Christmas Eve 2017
Opening Video – Messiah.wmv
Prayer – Pastor #1
(Points of the prayer)
- The fabulous account which we retell each year
- How precious it is to those who believe
- Help us to set aside the worldly distractions from the story
- Make it real to those who do not yet believe
- Be born in our hearts today
- Glorify Your Name!
Reading - Pastor #2
The arrival of Jesus the Messiah was not unannounced.
We see His arrival being foretold in the ancient prophecy found in
Numbers 24:17
“I see Him … but not now …
I behold Him … but not near …
A star shall come out of Jacob …
A Scepter shall rise out of Israel.”
And in the ancient prophecy found in Micah 5:2 we see the revelation of the birthplace of the Christ Child …
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah (Eff’-fra-tha), though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me, One who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from the ancient times of eternity.”
But, when, oh when would these prophecies be fulfilled???
Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Verse 1
Come Thou long-expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel's strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart
Verse 2
Born Thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a King
Born to reign in us forever
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By Thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne
Tag
Israel's strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart
© Public Domain - Charles Wesley / Rowland Hugh Prichard
Reading - Pastor #2
All of Israel was waiting for the arrival of the Messiah.
What will He be like?
Will He be a fierce warrior King who would rule with power and might?
Will the rest of the world simply bow down before Him?
And yet, the greatest question of all was this.
When will He come? When? When? When?
The prophet Malachi had written the final words of Scripture to the remnants of Israel and Judah. And that prophecy is a rebuke to their unfaithfulness.
Even so, there are still a few faithful ones left in the land and they await their Messiah.
100 years go by ….
200 years go by … no Messiah
300 years go by … no Anointed One
400 years go by … no one to deliver Israel from the never-ending succession
of foreign rulers …
When?
Video – O Come O Come Emmanuel SFB.wmv
Reading – Pastor #2
Would the Messiah EVER come???
It seemed to almost everyone that the Messiah would never arrive.
But … quietly … in a village with a poor reputation … to an unknown teenage girl … the arrival of the Messiah was about to be set into motion …
Scripture Reading – Reader #1
And this is how the birth of Jesus the Christ came to pass:
Luke 1:26a-38
God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Video – Be Born In Me.wmv
Reading - Pastor #1
Mary’s reply to the angel was truly beautiful. And her reply should be a pattern for all of us as we submit to the will of the Lord Most High.
But … what about Joseph? He didn’t see an angel.
He knew that there was only one way on earth for a woman to become pregnant and he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was not involved.
Just think of the gut wrenching betrayal that he must have imagined!
The unfaithfulness … and yet, Joseph, being a righteous man, decided to break the engagement quietly without publicly humiliating Mary.
Yes … Joseph knew that there was only one way on earth for a woman to become pregnant but … this baby would not originate from earth.
And yet, how would Joseph know this?
He would know because the mighty hand of God was upon this entire event and so … the Lord sent a messenger to Joseph in a dream …
Scripture Reading - Reader #2
Matthew 1:18-24 says,
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.
Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
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.”
All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through His prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a Child! She will give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not consummate the marriage until her son was born. And Joseph named Him Jesus.
Reading - Pastor Steve
Now, you would just assume that they made the public announcement of their marriage to their family and neighbors in Nazareth, moved into Joseph’s home and lived as normal of a life as they could until Jesus was born, right?
Nope. That would have been the easiest way but the ancient prophecies stated that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Galilee.
Besides, “O Little Town of Nazareth” just doesn’t seem right …
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
O little town of Bethlehem - How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth - The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
© Public Domain - Lewis Henry Redner / Phillips Brooks
Scripture Reading - Reader#3
Luke 2:1-7
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.
And so, everyone returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 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 Mary with him, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for her baby to be born and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped Him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
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Reading - Pastor #2
When all of this took place Bethlehem was filled with visitors who had come in for the census and so there were no lodging places available.
We do not know how many years, generations or even centuries had passed since Joseph’s family had left Bethlehem so there may not have been any extended family to stay with.
What was left? No lodging places … no room with a family … the only clue we’re given is that Jesus was placed in a manger to sleep.
What Child Is This
What Child is this who laid to rest On Mary's lap is sleeping
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring Him laud The Babe the Son of Mary
Scripture Reading - Tabitha
Luke 2:8-20
[On the night of Jesus’ birth] there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them.
They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize Him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others - the armies of heaven - praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
When the angels had returned to 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.”
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing Him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this Child.
All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
What Child Is This
Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding
Good Christian fear for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading
Nails spear shall pierce Him thro'
The cross be borne for me for you
Hail, hail the Word made flesh - The Babe the Son of Mary
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring Him laud The Babe the Son of Mary
© Public Domain - William Chatterton Dix
Reading – Pastor #1
Would shepherds be the only ones who would be looking for Jesus?
Certainly not! Long, long ago, in a country far away, a group of men called the Magi noticed an unusual star in the sky. This star was strikingly unusual and it made them curious.
These men had studied the religions of many different countries that had been brought into that area during the days of the Assyrians, the Babylonians and the Persians. And somewhere in one of those ancient texts they had read something about a star. But … what religion? What Scriptures? And finally they found what they were looking for!
Scripture Reading - Reader #3
Matthew 2:1-12
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the One who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
We Three Kings Of Orient Are
Verse 1
We three kings of Orient are - Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain moor and mountain
Following yonder star
Chorus
O star of wonder star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light
Verse 5
Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and sacrifice
Alleluia, alleluia - Earth to heav'n replies
© Public Domain - John Henry, Jr. Hopkins
Reading – Pastor #2
Wow! What a story! The Son of God becoming the Son of Man; fully God and yet fully human.
And even though this is just the end of the story of the birth of Jesus Christ it is just the beginning of God’s great plan of salvation for all who will call upon the name of the Lord for eternal life.
Have you ever looked at an acorn and said, “What a magnificent tree!”?
Probably not because it is difficult to envision what that acorn will become.
In the same sense, if we were to stop with just the birth of Jesus we would miss the magnificence of the life of Jesus, His teaching, His death and His resurrection.
As we remember His birth let us never forget WHY He was born and be thankful for such a great salvation!
Now, let’s sing a few of our favorite Christmas Hymns and worship the God who lowered Himself to become a human baby for our benefit!
Joy To The World
Verse 1
Joy to the world the LORD is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing
Verse 2
Joy to the earth the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods - Rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy - Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
Verse 4
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love - And wonders of His love
And wonders and wonders of His love
© Public Domain - George Frederic Handel / Isaac Watts
O Come All Ye Faithful
Verse 1
O come all ye faithful - Joyful and triumphant
O come ye O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him - Born the King of angels
Chorus
O come let us adore Him - O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him - Christ the LORD!
Verse 2
Sing choirs of angels - Sing in exultation
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above
Glory to God - all glory in the highest
Verse 3
Yea LORD we greet Thee - Born this happy morning
Jesus to Thee be glory given
Word of the Father - Now in flesh appearing
© Public Domain - C. Frederick Oakeley / John Francis Wade
O Holy Night
Verse 1
O holy night the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees - Oh hear the angel voices
O night divine - O night when Christ was born
O night divine - O night - O night divine
Verse 3
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name
Christ is the Lord
Oh praise His name forever
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim
Fall on your knees - Oh hear the angel voices
O night divine - O night when Christ was born
O night divine - O night - O night divine
© Public Domain - Adolphe C. Adam | John S. Dwight | Placide Cappeau
Reading – Pastor #1
I’m reminded of a little Christmas poem our son, Joshua, recited in church one Christmas Sunday when he was probably only three or four years old. It went like this, “Jesus came to be the light, of this world on one dark night.”
In John 8:12 Jesus says, “I Am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
In a minute we are going to have the traditional candle lighting ceremony were we take a light from the “Christ Candle” and pass the light on to one another.
Those of us who know Jesus as our Savior have a responsibility, even a command from Jesus, to share the light of Jesus with those who do not know the freedom from sin that comes from knowing Jesus as their Savior.
And this freedom from sin is available, even tonight, for anyone who does not know Jesus as their Savior. If you are trapped in sin and living a life of constantly dealing with the grief that comes from living in rebellion to God you can have freedom from that tonight.
Let me tell you about it (brief salvation message)
Let’s gather around the sanctuary and light the candles representing the light of Jesus in our souls as we sing.
Silent Night …
Away In a Manger …
Emmanuel … (repeat sequence as needed)
Closing Prayer – Pastor #2
