Scripture referenced 10 passages
The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.
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Isaiah 7:14 prophecy read aloud: the virgin will conceive and bear Emmanuel
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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Keep this verse
Isaiah 9:6-7
prophecy read aloud: a child is born, wonderful counselor, prince of peace, government without end
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
prophecy read aloud: Bethlehem, small village, a ruler 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 1:18-25
nativity reading: Mary's pregnancy, Joseph's dream, angel's announcement
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;
25 and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
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Luke 2:1-20
nativity reading: census, birth in Bethlehem, shepherds and 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
nativity reading: wise men, Herod, star, gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh
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 to connect God's giving with the offering appeal
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 8:12
Jesus says I am the light of the world, used in candle lighting
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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John 1:5
the light shines in darkness and darkness can never extinguish it, spoken at candle lighting
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.
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Revelation 1:8
he was and is and is yet to come, pointing to Christ's return
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
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Recap
The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.
The Christmas Eve service at First B was built around the nativity story read straight from Scripture, woven together with congregational singing and a candlelight close. There was no new argument to make; the aim was to let the story do its work and invite everyone in the room to respond to it. The whole night moved from celebration toward a personal invitation to believe.
What was said
The service opened with a welcome that made the purpose plain: this night was meant to be fun, reflective and worshipful. Visitors were told they were simply glad to have them there, and the congregation was reminded that what they were about to hear was nothing they had not heard before. The point was not novelty but participation, presence and praise.
The nativity readings carried the evening. The prophecies from Isaiah and Micah came first, naming the child before He arrived, and then Matthew and Luke filled in the story: the angel to Joseph, the journey to Bethlehem, the birth, the shepherds, the wise men. The readings were read aloud to the congregation as Scripture, without commentary between them, letting the narrative stand on its own.
When the offering moment came, the pastor was direct about what the money was for. First B keeps a discretionary fund to help people who come to the church in financial need, and he described what it means to be able to say yes to someone who is struggling. Giving, he said, flows from the same logic as the gospel itself: John 3:16 shows that God's love expresses itself in giving, and the church is invited into that same movement.
The candlelight portion of the service carried its own brief message. John 8:12 was quoted, Jesus saying He is the light of the world and that following Him means not walking in darkness. The candles were a response to that claim, and the pastor made the connection explicit: the flame passing around the room was a picture of what happens when someone believes.
When the candles were blown out, he pointed to John 1:5, that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it. That verse, he said, is the promise that holds for anyone who has come to believe. The physical darkness in the room after the candles went out did not change what the light represented.
The service closed by turning the congregation's eyes forward. Revelation 1:8 was named as a reminder that the one whose birth they had just celebrated was also the one who is yet to come. Christmas, he said, is not only a moment to look back at what happened in Bethlehem. It is a reason to go and share the news that Jesus was born and that Jesus will return.
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 service opened with the reminder that Jesus came to earth to live among us, die for us, rise for us, and reign. Which of those four things is most meaningful to you personally this Christmas, and why?
- The nativity readings showed very different people responding to Jesus' birth: Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men. Which of their responses do you most identify with, and what does that tell you about where you are with God right now?
and 3 more questions in the guide
