Sermon Tone Analysis

CHRISTMAS EVE 2019 - LIFE IN ME

OPENING

Prelude - instrumental

OPENING SONG - Life In Me (solo/Music Worship Team only) 

WELCOME + INTRO - Pastor Kyle 

MOVEMENT 1 - The Hope of the World

SCRIPTURE 1 - Isaiah 9:1a, 2; 6-7 - Matt Roberts 

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish

The people who walked in darkness

    have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

    on them has light shone.

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.

Of the increase of his government and of peace

    there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

    to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

    from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

REFLECTION 1 - Pastor Jason 

When we use the word hope it usually means something distinguished from certainty.

We say, "I don't know what's going to happen, but I hope it happens."

I hope you have a Merry Christmas.

I hope I get what I want this year.

I hope we can pay off these credit cards.

(to the audience) I hope you got all of your shopping done, well, because you're here now.

Many of us are hoping for more.

We hope the next year is better.

We hope that things are going to work out.

Some of us are hoping to find true love or a job.

Maybe others here are just hoping the new year finally brings us some peace, and maybe even a little joy or at the very least some happier days.

Our hopes are commonly wishful thinking - a desire for something we might not receive, but which we desperately wish to have.

Christian hope though is nothing like that.

The Hope of God is an optimistic assurance that something will be fulfilled.

Our culture's hopes for a better world, and our own hopes for a better tomorrow leave us adrift on the seas of this life, tossed about by waves of circumstance.

Is it going to work out?

Oh, man I hope it does.

Things look good.

No, wait, now they look hopeless again!

But Christian hope serves is an anchor for our souls, holding us steady even in the most uncertain of times because in it we can say assuredly,  God is always working it all out.

That's because the Christian hope is anchored in Jesus Christ, the unchanging Son of God and in every single unchanging promise found in His Word.

Our hope is the confident affirmation that God is faithful, that He will complete what He has begun.

It is the confident expectation which waits patiently and fervently for God, for whom nothing is too out of control, too dark, or too impossible, to fulfill His purposes.

In Bethlehem of Judea, over two thousand years ago, God’s people had almost given up hope.

Would God ever deliver us, would He finally come to set us free from the Romans controlling us and the sin chaining us?

The people walked in a spiritual darkness that was beyond any hope of their own fixing up, impossible for them to lighten up.

And then, a Light shown.

A light bigger than bright.

Beyond  brilliant.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

To those in darkness, the Light of Life, the Savior and hope of the whole world, had finally come -- Jesus born to set His people free.

What Hope indeed!

Hope that God heard His people's cries.

Hope that God cares.

Hope that He can do something very real, very wonderful, and very permanent to turn our hopelessness into enduring hope.

Hope that those who walk in this Light, who believe in His name, He gives the right to become children of God.

Do you know that hope this evening?

Hope of living water, of endless wellsprings, by which you will thirst no more

Hope of a sure way to the Father, through Jesus Himself 

Hope of the God who hears you, who knows you, and still loves you

Hope of real life, of everlasting life.

Tonight, let us find our rest in Jesus Christ, the fulfiller of all of our longings.

Let us find our hope in the hope of the World.

[Invite to stand] Will you now stand with us as we sing of this hope, our long expected Jesus.

Song 1 - Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

MOVEMENT 2 - The PEACE of our coming King 

[You may remain standing] 

SCRIPTURE 2 - Luke 2:8-14 - Matt Roberts 

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.

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.”

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!”

SONG 2  - I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Casting Crowns)

[You may be seated] 

REFLECTION 2 - Pastor Kyle 

What a stunning announcement to hear breaking out through the stillness of a dark night sky - “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

To shepherds caught in the commonness of their everyday work, among the baa’s and bleating of sheep, comes the very words of God delivered through His messengers “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

To a people who had not heard God speak in centuries, to a nation that had known countless wars, captivity, exile, and everyday struggles, and to a whole world restless in the discomfort of sin - “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”

For most of us, peace means a truce - at least a short stoppage in the fighting, either with our kids or our spouse or our neighbors.

Some of us are seeking financial peace.

Social peace.

Or just peace of mind.

The peace of God - the kind the angels announced in Jesus’ coming to earth - is much, much bigger than not fighting, much greater than national border peace, and more stunning than even peace and quiet.

It is more lasting, more complete, and more real than the peace of politicians and the dreams of utopia.

It is everlasting.

And it is holistic.

It is shalom that means everything in life - in your life and mine - is working as it should.

It’s not a just getting-by but a wondrous flourishing.

The peace of God is life without a single piece, even a tiny piece, missing.

It is completeness.