12_24_2023 - Christmas Eve - His Name Is Jesus

(Opening Prayer - Christmas Carols - Matt Pea)

Angels We Have Heard On High

Away In A Manger

Joy to the World

(Scripture Reading #1 - Weston Teppo)

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.

(Special Song: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” - Kelsey Rubens)

(Scripture Reading #2 - Cody Skinner)

Matthew 2:1–12 (ESV)

1 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,

2 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.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

9 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.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

(Special Song: "What Child Is This?” - Hattie & Haris Bumgarner)

(Kelsey Rubens Playing During Sermon)

("His Name Is Jesus” Sermon - Josh Seymour)

Tonight we have heard the good news of the birth of our Savior.

Tonight we have heard:

God has been glorified for He has sent His Son into the world not to condemn it but to save it.

We are loved by Jesus and He can be near us forever.

There is joy because the Lord Jesus has come and we must prepare Him room.

The reason we can rejoice is found in Emmanuel, “God With Us.”

What child is this that we call Emmanuel?

It is Christ the Lord.

Who is this Christ?

His name is Jesus!

Matthew 1:21 (ESV)

21 She [Mary] will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Christmas is a rescue mission set in motion before creation.

God’s plan has always been to save the world through His Son, Jesus.

Jesus is God’s plan to rescue the world from the evil found within.

This world is filled with darkness.

Jesus is the Light of the World, come to save us from darkness.

1. Our Souls Were In Peril

Romans 3:23 (ESV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 (ESV)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2. Jesus Has Come To Rescue Us

John 3:16–17 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:3 (ESV)

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

3. We Must Make Room For Jesus

Romans 10:13 (ESV)

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

(Building A Fire Illustration)

There are three things that are needed for fire:

Heat - The Work of God

Fuel - The Work of Jesus Christ

Oxygen - The work of the Holy Spirit

(Candlelight Ceremony)

Every Christmas Eve, we take a moment to light candles together as a reminder of why Jesus was sent to us over 2,000 years ago.

(Stephanie Polzin and Kelsey Rubens Prepare. Kelsey can play softly)

Jesus Christ was sent to save people from the darkness, the sin at work in each of us.

He was sent to burn away the work of darkness in each of us.

His name is Jesus and He came to save us from our sins.

Jesus came to bring His light into each of our lives.

He came to build a fire in each us that would burn throughout eternity.

Just as the old Christmas Hymn, Silent Night, says in verses 3 and 4:

3 Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light radiant beams from Thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth! Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth!

4 Silent night! Holy night! Wondrous star, lend thy light; with the angels let us sing "Alleluia" to our King: “Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born.”

This Christmas, would you trust the name of Jesus, to save you from your sins?

At this time we are going to light our conclude our service with the lighting of the candles and the singing of Silent Night.

(Light Candles)

("Silent Night” with Pastor Stephanie Polzin)

(Closing Prayer)

Heavenly Father,

We give you glory for all that you have done!

We trust in Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and draw us to You.

Thank you! We Love You!

In the name of Jesus, the One Who has saved us from our sins.

Amen.