Candlelight Service - 2023

How do we respond to Advent?

Even this candlelight service is a response to the beautiful truth of the incarnation. How the shepherds responded to the good news from the angels is a picture in many ways of how we respond to Jesus even today. Here is how we respond to Jesus at Advent:

1. Seek Jesus

Luke 2:15–16 ESV

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.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

The old bumper sticker “wise men still seek Him” though a little hokey, is still true! they heard of what has happened and they went with haste! God has promised that every person who seeks God will find Him! We see this promise from the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 29:13, where it is written

Jeremiah 29:13 ESV

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

We must seek Him fervently! And when we do, we find Christ to be more glorious than anything else we have sought.

As Christmas Eve comes to a close, we gather today as a people who were sought by God, and so sought Jesus. As such, He has put His light in each one of us, and we remember His work today as we light our candles together!

And the reality of Jesus seeking us, which results in us seeking Jesus, moves us right back to the same we seem to be every week in Advent: wonder. We marvel at the work of God.

2. Marvel at Jesus

Luke 2:17–19 ESV

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

we are supposed to remind each other of the wonder of the incarnation! May it never grow old or familiar to us, because only God’s people can grasp its true meaning and significance!

The wonder of Christmas: the word became flesh and dwelt among us. The light of the world has come into the world.

The wonder even in the symbolism of tonight - that we each light individual candles, and each soft glow that is lit eventually illuminates the world!

“You are the light of the world” - only because the light was given to us! Only because of His great work in us! And so, we light the center candle, to rejoice at His coming. And we light our individual candles, to remember that Christ has changed us, that His work has put His light in our hearts, and that as each individual light gathers together, it shines brightly!

A reminder for us: you are never meant to shine your light alone. You are built for community!

One of the great wonders of the season for me: these moments, where we sing together and each hold our candles, and so gently remind one another of the mystery of the Gospel, that has called and saved a people to be a household of faith, a city on a hill, the light of the world!

How could this be? Only Jesus. And so today, friends, take the time to marvel at Jesus!

3. Glorify Jesus!

Luke 2:20 ESV

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

This whole season is about Him! This service must be about Him! It is a beautiful tradition, a sweet time together as a church, but it simply has to be all about Jesus or it’s all for nothing!

This is true of the whole Christmas season: it has to be about Him, or it’s all for nothing!

There is no “put Christ back in Christmas” because there is truly no Christmas without Christ!

So, we honor, and worship, and proclaim Him in our celebrations.

And so, as we gather for our last time before Christmas, we light our candles together, to celebrate the work of Christ, to remember our responsibility as the light of the world, to proclaim the together nature of the Christian faith and, most importantly, to bring honor and glory to the name of Jesus!

Instructions for lighting the candles.