Christmas Eve Sermon: The Humble Glory
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· 5 viewsThe Arrival is a five-part Advent and Christmas Eve series exploring sacred themes of hope, preparation, joy, love, and worship. Each week unveils a promise in the darkness, a voice in the wilderness, joy that leaps, love arriving, and glory in the manger—guiding us toward the light of Christ’s coming. The Christmas Eve message, titled “The Humble Glory,” centers on the awe-inspiring mystery of God’s arrival in the most unexpected way—a baby in a manger. This sermon invites us to behold the incarnation not as spectacle, but as sacred humility. In the quiet of Bethlehem, divine glory is wrapped in swaddling clothes, revealing a love that stoops low to dwell with us. We are called to worship not in grandeur, but in stillness, wonder, and surrender. As we gather in candlelight, we remember: the light has come, and it shines in the darkness—gentle, radiant, and full of grace.
Notes
Transcript
Theme: Worship in the Silent Night
> SLIDE: Pre-Service >> Start at 5:30 PM
> SLIDE: Prelude
> SLIDE: Welcome
> SLIDE: Opening Prayer
> SLIDE: Call To Worship
> SLIDE: READ Isaiah 9:2 - Auto Advances
> SLIDE: O Come All Ye Faithful - HYMN
> SLIDE: The Arrival - TITLE
> SLIDE: Luke 2:1-7 -VIDEO
V SLIDE: The Arrival - MESSAGE
Meditation 1: The Humble Arrival
Meditation 1: The Humble Arrival
Introduction: The Night That Changed Everything
There’s something sacred about Christmas Eve. The candles. The carols. The hush. For a moment, the world slows down. But let’s be honest—life doesn’t pause just because it’s December 24th.
Bills still need paying. Families still argue. The dog still chews the nativity set. (True story: one year, our dog ate Joseph. We said, “Well, at least Jesus is still safe.”)
But tonight, we gather not to escape reality, but to remember that God entered it. Not with spectacle, but with silence. Not in a palace, but in a manger. This is the story of The Humble Glory—the night heaven leaned low and whispered, “I am with you.”
I. The Glory Hidden in Bureaucracy
Luke begins:
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.” (Luke 2:1)
A census. Bureaucratic. Political. Mundane.
But through it, God moves Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem—fulfilling prophecy (Micah 5:2).
Illustration:
It’s like God using your DMV appointment to change history. You think you’re renewing your license. God’s orchestrating redemption.
Joke:
Imagine Mary saying, “Joseph, we’re going to Bethlehem.” And Joseph replying, “Great. I just love government paperwork.”
But here’s the point: God works through ordinary things.Even paperwork. Even travel. Even inconvenience.
II. The Glory Wrapped in Cloth
Luke continues:
“She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger…” (Luke 2:7)
No royal robes. No golden cradle. Just cloth and straw.
Illustration:
Charles Spurgeon once said:
“Infinite, and an infant. Eternal, and yet born of a woman. Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman’s breast.”
This is the paradox of Christmas: Majesty wrapped in humility.
Joke:
If you were planning the arrival of the Savior of the world, would you choose a barn? Probably not. You’d book the Ritz. But God chooses the stable—because love doesn’t need luxury.
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> SLIDE: The Announcement - TITLE
> SLIDE: Luke 2:8-14 - VIDEO
V SLIDE: The Announcement - MESSAGE
Meditation 2: Glory Announced to the Forgotten
Meditation 2: Glory Announced to the Forgotten
III. The Glory Announced to the Forgotten
“There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.” (Luke 2:8)
Shepherds. The night shift. The overlooked.
And yet, they’re the first to hear the news.
“An angel of the Lord appeared to them… ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy…’” (Luke 2:9–10)
Illustration:
It’s like God choosing to announce the Nobel Prize to a janitor before the press release. Not because the janitor is less—but because God’s glory is for everyone.
Joke:
Imagine the shepherds saying,
“Did you hear that?”
And one replying,
“I thought it was just Carl snoring again.”
But no—it was heaven breaking open.
IV. The Glory That Invites Worship
“Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened…” (Luke 2:15)
The shepherds don’t just hear. They go.
They worship. They tell others. They glorify God.
“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God…” (Luke 2:20)
Illustration:
Worship isn’t just singing. It’s responding. It’s movement.
The shepherds move from fields to manger to proclamation.
Joke:
They didn’t say,
“Let’s wait until morning.”
They said,
“Let’s go now.” That’s Advent urgency.
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V SLIDE: Candle Lighting - Pass the Flame
V
> SLIDE: Silent Night - HYMN
> SLIDE: Glory in the Stillness - TITLE
> SLIDE: Luke 2:15-20 - VIDEO
V SLIDE: Glory in the Stillness - MESSAGE
Meditation 3: Glory In Stillness
Meditation 3: Glory In Stillness
V. The Glory That Dwells in Stillness
“Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)
While the shepherds shout, Mary ponders.
She holds the mystery. She doesn’t rush to explain. She lets it settle.
Illustration:
It’s like watching snow fall.
You don’t analyze each flake.
You just receive the beauty.
Tonight, we’re invited to do the same.
To treasure.
To ponder.
To let the humble glory of God dwell in us.
V
> SLIDE: Joy to the World - HYMN
V SLIDE: Closing Prayer - PRAYER
Closing Prayer
God of the manger,
You came not with thunder,
but with tenderness.
Not with armies,
but with angels singing “Peace.”
Tonight, we worship You—
not because we understand everything,
but because we’ve seen the light in the darkness.
Let Your humble glory fill our hearts.
Let Your presence dwell in our homes.
Let Your love transform our ordinary.
As we light candles,
may we carry Your light.
As we sing carols,
may we echo heaven’s joy.
As we leave this place,
may we go like the shepherds—
glorifying, praising, and proclaiming:
Christ is born.
Love has arrived.
Amen.
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> SLIDE: Post-Service >> Runs ~ 15 minutes
