Christmas Eve Service 2024

Welcome everyone.

Thank you for coming a joining us tonight.

It is such a special time to gather together to remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus but also worship the Lord Jesus.

We will have our service and afterwards we will have cookies and hot chocolate (or milk or coke Breanna)

My desire for all of us tonight is that we would be removed from all the stresses and worries of this life and give our attention to heaven for a short time tonight.

I love Christmas. I love the warmth and peaceful feeling it brings, but I love it even more now as a Christian understanding its great significance in our faith.

⇒ PRAYER

What we are going to do is go through Luke 2 reading the Christmas story and lighting the advent candles as we go:

1) Luke 2:1–7 “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 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, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 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.”

⇒ Light the candle of love

⇒ Immanuel means God with us. That is what the coming of Jesus was, it was God coming to earth among men. And He came because He loves us. It was love that moved the heart of God to send His Son is the greatest redemption story of the world.

SONG 1: “O Come O Come Emmanuel”

2) Luke 2:8–12 “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 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; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.””

⇒ Light the candle for joy.

⇒ The coming of Jesus is called good news of “great joy which will be for all people”. Jesus gives joy, and there is no greater joy in this life than knowing Him, loving Him, and worshiping Him

SONG 2: “Joy to the World”

3) Luke 2:13–14 “And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

⇒ Light the candle for peace

⇒ Not only does Jesus bring great joy, but He made peace possible between man and God. Jesus gives “peace that surpasses all understanding” When we come to know Jesus all the uncertainty of this life is stilled by the Prince of Peace.

⇒ SONG: “O Holy Night”

4) Luke 2:15–20 “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.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.”

⇒ Light the candle for Hope

⇒ Jesus has and always will be the hope of the world. All hope is rooted in the promises of God, we cling to these promises as we walk through this world in Christ.

⇒ SONG: “What Child is This”

5) The final candle is the Christ Candle. It represents the light which Jesus brings into our dark world and He is the light which enlightens men.

⇒ Light the Christ candle and spread the light

John 8:12 “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.””

Thats an amazing promise to each and every one of us that if we follow Him, we will not walk in darkness. Not only is that a promise to us who follow Jesus, it is also an invitation to anyone in this room tonight who no longer wants to walk in darkness.

⇒ SONG: “Silent Night”

⇒ CLOSING PRAYER