Join ordinary people around the world who continue to follow Jesus and share the true meaning of Christmas.

The birth of Jesus was the beginning of something the world had never seen! He modeled life for all of us—perfectly! And He sacrificed His life to save us from our sins—to save all people from their sins—so that each and every man, woman, and child can have a personal, life-transforming relationship with God.

The birth we celebrate was only the beginning of a mission we carry on today. Jesus, the baby worshiped by shepherds and kings, grew to teach and challenge and call others to follow Him. To build His kingdom.  

To those who saw and listened, Jesus never built a church building. No glorious temple. No well-tuned school, organization, or institution. He traveled with little more than his clothes on his back and shoes on his feet. He sometimes “had no place to lay his head.” Even his grave was borrowed. It was hardly the making of a Kingdom.

When Jesus returned to heaven, having accomplished the mission of eternal life to all who believed, he left nothing behind. Nothing…but people.

Just people. Men like Peter and John and Matthew. Women like Mary and Martha. Ordinary people—nothing to make them stand out in a crowd.

Except that they had walked with Jesus. Listened to Jesus. Put their life on the line to follow Him, and to live out His teaching.

Only people. Like you and me. Like the millions around the world who’ve heard the story and received the message of Jesus in faith. Those who continue to step out and follow Him, no matter where or what the cost. This Christmas, remember the blessing you have in knowing Christ. And join those who continue to build His Kingdom by sharing the Gospel with those still waiting to join us in this glorious story!    

Would you consider stepping into partnership with Global Disciples Canada? We would love to provide an opportunity for you to serve alongside you. Together we can reach people who have never heard of Jesus let alone experience the new life He promises. Read on to find out more.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian missions organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Want to know more about the Nativity story? These bible verses for Christmas 2024, will help you understand the wonder of Christmas. Choose a couple of your favorites to send in Christmas cards for loved ones, or for your reflection. We pray that they will bring you closer to the Saviour this Christmas season.

First of all, let’s look at the verses that prophesy the Messiah’s coming.

The Prophecy and Promise of Christmas

Some theologians believe that there are over 300 verses in the Old Testament that speak about the birth of Jesus. They were written long before He was even born. God who sent His son to earth is working out His perfect plan for the redemption of creation!

5. Isaiah 40:9 – “Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!'”

6. Isaiah 52:9 – “Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.”

7. Isaiah 11:10 – “In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.”

Secondly let’s look at some significant verses that speak about the nativity story.

8. Matthew 1:23 – “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

9. Luke 2:10-11 – “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'”

10. John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus birth is elevated to a significant universal event by these synoptic gospel writers. His birth has given us the hope of eternal life and personal salvation for everyone who believes!

11. Luke 2:14 – “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

12. Matthew 2:1-2 – “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'”

13. Luke 2:8 – “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”

14. Luke 2:15 – “When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.'”

Its no accident that the Shepherds were the first group of people to see the Baby Jesus. The Shepherds were ordinary Jesus, known as the Good Shepherd, who identifies with ordinary people like you and me. He could have been born in a palace. Instead, He chooses an animal shelter.

Jesus crashes through social barriers and makes no preference for class or social status. No matter who you are or where you live, know that you have a Saviour who identifies with you. And He wants to walk with you throughout your life!

15. Luke 2:16 – “And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.”

16. Luke 2:20 – “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”

17. Luke 2:25 – “Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.”

18. Luke 2:26 – “And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

19. Luke 2:29-32 – “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

A devout man, Simeon had been waiting His whole life to see the Messiah. He testified that the baby was the Messiah, by the witness of the Holy Spirit within Him.

20. Matthew 2:10-11 – “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.”

21. Matthew 2:11 – “And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

These Magi, traditionally wise men in school nativities, were astronomers. They recognized that something was different in the sky on the night of Jesus’ birth. And, in doing so, they recognized that Jesus was a special child.

22. Matthew 2:9-10 – “After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”

23. Matthew 2:12 – “And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”

Finally, let’s read about Jesus’ family miraculous escape from Herod, into the land of Egypt.

24. Matthew 2:13 – “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.'”

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

What does “For Unto Us A Child Is Born” really mean? Discover the life-changing meaning of this powerful prophecy from the book of Isaiah. This prophetic verse is of the wider message of Isaiah, one of the major prophets of the Old Testament.

Did you know that it was given hundreds of years before the birth of the Christ child? It brings together the tender humanity and fragility of Jesus’ human experience together with His timeless divinity.

Jesus was fully God and fully human. Isaiah’s prophetic declaration rings out with joy at the future birth of the One who will save humanity from their sins.

You can find the book of Isaiah is in the Old Testament. In it, the prophet declares the coming of the Holy Child. Jesus will be, born of a virgin in a stable in Bethlehem of Judea.

In this Holy Spirit inspired declaration, Isaiah proclaims the coming King. He points its readers towards the Good news of the gospel and the real meaning of Christmas.

Theologians differ in detailing the exact number of prophesies that Jesus fulfilled. Conservative estimates would put the number at around 300. The Old Testament prophecies Jesus birth many times. They vary in their emphasis and narrative, of course. In this famous Isaiah 9 passage, Jesus’ divine attributes and humble origins are the major emphasis. Others like this one in Isaiah 7, speak of Him as Immanuel or God with us.

Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Christians believe that the Holy Spirit inspired these prophesies. At the same time, they contain something of the human perspective of the prophet himself. Taken together then, they provide a rich and fascinating picture of Jesus – as God and as Perfect Man.

All four gospels contain the story of Jesus birth. But if you’re looking for some references then we’d recommend Luke 2:1-20 and Matthew 1:18-2 as a start.

In reality, Christ could have been born anywhere and at any time in history. So it’s significant then, that He was born to a virgin in a forgotten part of Galilee, in the humblest of circumstances.

Surely, this is no accident. By aligning Himself with humble people, He makes a powerful statement about the nature of His earthly ministry and Father God’s heart for the refugees and the marginalized.

In Matthew 2:1-12 we read of the visit of the Magi, a traveling group of astronomers who were deeply impacted by an unusual star in the night sky. As they followed it, it came to rest over the place where Jesus was being looked after by Mary and Joseph.

Truly the words of the famous carol, “and heaven and nature sing” ring true. Even the stars in their orbit speak about the Messiah’s coming!

Its incredible to think both the shepherds and the Magi were impacted by these celestial miracles. One with an angelic visitation and the other with an unusual star. It is as if The Lord wanted to reach all people from different backgrounds with the same message of hope. And this remains our own Good news today. Whilst we were far off, Christ came to rescue humanity and save us from our sins.

The significance of Jesus’ birth for humanity is that through our faith in Christ, we can have eternal life. The meaning of Christmas is that Immanuel, God with us, came to earth as a child. He came to restore us to our relationship with Father God by atoning for our sins on the cross. Christmas acts as the opening chapter in this incredible story!

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

The root word of Biblical peace is Shalom. It means “nothing lacking, nothing missing, nothing broken”. Experience the peace of Jesus today!

“When we welcome a child into the world, we receive a son. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

His government and its peace will never end. Isaiah 9:6&7 (NLT)

I’m curious about your perception of peace. For me, it’s no war, no conflict. I imagine a space—a clear, open one.  But Jesus’s peace is so much more than that. As this famous scripture explains His reign of peace will never end!

Jesus peace is an active change agent. It’s not an abstract thought or something you need to smoke or swallow. It’s a powerful, real, actual thing. And you can experience it today. 

The root word of Biblical peace is Shalom, and it means “nothing lacking, nothing missing, nothing broken.” To experience the peace of Jesus is to experience this wholeness.

We don’t need to look far to see the chaos and the consequences of sin and evil in our world. And we live in the fallout of these broken relationships, even today. 

But Jesus was our atonement. He stood in place for what we deserved. He took on sin in order to secure our eternal life. Both this world and the future one await us. His Shalom peace  is a consequence of this sacrifice, and it’s available for everyone who believes in Him, whether you feel like you deserve it or not. 

Jesus came to right the wrongs of a world gone away from God’s plan, and His birth was the beginning of the coming Kingdom of God.

It’s no coincidence that five of the 10 commandments that God gave to Moses had to do directly with human relationships. How we treat each other is a big deal to God! 

1 John If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?

Christmas can be a time when we feel most awkward in our relationships, but God’s love gives us the ability to love the people we wouldn’t normally be able to.

But as we receive the grace of God first of all, and as we allow Him to change and heal us, we will find that the holy instinct to reach out to others will grow.

The older I get, the more I have come to understand that I can’t fix the complexity of broken human relationships by myself. But I can pray for opportunity and do the part that God assigns me. 

And then be in peace about the rest.

No matter what challenges we face over this Christmas period, we have a prince of peace who walks with us. His spirit in us can help us be calm when we face challenges. 

Jesus offers us His perfect peace even in less-than-perfect situations.

Where in your life do you need His peace today? Ask Him for His peace as you go on with your day. 

We are praying for you today to experience the peace of Jesus this December. Nothing is absent, nothing is insufficient, and nothing is damaged. You have the ability to bring serenity to everyone in your life.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near to reach least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet, Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!