Christmas Eve Service - 4.30pm (2)

December 24, 2018

Scripture referenced 10 passages

The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.

John 8:12 Galloway family read it at the Christ candle lighting: 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'

12 Again, therefore, Jesus 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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Isaiah 7:14

Read as part of the nativity scripture reading: 'the virgin will conceive a child and she will give birth to a son and will call him Emmanuel which means God is with us'

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

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Isaiah 9:6-7

Read as part of the nativity scripture reading: 'For a child is born to us, a son is given to us... Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace'

6 For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.

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Micah 5:2

Read as part of the nativity scripture reading: 'But you, oh Bethlehem... a ruler of Israel whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you'

2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times.

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Matthew 1:18-24

Read as part of the nativity story: the angel appearing to Joseph in a dream and telling him to take Mary as his wife

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.

20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21 She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”

22 Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel”; which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”

24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;

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Luke 2:1-20

Read as the core nativity story: the census, the birth in Bethlehem, the shepherds and the angels

1 Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;

5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

6 While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.

11 For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”

13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.”

15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.

17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.

18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.

20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

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Matthew 2:1-11

Read as part of the nativity story: the wise men arriving in Jerusalem and following the star to present gifts to Jesus

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

2 “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born.

5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,

6 ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah: for out of you shall come a governor, who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”

7 Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.

8 He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”

9 They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

11 They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

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John 3:16

Quoted before the offering: 'For God so loved the world that he gave his son Jesus that whoever believes in him wouldn't die but have eternal life'

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

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John 1:5

Quoted at the candle lighting: 'the light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it'

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.

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Matthew 5:14-16

Quoted near the close: 'you are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden...'

14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.

15 Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.

16 Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

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Recap

The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.

This was the Christmas Eve service at First B Jackson, built around a reading of the nativity story from the New Living Translation. The message centered on Jesus as the light of the world, tracing that theme from His birth through His own words and into the lives of those who follow Him. No single extended sermon was preached; the evening moved through scripture readings, music, a candle lighting, and an offering for the church's local benevolence fund.

What was said

The service opened with the Galloway family lighting the Christ candle on the advent wreath, marking the end of the Advent journey. They read from John 8:12, where Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." That verse set the thread that ran through the rest of the evening.

The nativity story was read straight through in sections, from the angel's word to Joseph, to the census and the birth in Bethlehem, to the shepherds in the field, to the wise men arriving with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The reading was from the New Living Translation, offered without added commentary, on the conviction that the power is in the story itself.

Pausing after the shepherds' visit, the speaker noted what it would have meant to Mary and Joseph that night: Mary had already said yes to God's plan, Joseph had obeyed the angel's instruction, and then strangers arrived saying exactly what the angels had told them. The moment was held up not as a point to argue but as something worth imagining.

When the offering was introduced, the speaker was direct that no one was obligated to give. He explained that gifts go to First B's local benevolence fund, which helps people in immediate need, whether that is a bill, gas, rent, or a room for the night. The giving was framed by John 3:16: God gave His Son, and generosity toward others flows from that.

At the candle lighting, the speaker brought the evening's theme to a close. He named the invitation plainly: Jesus came as the light of the world to rescue people from sin, and belief in Him carries the promise of eternal life. He quoted John 1:5, that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it, and told the congregation that nothing the world brings can put out the light of Christ in those who trust Him.

The final movement was outward. The speaker noted that Jesus calls Himself the light of the world and then turns and says the same to His followers, pointing to Matthew 5: "You are the light of the world." The candles people held were a picture of that, and the congregation was sent out with that charge still in hand.

Doing a Bible study?

Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.

The Galloway family said that as they lit the Christ candle, their hope was to 'devote our lives to reflecting his light.' What does reflecting the light of Christ actually look like in your day-to-day life, and where do you find that hardest to do?
The pastor read that when the angels appeared, the shepherds were terrified, but then immediately got up and went to find exactly what they had been told about. What makes it difficult to act on what God has clearly told us, and can you think of a time when you did or did not respond that way?

and 3 more questions in the guide

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0:01 I mean, usually, it it takes everything just to to to be get everybody to be quiet and the hush fell over. I'll tell you what, we don't even need to wait until zero unless. Okay. Sorry for those who are like, no. No.

0:16 No. No. It's gotta get down to zero. Hey, Merry Christmas everybody. Christmas.

0:22 It's good to see y'all and and welcome to first beast sincerely. We're very very glad that that you're here, and we hope that you feel at home. I hope that when you walk in this building it feels like coming home because that's who we want to be here. And if you're new please know this, please stop by the back before you go tonight. There's a free gift including a homemade cookie and a warm welcome and and we just want to say hi to you.

0:49 So would you do that please if you're new to first b would you would you stop by the back? We want to give you a little gift and say hi. Also know there's nursery care downstairs. There's some overflow down the hall and tonight is meant just to be a fun reflective worshipful night. We're here to celebrate the Christ in Christmas.

1:10 Amen to that. Amen. So we'll read the nativity story. We believe the powers in the story. Amen.

1:15 We're gonna sing some Christmas songs, do a candle lighting, watch your eyebrows this year. And to begin the candle lighting, I would like to invite up the Galloway family. Are the Galloway's here? Excellent. And so they're going to light the much anticipated Christ candle on the advent wreath here.

1:36 And at the end of the service, not now, we're gonna use the that candle to to light our candles later on. So Galloway's, wanna take it away?

1:50 We are we are the Galloway's. Grant, Kristen, Nora, and Hazel fell asleep on the way here so I dared not wake her. Merry Christmas to everyone. Today marks the end of our advent journey. We've prepared our hearts, our minds, and our spirits for the celebration of Christ's entrance into this world.

2:11 As we light the Christ candle, may we may we devote our lives to reflecting his light. He is the light of the world. In John eight twelve, Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

2:29 Amen. Thanks, Galloway's. And can I pray on that? And then we'll stand up and greet one another. But let me pray first.

2:35 God, I'm we're we're grateful. Grateful to be here, and thank you that you are light and you are life. Thank you for making your entrance into human history. Thank you God for being alive and well, working in the hearts and lives of your people. And you ought to pray that, you'd meet us where we're at tonight.

2:54 And, we'd look back at your first coming. We look forward to your second. Pray this all in Jesus name. Amen. Hey, would you stand up and just say hi to

3:03 the people around you?

3:04 We'll bring you back in in song. Alright. You sound great. Here, let me

7:27 just

7:27 share the the line that really sticks out in this next song. It's, he rules the world with truth and grace. And I was just thinking this week, couldn't we use more truth and couldn't we use more grace in our lives? Truly. Let's sing joy to the world.

8:12 Joy

9:33 Alright. Here's my favorite part. He goes. Alright. You can be seated.

10:16 Alright then. The Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the virgin will conceive a child and she will give birth to a son and will call him Emmanuel which means God is with us. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us, and the government will rest on his shoulders, and he will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace, his government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor, David, for all eternity.

10:52 The passionate commitment of the Lord of heaven's armies will make this happen. But you, oh Bethlehem, Ephesians, are only a small village among all the people of Judah, and yet a ruler of Israel whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.

11:13 As we sing this next one, the the words are on the on the screen and and would you sing with too, please?

13:26 And this is how Jesus, the Messiah, was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph but before the marriage took place while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit and Joseph, her fiance, was a good man and he did not want to disgrace her publicly. So, he decided to break the engagement quietly and as he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. Joseph, son of David, the angel said, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit and she will have a son and you are to name him Jesus for he will save his people from their sins.

14:06 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet. Look, the virgin will conceive a child and she will give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel which means God is with us and when Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and he took Mary as his wife.

14:42 They didn't own a house no crib, no toys were waiting

14:52 but still they had their love

14:57 for the child they were anticipating he was born one winter night on a road There was a new star shining in the sky up above. By its light, that winter night they found peace and perfect love if we want to find They worried how to feed him. Simple trade was all they knew. It was hard enough to make ends meet when they were only two. But the cold, dark, and hunger There was a new star shining in the sky up above.

16:59 By its light, that winter night they found peace and perfect love if we want to find it I know we always will because that new star is shining for us still if we want to find it I know we always will because that new star is shining for us still because that new star is shining for us still

18:23 Thank you. Why you hang right there? We'll call you we'll call you right back. So, and at that time, I'm going to just read the story, alright? I'm not going to add any new characters to this story.

18:37 This is not something that I'm going to add anything to and I'm not I'm going try my best not take anything away from it, alright? This is a great story. It's the New Living Translation if you're wondering. If it doesn't sound quite like scripture, it is. Just update it a little bit with the way that we speak now.

18:54 At the time, at that time, the Roman emperor Augustus decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire and this was the first census that was taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census and because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee and he took with him Mary, his fiance, who was now obviously pregnant and while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because there was no lodging available for them.

19:56 Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters. Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you delivered will soon deliver you. Mary, did you, Mary, did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?

20:50 Mary did you know that your baby boy would call the storm with his hands? Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod when you kiss your little baby you kiss the face of God the blind will see the deaf will hear, and the dead will leave again. The lame will leap, the dumb will speak. Praises of the lamb. Mary, did you know that your baby boy is lord of all creation Mary did you know me did you know that your baby that your baby boy would one day rule

22:52 That night, there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby and they were guarding their flocks of sheep and suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them and they were terrified but the angel reassured them, don't be afraid. He said, I bring you good news that will be bringing great joy to all people. The savior, yes, the Messiah, the Lord has been born today in the city of David in Bethlehem. You will recognize him by this sign. You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth lying in a manger.

23:27 And suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others, the armies of heaven and they were praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth, peace to those with whom God is pleased and when the angels had returned into heaven, the shepherds said to each other, let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about and they hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph and there was the baby lying in the manger. Can you imagine that? Just for a minute. Hold on a second.

23:59 You have received a direct divine message out in the fields and then you get up and say, did you see what I saw? Yes, we saw the whole armies of heaven. And it was very clear what the message was and the the scripture says, immediately, they got up and they did. What had been told and so they went and then they found it. Now, thinking about that, that's one thing but can you imagine Mary who's had this vision and she said, may it be to me just as the Lord has said and Joseph has had this vision.

24:29 It's alright. Go ahead. Take her as your wife and then to have shepherds show up and say, is there a baby here? And see that he's in a manger. That's not a normal place for a baby Back to the story, sorry.

24:48 They hurried to the village and they found Mary and Joseph and there was that baby lying in that manger and after seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child and all who heard the shepherd's story were astonished but Mary kept all these things in her heart and she thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen. For it was exactly as the angel had told them.

25:21 Alright. Here's where we get to sing again. So, would you stand up? We'll sing a song of it.

25:33 Angels we, angels we, our

27:21 Come to Bethlehem and see. Listen. That means glory in the highest to God. The English version, glory be to God on high. Let's also sing first Noel.

28:25 Okay?

31:59 Amen. Y'all can have a seat. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea during the reign of King Herod and about that time, some wise men from Eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem asking, where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose and we have come to worship him. And King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this as was everyone in Jerusalem and he called a meeting of the leading priest and teachers of the religious law and asked, where is the Messiah supposed to be born?

32:32 In Bethlehem, in Judea, they said, for this is what the prophet wrote and you, oh Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you, who will be the shepherd for my people, Israel. And then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared and he told them, go to Bethlehem and search carefully for this child and when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him too. Does that sound like what he wanted to do? After this interview, the wise men went their way and the star, they had seen in the East guided them to Bethlehem and it went ahead of them and it stopped over the place where the child was and when they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and they worshiped him.

33:29 Shepherds are one thing, right? But the wise men showing up and the next line says, and they opened their treasure chest and they gave him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. Gold is a very royal thing. It's still awfully valuable even more so probably at the time more scarce then than now. Frankincense, beautiful priestly significance and myrrh.

33:57 Myrrh was an embalming spice. So, all these guys showing up and worshiping in him, worshiping him, and handing over these offerings as it were. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

34:17 And just as they they gave, we too have an opportunity to give as well. I'd like to invite up Kyler Areola and Judy, if you'd come up, and the and the ushers to come forward as well. Kyler's gonna sing, holy night in French, because it's too easy to sing in English. Seriously, it's it's a real treat to have this guy, and I'm really glad that he's here. But while they're coming for him, I want you to know you are not obligated to give.

34:47 Let me say that again. You are not obligated to give. If you do felt compelled to give, want you to know what you're giving to. At first b, we have a local benevolence fund here and thanks to your generosity, we get to help people in their time of need and it's about every day. It's about every day whether that's a bill or or gas or rent or room for the night, somebody's fallen on hard times, we get to say yes.

35:11 And believe me, it's a huge blessing when we do. So sounds like something you wanna give too. Thank you. We encourage giving because God has given to us. John three sixteen says, for God so loved the world that he gave his son Jesus that whoever believes in him wouldn't die but have eternal life.

35:31 Ray, can I have you pray on that?

35:33 God almighty, we do come before you humbly lord thinking about your humble entry into this world and thinking about lord, the way that you lived your life. Surrender to the spirit. To walk this Earth tempted and tried in the same ways that we are yet to be without sin, having a perfect record and able to go forward, lord. What's ringing in my ears right now is to say, whatsoever you do to the least of these, you've also done to me. So, lord, may we be benevolent, truly benevolent, and be giving to others around us.

36:09 I pray that you would use this this church body here but the greater church body that's here this evening lord that you would be a blessing in each life of in each soul that's here and lord that you would be reflected. Your love will be reflected through them onto others in their sphere. So, in Jesus name, lord, we pray your blessing on this offering that it would accomplish your kingdom's work, that it would set captives free, that it would clothe those who are naked, that it would feed those who are hungry. In Jesus name, lord, we pray that you would be with and in this extended gift in Jesus name, amen.

42:56 Thanks, Kyler and Judy. Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. By the way, this is gonna happen the next service as well if you wanna come back.

43:03 So as Jesus grew and he began he began his public ministry, in John eight twelve he said, I'm the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness because you will have the light that leads to life. Tonight, I want you to hear that very, very real invitation to you to trust and follow Jesus. God sent him as the light of the world to rescue us from the condition we all start in, darkness, sin. So that by belief in him, we're promised eternal life.

43:41 That's the good news of the gospel right there. Amen. Simply put Jesus came to earth so we could go to heaven and in response to this invitation we're gonna close in a candle lighting and so I'd like to invite you to stand up at this time and while you're standing I'd like to invite Ray He's gonna light his candle from the Christ candle that represents Jesus as the light of life and then we're going to pass that candle to one another representing our task to let the light of Christ shine through us to the world. So when your candle is lit, would you please be sure to hold it straight up. Okay?

44:20 Don't tip it. The person with their unlit candle, they're gonna tip yours. Their theirs to your lit candles. Does that make sense? Yes.

44:30 Keep your eyebrows for Christmas, would you? And while we're lighting these candles, I'd like to just invite you to sing couple songs with us. Words are on the screen. That's beautiful. And we're gonna sing away in a manger, and we'll sing silent night.

44:43 And would you sing those with us, please? Alright. And how about silent night as well? You can now blow out your candles. Here here's something that I I want you to know.

51:07 We we might blow out these candles here, but there is nothing that can extinguish the true light of Christ that lives in those who put their faith and trust in him. Nothing can extinguish his light. John one five says, the light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it. You'd encouraged by that that the darkness that that that the world brings cannot extinguish the light of Christ. He shines too bright.

51:37 Darkness. What's more is God has given you and I the privilege of letting his light shine through us. He says, I'm the light of the world. Then he says to us, you are the light of the world. He puts it on us.

51:47 Matthew five, you're the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden, neither do people light a lamp, put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand and gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven. So that's what this last song is about.

52:07 I encourage you to sing out, sing loud. We're gonna sing, go tell it on the mountain. Alright. Go tell.

54:27 Jesus that Jesus Christ is born. And one more. That Jesus Christ is born.

54:44 Hey, Merry Christmas everybody. Sincerely drive safe out there. It's good to have you. Again, if you're a visitor, check-in in the back. Okay, please?

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