Defining Moments! Luke 2:8-20   C.S. Lewis in a radio address shared an interesting illustration of the incarnation for us to consider, stating, “Lying at your feet is your dog. Imagine, for the moment, that your dog and every dog is in deep distress. Some of us love dogs very much. If it would help all the dogs in the world to become like men, would you be willing to become a dog? Would you put down your human nature, leave your loved ones, your job, hobbies, your art and literature and music, and choose instead of the intimate communion with your beloved, the poor substitute of looking into the beloved's face and wagging your tail, unable to smile or speak? Christ by becoming man limited the thing which to Him was the most precious thing in the world; his unhampered, unhindered communion with the Father.”     “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God” (1 John 4:1-3).     (TIM: this will be on a slide all alone) Homoousios vs. Homoiousios     Three Christmas Takeaways:   1. The incarnation of Christmas should inspire us to praise God!   2. The incarnation of Christmas should inspire us to share the Gospel    3. The incarnation of Christmas should inspire us to believe the Gospel