Christmas Eve ‘25

Bible Passage: Luke 2

INTRO

“Soma Church exists to love the body of Christ and equip them to do the work of ministry here, near and far, all for the glory of God.”

I wanna ask you this Christmas eve evening, why is Christmas special for you?

Christmas was special for me growing up because it represented rest, family and home.

I grew up in a pastors home in mega church world so my dad’s job was very demanding which meant we were very busy.

These churches he served in were in the southeast US and all of our family lived here up in Troy, MO.

There was something about getting away from our normal routine, packing up the car and driving 12-19 hours halfway across the country that was magical to me.

It meant more to me than presents or lights. It made Christmas time special.

That all began to change when I was 13. We moved back to my parents home town of Troy to plant a church which meant we saw my family as much as possible and our pace of life was very different.

Slowly, year by year if felt like the magic of Christmas began to fade.

We no longer had the anticipation of the long car ride and reunions with those we loved and only saw 1-2 times per year.

Part of this is just the reality of getting older but Christmas went from magical to just good.

But I don’t feel that this is the way that it should be. The magic of Christmas doesn’t come from long drives, presents, or even seeing the ones that we love.

The reason I say this is because all of those things change ad inevitably go away at some point.

So what’s the real magic? What is it that makes Christmas special year in and year out?

Well as cliche as this sounds in a church on Christmas Eve, it’s Jesus.

But I guess something that is cliche is that way for a reason… Because it stands the test of time.

So how about this evening we take just a few moments to see if we can rediscover the magic of Christmas together?

To do this, let’s take a look at the first Christmas ever and see what made it so magical.

BODY

Let’s set the scene…

Luke 2:8–9 ESV

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

An angel appears to these Shepherds in the middle of a field

Terrifying

But nevertheless, this is significant because shepherds were nobodies.

Relegated to the fields to tend stinky, stupid sheep. The bottom of the societal totem pole.

This angel appears to these men who have no reason to believe that anything magical or significant will ever happen in their lives and gives them a command…

Luke 2:10–12 ESV

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Go find a baby in a barn lying in a feeding troff.

But this isn’t just any baby, no, this is the Christ, the savior the Davidic King who has come to establish His heavenly Kingdom here on the Earth.

You see, these men may have been Shepherds but they had grown up in God’s word… They knew Isaiah 9:6

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

So the Shepherds listened to the angel…

Luke 2:16–21 ESV

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

They told Mary, Joseph and all who would listen and it says some wondered and were confused

But Mary treasured the news and the Shepherds left praising God.

Maybe some of you here this evening can relate. This is one of two days per year you come to church and you just can’t quite understand why you hear the same message as others yet lack their zeal.

Or maybe you are faithful Christian but like we said at the beginning, the magic of Christmas or Christianity in general is lacking.

So why do some ponder/question and some rejoice?

Faith!

Mary and the Shepherds knew that this boy was so much more than a jewish baby.

This was God! This child is the answer to their problems. He is the one who can save them from the oppression of their sin and give them peace.

Luke 2:13–14 ESV

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Christmas for them was something more. Christmas for them means peace with God!

CLOSING

What about you? What is Christmas for you?

Is it getting, hustle, busyness, grief, mundane, boring, stressful and blah?

Or is it a magical time filled with joy because by faith, simple belief in who Jesus is and what He did you celebrate that because Jesus came you have peace with God?

If not, you have access to that peace tonight.

Because not only was Jesus born but He died so you could be forgiven of your sin and have joy.

You want Christmas to be magical again? Make it about that and let the other stuff be what it is… Stuff

PRAY