Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (3)

In one paragraph

The Christmas Eve service at First B Jackson centered on the arrival of Jesus as the light of the world, tracing the nativity from prophecy through the wise men, and closing with a candlelight reflection on what that light means for those who carry it. Pastor led the congregation through scripture, song, and a giving opportunity for local families in need. The evening was built around the simple...

Read together

1. John 8:12 quoted twice: Jesus declaring himself the light of the world, used at candle lighting and earlier in the service
2. Isaiah 7:14 read as prophecy of the virgin birth and Emmanuel
3. Isaiah 9:6-7 read as prophecy of the child born, wonderful counselor, prince of peace, whose government will never end
4. Micah 5:2 read as prophecy that a ruler of Israel would come from Bethlehem
5. Matthew 1:18-25 narration of Joseph learning of Mary's pregnancy and the angel's instruction to name the child Jesus
6. Luke 2:1-20 narration of the census, the birth in Bethlehem, and the shepherds and angels
7. Matthew 2:1-12 reading of the wise men visiting Jesus and evading Herod
8. Matthew 25:34-40 the king telling the righteous that serving the least of these was serving him, used to introduce the benevolence offering
9. John 1:5 the light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it, said at candle extinguishing
10. Matthew 5:14-16 you are the light of the world, a town on a hill, let your light shine before others

Talk about it

1. The narrator read from John 8:12 where Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.' What does it actually look like in your daily life to follow that light rather than walk in darkness?
2. The preacher pointed out that the wise men were pagan men from the Far East who did not know God, yet God communicated with them in a language they understood and drew them to Jesus. Has there been a time in your life when God reached out to you in a way that met you where you were? What did that look like?
3. Pastor connected the wise men's gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to God's provision for Joseph and Mary's escape to Egypt, saying 'that's traveling money, praise God He provides.' How have you seen God provide for a need through what seemed like an unrelated circumstance?
4. Pastor read from Matthew 25 where Jesus says that whatever is done for the least of these is done to Him, and then described families in the community whose needs were met that week. How does seeing Jesus in the faces of people who are struggling change the way you think about serving others?
5. The service closed with the image of one candle lighting another, with Pastor saying there is nothing that can extinguish the true light of Christ in those who trust Him, and that we have the privilege of letting that light shine through us. Where in your life right now do you sense God calling you to let that light shine?