CHRISTMAS EVE 2023

Openning Prayer (2 min)

Video: (3min)

Skit Guys - Come thou Long Expected Jesus (3min)

Narator

700 Years before Jesus Came to earth the prophet Isaiah foretold the story of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.

Listen to the words of Isaiah

SCRIPTURE READER:

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. ( which means ‘God with Us’)

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Narrator:

God’s People had been promised a deliverer. A child would be bourn who would grow up to deliver Gods People.

and His name will be called Immanuel - O! come o come Emmanuel

Song -

O Come O Come Emmanuel #218

Narrator:

700 years have now passed and Isaiah’s Prophesy of a coming Messiah seems to be fading away with time.

There is unrest in the nation of Isreal - There is great oppression from the Roman Empire , and there seems to be no peace in sight.

Could Isaiah have Gotten it all Wrong?

SCRIPTURE READER:

Galatians 4:4–5 (ESV) (USE NET)

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children”

NARRATOR:

“ At Just the Right Time”: What a wonderful phrase we see in God’s word. He had a plan from the very Beginning. He knew exactly when the Isaiahs Prophecy would come to Pass,

AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME: When MANKIND SAW NO OTHER HOPE IN SIGHT… GOD SENT HIS SON

SCRIPTURE READER:

Matthew 1:18–25 (ESV)

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus

NARRATOR

The prophesy is about to be fulfilled

God had not forgotten his people. He waited until just the right time- when they needed Him most, to send his only Son, Jesus as Immanuel the prince of Peace.

I got to believe that there was great rejoicing in Heaven when the angels Heard that Jesus the master was going to earth himself to redeem mankind.

The story of Redemption was now jut nine months away from coming to Pass, Jesus was about to empty Himself of his heavenly Glory and to earth to redeem mankind back to God.

And I believe that Chorus of Angels rang out with Praise as they saw how far God was willing to Go to save mankind.

SONG:

Angels from the Realms of Glory #222

Narrator:

Come and Worship Come and worship the New Born King

Oh how I would have loved to seen that Chorus of Angels praising Jesus...

Our story picks up 9 months later, and You guessed it, A Baby is born.

SCRIPTURE READER:

Luke 2:1–5 ESV

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

NARRATOR:

Out of all the prestigious towns and cities that were meant for kings and royalty our story unfolds in the little town of Bethlehem.

SONG:

O Little Town of Bethlehem # 242

Scripture:

Luke 2:6–7 ESV

6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

NARRATOR:

THE BIBLE IS SO CLEAR- THE PROMISED DELIVERER HAS COME, BUT INSTEAD OF BEING ROYALTY, HE HAS COME AS A LOWLY SERVANT- BORN IN A STABLE , BORN TO POPPERS AND NOT A KING.

The Savior of the world has come to earth-born as a baby- in a lowly unnoticed stable.

Song:

AWAY IN A MANGER #232

Silent Night #236

SCRIPTURE:

LUKE 2:8-14 “Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified.But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!”

Can you imagine being a shepherd in that hillside. Living your life at the bottom of society, as a social outcast, content to just look at the city from afar.

And then as You settle down to rest for the night, all of the sudden the skies open up and an angel appears and gives you a message from God.

Can you image what these humble men must have been thinking as God’s messengers reveal his fulfillment of this 700 year old prophesy to you?

No wonder our story says that they were afraid.

They had just been given the greatest news of all times. The savior has been born. Immanuel has finally arrived.

SONG:

THE FIRST NOEL #223

NArrator:

Our story continues to grow in Luke chapter two

SCRIPTURE READER

Luke 2:15 ESV

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.”

NARRATOR

Did you notice the shepherds response?

They didn’t just hear the message but they believed it.

AND THAT BELIEF TURNED INTO ACTION

SCRIPTURE READER:

Luke 2:16–20 ESV

16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

SONG:

JOY TO THE WORLD # 224

NARRATOR

Jesus the Messiah has come to earth. Emmanuel - God is with us.

We no longer have to look for the prophecy of a coming messiah because He has already come.

We don’t have to look too hard to see that this world is a dark place- It is a lonely place, it is a sorrowful place, and a broken place filled with hurts, disappointments and pain

The story of Christmas is that Jesus Christ- God Himself has come to earth to redeem mankind from our bondage of sin.

In John 8:12 “ Jesus Said I am the light of the World Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness any more but will have the light of Life.”

2000 years ago on Christmas Day- Jesus came to be a light in the midst of our darkness.

Jesus is the light of the world- whoever and whoever believes in Him will be taken from darkness and into the light.

Listen again to the response of the3 Shepherds when they heard the Christmas story

SCRIPTURE READER

Luke 2:20 ESV

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

NARRATOR

Our response of meeting Jesus- the messiah, should be the same as the shepherds, as Joseph, as the wisemen, and as the many who chose to follow him.

There response was to go and tell it to the world. To share how meeting the promised Messiah had changed their lives

Song: Go tell it on the mountain # 225

NARRATOR:

As we wrap up our time together - I want us to sing one more song, Silent night- as we sing we are going light our candles.

I want us to Think about how the light of the Christmas story can be spread around the world through our church.

Brothers and sisters, The Savior has come! and We have been given a hope that only comes through the story of Christmas.

Let’s Remember to take time this holiday season to be the light of the world in our community and in our homes.

SONG

: Silent Night # 236