Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion 2023

Prelude

Welcome /Call to Worship on this Christmas Eve

Good evening. Thank you for coming out today for a time of worship on this Christmas Eve. I pray it will be a relaxing evening as you hear the account of the birth of Jesus Christ from the Scriptures. For many of you, you have heard these passages many times before. Imagine hearing them for the first time. Maybe this will be the first time you have heard them tonight. Soak up the words of Scripture as they are read.

Tonight we light the final candle on the Advent wreath. The first week of Advent we lit one purple candle symbolizing HOPE. The HOPE of all the Prophets and the Remnant waiting for the Messiah. The second Sunday we lit another purple candle symbolizing PEACE. Jesus, the Messiah, is the Prince of Peace. The message given by the angels to the shepherds was a message of peace. Last week we lit the pink candle for JOY. It is sometimes known as the Shepherd’s Candle. We have JOY in Jesus Christ and His birth. This morning we lit the final purple candle for LOVE. Also known as the Angel’s Candle. The Love, the Agape Love of God who sent forth His Son to this earth to be the sinless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Tonight we lit the center white candle for the BIRTH whom we celebrate. The only begotten Son of God. Jesus Christ. The White Candle is also known as the CHRIST candle, because this whole season is about Him!

Light the Advent Candles (last Candle lit—the Christ Candle)

Prayer

Hymn 123: O Come, O Come Emmanuel (1,2, 4)

Scripture Reading 1

John 1:1–5 NKJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:9–14 NKJV

That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Isaiah 9:6–7 NKJV

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Special Music: Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Pastor Corey)

Scripture Reading 2

Luke 1:26–38 NKJV

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Matthew 1:18–25 NKJV

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Hymn 134: Emmanuel

Scripture Reading 3

Luke 2:1–7 NKJV

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Hymn 141: O Little Town of Bethlehem (1, 2, 3)

Scripture Reading 4

Luke 2:8–14 NKJV

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Hymn 132: Angels we have heard on High (1,2, 3)

Scripture Reading 5

Luke 2:15–20 NKJV

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Special: What Her Heart Remembered (Emma Gage)

Scripture Reading 6

Matthew 2:1–8 NKJV

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 have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

Special: We Three Kings (Dan Waltermire- Trombone)

Scripture Reading 7

Matthew 2:9–15 NKJV

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Special: O Holy Night (Pastor Corey and Dana)

Sermon

We have just looked at birth narrative of Jesus Christ from Matthew and Luke’s Gospels. As I mentioned in the opening, for many we have heard or read these passages many times over many years. For others it may have been the first time you heard the account read. It is not a story of fiction. Nor is just words that look nice on a Christmas card. It is the account of when the eternal God, as the Apostle Paul would write “in the fullness of time” stepped down into fragile, finite, mortal skin. Jesus did not arrive too early or too late. He came right on time! God’s timing is perfect.

As we read at the beginning, Jesus Christ is the WORD! The Word became flesh and dwelt among us! The eternal Creator and Sustainer, humbled Himself and came to earth. The Creator became one of His creation, yet, without sin. He would need to be fed. He would need to have His diaper changed (or whatever the 1 century Jewish equivalent would be). As the writer of Hebrews writes about Jesus that He “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

This baby, born as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world.

300 Quotations and Prayers for Christmas (Christ a Bridge at His First and Second Comings)

When the world had revolted against its Maker, and the Creator had been defied by His own creatures, a great gulf was opened between God and man. The first coming of Christ was like a bridge which crossed the chasm, and made a way of access from God to man, and then from man to God.

~Spurgeon

We are celebrating this weekend, because just as the angels announced: Luke 2:11 “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” This was amazing news! Don’t read the words and pass over them! The angels were excited about this news that they were able to tell the Shepherds this news. Talking about the prophets of old Peter writes 1 Peter 1:12 “To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.” THIS DAY! In Bethlehem that city that David was from where his father Jesse, his grandfather, Obed, his great-grandfather Boaz and Grandmother Ruth, where his great-great grandfather Salmon and great-great grandmother Rahab all had lived. That small town! A Savior, a Redeemer, a Deliverer who is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One! He has been born! After millennia of waiting. After the time in bondage in Egypt, the rebellion and sin that lead to the exile in Babylon, and the oppression from the Greeks and now Romans, the Savior had been born! The first people to hear this news were not the priest in the temple or the scribes, but rather shepherds working third shift in the fields. They were told the best news every!

We have heard the best news every! We know that His birth was not the end of the story, but just the beginning of a new chapter, one that God had started to write before time began. Before the foundation of the world was laid. 2 Timothy 1:9 “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,”

Do you know this good tidings of great joy that the angels told of? Do you know Jesus Christ? Not just about Him, do you KNOW Him personally? In the end it will not matter how often you attend church, pray, give money to a church or the poor, if you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. He came to this earth for a mission, THE MISSION! To seek and to save the lost, that mean me and that means you.

Talking to a very religious leader in John 3 He said.

John 3:12–21 NKJV

If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Have you come to the light? Have you come to Jesus Christ? That little baby in the manager, as I said earlier, did not stay a baby. He grew up. The Only sinless person to ever live. He was the only ONE who could build that bridge back to God. He was the ONLY one who could pay a bill for our sins (anything and everything we have ever done wrong in the past, currently in the present, and in the future). 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” He paid it in full once for all when He died on the cross! He took on Himself all the sin of the world. Dying in our place. Taking the power and the penalty of every sin. From white lies, gossip, idolatry, adultery, to murder. All sin. Then He conquered the eternal separation that each one of us faced, rising victoriously over the grave 3 days later.

He took your space, now you just have to make a choice. Will you accept His free gift? Will you surrender your life, your sins, yourself to Him. You might have several presents under a tree tomorrow, but if you do not have His presence it is all empty and in vain. If you have never trusted in Jesus Christ, I cannot think of a better day to do it. Today is the day of salvation! Come and talk to Pastor Chris or myself so we can share with you how you can know that your sins are forgiven and that you are going to Heaven.

Communion

Before Jesus went to the cross He had one last meal with His friends. It was the Passover meal. Just on Friday in our Gospel of Luke reading, we would have read the account of the Last Passover meal that Jesus had with his disciples before He would go to the cross. As we come toward the end of this Christmas Eve service we are going to remember why Jesus Christ came. To remember the sacrifice that He made in our place by taking of the bread and the cup.

Luke 22:14–20 NKJV

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

Hymn: Silent Night (first verse)

Song: This Little Light of Mine

Closing Prayer