Christmas Eve 2025
Notes
Transcript
Christmas Eve is so special and the excitement is so very real
This is the night before the birth of our savior
I am not sure we can ever fully understand all that it meant to willing step out of glory that is Heaven and into humanity as a baby is mid blowing
Church we must understand and realize that Jesus did that all because of His great love for us
That through his birth we miight have a personal relationship with
Because by his coming we know because we have read the rest of the story
By His coming we know that he would go on to turn the world upside down
The last shall be first and the first shall be last
The poor more often have together and the rich sometimes miss it
That is has nothing to do with what you can do or even what you bring to the table that a personal relationship is all about Jesus and what He did
And church that is only accomplished through his stepping out of Glory in Heaven and being born of a virgin and laid in a manger
Church as I was driving home from something one night
I heard the radio talk about Christmas traditions they remember from growing up
I am sure you have Christmas traditions
One of our in our family is the reading of Luke Chapter 2
The Story of Jesus’s birth
And because I have already done it and will do it again let me go ahead and read for you tonight
1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 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, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 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. 8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 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; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” 15 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.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
As a kid we would open our presents from family on Christmas Eve and before we would do that we had to Read Luke Chapter 2
Doesn’t seem like much and it isn’t a long story except when you are a kid
See this has been going on before I was around, I pray it contineus to go on long after I am gone
But as a kid we would go to church, then we would drive around and view the Christmas Lights, and let me tell that drive took forever
Then we would come home and we would read Luke Chapter 2 and as you were preparing to open gifts you have to sit still and quite while my Grandma read
It took forever as a kid
As I have gotten older it has gotten shorter, funny how that works out
Then we would get to open presents
And as I was pondering that it dawned on me what my grandma and my parents were doing
They were dipping me in Gods word
See tonight we will light some candles
Those candles represent the light of Jesus to a lost and broken world
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.”
Jesus Himself explains that He is the light of the world and those who follow after Him will not walk in the darkness
No one likes to walk around in darkness
You fear things in the darkness, you have anexity, and frustration in the darkness
You stub you pinky toe in the dark
No one likes to stub your pinky toe
When you have light in the darkness you have peace and calmness, you have hope that is exactly what Jesus is
Jesus is Peace
Jesus is Calm
Jesus is Hope to a lost a broken world
Sunday we talked how you and I as believers in Jesus are to be lights in a dark world
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven
To take the light we have in Christ and let it shine let it shine
Sunday we talked how this requires that you and I become obedient to what Jesus says
Which church if we follow it would require us to know what Jesus said right
If I want my girls to do what I say they must know what I say in order for them to do it
To do that we must be dipped in the Word
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ”
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
Church do you understand that you and I are to be in the Word of God
That we are to spend time reading it
We are to spend time memorizing it
We are to spend time studying it
We are to spend time learning it
That we are to spend time with God
11 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.
As we seek the Lord we we dip ourselves in the word
The Old way of making Candles was to dip them in the wax over and over and over and over and over allowing them to cool between each dip
By doing this it would add a layer upon layer upon layer upon layer
When you do that to a candle you have a candle that can be used for a really long time
And church when my family and my grandma read the Story of Jesus’s birth ever year after year that is exactly what they were doing to me
dipping me in the word building up the layers of the candle to be used of God
Church that is exactly what we are to be doing with ourselves
that is exactly what we are to be doing with our children
dipping ourselves in the word
dipping our kids in the word
exposing them to the Word of God as often and as frequently as we can
So that we can send them out into a world of darkness and they be prepared with their light they have in Jesus
It is only through a personal relationship with Christ that you can have the light
And church we should use it how it is to be used
So church as we light the candles tonight
I will bring it to a few of you and you please share it with those around you
But as you reflect with your lighted candle
Reflect on these
Jesus loves you
Jesus came to seek and save you
Jesus is calling you to be a light in a dark world
We will sing a song
Will you take your candle into a lost and dark world to be a light to others
Challenge go home and reread Luke 2 with your family
dip your kids and yourself, your spouse, and the rest of your family in the word of God as often as you can
