Make Room for Christ

Hello & Greeting

Announcements

Liturgy/Call to Worship

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light

Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them a light has shone.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down

Let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us

And we have beheld his glory; glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.

Pastoral Prayer

Me

Have you ever noticed that we somehow always manage to make room for the things that matter to us?

If somebody walked into your house right now and said, “Hey I bought you a brand-new 70-inch TV,” you wouldn’t respond with, “Oh no… I really don’t have the space.”

No — you’d suddenly become an interior designer! You’d be moving furniture — and shelves — and making a five-point plan.

The kids toys would get “relocated” — which is a polite way of saying thrown in a closet — and you’d say, “Look at that. Perfect spot. Didn’t even know it was there.”

“WE ALWAYS MAKE ROOM” GRAPHIC

We always make room for what we want.

And not just with stuff. If something is important to us — we rearrange our life around it.

We adjust our schedule.

We find the energy.

We prioritize the people — and the hobbies — and the commitments that matter.

But when it comes to our spiritual life, we don’t always do that, do we? We try to squeeze Jesus into the cracks of life we’re already busy running in. We give Him whatever space is left after our calendar — and our worries — and our stress — and our obligations have taken what they want. And then we wonder why He feels distant.

This is why Advent matters. It’s the season that asks us — gently… but honestly —

“WHO OR WHAT” GRAPHIC

“Who or what are you really making room for?”

Because you and I make room for what really matters most to us. And if we’re not careful — Christ ends up being treated like one more holiday decoration… something we take out for a few weeks — and admire — and then pack away until we need Him again.

But Advent doesn’t let us do that. Advent forces the question: “Is Jesus someone I fit into my life — or is He the One I center my life around.”

And that’s where today’s message takes us. Because before we can talk about making room for Christ — we have to be honest about all the ways we’ve already filled the room.

We

The simple fact is — we all know what it feels like to live with a crowded heart. We want to make room for Christ — but life feels up fast, doesn’t it? Work pressures — family expectations — loneliness — decisions — stress — exhaustion. And before we know it — the space in our lives meant for God is taken up by everything else.

And spiritually — we’re not much different than the people that the Prophet Isaiah wrote to when He proclaimed that Jesus would be born.

They were living in a dark season — politically unstable — spiritually discouraged — and emotionally worn down. Life felt confusing — and heavy — and chaotic. Sound familiar?

But into that moment, Isaiah says this:

Isaiah 9:2 ESV

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Isaiah is describing a people who aren’t just in darkness — they’re walking in it.

Making decisions in it.

Trying to raise their families in it.

Trying to find joy in it.

And trying to trust God in it.

And really — a lot of us know what that feels like too. We know what it’s like to walk through seasons where the world feels dim — hope feels distant — and peace feels fragile.

But here’s the surprising part about darkness — it isn’t always caused by the bad things in our lives.

Sometimes our darkness comes from the things we’ve crowded into our lives.

Things we said yes to without thinking.

Things we thought would bring peace but ended up bringing pressure.

Things we thought would bring joy but ended up draining it.

And in a season like Christmas — a season that’s supposed to be about Jesus — we often end up drowning in everything except Jesus. We’re busy — we’re rushed — and we’re stretched in every direction. We’re trying to do all the Christmas things while quietly wondering why our hearts still feel empty.

That’s why the message of Advent is so disruptive. It doesn’t ask us to add more to our plates… it invites us to pay attention. To look up. To remember that the God who shines light into darkness is still shining today.

The theologian Stanley Hauerwas gives us a reminder that we need right now. He says:

HAUERWAS QUOTE

“At Advent we discover as Christians that we are God’s patience, which is but another name for God’s peace.”

Meaning this: we don’t just celebrate that Christ came. We are shaped by His coming. We come a people who carry His peace into a relentless world. We become signs of His patience and His presence.

But that can only happen if we make room.

And today — Isaiah is inviting us to clear space in our crowded hearts to let Christ shine again — not as an accessory to the season — but as the center of it.

God

We’re in the Book of Isaiah — Chapter 9. If you’re new or newer to your Bible — the Book of Isaiah is just a little past the mid-way point of the Old Testament. And if you’ve got The Turning Pointe set as your church in the Bible app — you’ve got this passage available for you in today’s Sermon Notes.

Isaiah has already told us that light is coming — but now he tells us who that light is. And he doesn’t begin with a warrior — or a politician — or a philosopher. He begins with something shockingly small.

Look with me — Isaiah Chapter 9, verses 6 and 7:

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end…

A child.

A newborn.

A fragile life wrapped in cloth — laid in a manger.

But Isaiah says this child carries everything we need:

wisdom

strength

protection

healing

peace

authority

and an unending Kingdom.

Now pause for a moment. Isaiah says the government — all authority, all rule, all dominion — rests on this child’s shoulders. And yet — those shoulders begin as the shoulders of a baby. This is God’s upside-down Kingdom.

Humanity keeps looking for strength in power — military force — political influence — and charismatic leaders. But God reveals His strength in vulnerability — and humility — and gentleness.

This is the pattern of Scripture. God chooses the unlikely candidates that you wouldn’t expect to fulfill His mission. And He makes things happen in the most unlikely places. He chooses a baby — and this baby is born in Bethlehem: a tiny — overlooked town. And He chooses a manger instead of a throne.

And honestly? This manager wasn’t exactly a Pinterest-worthy nursery. No mood lighting. No matching crib set. No sound machine playing ocean waves. If anything — it probably smelled like the livestock section at the county fair. And yet, God said, “Yes, that’s the perfect place for the Savior of the world.”

It wasn’t impressive — but it was part of His plan. Because God isn’t interested in impressing us. He’s after redeeming us. And redemption begins with humility.

——

So in this passage, Isaiah gives us four names. Four invitations. Four ways Christ wants to fill the space we’ve been giving to fear — and confusion — and control.

And in Scripture — names aren’t just labels — they’re revelations.

In the ancient world — a name told you somebody’s character — their calling — and their identity.

In the Old Testament — Jacob means “grasping or striving”.

Abraham means “father of many nations”.

And even Jesus means “the Lord saves”.

When Isaiah gives us these four names — he’s not offering poetic titles for Christmas cards. He’s describing the veery nature of the Messiah — who He is — what He does — and how He reigns.

They’re not options we get to pick from. These are realities Christ embodies — whether we recognize them or not.

And each of these names confronts us with the same question:

“WILL WE MAKE ROOM” GRAPHIC

Will we make room for Christ to rule in our lives?

So when we read:

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

and Prince of Peace

— Isaiah isn’t giving us four ornaments on our theology tree. He’s telling us the reason we can trust this child — born in an unlikely and forgettable place — placed in a manger instead of on a throne — and made to be a suffering servant instead of a revered and feared ruler.

If you or I were announcing a king — we’d roll out the red carpet. But God rolls out the hay. Which should tell us something: His Kingdom starts where ours usually ends.

And He’s giving us four reasons this Christmas that we must make room for Him.

Let’s walk through these four names together.

“WONDERFUL COUNSELOR” GRAPHIC

The first name he gives us is “Wonderful Counselor”.

Now — the word “wonderful” doesn’t mean “nice” or “sweet”. It means “beyond our understanding.” And “counselor” isn’t a therapist — even though therapists are great — it’s a royal advisor. Somebody whose wisdom shapes kingdoms.

Christ is the One who sees clearly when we can’t. He knows the path when we feel lost. He speaks truth when our own thoughts betray us.

And making room for Christ as our Wonderful Counselor means this: we stop letting fear be our advisor.

It means we stop letting hurry tell us who we are. Stop letting stress interpret our circumstances. And stop letting the culture define our worth.

This child grows into the King whose wisdom can steady your heart. But you have to make room for His voice.

Scripture says Christ embodies wisdom itself.

Colossians 2:3 says,

Colossians 2:3 NLT

3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Jesus Christ is the perfect expression of wisdom and knowledge.

Jesus never once made a decision out of fear.

Jesus never once acted out of insecurity.

Jesus never reacted emotionally because He was overwhelmed.

Everything He said — every direction He gave — every truth He taught came from a heart anchored in divine wisdom.

And if you think about it — if anybody had reason to get overwhelmed — it was Jesus. Twelve disciples who constantly missed the point — religious leaders trying to trap Him — crowds pressing in — and people asking Him for miracles in every direction. It had to be exhausting.

Some of us get overwhelmed with three kids and a Walmart pickup order. Jesus had crowds the size of football stadiums asking Him for miracles before breakfast — Yet His wisdom remained steady.

That same wisdom is available to us — if we make room to receive it.

“MIGHTY GOD” GRAPHIC

The second name Isaiah gives us is “Mighty God”.

This is the part of Isaiah’s prophecy that would’ve shocked everybody reading it. A child — called “Mighty God.”

Not “mighty leader”.

Not “mighty prophet”.

Not “mighty example”.

But Mighty God.

Meaning — He is not fragile — not overwhelmed — not overpowered. He is strength wrapped in humility. He is divinity wrapped in flesh. And when Isaiah calls Him Mighty God — he’s saying to every weary heart: “You’re not supposed to carry this on your own. He will carry you.”

Your grief.

Your fear.

Your anxiety.

Your future.

Your family.

Your past.

Christ is mighty enough to handle what crushes you.

The New Testament affirms this again and again.

Hebrews 1:3 says,

Hebrews 1:3 NLT

3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

This means Christ isn’t asking you to make room for a weak Savior. He’s asking you to make room for the God who created galaxies — parted seas — calmed storms — cast out demons — and crushed death.

But notice how His power works. He doesn’t use it to dominate you — He uses it to carry you.

He holds your fears because He has none.

He carries your future because He sees it clearly.

And He redeems your past — because He can redeem it fully.

So making room for Christ means taking your hands off the things He never asked you to control and placing your burdens on the older shoulders strong enough to hold them.

“EVERLASTING FATHER” GRAPHIC

The third name Isaiah gives us is “Everlasting Father”.

This is the name that brings so much comfort — and for some people — so much tension. Because many of us learned fatherhood through imperfect fathers.

But Isaiah says this child is an Everlasting father —

faithful when others failed,

present when others left,

gentle when others were harsh,

and steadfast when others wavered.

Christ reflects the Father’s heart:

steadfast love

pursuing love

sheltering love

and healing love.

And making room for Christ as Everlasting Father means opening the places where we’ve been wounded — or guarded — or numb.

It means allowing Him to touch the parts of us we have kept hidden.

Because He doesn’t come to shame us — He comes to heal us.

You can’t make room for Christ’s healing if you’re still trying to bury your wounds.

Throughout the Gospels — Jesus repeatedly reveals the Father’s heart.

In John 14:9, He says:

John 14:9 NLT

9 Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!

Jesus reflects the Father joyfully. Even if your earthly father was less than perfect — or simply couldn’t give you what you needed — as your Everlasting Father — Jesus is consistent — gentle — present — and forgiving.

He steps into our brokenness not as a distant judge — but as an Everlasting Father who never stops pursuing His children.

“PRINCE OF PEACE” GRAPHIC

And then Isaiah ends with the name we’re all longing for — especially in a season where life feels stretched thin: Prince of Peace.

Christ doesn’t merely bring peace. He is peace. Peace isn’t the absence of conflict — it’s the presence of Christ in the middle of whatever we face.

And Isaiah says His peace will increase without end — meaning there is no corner of your life that Christ can’t calm — or steady — or redeem.

Making room for Christ means letting His peace take the place of your anxiety. Letting His authority speak louder than your fears. Letting His steadiness quiet your restless heart.

And here’s the miracle of Isaiah’s prophecy: peace doesn’t begin on a throne. Peace begins in a manger. Peace begins when you make room.

Philippians 4:7 tells us,

Philippians 4:7 NLT

7 …His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Christ doesn’t offer peace as an escape from reality — He offers you peace in the middle of it.

Peace from Christ is the opposite of the feeling you get in Walmart on December 23rd!

His peace settles

His peace strengthens.

His peace Heals.

You

So here’s the question then —

“WHERE DO I NEED TO MAKE ROOM” GRAPHIC

Where do I need to make room for Him? This is where it becomes personal. Because every one of us has places in our lives where Christ wants to reign, but we haven’t given Him the space to do it.

Maybe for some of us — that crowded space is our mind. You’ve been doing life out of your own wisdom — your own strength — your own instincts. Your thoughts run fast — your anxiety runs deep — and your decisions feel heavy. And Christ is gently saying, “When are you going to trust My wisdom over your worry?”

Maybe for others — the crowded space is your shoulders. You’re carrying heavy burdens that were never yours to carry. Responsibilities — and expectations — and fears about the future. Maybe it’s emotional weight from the past. And Christ is asking, “When are you going to hand over what’s crushing you?”

For some — the crowded space is your heart. Old wounds — and hidden pains — and deep disappointments. Things you’ve numbed — or buried — or learned to avoid. And Christ is whispering, “When are you going to let Me heal the places you’ve been protecting?”

And for many of us — the crowded space isn’t a place you can really describe — it’s just that place where restlessness lives. Where you lie awake, thinking — replaying — overthinking — and anticipating. And Christ is asking you, “When are you going to let My peace rule where anxiety has made itself at home?”

So let me ask you a few questions — not to shame you — but to help you listen to what God might be stirring in you:

Where is my heart too crowded for Christ to speak?

What fear — or habit — or desire has taken the space meant for Him?

What do I keep trying to control instead of surrendering?

Where am I resisting the very peace He’s offering?

What would change in my life if Christ truly had room to reign?

These aren’t small questions. But they lead to a simple invitation: Make Room.

We

See — when Isaiah gives us this prophecy — he isn’t just describing what kind of King will rule the world. He’s describing what kind of Savior can rule our lives. Because when Christ is given room — His presence changes us from the inside out.

When Christ becomes our Wonderful Counselor, clarity begins to take the place of confusion. The noise quiets. Decisions become less frantic. The pressure to have all the answers loosens its grip. His wisdom steadies the places where we’ve been second guessing ourselves for months.

When Christ becomes our mighty God — strength rises in the places where we’ve felt worn down. We stop carrying everything alone. The weight we’ve been dragging — the burden that’s been shaping our exhaustion — finally rests on Someone strong enough to hold it. And in return — we find courage we didn’t know we still had.

When Christ becomes our Everlasting Father — something inside us softens. We stop living guarded. Old wounds begin to lose their sting. The parts of us we’ve protected out of fear or shame start to open — not because life gets easier — but because His love reaches deeper. We begin to trust again. And we begin to breathe again.

And when Christ becomes our Prince of Peace — the restlessness within us begins to settle. The anxieties that once dominated our thoughts lose their authority. The hurry slows… the fear calms… and a stillness forms in the places where chaos once lived. Not because everything around us has changed — but because something within us has.

This is what happens when Christ has room — not just in this season — but in us.

We become people who live with clearer minds. Stronger hearts. Healed memories. And a peace that guards us in every direction of life.

In this season that can sometimes be defined by gift-giving — we see that Christ has given us this gift of His presence. He offers it to us — He invites us in — and as we move toward Christmas, we carry this hope with us:

“WHEN WE MAKE ROOM” GRAPHIC

When we make room for Christ — He fills the space with everything our souls have been craving.

Whatever you’ve been holding — whatever has been weighing you down — whatever you’ve been avoiding — Christ isn’t asking you to fix it. He asking you to surrender it. He’s asking you to trust Him enough to clear space and let Him in.

Because the parts of your life that feel the most chaotic are often the parts that Christ is most eager to fill. And the places where you feel weakest are often where His strength is ready to meet you. And those wounds you’re too afraid to expose? They’re the very ones He came to heal.

Call to Repentance

The Good News of Advent is this: Christ draws near to people who make room for Him.

Not because we get everything right — but because He is everything we need.

So today — if you need His counsel — His strength — His healing — or His peace — bring your heart before Him.

Even a small opening is enough.

Even a quiet “yes” is enough.

Even a whispered, “Lord, I need You” is enough.

He came so you wouldn’t have to carry your life alone. So your story wouldn’t end in the dark. So His peace could finally reign where fear once lived.

And the Good News about Jesus Christ is that when you open the door — He’s ready to enter with grace — with mercy — and with the peace Isaiah promised long ago.

Make Room for Christ — He’s already made room for you.

Prayer

Communion