The King has COme

CHRISTMAS SUNDAY

“THE KING HAS COME”

WELCOME (WARM, HUMAN, DISARMING)

Good morning, Vine family. And Merry Christmas.

It really is good to see you today.

For some of us, Christmas is joyful and full of life. For others, it’s complicated. And for some, just being here today took courage.

But no matter how you walked in, I want you to hear this clearly:

You are welcome here. You don’t have to pretend. You don’t have to have everything figured out. You belong here.

Christmas has a way of bringing people from different backgrounds, different cultures, and different generations into the same room.

And honestly, that reflects the heart of God.

OPENING PRAYER (GENTLE, SCRIPTURE-SHAPED)

Let’s take a moment and pray together.

Father God, thank You for Your nearness.

Your Word tells us in Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

So today, we invite You to meet us right where we are.

Help us slow down. Help us breathe. Help us be present.

Let today be more than a service. Let it be a moment where hearts are touched and hope is restored.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

ORIENTATION (SHORT, NON-REPETITIVE)

Last week, we talked about how Christmas didn’t begin in a manger — it began with a promise God made long ago.

Galatians 4:4 says, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman.”

Jesus came right on time.

Today, we’re not going to re-teach all of that.

Today, we’re going to talk about what it means that Jesus actually came — and why that matters for our real lives right now.

TRANSITION

So instead of rushing through a lot of ideas, I want us to slow down and sit with a few simple truths — truths that meet us in everyday life, not just church life.

TRUTH 1: JESUS STEPPED INTO REAL LIFE — NOT A PERFECT ONE

Luke 2:6–7 tells us:

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

Jesus was born into a world that was already messy.

There was pressure. There was uncertainty. There was fear.

And that’s where God chose to come.

Jesus didn’t wait for things to calm down. He didn’t wait for people to get their lives together.

He came anyway.

That matters for us today.

Because many of us think we need to fix ourselves first. Get our lives in order. Clean things up.

But Romans 5:8 tells us, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus steps into real life — into tired hearts, stressed minds, and complicated stories.

If He was willing to enter a broken world, He is willing to enter your story too — exactly as it is.

TRUTH 2: JESUS CAME GENTLY — BUT WITH PURPOSE

Jesus wasn’t born in a palace. He wasn’t surrounded by power or wealth.

Philippians 2:6–7 tells us that although Jesus was God, He chose humility and took the form of a servant.

He came gently. Quietly. Humbly.

But heaven knew exactly who He was.

Luke 2:11 says the angels announced: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Savior — the One who rescues. Messiah — the promised King. Lord — the One with authority.

Jesus didn’t come to impress people. He came to invite them.

And that’s important in our world today.

We live in a culture that’s tired of being told what to do. We don’t trust authority easily.

But Jesus’ authority doesn’t crush us — it restores us.

He leads with love. He invites, not intimidates.

TRUTH 3: JESUS CAME CLOSE — BUT HE NEVER FORCES HIS WAY IN

The Bible tells us there was no room in the inn.

Not because people were cruel — but because life was full.

And that feels very modern.

Most people don’t reject Jesus outright. Life just gets crowded.

Crowded schedules. Crowded minds. Crowded hearts.

John 1:11–12 says, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, He gave the right to become children of God.”

Receiving Jesus doesn’t mean having all the answers.

It simply means making room.

And Jesus Himself says in Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.”

He doesn’t force His way in. He knocks.

WHAT CHRISTMAS IS REALLY ASKING

Christmas gently asks us a question:

Is there room for Jesus in your life?

Not just during a service. Not just during the holidays.

But in your everyday life.

Jesus didn’t come to be a tradition. He came to walk with us, lead us, and love us.

INVITATION (NATURAL, NO PRESSURE)

Some of you may feel something stirring in your heart right now.

That’s not pressure. That’s not coincidence.

John 6:44 tells us that God draws hearts to Himself.

That stirring is an invitation to stop carrying everything on your own and trust Jesus with your life.

PRAYER OF RESPONSE (SIMPLE, ACCESSIBLE)

If you’d like, I invite you to pray this with me — quietly or out loud.

Jesus, thank You for coming close.

I don’t have everything figured out, but I want to make room for You.

I trust You with my life. I receive Your love. I choose to follow You.

Be my Savior. Be my King.

Amen.

CLOSING (HOPEFUL, MEMORABLE)

Church, today we celebrate this truth:

John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”

God came close. Hope stepped into the world.

The King has come.

And because He has come, no one is too far gone, no story is beyond redemption, and no heart is without hope.

Merry Christmas. We’re so glad you’re here.