CANDLE LIGHTING SERVICE
Dec. 17, 2006
Prayer
Hymn: 89 O Come, All Ye Faithful
Poem: O Come
O come and let us, to that first Christmas return
And allow the Holy Spirit to cause our hearts to burn
As we realize anew that Jesus is the reason
For the true joy and happiness of the Christmas season.
O come and let us again hear the story of God’s love
That on that first Christmas came down from above
And may we like the wise men from the east
Cause our worldly activities to cease
While we, along with them
Give our worship and adoration to Him.
O come and let us, God’s message hear
And may we not, like the shepherds, be filled with fear
So that every man, woman, girl, and boy
May go out and tell the world the reason for our joy.
O come and let us draw strength at the manger
So we can go out and tell every stranger
Of God’s great love, and their great loss
If they don’t meet Jesus at the foot of the cross.
So come and let us now go.
And go where? Do you now know?
Yes, it is to go see Him.
In that little town of Bethlehem.
Hymn: 86 O Little Town Of Bethlehem
O come and let us see in this little town
A babe that will one day wear a crown
But He is not in a ;alace today
He is in a manger lying on the hay.
Hymn: 103 Away In A Manger
Poem: The Shepherds
In the fields near Bethlehem that night
There were shepherds keeping their flocks in sight.
And the angel of the Lord appeared and gave them a fright
As God’s glory shown all around them as a great light.
The angel said, don’t be afraid, for behold
I have a message of joy that all need to be told.
For unto you a Savior is born this day.
Yes, Christ the lord has come your way.
You can search and search but how can you this precious baby find?
He is wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger—that’s the sign.
And suddenly there was with that angelic one
A heavenly choir praising God for what He had done.
They sang: “Glory to God in the highest,” and then
“Peace on earth, good will toward men”.
Then back into heaven the angels did go their way.
And the shepherds, one to another, did say:
“Let us now go and see this thing in Bethlehem.”
So they went to see what the Lord had made known to them.
They found Mary, Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger on the hay.
And afterward they told everyone about the child they saw that day. And all that heard the shepherd’s words did wonder.
And Mary kept these things in her heart to ponder.
May we like the shepherds of that first Christmas rejoice
As we glorify and praise God with our actions and our voice.
Hymn: 108 How Great Our Joy
Sermon: Why Shepherds
I would like for us to think a few minutes about these shepherds. Why do you suppose God choose these shepherds to be the first to visit Jesus and then begin spreading the good news?
I. They Listened
Some might say they didn’t have a choice but to listen….. But there is a big difference in hearing and listening.
They had ears to hear. They were willing to hear what God had to say. If angels had gone to the priest and Pharisees in Jerusalem with the same message I suspect they would have said: “The Messiah born in a stable? The Messiah laid in a manger? I don’t think so. Let’s wait and see.”
So many today don’t have ears to hear. Too many today won’t except that the only way to God is through the baby of the manger—Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no one comes to the Father but by Him.
The sad part is that so often we Christians don’t really listen to Him. We need to slow down, stop, and hear Him speak to us. And when we hear—listen.
II. They Went
God told the shepherds about this good news, but He didn’t tell
them to go. But they did. They went. They had to see.
God knew they would be willing to be a part of this first
Christmas—willing to drop what they were doing, even if it meant financial loss to them, and seek out the savior. They didn’t give excuses. They didn’t wait for a more convenient time. They went. What would you have done? What do you do? What do you do when the Lord lets you know of something you need to do. Do you give excuses or look for a more convenient time?
III. They Were Diligent
They made haste. They didn’t hem-haw around. They were
serious about finding the savior.
So many Christians today are not serious.
They don’t take seriously what they hear about God or from God.
They don’t take seriously their:
Faith
Responsibilities
Duty
Opportunities
Do you?
IV. They Followed
Verse 16 says “and found Mary...”. We don’t know how many mangers they searched before they found the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. But they diligently followed God’s instructions.
Sometimes today Christians are all fired up and ready to go, but their enthusiasm runs out long before the project is finished. And to some extent it is because they don’t follow God’s instructions. Or maybe it wasn’t God’s project to begin with. I like the bumper sticker: The faith that fizzles before the finish had a flaw from the first.
Does your faith have a flaw? Do you follow –closely?
V. They Shared
“They made known abroad the saying which was told them”
What if you claimed to be a fisherman but never went near the water? What kind of fisherman would you be?
What if you claimed to be a Christian but never shared your faith in Christ? What kind of Christian would you be?
Today too many Christians are failing to share. We must go into the highways and by ways and compel people to come. How long has it been since you: gave your testimony: invited someone to church: gave a tract (at a restaurant –put tip in)
Sharing is the match that lights the fire of salvation in the hearts of others.
VI. They Glorified
“Returned glorifying and praising God…” They couldn’t glorify and praise God enough. We can’t either.
The shepherds had so much to glorify and praise God for. We do too.
So, let’s do it. Let’s tell others about our great Lord.
Hymn: 95 Go Tell It On The Mountain
Pastor: Praise is the lubricating oil that keeps us moving closer to the Lord and thereby fills us with joy.
Hymn: 87 Joy To The World
Congregational Candle Lighting
John 1:4-5
Pastor: As an illustration of the truth, we will light our candles. The candle represents our life as it is lit up by Christ.
Responsive reading:
Pastor: The Light which has entered our darkness cannot
be extinguished! Receive the Light and live for
Him.
People: The Christ Child – we welcome.
The Light—we receive.
We will shine on as his disciples.
Lighting of the candles: [pastor lights his candle from the Christ Candle then lights
others. (with overhead lights off)]
Hymn: 91 Silent Night, Holy Night
Benediction:
SOURCES:
“Christmas Eve Service” by Steven Dow; sermoncentral.com
“Why Shepherds, Why Us” by Wade Hughes, Sr.; sermoncentral.com
Baptist Hymnal (copyright 1991)[leave some hymns out, add hymns, or read hymns]
