2025 Christmas Eve

**Be done by 6:40 for Lord’s Supper**

2 Congregational songs

Welcome / Lord’s Supper intro

Winston Churchill “Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection.”

One of the most beautiful things about Christmas decorations are the reflections...

The soft glow of lights

Reflection: the review or consideration of past events

Like the Christmas lights reflect against the wall, we are also reflecting on a few things:

The Birth of our Savior

The condition of our hearts

Congregational Song

Caleb Special

A Holy Night it was...

It was Holy because:

The Person of Jesus is holy

The Presents to Jesus were holy (Gold, frankincense, myrrh) - used to cover everything in the tabernacle

The Purpose of Jesus was holy (God in the flesh, His death for us)

The birth of Jesus was a birth of something so much more than just another baby:

It was the birth of a king

Someone - “The manger was the first ever king-sized bed.”

2. It was the birth of peace with God

You can experience the peace with God through salvation...

But unfortunately many Christians rarely experience the peace of God...

On the Eve of Christmas, let’s consider the Christmas Chronology:

I. It starts with considering prophecy:

Isaiah 7:14 KJV 1900

14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6–7 KJV 1900

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, To order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice From henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Micah 5:2 KJV 1900

2 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

II. The Angel’s Message to Mary

Luke 1:26–38 KJV 1900

26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

III. The Angel’s Message to Joseph

Matthew 1:18–25 KJV 1900

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

IV. Taxes

Luke 2:1–6 KJV 1900

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

V. The Birth

Luke 2:7 KJV 1900

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

VI. The Announcement

Luke 2:8–20 KJV 1900

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, Good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

VII. Adversity

Matthew 2:1–7 KJV 1900

1 Now when Jesus was born in Beth-lehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Beth-lehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Beth-lehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

That adversity followed Jesus all the way through the cross...

It was present at his birth when Herod tried having Him killed...

It was present when Satan tempted Him after His baptism in the wilderness...

It was present when the people of Nazareth tried to kill Him...

It was present when “many” of His disciples left and walked no more with Him in John 6...

It was present in Gethsemane when He faced physical and emotional agony...

It was present when His closest disciples abandoned Him...

It was present when He was betrayed by a kiss with Judas...

It was present when he was illegally tried, beaten and crucified on a cross for our sins...

But it was Jesus’ birth which lead way to Jesus’ death...

It was man’s rebellion that lead way to Jesus’ forgiveness...

And that is what we remember this evening...

Lord’s Supper:

1 Corinthians 11:27–33 KJV 1900

27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

Here in a moment we will drink the juice

This is done in remembrance of the blood that Jesus shed for me

We will eat the cracker

This is done in remembrance of Jesus’ body that was broken for me

Anyone who is a born-again believer may participate...

However, I give you a strong warning NOT to partake if you have ought against God or anyone else and you are unwilling to correct it prior to...

> Let’s take this time to examine ourselves before taking the Lord’s supper

(as the piano plays, I invite you to kneel at the alter, kneel at your sit and talk with God)

If you are ready, come get the grape juice and the unleavened bread **Bro. Jaron plays while they get juice and bread*

I Cor. 11:23-24 “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: (24) And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” **Eat Bread**

*PRAY – Pastor Woodard* (body in the manger and on the cross)

Vs. 25-26 “After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” **Drink Juice**

*PRAY – Bro. Thompson* (blood on the cross for our sins)

Dismiss