Christmas Eve 2025

Text:

Luke 2:1–20 NKJV

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Introduction:

Tonight, we have come together in the dark. Just as darkness covered the earth at creation, the birth of Christ also came in the night.

That darkness was interrupted by angelic messengers and a heavenly choir. Light broke into the night, and hope entered the world.

Tonight, we behold the coming of the Lord once again. He shows us that we are all called to share His message, regardless of how we may feel about our own worthiness.

And finally, we are reminded that what we have received was never meant to be kept to ourselves— we are called to share it with the lost world around us.

The great moment we have come to consider tonight is that the Lord is faithful and true. What He promised through His prophets, He fulfilled by sending Jesus.

The Lord has come.

Luke 2:1–7 NKJV

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the Garden of Eden, the Lord Jesus was prophesied in Genesis 3:15: “He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

And later confirmed in John 3:17: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Between Genesis 3 and Luke 2, there are roughly four thousand years—years filled with waiting, trauma, failure, and longing. And on this night, the promise was fulfilled.

The Christ has come. He is here. Christ is in Bethlehem, lying in a manger.

Mary touched Him. Joseph touched Him. The disciples touched Him. He is God in the flesh.

Two thousand years later, at a church camp in Buffalo Gap, Texas, He touched me. That Sunday after church camp, at 2602 FM 116 in Copperas Cove, I surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

That same Jesus is still touching people today.

And He wants to touch you tonight—right here, right now. If you do not know Jesus as Savior and Lord, don’t leave tonight without speaking to me. I want to pray with you. I want to introduce you to the Lord Jesus.

Just as I desire for you to know Christ and His love, so does Father God. And to accomplish that, He set apart a surprising group of people—those no one else would have chosen.

Shepherds Were Considered the Lowest of Society

Luke 2:8 NKJV

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Shepherds were considered among the lowest in society at the time of Jesus.

They worked outside, living among animals, which made them ceremonially unclean. They lived in the fields—outside the city and outside the village. They worked at night, while others slept.

Because of their work, they were often outside the religious system. They were separated from the community at large. They were away from their families for long periods of time.

In many ways, they lived on the edges of society.

Just as Jesus later appeared first to the women after His resurrection, the angels were sent first to the outcasts of that day.

That choice was intentional.

What Is the Takeaway?

The Lord does not care about the approval of society or the opinions of the community. He delights in using people who live on the fringes—or who have been pushed there—to spread His message.

In the kingdom of the Lord, everyone has purpose. The Lord moves on whomever He chooses. God loves the whole world—not just a select few.

The Lord is ready to use everyone. He desires to use the entire body, not just the visible or celebrated parts.

And as this season of giving is literally upon us, take time to consider the gifts God has placed in your life and how they might be used for His glory.

Why candlelight? Because it allows us to experience, in a small but meaningful way, what happened on that night more than two thousand years ago.

Angelic message.

Luke 2:9–14 NKJV

9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

What Was the Message?

Peace on earth. Goodwill toward men.

This is not peace enforced by power— this is peace with God.

This is grace in a manger.

This announcement signals:

the end of the unchecked rule of sin,

the beginning of reconciliation between God and humanity,

and the arrival of the Savior.

Glory to God in the highest! Jesus has come.

Sin will be dealt with. The heel of the Son will be bruised, but the head of the serpent will be crushed. The devil is neutralized.

The Message Was Verified

In Luke 2:16 (and following), we find that the shepherds went and found Jesus exactly where and exactly how the angels said they would— lying in a manger, wrapped in swaddling cloths.

God keeps His word. What He announces, He fulfills.

Conclusion:

Just as the shepherds carried the message of peace on earth and goodwill toward men, this entire service has taken place in the dark.

And yet, even though the electric lights have been off, you can still see me— because we have been here by candlelight.

On the night Christ was born, the first evangelists were simple, humble shepherds— ordinary people, just like you and me.

We are reading Luke’s account of His birth because they did exactly what the angels urged them to do: they went, they saw, and they shared the message.

Tonight, I am reminding you to do what the shepherds did— to carry the light, and to share the light, just as we are doing now.

Silent night

Closing Prayer

Lord, as we leave this place tonight and celebrate the good news with friends and family, and just as the table will be spread tomorrow for anyone who will come, we ask that You would use us to share Your light with anyone who crosses our path.

We thank You for allowing us to know You and to love You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.