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.
“You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)
GOD chose humility as the doorway to glory.
• No palace
• No crown
• No army
The manger confronts our ideas of power.
JESUS rules not by force, but by truth, love, and sacrifice.
Philippians 2:5-11 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
“HE humbled HIMSELF and became obedient to the point of death.” (Philippians 2:8)
Before JESUS ever carried a cross, HE lay in a feeding trough.
The King we worship is a servant King.
III. EVERY ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST DEMANDS A RESPONSE
Christmas is not neutral.
The Shepherds: From Fear to Faithful Witness
“And when they had seen Him, they made widely known…” (Luke 2:17)
• Fear gave way to faith
• Silence gave way to testimony
• Encounter produced obedience
They did not receive a theological lecture - they received a revelation.
The Magi: From Observation to Surrender
Matthew 2:1-12 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
“They fell down and worshiped Him.” (Matthew 2:11)
Their journey was costly:
• Distance
• Danger
• Devotion
True worship always results in surrender.
Herod: From Curiosity to Resistance
“When Herod heard this, he was troubled…” (Matthew 2:3)
What did Herod hear?
The prophetic come to reality.
Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Herod wanted information, not transformation.
The same CHRIST who brings joy also confronts control.
IV. THE DANGER AFTER CHRISTMAS: SPIRITUAL DRIFT
The greatest threat to our faith is not persecution - it is distraction.
After the celebration ends:
• Decorations come down
• Routines return
• Urgency fades
Luke 21:34 But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
Familiarity can dull devotion.
It is possible to:
• Know Scripture
• Attend church
• Celebrate holidays
…and still resist the lordship of Christ.
The question as we approach the New Year is:
Who is on the throne of my life?
V. THE TURNING OF THE YEAR: A CALL TO HOLY EXAMINATION
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
GOD often uses time markers to awaken reflection.
Psalms 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
“So teach us to number our days…” (Psalm 90:12)
This is not about regret - it is about wisdom.
The New Year is an invitation to:
• Repent where needed
• Release what hinders
• Reorder what matters
Philippians 3:13-14 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
“Forgetting those things which are behind… I press toward the goal.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
VI. FROM CELEBRATION TO CONSECRATION
JESUS did not remain in the manger.
• HE Grew in obedience (Luke 2:52)
Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
• HE Walked in submission
• HE Fulfilled the Father’s will
Likewise, discipleship is progressive.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
“Present your bodies a living sacrifice.” (Romans 12:1)
Consecration means:
• Not my will, but YOURS
• Not my timing, but YOURS
• Not my kingdom, but YOURS
VII. LIVING THE MISSION IN THE NEW YEAR
John 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
“As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21)
The incarnation leads to commission.
You are sent:
• Into your home
• Into your workplace
• Into your community
The gospel does not stop at the sanctuary door.
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
“You shall be witnesses to Me…” (Acts 1:8)
A new year is not about starting over - it is about walking forward in faith.
REFLECTION
Prayerfully consider:
• What has the HOLY SPIRIT been convicting me about?
• What habits are strengthening, or weakening, my walk with GOD?
• What distractions need to be surrendered?
• How will I intentionally pursue spiritual growth this year?
Spiritual disciplines:
• Daily Scripture meditation
• Intentional prayer
• Faithful fellowship
• Active obedience
PRAYER
Dear LORD JESUS,
YOU stepped into time so that we might step into eternity.
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, we surrender our plans, our priorities, and our lives to YOU.
Search our hearts.
Cleanse what is impure.
Strengthen what is weak.
May we not merely remember YOUR birth, but live under YOUR LORDSHIP.
Lead us forward in faith, obedience, and love. We commit this coming year to YOU.
In the mighty name of JESUS, Amen.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
HYMNS / SONGS
O Come, Let Us Adore Him
What Child Is This
Be Thou My Vision
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
26 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
95 Breathe On Me Breath Of God
220 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
