Sermon Tone Analysis

Song #1

Song #2

Song #3

Introduction by Devin:

Good evening and welcome to The Outpost Christmas eve service.

Thank you all for joining us tonight for this special celebration of the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.

Christmas means a lot of things to different people but for followers of Jesus, this day marks a celebration of the hope that came through the birth of Jesus.

Christmas is a time of gathering and family.

It is a time of joy and celebration.

Something I think that is unique to the celebration of Christmas is that it is an event where everyone participates together in the celebration.

In that same spirit of participation, we are not simply offering an experience to consume but an opportunity to participate together.

Tonight’s service may not be polished and that’s actually just fine.

There may be moments of silence and transition or where someone loses their place in the reading and that is awesome!

In fact, that is the mark of genuine participation and we should celebrate our savior all the more in those moments as we see the sincerity of heart in those who are worshiping Him.

Now…

When you came in, you were given a packet of papers and asked if you would like to participate by reading a portion of the Christmas story.

If you took one of the participant packages, you will notice portions highlighted in yellow.

When it is your turn to read, make your way to one of the microphones in the isle and read your highlighted portion.

There will also be moments of responsive reading throughout the evening.

Those portions are marked in green and everyone will participate by reading those.

If you see green words appear on any of the screens, those are for everyone to read aloud together.

We will also be singing some Christmas hymns during the evening which we encourage everyone to stand for as we sing together.

I wanted to begin this evening by everyone participating in a responsive reading.

(Briefly explain how that works)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

All: He was with God in the beginning.

Oh, come, let us adore Him,

All: Christ the Lord!

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

All:  In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

Oh, come, let us adore Him,

All: Christ the Lord!

The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

All:  He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

Oh, come, let us adore Him,

All: Christ the Lord!

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

All:  Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

Oh, come, let us adore Him,

All: Christ the Lord!

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

All:  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Oh, come, let us adore Him,

All: Christ the Lord!

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

All:  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Oh, come, let us adore Him,

All: Christ the Lord!

Will you stand with me as we sing - Oh Come Let Us Adore Him

Be Seated

Passage 1

Passage 2

Passage 3

Prayer by Jake:

Will you bow your heads as we go in thanks to God our Father:

Father in heaven, hallowed by your name.

Thank you for the name that stands above all other names.

Thank you for the name of Jesus which brought salvation to all mankind.

Thank you for the name Emmanuel which brought your presence to earth so that your will might be done on the earth just as it is in heaven.

Thank you for Jesus coming as the bread of life to bring satisfaction and provision each day as we look to him to fulfill the deepest longings of our souls.

Father, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Thank you for the grace and mercy of Jesus who came to forgive the sins of many so that we might know true freedom and forgiveness and extend the same to those who have sinned against us.

I pray that we would be a beacon of the love, grace, and forgiveness you have extended to us as we extend the same to every person we meet.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Thank you for the life of Jesus lived on our behalf.

Thank you for the example of a life perfectly lived.

Thank you for the power of the Gospel which transforms our hearts and enables us to follow after the example set by Jesus.

Thank you for the birth King Jesus all those years ago which brought your kingdom to earth that we might experience the goodness, peace, and freedom of a life surrendered to you.

Thank you for your death on the cross on my behalf and I surrender all that I have and all that I am to your will.

With all that I am and wherever I may go, I am forever yours.

Thank you Father for the most blessed Christmas Gift.

Amen.

Passage 4:

Passage 5

Responsive reading #2

Please stand for a responsive reading: I can think of perhaps no more of a fitting passage of scripture to read before the next part of the Christmas story which details the arrival of King Jesus than the Psalmists proclamation of the arrival of the King of Kings.

Let’s read it together.

I will start and everyone will read together the parts marked “All”

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,

the world and those who dwell therein.

All: For he has founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

And who shall stand in his holy place?

All: He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to what is false

and does not swear deceitfully.

O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?

Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

All: He who walks blamelessly and does what is right

and speaks truth in his heart.

He will receive blessing from the Lord

and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

All: Such is the generation of those who seek him,

who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Lift up your heads, O gates!

And be lifted up, O ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

All: Who is this King of glory?

The Lord, strong and mighty,