From The Manger To The Mission. A Christmas-To-New-Years Message Series

2025.12.28.Sermon Notes. From the Manger to the Mission. A Christmas-to-New-Year Message

William Akehurst, HSWC

SCRIPTURES: John 1:1-14, Luke 2:8-20, Matthew 2:1-12, Isaiah 9:6-7, Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 90:12, 2 Corinthians 13:5, Philippians 3:13-14, Romans 12:1, Acts 1:8, John 20:21

KEY WORDS: Incarnation, Kingship, Consecration, Obedience, Renewal, Surrender, Commission, Faithfulness

BIG IDEA

The Christ we celebrate at Christmas is the King who calls us forward into a transformed life. As one year closes and another begins, GOD invites His people to move from celebration to consecration - leaving behind what no longer aligns with His purposes and stepping into a new season of obedience, renewal, and mission.

INTRODUCTION

There is something spiritually significant about transitions.

The Bible is filled with moments when GOD speaks most clearly between seasons:

• Between Egypt and the Promised Land

• Between Saul and David

• Between the cross and the resurrection

• Between Christmas and the coming Kingdom

The days after Christmas and before the New Year are a threshold moment - a time when heaven invites us to pause, reflect, and realign.

Christmas celebrates GOD coming to us.

The New Year confronts us with how we will walk with HIM.

The question before us is not whether JESUS was born - that is settled.

The question is whether JESUS is reigning in our lives as we move forward.

EXPLANATION

On a quiet night in Bethlehem, God chose not to arrive with noise or spectacle—but with humility, closeness, and grace. A baby in a manger. Hope wrapped in flesh.

I. CHRISTMAS DECLARES: GOD ENTERED TIME TO REDEEM IT

John 1:1-5, 9-14

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

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

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14, NKJV)

Christianity is not built on philosophy but on incarnation.

GOD did not send a concept - HE sent a Son.

GOD did not shout from heaven - HE stepped into history.

The eternal Logos (or Word of GOD) took on flesh:

• Fully GOD

• Fully Man

• Without compromise or confusion

The word “dwelt” means “to tabernacle.”

Just as GOD’s glory once filled the tabernacle, now HIS glory walks among humanity in JESUS CHRIST.

This means:

• GOD understands suffering

• GOD enters brokenness

• GOD redeems from the inside out

Christmas tells us that time matters to GOD.

Every day, every year, every moment can be redeemed.

II. THE MANGER REVEALS THE KIND OF KING JESUS IS

Luke 2:8-20 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.