Christmas Eve Evening

12-24-2023

EVENING

This evening as we gather to celebrate Christmas

I don’t want you to think this is just another Christmas Eve service

It is but when we celebrate Christmas it is not just another day on the calendar, it is not just another holiday we celebrate

It is a reminder oh who Jesus is and what He did for us!

Luke 2:1–20 NASB95

1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

We know this as a Christmas Story

And during this Christmas season we have spent much time unpacking the Christmas Events

The foretelling of Jesus

The Coming of Jesus

But this evening I wanted us to focus on vs 20

Luke 2:20 NASB95

20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

See those Shepherds came in search of Jesus

Came in search of the promised savior

And church they found that savior

We have seen people and we know people and some of may very well be those people who have come in search of a savior

We have found that savior

That savior has changed our lives forever

we are no longer the same old person

In fact because we have encountered the savior scripture says that we are new creations

2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB95

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

For those who have encountered the Savior Himself

You are changed people

You have repented and trusted in Jesus to be Lord of your lives and He is Lord of your lives

You are saved

Because of what Jesus did in your life

You are a change people

Church that is the grace of the Lord

Praise the Lord for Christ and that He came to save you and I

Church remember this morning that good news it for the entire world to see and know that Christ is Lord

For those of us who are changed

notice what the shepherds did

They went away after they had encountered Christ and went away praising the Lord because of Christ

We can do that

Mark 16:15 NASB95

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

We are called to go and share with a lost world about who we have encountered and how it changed our lives

If you and I have encountered the Living God then we are called and commanded to go into a lost world and tell people about what we have seen and heard

Just like what the Shepherds did after they had encountered Jesus

We are to take that light and spread that to a lost and dark world

Matthew 5:14–16 NASB95

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

See because I have encountered the living God and have repented and trusted in Jesus to be Lord of my life

I now have the light of Jesus living inside me

And I am to live my life in a way where people see Jesus inside me

Church I am to be bold with the Gospel

I am to be a salty peanut

You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink but you can feed them salty peanuts to ensure they drink the water

We can be like the shepherds

We can then take that light into a dark world and share that light with a lost world

Matthew 28:19–20 NASB95

19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This is our command that we share Jesus with a lost world

And church we want to do that because we have encountered the living God

SHARE THE LIGHT

As the light goes around

maybe you are here this evening and you do not know Jesus personally

As you light your candle I would challenge and encourage you to think of what Jesus did for you

Jesus died because He loves YOU

He paid your debt of sin

If you would like to receive that gift of salvation which is why Jesus came to this world

I would encourage you to come forward and speak with someone and they can show you through scripture how you are to repent of your sin and trust Jesus and you will be saved

Or maybe you are here this evening and already have a relationship with Christ

As your candle is light I would encourage you to dwell on that command you are given to go into a world and share the greatest news this world has ever known to a lost world

I would also encourage you to pray that God ignites in your a passion to share the Gospel Message with a lost world

Church we are to be the light to e a lost world

All because Christ came to save you