12202020 Christmas Service - Scripture and Song

1 “Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 “For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you. 3 “Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Invocation & The Lord’s Prayer

The Proto-Evangelium

The First Proclamation of the Gospel

Reading

Genesis 3:14–15 NASB95

14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life; 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

Isaiah 7:14 NASB95

14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

The Prince of Peace

His Birth & Reign Foretold

Reading

Isaiah 9:1–7 NASB95

1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them. 3 You shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence As with the gladness of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian. 5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. 6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

The Son of the Most High

Reading

Micah 5:2 NASB95

2 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”

Nick Reading Luke 2:1-5

Luke 2:1–5 NASB95

1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

O, Little Town of Bethlehem

Nick Reading Luke 2:6-7

Luke 2:6–7 NASB95

6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

What Child is This?

Away in the Manger

An Angelic Announcement

Nick Reading Luke 2:8-20

Luke 2:8–20 NASB95

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Angels We Have Heard On High

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

The Magi’s Visit

Reading

Matthew 2:1–11 NASB95

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” 9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Angels, from the Realms of Glory

Instrumental Offertory

It’s All About Jesus

Micah 5:1–2 NASB95

1 “Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; They have laid siege against us; With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek. 2 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”

Micah 5:3–4 NASB95

3 Therefore He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren Will return to the sons of Israel. 4 And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth.

Matthew 2:6 NASB95

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

John 1:14 NASB95

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Familiarity...

Sometimes the most difficult things to see is that thing that is right under our noses. Looking for something . . . It’s true for the physical . . . it’s true for the spiritual things of this world as well.

In Matthew….

The ones telling Herod where Jesus was born are Jewish interpreters of the Scripture - the scribes and the Pharisees - the Jewish Sanhedrin (akin to our Supreme court) answering Herod's question that the Messiah is to come from Bethlehem.

How did they know – that’s what had been written. The Jews in Jesus’ day expected the Messiah to come from Bethlehem. He did and they didn't recognize him.

Even though they knew the truth and had been bombarded with that truth through the pages of Israel’s history….

Bethlehem’s Importance

Jacob's wife Rachel (Gen 35:16-20) died giving birth to a son whom she named Benoni, "son of my sorrow." Jacob renamed his son Benjamin, "son of my right hand" Both these names relate to Jesus Christ, for He was a "man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Is 53:3) and he is now at the right hand of God interceding for us.“Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men.” (1 Samuel 17:12, NASB95) David tended his father's flock in Bethlehem (1 Sam 17:15)David - as king was given this promise - 1 Chronicles 17:11–14 The Kings of Israel were supposed to be shepherds of God's people, the sheep of his pasture . . . Most of them failed miserably. But to David, God said through the prophet Nathan….““When your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up one of your descendants after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. “He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. “I will be his father and he shall be My son; and I will not take My lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you. “But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”” (1 Chronicles 17:11–14, NASB95) Micah was a contemporary with Isaiah - spoke to the God's people, Israel (the southern Kingdom) before their fall into the hands of the Assyrian army (587 bc). He spoke words to God's people to encourage them through the difficulties they were about to face. God's promise made through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob - those promises that go back to Gen 3:15 are fulfilled in God's chosen ruler who would rule over his people as a King and a shepherd forever.Assyria would occupy Bethlehem. They would never conquer Jerusalem but they would occupy Bethlehem. And Micah is saying, “From that Assyrian occupied territory, even Bethlehem, God, one day, is going to raise up a ruler for His people - one who is a shepherd/king.”Jesus birth was a fulfillment of this prophecy - the seed of the woman who would crush the head of the serpent. The hope bound up in the promise of the Rainbow - the fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham - the reality of the shadow of the ceremonial law.He is the one born in the city of David, Bethlehem = house of bread - this is where "the bread of life" came to earth (John 6:48ff) Matthew uses them and applies them to Jesus, the Messiah - of which David is a type (a shadow)Bethlehem in the OT was also associated with David who was a type of Jesus Christ in His suffering and glory.“Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet.” Others were saying, “This is the Christ.” Still others were saying, “Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So a division occurred in the crowd because of Him.” (John 7:40–43, NASB95) These are Jewish people hear Jesus preach and they all expect that the Messiah will come from Bethlehem. And at that point, all they know about Jesus is that He is from Nazareth of Galilee. It isn't early Christians who made up the idea that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Micah tells us that and all the Jews in Jesus’ day knew that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem.

It’s All About Jesus

And Jesus was that Messiah. He was the ruler promised in Micah chapter 5 verse 2, and even His enemies and those who did not yet believe in Him, recognized that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem.

This promised ruler is one who came as a king to shepherd his people.

As a King he rules and defends us - he conquers both his and our enemies.

As a shepherd he brings peace that reaches at times beyond our ability to understand or comprehend. How does he bring us this peace?...

By Dying As A Substitute

All Mankind by Adams fall has lost communion with God....“Christ has died for me, and by the merit of His blood, He takes what I deserve so that I receive what He deserves.”

By Interceding As A Priest

“Peace I leave with you. Peace I give to you. Not as the world gives give I unto you; let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You believe in God, believe also in Me.”

Through the sufficiency of his grace

"my grace is sufficient…."

By the Promise of His Word…

And these promises were first made to people who were about to be invaded. You can start thinking about all the horrific things that came along with that invasion.

Sometimes it’s easy to miss and truly appreciate something that is right under our noses.

We grow accustomed to the words – we speak the phrases – we sing the familiar Christmas hymns, but do we really know the one who is born in Bethlehem, the city of David, the one who is the Messiah, Christ our Lord...

This season is all about Jesus.

He is the calm in the storm.

He is our Prince of Peace.

He is our King of Kings.

He is the Lord of Lords.

All Scripture from Genesis to Revelation reveals to us this one who was born in Bethlehem, Our Savior who is Christ our Lord.

Prayer

Joy to the World

Silent Night

The Benediction

Instrumental Postlude

John 8:12 NASB95

12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

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