not saying, "I like this." Faith is saying, "Lord, I trust You in this."
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Worship doesn't change the circumstances. Worship changes you in the circumstances.
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2. Disappointment Threatens our Reputation and Control
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Obedience didn't remove the questions - it simply moved Joseph forward.

You don't have to understand fully to obey faithfully.

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Richard Foster: Celebration of Discipline

3. God Uses our Interruptions to Encourage Others

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Isolation magnifies disillusionment. Community transforms it.

The Right Person
The RIght Voice
The Right Community

It's not a setback. It's a setup.

When life disappoints you—God is present.

When reputation is at risk—God is enough.

When control slips away—God is steady.

Share a time when your plans were interrupted—big or small. How did you respond in the moment?
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Point 1: Disappointment Reveals God’s Presence, Not His Absence (Mary)

Mary’s response was: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me according to Your word.” (Luke 1:38).

What stands out to you about her faith in the middle of uncertainty?

How does worship in the middle of disappointment change us, even if it doesn’t change the circumstance?

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Point 2: Disappointment Threatens Our Reputation and Control (Joseph)
Joseph’s first instinct was to quietly control the situation. How do you usually respond when life doesn’t go according to plan—control, escape, or surrender?

Fear often drives our desire for control. What fears tend to rise up in your life when things fall apart?

Joseph obeyed even without all the details. What does obedience look like for you right now in the middle of uncertainty?

Try the “palms down, palms up” practice together as a group. What burdens do you need to release (palms down)? What promises of God do you need to receive (palms up)?
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Point 3: God Uses Our Interruptions to Encourage Others (Mary & Elizabeth)
Mary traveled 100 miles to find Elizabeth. Who has been an “Elizabeth” in your life—someone who encouraged you in a season of interruption?

How can we be that kind of encourager for others? What does it look like to speak blessing instead of suspicion?

Share a time when community helped you through disappointment.

Who in your life right now needs not just a one-time word of encouragement, but ongoing support? How can you practically step into their story?
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Wrap-Up
Which of the three “Christmas Options” (Worship, Trust, Encourage) do you most need to practice this week?
How can our group help each other move from the “chair of isolation” to the “chair of community”?

Scripture: Luke 1:26-35 NLT