3 - Unrapped "THE GREAT RESCUE MISSION"

SERMON: "THE GREAT RESCUE MISSION"

Christmas Sunday & Year-End Service | December 21, 2025

MOMENT OF TITHING AND OFFERINGS

"As we prepare our last offering of the year, I want us to think about the 'cost' of a rescue. When someone is lost at sea or trapped on a mountain, no one asks about the cost—they just send the help.

God did the same for us. He didn't look at the cost; He looked at our need.

2 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT) — 'You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was very rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.'

Our giving today isn't just about keeping the lights on. It’s about fueling the mission that rescued us. As you give, remember that you are participating in God’s ongoing rescue plan for this city. Short, simple, and full of grace."

WELCOME TO NEW VISITORS

"If you are visiting The Way for the first time on this Christmas Sunday, welcome home! You’ve picked the best day to join us. We aren't just a building; we are a family on a journey.

We don’t want you to just be a face in the crowd. We want to connect with you during the week! We have Conversation Clubs where you can practice English and talk about life, and Small Groups meeting in living rooms all over the city.

Check us out on Social Media (@TheWaypib)

for all the details. We want to be your community in 2026.

Here is a promise for you today: Ephesians 2:19 (NLT) — 'So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.'

You aren't a guest; you're family. Welcome."

LAST WEEK’S SUMMARY

"Over the last two weeks, we've been on a powerful journey. Let me remind you where we've been:

Two weeks ago — We talked about 'Celebrating Spiritual Milestones.' We learned that you need to acknowledge where you've grown. We taught you to forget the past, look ahead, and enjoy the journey with Jesus. Some of you made powerful commitments that week.

Last week — We explored 'Overcoming Setbacks and Failures.' We learned that falling doesn't disqualify you. We learned that honesty heals. We learned that your next choice matters more than your last one. And some of you stood up and said, 'I'm ready to get back up.'

And now we're here. Two weeks of growth. Two weeks of truth. And today, we're asking: What do we do with all this?

Today, we're looking ahead.

We're entering the final week of the year, and we're asking: What are we going to do differently in 2026? Not someday. Now. This is the time to set spiritual goals that actually matter.

But before we talk about that, we're also celebrating the greatest goal God ever accomplished: sending Jesus.

Because here's the truth: All the goals we set are lived out in the context of the one goal that changed everything—Jesus coming to earth.

But today, we look at the 'Why' behind our goals.

We can set goals because God set the ultimate goal first.

We can move forward because He moved toward us.

Today, we close the year by looking at the most successful mission in history: God's Rescue Mission."

INTRODUCTION: THE "STAR MOMENT"

"Imagine you are trapped in a dark cave. There is no light, no food, and no way out.

You have shouted until your voice is gone. You’ve accepted that this is the end.

Suddenly, you hear a sound. A rock moves. A sliver of light breaks through. A hand reaches in. A voice says, 'I’m here. I’ve been looking for you. Hold on.'

Christmas isn't about a cute baby in a quiet manger.

Christmas is a high-stakes, dangerous, and intentional rescue operation.

God saw us trapped in the darkness of our own mistakes and He didn't send a manual on how to get out.

He didn't send a letter. He came in Himself."

THE MAIN BIBLE VERSE

Galatians 4:4-5 (NLT)

"But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children."

CONTEXT

The Apostle Paul is writing to the Christians in Galatia.

They were struggling, trying to 'earn' God's love by following complicated rules.

Paul writes this letter to remind them—and us—that we were slaves who couldn't free ourselves.

The purpose of this passage is to show that the 'Rescue Mission' wasn't a last-minute backup plan.

It happened at exactly the 'right time.' God waited for the perfect moment in history—politically, socially, and spiritually—to launch the mission.

POINT ONE: The Mission Was Intentional

Main Bible Verse: Luke 19:10 (NLT) — "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save those who are lost."

ORIGINAL TERMS

The Greek word for "seek" is Zeteo.

It doesn't mean a casual look, like looking for your car keys.

It means to search with intense effort and a fixed goal.

It’s the word used for a hunter tracking prey or a rescue team searching for a missing person.

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE & CHARACTERS

Think about Zacchaeus.

He was a 'lost' tax collector hiding in a tree.

He thought he was just watching the parade, but Jesus was on a mission to Zeteo him.

Matthew Henry says that Jesus didn't just 'find' Zacchaeus; He came to the city for him. Jesus is the Great Seeker. He doesn't wait for us to find Him; He tracks us down in our mess.

QUOTE FROM A RENOWNED FIGURE

C.S. Lewis once said:

"The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God."

ILLUSTRATION:

THE WARMTH MOMENT (LAUGHTER)

I remember when my kids were three, they tried to play 'Hide and Seek.'

But they didn't understand the 'Hide' part.

He would 'hide' right in the middle of the living room floor with a blanket over just his head. His feet were sticking out, his bottom was in the air, and he was giggling loudly.

I’d walk around saying, 'Where could he be?' and he’d just burst out laughing. He wanted to be found.

Sometimes we think we are 'hiding' from God in our shame, but we are like that three-year-old. God sees exactly where we are, and the best part is—He wants to find us even more than we want to be found.

REFLECTIVE QUESTION

If Jesus is 'seeking' you right now, what 'tree' are you hiding in?

POINT 2: The Mission Was Costly

Main Bible Verse: Philippians 2:7 (NLT) — "Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being."

ORIGINAL TERMS

There is a deep word for this in Greek: Kenosis. It means "to empty oneself."

Imagine a king taking off his crown, his robes, and his jewelry until he has nothing left, and then putting on the rags of a beggar. That is what Jesus did. He emptied Himself of His 'privileges' to reach us.

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE & CHARACTERS

Consider the Shepherds in Luke 2. Why them? They were the 'slaves' of society. They were dirty, ignored, and untrusted.

Jesus’ rescue mission started at the bottom because the 'cost' of the mission was His own status.

Warren Wiersbe notes that Jesus became a 'servant' so that no one would ever be 'too low' for Him to reach.

QUOTE FROM A RENOWNED FIGURE

Billy Graham said:

"The very first Christmas was not a celebration; it was a rescue mission."

ILLUSTRATION: THE COMPETENCE MOMENT (SCIENCE/LOGISTICS)

Think about the 'logistics' of the Incarnation.

Scientists tell us that the human brain has about 86 billion neurons. The complexity of a single human cell is greater than a space shuttle.

Now, consider this: The Creator of the 2 trillion galaxies we can see through telescopes 'emptied' Himself to fit into a human womb.

He went from holding the universe together to needing to be fed and changed.

If you look at the probability of Jesus fulfilling just 8 of the Old Testament prophecies about His birth, the odds are 1 in 100 quadrillion.

That’s like covering the entire state of Texas in silver dollars two feet deep, marking one of them, and asking a blindfolded man to pick it up on the first try.

The mission wasn't just costly; it was mathematically impossible without God.

REFLECTIVE QUESTION

If God was willing to pay such a high cost to reach you, how much do you think you are worth to Him?

POINT THREE: The Mission Is Personal

Main Bible Verse: John 1:14 (NLT) — "So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness."

ORIGINAL TERMS

The Greek word for "made his home" is Eskēnōsen.

It literally means "to pitch a tent."

It’s a camping word! It means Jesus didn't just visit; He moved into the neighborhood. He 'tented' with us.

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE & CHARACTERS

Think about The Woman at the Well (John 4).

Jesus didn't just save the 'world' in a general sense.

He walked miles out of His way, in the heat of the day, to sit by a well for one woman with a broken past.

Matthew Henry says He 'must needs go' through Samaria because her rescue was personal to Him.

QUOTE

Dr. Dharius Daniels says:

"God doesn't love a 'future' version of you. He loves the 'right now' version of you enough to come get you."

ILLUSTRATION: THE AWE MOMENT (TESTIMONY)

A few years ago, there was a story of a man named Brian who had lost everything to addiction. He was living under a bridge, literally at the 'bottom.' On Christmas Eve, a local pastor didn't just send a flyer; he went under that bridge, sat in the dirt with Brian, and brought him a meal.

Brian later said, 'I didn't believe in God. But when that man sat in the mud with me, I realized that if a man would do that, maybe God would too.'

Brian is now a counselor helping others.

That is the Awe of Christmas.

God didn't shout from heaven; He sat in the mud of our world so He could pull us out.

REFLECTIVE QUESTION

Do you believe Jesus came for 'the world,' or do you believe He came for YOU?

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

"How do we live this out as we head into 2026?

Accept the Rescue: You can’t rescue yourself. Stop trying to 'earn' your way to God this week. Just say, 'Jesus, I’m holding onto Your hand.'

Move Into the Neighborhood: Who in your life is 'trapped' in loneliness or pain right now? This week, don't just send a text. 'Pitch a tent' in their life. Visit them. Sit with them.

Check Your Value: Whenever you feel 'worthless' in the new year, remember the cost of the mission. You are worth the life of the Son of God."

CONCLUSION

"As we close this year, remember this: The Rescue Mission is complete, but the invitation is still open.

We’ve spent 2025 reflecting on growth and setting goals. But the greatest goal of all was accomplished 2,000 years ago when a cry in a manger signaled that the Rescue Team had arrived.

You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are not too far gone. You are the reason for the mission."

APPEAL

"I want to ask everyone to bow their heads.

Maybe you’ve been 'hiding' in the tree like Zacchaeus.

Maybe you feel like a slave to your past or your anxiety.

Today, Jesus is standing at the bottom of your 'tree,' and He is calling your name. He is saying, 'I’m here to bring you home.'

If you want to start 2026 knowing that you have been rescued by the King of Kings, I want you to make a decision today.

If you want to accept Jesus as your Rescuer for the first time, or if you want to 're-sign' your commitment to follow Him into the new year, I want you to stand up right where you are.

Let this stand be your 'YES' to His rescue.

[Pray a powerful prayer of surrender and new beginnings]

'Lord, we thank You for the Great Rescue. Thank You for not staying far away. As we step into 2026, we do it as rescued people, as children of the King. Amen.'"

[Closing: Dismiss the congregation with joy and a "Merry Christmas" blessing!]