A Light Has Dawned

(John 1:14–18 + Isaiah 9)

Hidden Christmas: A Light Has Dawned Week 1 | Legacy Sunday | December 1, 2024

Welcome to our Advent journey! Over the next four weeks, we'll uncover the hidden depths of Christmas through insights from Tim Keller's powerful work. Today, as we celebrate Legacy Sunday, we discover that Christmas isn't just something sweet—it's something shocking.

The Christmas story sits in plain sight every year. We hear it in carols, see it on cards, watch it in movies. But paradoxically, its meaning becomes more hidden as our culture becomes more secular. Even for believers, familiarity breeds a dangerous sentimentality. We know the story but sometimes forget its weight.

Today we'll see that Christmas announces two revolutionary truths: The world is darker than we want to admit, AND God's light is stronger than we ever dared to hope. This light doesn't just comfort us—it confronts us, calling us to see the world, God, and ourselves differently.

As we also celebrate Legacy Sunday, we'll witness how God's generosity in giving His Son transforms us into generous people who invest in eternity. The God who entered our darkness calls us to be light-bearers to the next generation.

Key Thought: Christmas destroys our self-salvation strategies and demands a response: receive with humility, walk in surrender, share with generosity.

Primary Texts: John1:1-9, John 1:14-18, Isaiah 9:1-7

Introduction:

Waking up to the real story.

Church, today we are beginning a brand-new Christmas series called Hidden Christmas, based on some of the profound insights Tim Keller offered about the surprising, often overlooked truths behind the birth of Jesus.

Every year, the Christmas story sits in plain sight. We hear it in songs, we see it on cards, we watch it in movies… but strangely, the meaning of Christmas becomes more hidden as the culture becomes more secular.

And even for believers, the danger is familiarity. The danger is sentimentality. The danger is we know the story but sometimes forget the weight of the story.

Keller said this:

“Christmas is not just something sweet — it is something shocking.”

Tim Keller

Because Christmas announces two truths at the same time:

1. The world is darker than we want to admit.

2. God’s light is stronger than we ever dared to hope.

And today, on this first Sunday of December — and on Legacy Sunday — I want to show you that the light of Christmas doesn’t just comfort us; it confronts us. It calls us to see the world differently, see God differently, and see ourselves differently.

Before we jump in, I want to take a moment for something incredibly important…

LEGACY

What God Has Done in 2025, and Where He’s Leading Us in 2026

Church, today is a holy day for us — because today is Legacy Sunday. It’s the day we pause to look back with gratitude and look forward with faith… and then we choose to give toward the future God is calling us into.

A Church Marked by Generosity

Since we launched the Legacy Vision, this church has given over $635,334 to advance the gospel locally, nationally, and globally. And in 2025 alone, Turning Point has already given $224,152 toward Legacy initiatives.

Church — that is remarkable. This can only be a God thing - that deserves all of the glory, honor and praise! That is faith expressed through generosity.

What God Has Done in 2025

Global Missions: Robert Robertson (electrican) and I went to Cuba celebrating the dedication of a church that YOU helped build. We’ve continued supporting Costa Rica, INSTE translations, and pastors serving in some of the hardest places on earth.

Local Missions: We’ve strengthened partnerships with Life Services, World Relief, Christ Kitchen, Adult & Teen Challenge, and anti–trafficking ministries. We’ve blessed our neighborhood through movie nights, serve teams, and practical compassion.

Next Gen: God is moving in our kids, youth, and young adults. We’ve launched the Discover Ministry Campus — raising up young leaders for ministry.

Leadership: We invested in staff health, pastoral training, and developing future church planters.

Church Growth: We advanced the Backfield Reimagined project. We upgraded ELC classrooms. We welcomed new families every single week.

Church — this is your generosity at work.

Where We’re Going in 2026

Looking ahead, we feel God calling us to step into bold, faith-filled opportunities:

Family, as we look ahead to 2026, I want to share clearly and prayerfully where we believe God is leading Turning Point. This next year isn’t going to be a year of frantic expansion or chasing new projects. It’s going to be a year of watering—a year of strengthening the things God has already planted among us.

In Scripture, growth often comes not from doing more, but from tending what already exists with faithfulness and care. And that’s exactly the posture we’re taking into 2026.

A Year of “Watering What We’ve Planted”

We sense the Holy Spirit calling us to slow down just enough to deepen our roots. To invest in people, in discipleship, in relationships, and in the ministries that God has already entrusted to our house. 2026 will be a season of cultivation over creation—of growing deeper before we grow wider.

Strengthening Our Next Generation

One of our greatest assignments remains raising up the next generation. In 2026, we are increasing our investment in kids, youth, and young adults. This means more scholarships, more camp and conference opportunities, and more intentional spiritual formation moments so that our young people can discover their purpose in Christ.

A Measured and Healthy Approach to Multiplication

We believe God is preparing future church planters and leaders right here in our house. Rather than rushing to launch multiple churches quickly, 2026 will focus on developing these leaders through a Multiplication Residency Program. This is a long game—slow, intentional, healthy multiplication that produces fruit in season.

Continued Global Mission Partnership

God has entrusted us with global impact. Next year we will continue supporting leaders and communities around the world—through theological training initiatives in India, through front-line ministries, and through strategic efforts like our solar projects in Cuba. We believe the gospel is for the nations, and Turning Point gets to play a part in that story.

Loving Our City Through Local Missions

2026 will deepen our partnership with local ministries—organizations serving the vulnerable, the struggling, and the overlooked in Spokane. We’re going to keep showing up in our neighborhood with compassion, prayer, and practical help. God has placed us here on purpose.

Investing in Our Church: Facilities & Shared Spaces

Instead of building something brand new, 2026 focuses on making what we have even better for ministry and community life. We’re improving spaces for the Early Learning Center, enhancing outdoor areas like picnic spots and recreation spaces, and creating environments that help people experience Jesus and one another.

Closing Vision

Church family, 2026 is a year of becoming a deeply rooted people. A year where discipleship, community, generosity, and mission grow stronger—not because we are striving harder, but because we are tending faithfully to what God has already begun.

Thank you for being a church that prays, a church that serves, a church that gives, and a church that believes that the best days are still ahead of us.

Let’s enter 2026 with faith, unity, and expectation—watering what God has planted, trusting Him for the growth.

Read by Logan Wilson

"Good morning, Turning Point family. I'm Logan, and I have the privilege of serving as your Finance Committee Chairman and on your governing board. Today, on behalf of both leadership teams, I'm honored to share something truly remarkable with you.Many of you knew David Losey. David was a man who didn't just talk about investing in the next generation—he lived it. He took young people to Israel to walk where Jesus walked. He rafted with them down the Grand Canyon, using God's creation to teach biblical truth. He brought them to the Ark Encounter, helping them think biblically and live Christianly in every area of life. David understood that experiences shape worldview, and worldview shapes destiny.Earlier this year, when David went home to be with the Lord, he left a sizeable portion of his estate to Turning Point. What's remarkable is that David left no written instructions—no restrictions, no requirements. Just a gift. Just trust.Your governing board immediately recognized this as a sacred moment. We could have applied these funds to any number of immediate needs. Instead, we asked ourselves: "How do we honor the heart of a man who gave his life to the next generation?"That's why today, we're proud to announce the establishment of Turning Point's very first endowment—The Turning Point Next Gen Scholarship Fund, seeded with $200,000.This isn't just a fund. It's a legacy that keeps giving. Here's how it works: We can withdraw up to 5% annually—that's $10,000 every year, forever, to invest in next generation missions and discipleship. Whether it's sending our youth on mission trips, providing camp scholarships, or creating transformative experiences like David himself led—this fund ensures we're not just talking about the next generation, we're investing in them.Think about that—because of David's faithfulness and the board's stewardship, young people who aren't even born yet will encounter Jesus through this fund. Students will stand in Jerusalem, serve in Costa Rica, go to a camp and grow in their faith because one man lived generously and a church chose to think generationally.This fund represents something new for Turning Point—our first endowment, our first perpetual investment in the mission God has given us. It's precisely what Legacy Sunday is about: ensuring the harvest continues for generations.David Losey invested his life in young people. Now, through this fund, that investment continues. Forever.Thank you, David. Thank you, Lord. And thank you, Turning Point, for being a church that thinks beyond today."

Legacy is not about equal giving — it’s about equal sacrifice.

Legacy is our way of saying:

“God, we’re not building something for ourselves; we’re building something for the people who aren’t here yet.”

So today, as we give, we are giving toward eternity.

(Brief prayer)

MESSAGE — A LIGHT HAS DAWNED

Turn with me to John 1…

John 1:1–9 NLT

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

THE WORLD IS DARK

Before we get there to our next section of scripture in John 1, we need Isaiah 9.

Isaiah 9:2 NIV

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Isaiah speaks to a people walking in deep darkness. Not superficial darkness… not seasonal darkness… but spiritual, moral, emotional, relational darkness.

And nothing has changed.

We live in a world with more information, more technology, more progress — and more anxiety, loneliness, division, and confusion than ever.

Keller said it:

“The world is a dark place, and we will never find our way unless Jesus becomes our Light.”

Tim Keller

Isaiah says:

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”

Not a light they created. Not a light from inside themselves. A light that dawned — meaning it came from outside them… outside us.

Christmas says: You can’t fix yourself. You can’t save yourself. You can’t enlighten yourself.

And that’s actually good news.

THE LIGHT CAME TO US

Now let’s go to John 1.

John writes:

John 1:14 NIV

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

That word dwelling means “He pitched His tent.” He tabernacled among us.

Just like God’s glory filled the Tabernacle in the wilderness… now God’s glory is wrapped in skin and swaddling clothes.

And John says:

“We have seen His glory…”

But not everyone saw it. It was a hidden glory. A quiet glory. A glory that required faith to recognize.

Just like today — you can go through the entire Christmas season and never see Him. You can do Christmas without Christ. You can celebrate the lights, gifts, and traditions — and miss the Light Himself.

But John is telling us:

God didn’t shout His way into the world. He slipped in quietly, humbly, vulnerably.

Why?

Because God wasn’t coming to crush us — He was coming to rescue us.

CHRISTMAS DEMANDS A RESPONSE

Christmas isn’t sentimental — it’s confrontational.

If Jesus really is the Light of the world…

If He really is God in the flesh…

If He really is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…

then we can’t treat Him as a consultant or a spiritual accessory.

We must treat Him as King.

And that brings us to the three invitations of the Christmas story:

1. RECEIVE THE GIFT WITH HUMILITY

John says:

John 1:16 NIV

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

Christmas begins by admitting you need grace. Grace says:

“I cannot save myself.”

“I cannot fix my own darkness.”

“I bring nothing — and He brings everything.”

Christmas destroys pride. Christmas kills self-salvation strategies. Christmas lets Jesus be Savior — not us.

2. WALK IN THE LIGHT WITH SURRENDER

When Jesus comes, He doesn’t come to coexist with our darkness. He comes to drive it out.

John 1:5 NLT

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

He confronts the parts of us we try to keep hidden:

hidden sin

hidden fears

hidden shame

hidden idols

hidden brokenness

The light of Christ doesn’t just comfort — it confronts, corrects, restores, and transforms.

And the question of Christmas is simple:

Will you surrender your darkness to His light?

3. SHARE THE LIGHT WITH GENEROSITY

This is why Legacy fits so perfectly with Week 1.

Christmas is about God giving His best — His only Son. And when God’s people receive that Light, they become people who reflect that Light.

Generosity is not something we do — it’s something we become.

We give… We love… We serve… We bless… We reach… We pour out…

because He poured Himself out for us.

John 3:16–17 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

This is why we build churches in Cuba. This is why we raise up leaders. This is why we bless our neighborhood. This is why we invest in the next generation. This is why we plant churches. This is why we give toward Legacy.

Not because we’re wealthy — but because we’re grateful. Because we’ve seen the Light.

CLOSING — THE LIGHT THAT STILL DAWNS

Isaiah said:

Isaiah 9:2 NIV

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Not flickered. Not faded. Dawned.

Dawn is slow… but unstoppable.

Christmas is God saying: “TPC, I have not forgotten the world. I have not abandoned the lost. I have not given up on Spokane. I have not run out of grace.”

And today — the Light is still dawning.

Over your family. Over your marriage. Over your scars. Over your fears. Over your future. Over this church. Over 2026.

Response:

1. For those who need light: “Jesus, be my Light. I surrender my darkness.”

2. For those giving toward Legacy: “Jesus, use my gift to shine Your Light into the world.”

3. For our church: “Jesus, help us walk in the Light as You are in the Light.”

PRAYER

Lord, thank You for the light that dawned in Bethlehem and still dawns today. Shine into our darkness. Shine into our families. Shine into our city. Shine into Cuba, Kenya, Costa Rica, and beyond. Shine into 2026. Make us a people who receive Your light, walk in Your light, and share Your light. In Jesus’ name, amen.