WEBVTT 00:00:24.239 --> 00:00:26.800 Thank you for sending Jesus. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:32.479 Thank you for the word that became flesh, that made his dwelling among us. 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:35.119 Thank you for sending Emmanuel. 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:37.439 God with us. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:42.399 And we declare today, he is a wonderful counselor. 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:45.359 He is an everlasting father. 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:47.039 He is a mighty God. 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:50.960 And he is our Prince of Peace. 00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:55.200 We worship you this morning today. 00:00:56.399 --> 00:01:00.880 Say, Jesus, you are the reason that we are here. 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:03.840 We give our lives to you. 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:09.599 Response for you giving your life for us. 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:13.680 In Jesus' mighty name and everybody say. 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:15.200 Amen. 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:17.840 Church, can you put your hands together this morning? 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:20.159 It's good to be in the house of the Lord. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:26.560 The worship team of the choir's not done yet, but they're gonna take a moment. 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:30.159 Can you put your hands together for them though while they do that? 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:32.000 Just phenomenal. 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:41.359 It's just absolutely hey, can I just say we got some talented people in our church? 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:46.879 I mean, just if you're a guest today and you're wondering, did we hire out some people? 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:49.200 No, we did not. 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:50.560 God's good. 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:52.480 Somebody say amen to that. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:59.519 Well, if you have your Bibles, grab those while you're standing, and we're gonna turn to God's Word together this morning. 00:01:59.760 --> 00:02:02.959 Turn with me to Luke chapter 2. 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:08.240 And we are going to stand as we honor the reading of God's Word. 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:16.080 Today we're going to look at the Christmas story a little more intently together today. 00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:21.039 Luke chapter 2, starting in verse 8. 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:23.280 The word reads this way. 00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:30.479 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:36.879 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. 00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:38.800 And they were terrified. 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:42.879 But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:49.280 I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:55.520 Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:58.800 He is Messiah the Lord. 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:01.840 And this will be a sign to you. 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:06.639 You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:17.439 And then suddenly a great company of the heavenly hosts appeared with the angel praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth. 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:21.360 Peace to those on whom his favor rests. 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:32.879 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:37.919 And so they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in the manger. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:45.360 And when they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. 00:03:45.919 --> 00:03:49.280 And all who heard it were amazed. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:55.680 All who heard it wondered at what the shepherds had said to them. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:06.719 If you're a guest today at Christian Life Church, I want to welcome you and share a habit that we do in response to the reading of God's Word. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:13.039 I say this is God's Word, and the congregation responds, we believe it to be true. 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:15.680 How many of you believe God's word to be true? 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:19.839 I believe it solicits a response. 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:25.040 So, church, this is God's word and Amen. 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:29.680 The title of my message this morning is The Sound of Wonder. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:31.360 Say that after me this morning. 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:34.079 The sound of wonder. 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:38.879 Turn to your neighbor and say, There is a sound of wonder. 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:43.519 Turn to the other neighbors and say, There's a sound of wonder. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:49.439 Turn around to the person behind you and say, There's a sound of wonder. 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:52.639 Lord, today we thank you for your word. 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:56.720 Your word is a lamp unto our feet and a light into our path. 00:04:56.959 --> 00:05:00.319 It shows us the way to go and how to arrive there safely. 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:07.040 And I pray, Lord, this morning that we would not just be hearers of your word, but that we would be doers of it in Jesus' mighty name. 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:09.040 And everybody said, Amen. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:10.160 You may be seated. 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:11.519 Thank you, Caleb. 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:15.839 I have a question for you this morning. 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:25.839 When was the last time your heart was gripped with wonder? 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:37.439 When was the last time that you stood in amazement, in awe at something? 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:47.920 When was the last time that your breath was taken away and you were left speechless? 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:55.439 I believe the story of Christmas is a story of wonder. 00:05:55.600 --> 00:06:00.959 It's a story that stands in awe. 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:03.600 It's a story of amazement. 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:13.120 It's a story that can take your breath away if you're willing to look at it with fresh eyes, with eyes of wonder. 00:06:13.279 --> 00:06:19.839 So this morning, I want to I want to help us see the story with eyes of wonder. 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:23.279 And I want to do that by taking us back a few years. 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:30.079 How many of you remember what it was like to be six years old? 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:30.959 Anybody? 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:33.439 Some of y'all got to think really, really hard. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:37.279 Some of you got to think really, really hard. 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:41.519 Some of you are saying, I don't even have a clue what it was like to be six. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:49.680 I want you to think back and remember what it was like to be six years old on Christmas morning. 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:53.120 I want you to think about the anticipation. 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:55.279 I want you to think about the excitement. 00:06:55.759 --> 00:07:02.480 I want you to think about looking at those presents around the tree for weeks on end. 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:10.560 And when mom and dad weren't looking, you ran over, picked up the present, and began to shake it to guess what was inside. 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:12.000 Don't lie. 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:13.600 You know you did it. 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:15.279 How many of you did it? 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:16.000 Say amen. 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:17.199 Yep, yeah, yeah. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:18.399 The rest of y'all are liars. 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:19.120 You're going to hell. 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:19.920 It's all right. 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:21.920 You're in the right place at the right time. 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:24.079 God's here to save your soul. 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:26.560 We all, we all, we all did that. 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:29.600 And and so it's Christmas Eve. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:35.920 And and you don't want to go to sleep, but you got to go to sleep. 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:40.800 You go to sleep wired, you wake up early, and and then you're you're ready. 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:48.959 You're you're bursting at the seams to descend upon that Christmas tree, but you pause for just a moment. 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:55.279 The light is reflecting off of the ornaments. 00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:58.720 There's wrapping paper everywhere. 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:03.680 Maybe maybe there's there's music playing in the background. 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:11.120 And and before you tear into everything, you just pause to take it all in. 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:17.439 And then all of the sudden, wonder begins to grip your heart. 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:23.439 Your eyes grow wide, your heart begins to pound. 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:28.639 Church, that is wonder. 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:35.200 I want to take us back a few more years to roughly 2,000 years ago. 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:49.360 I want you to imagine with me for a moment what it must have been like to be one of those shepherds on the hillsides of Bethlehem tending some sheep. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:52.639 I want you to imagine what it must have been like. 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:55.360 You're you're minding your own business. 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:59.679 It's just another normal night. 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:06.720 It's cold, you're tired, you probably stink because you've been with sheep all day. 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:11.759 This isn't, this isn't the the things of Hallmark Christmas cards. 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:22.000 It's real life, and it's your job, and all you're doing is trying to stay awake long enough to keep the wolves away. 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:28.159 You know, we're not real careful. 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:32.000 We can approach Christmas the exact same way. 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:38.879 It's just another December, it's just another day. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:46.879 It's the routine of the same thing over and over and over again. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:51.200 And maybe you've heard the Christmas story hundreds of times. 00:09:51.360 --> 00:10:05.600 And if you're not real careful, you can grow numb to it because of the routine of life has a way of deafening your ears to the power of the story. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:18.000 These shepherds are out just tending their sheep, they're minding their own business. 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:21.440 The fire's crackling. 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:24.399 Maybe the sheep are bleeding. 00:10:26.000 --> 00:11:00.080 And then suddenly, suddenly, out of nowhere, light bursts forth, and an angel of the Lord appears to you, and the glory of the Lord shines around you, and whatever you are thinking about, and whatever you were talking about previously falls by the wayside, and you're caught in rapture of the wonder of a moment, and then you hear a voice, unlike any voice you've ever heard. 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:07.120 The voice of an angel that says, Don't be afraid. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:12.720 I'm gonna be honest with you, I would need that affirmation, and so would you. 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:16.720 Don't be afraid, the angel said. 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:23.279 I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. 00:11:23.919 --> 00:11:29.039 What is this good news that will cause great joy for all the people? 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:34.559 Today in the town of David, a savior has been born to you. 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:37.039 He is Christ the Lord. 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:41.440 And you'll find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a man. 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:58.960 Imagine that moment for those shepherds that have been minding their business, stuck in the rut of life, doing what they've always done, and all of a sudden they're caught in a moment of wonder, an interruption of heaven into their life. 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:05.600 They don't have a chance to catch their breath. 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:16.879 They don't have a moment to process the word savior before the sky tears open. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:21.200 And the heavenly host appear. 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:29.200 Ten thousand upon ten thousand angels have filled the night sky. 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:38.559 Their worship has separated the physical from the spiritual, and they are erupting in worship. 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:51.279 And these angels get a front row seat to this worship service, and they hear the heavenly host declare glory, glory, glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth. 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:54.240 Glory, glory to God in the highest. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:54.879 Glory. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:13:00.960 What has caught the attention of these angels? 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:07.759 They see what God is doing in the hidden corner of the world. 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:31.120 They see that God, church, God, God has become man, that the word, the logos that John said has become flesh, that the creator of the universe who spoke it and it became is now lying in a feeding trough. 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:37.600 And the angels can't do anything but say, Glory, glory, glory, glory. 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:40.080 They're in awe, they're in amazement. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:45.840 Wonder has gripped their heart and it is erupted into worship. 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:49.440 See, that's the point of wonder. 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:56.559 Wonder doesn't God doesn't stir our hearts just that, just so that we can say, Wow, that was cool. 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:08.080 Wonder is heaven's way of waking our hearts up so that worship can find a voice. 00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:25.600 See, when you really get a picture of the wonder of who God is and all that he has done, and all that he is doing, and all that he's going to do, when you get a picture of the wonder of God, you don't really have a choice. 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:30.799 It it it when it gets in your heart, it will erupt out of your mouth in worship. 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:38.480 As a matter of fact, if your worship is lacking, it's probably because your wonder is absent. 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:45.360 Wonder isn't a destination. 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:49.840 Wonder is a doorway to worship. 00:14:51.120 --> 00:15:01.120 I'm inviting you this morning to see with fresh eyes the wonder of the Christmas story. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:16.960 The angels have been raptured in wonder at their creator becoming man in worship. 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:18.639 Just erupts. 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:22.720 Down on the ground. 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:31.840 These shepherds who are just trying to make it through another night are now wrapped in the same wonder. 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:46.000 Their hearts are pounding, their hands are shaking, and they're looking at each other and saying, Did that just really happen? 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:51.519 Did did did you just see what I saw? 00:15:53.039 --> 00:16:01.679 Did you hear what I heard is was in each one to the other? 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:02.559 Yes. 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:04.639 Yes, yes. 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:17.440 And so after they have conferred with one another for a moment to affirm the reality of what they have just experienced, they have but one response. 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:19.200 We gotta go see. 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:21.519 I gotta go see. 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:25.519 I gotta go check out what this angel just announced. 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:27.919 We've gotta go find this child. 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:35.919 We've got to go to the city of Bethlehem and find this baby that's wrapped in swallowing clothes and lying in a major. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:40.960 So the Bible says they say, let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened. 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:44.320 Now, I love this response. 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:58.399 I love this response because it wasn't a theological debate about what God can do, about what God should do, or about what God's going to do. 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:02.399 No, we just experienced it, so now let's go find it. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:06.559 There wasn't a whole lot of questions being asked. 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:12.880 It was, God just showed up, so now let's go see what He is up to. 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:24.960 And I love the reality that wonder doesn't just move us to worship, it also moves us to witness what has been told. 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:32.160 See, wonder doesn't leave you frozen on the hillside, it moves you. 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:38.720 It moves you to look more intently into what's going on. 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:44.720 They've got to go and see what God has done. 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:51.359 They get to Bethlehem and they find the child. 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:59.519 But it probably wasn't all that they were expecting it to be. 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:02.240 There was no palace. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:05.680 There were no guards. 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:10.000 There wasn't a royal crib. 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:20.160 Just a young, exhausted couple and a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying where animals eat. 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:27.440 And yet somehow, in this very ordinary scene, the shepherds see something extraordinary. 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:31.279 The sign for them is unmistakable. 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:38.640 See, these shepherds that are on the hillsides of Bethlehem are not normal everyday shepherds. 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:43.680 They're temple shepherds, they're shepherds that serve the temple in Jerusalem. 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:47.200 Bethlehem to Jerusalem is only a couple of miles away. 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:56.720 And it was here on the hillsides of Bethlehem that lambs were born and raised for one purpose, and it was temple sacrifice. 00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:09.440 And because these lambs had to be spotless and they had to be perfect, they had to be pure in order to be acceptable as a sacrifice in the temple. 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:16.240 Shepherds of Bethlehem had developed some practices to protect the lambs from themselves. 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:36.720 Upon a lamb being born, these shepherds would take cloths and gather them up in their arms and wrap them tightly around the lamb to ensure that it would not hurt itself or harm itself and as a result disqualify itself from its purpose. 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:44.559 And once they had wrapped them in their cloths, they would then lie them in a manger. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:49.680 For the shepherds, this was an unmistakable sign. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:58.240 This was God's whisper to them that this child was no ordinary child. 00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.599 This child is. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:04.319 The Lamb of God that will take away the sins of the world. 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.119 Wonder. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.359 Wonder. 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:13.599 Wonder from an angelic visitation. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:16.240 Wonder to the chorus of heaven. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:30.960 Wonder to seeing the God of the universe lying in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes as a picture of his future. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:42.079 See, what I would like for you to understand today is that wonder produces worship that always leads us to witness. 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:46.559 And witness isn't just about seeing, it's also about telling. 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:52.000 And so what do the shepherds do upon seeing this sign? 00:20:53.039 --> 00:21:03.359 The Bible says they go and tell everyone around them what they have seen, what they have heard, what they have experienced, what they have come to understand. 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:14.720 And the Bible says now wonder has spread from the angels to the shepherds to Mary and Joseph, and now to all who had heard the story. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:19.200 I want to tell you this morning: wonder has the power to change lives. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:27.359 Wonder and who God is, and then all that he does awakens our worship. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:33.920 It propels us to seek and to know and to find and to share. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:36.640 Maybe you're here this morning. 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:41.839 And you're saying, Pastor, it's really been a while. 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:45.599 Since wonder has gripped my heart. 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:54.079 It's really been a while since who God is and what God does. 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:00.319 And it's been a while. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:03.119 I want you to know you're not broken. 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:06.160 You're just really busy. 00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:13.599 You're caught up in the routine of life. 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:14.960 You're normal. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:16.880 Life is loud. 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:37.279 Life is filled with tax schedules and buzzing phones, and and sometimes we move past moments of wonder just because we've got to get to where we're going, and in the process, we miss the manger. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:44.480 But I want to challenge you this Christmas season to slow down. 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:47.839 I don't know if you realize it or not, but revelation. 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:51.119 Revelation has a speed limit. 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:53.599 And it's rarely in a hurry. 00:22:55.599 --> 00:23:05.519 I want to challenge you to slow down just a little bit and look with fresh eyes at the wonder of God becoming man. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:07.680 The wonder of flesh. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:12.000 Being wrapped around divinity. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:27.839 I want you to look with fresh eyes again at a God who doesn't require you to come to where he is, but a God that comes to where you are to lift you out of your pit and set your feet on a rock solid foundation. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:29.839 There's no one like our God. 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:39.200 Look with fresh eyes this Christmas season and a wonderful God. 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:44.240 I believe that heaven is still singing. 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:47.039 The question is, are we listening? 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:52.400 I want to ask you to stand with me where you are this morning. 00:23:55.200 --> 00:24:02.880 I want to ask you the most important question that anyone will ever ask you in your life. 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:05.920 And that question is this. 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:10.559 Not do you know Jesus. 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:14.960 There's a lot of people that know him. 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:19.119 But are you in relationship with him? 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:27.599 There's one thing to know about something, or to know about someone. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:31.759 It's something entirely different to be in relationship with them. 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:43.839 And the invitation of our God isn't an invitation to information, it's an invitation to relationship. 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:51.920 Jesus said, Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and find rest. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:56.240 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 00:24:56.559 --> 00:25:01.599 The invitation isn't just to know about, it's to come into relationship with. 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:22.720 Wonder begins to grip your heart, your mind, your life, and it just spontaneously erupts into worship. 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:29.680 Glory to God in the highest glory. 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:45.599 That he is God's Son, and that he has come to give his life so that we might have life. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:54.720 And all that we have to do is to confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that he is Lord and will be saved. 00:25:55.359 --> 00:26:00.000 So I want to ask you to bow your heads and close your eyes right where you stand this morning. 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:05.759 And I want to ask you today, are you in a relationship with Jesus? 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:12.000 Have you given your life to him and say, God, I'm gonna follow you all of my days. 00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:19.440 I recognize your sacrifice for all of eternity, and I want to respond in giving you my life. 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:24.000 If that's you this morning would say, Pastor, I'd like to give my life to Jesus. 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:25.920 I would like to be in relationship with him. 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:29.599 Would you raise your hand right where you stand because I want to pray for you today? 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:32.000 If that's you, thank you, I see that hand. 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:34.079 Thank you, I see that hand. 00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:35.920 Thank you, I see that hand. 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:37.440 Thank you, I see that hand. 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.720 Hallelujah, Lord. 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.240 Thank you, I see that hand. 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:41.440 Thank you, Jesus. 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:43.200 Thank you, I see that hand. 00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:44.480 Hallelujah, Lord. 00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:45.519 Thank you, thank you. 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:47.279 If that's you, don't be bashful. 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:53.039 Just raise your hand right where you stand because God wants to save you. 00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:54.720 He wants to set you free. 00:26:54.880 --> 00:27:00.079 He wants to fill you with his love, with his power, with his goodness, his grace. 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:03.920 He wants his wonder to fill your heart and your life. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.400 Amen. 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:05.680 Here's the second question. 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:11.599 Maybe you're here today and you say, Pastor, I've come into a relationship with Jesus, but I've not been walking with him. 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:16.720 I've been choosing my own way instead of his way. 00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:22.799 And I recognize the time has come for me to come home. 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:30.160 I recognize that I need to rededicate my life to him and start living for him rather than myself. 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:32.559 And if that's you, would you just raise your hand right where you stand? 00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:33.680 Because I want to pray for you as well. 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:35.680 Is there anyone this morning that would say that? 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:36.079 Thank you. 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:36.799 I see that hand. 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.599 I see that hand. 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.000 Thank you. 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.880 I see that hand. 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:39.359 Thank you. 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:40.240 I see that hand. 00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:41.039 I see that hand. 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:41.519 Thank you. 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:42.559 I see that hand. 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:43.359 Thank you. 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:44.799 Hallelujah, Lord. 00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:45.680 I see that hand. 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:46.640 Thank you. 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:50.319 All right, church, I want you to look at me. 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:58.880 Between these two invitations, probably 25 hands have come up in our congregation today. 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:02.240 Before we pray, we need to celebrate. 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:08.640 There's 25 lives that are being changed because they're coming into relationship with Jesus. 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:10.480 Church, this is the wonder. 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:14.160 This is the wonder of God becoming flesh. 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:24.480 So can everybody across the congregation just stretch your hands towards heaven and pray this prayer after me this morning? 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:32.720 Jesus, thank you for giving your life that I might have life. 00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:50.559 I ask you to forgive me of my sins, cleanse me of my unrighteousness, and I make a dedication today to serve you, to follow you, to walk after you. 00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:56.160 You are my Lord, and I surrender to you today. 00:28:57.119 --> 00:29:00.000 In Jesus' mighty name. 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:11.440 And everybody said, Come on, church, put your hands together for lives change, transform the wonder of the Christmas story. 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:21.200 Now to celebrate this, we're going to do something that we only do this once a year, and it's one of my most favorite things that we do. 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:24.240 We're going to worship through candlelighting this morning. 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:29.519 And if you would grab the candle that you were given when you came in this morning. 00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:49.119 We're going to begin with a single-lit candle, and it's going to spread across the room, and this dark room is going to be illuminated by the multitude of candles that have been lit. 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:55.759 And I want you to understand this is symbolic and this is representative of what Jesus did 2,000 years ago. 00:29:55.920 --> 00:30:03.279 A single light shone brightly upon the sleepy town of Bethlehem and illuminated the darkness there. 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:11.599 And for 2,000 years, Jesus has been illuminating the darkness, and I can testify today that darkness cannot overcome it. 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:26.400 So as your candle is lit, I want you to share it with the person next to you as a witness of what you're going to do in 2026. 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:35.200 God, light has come in us that we might share it with the world around us. 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:37.119 Please, everybody, no movement. 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:39.440 The room's getting ready to go dark. 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:42.240 This is a holy moment. 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:45.039 Father, we commit this time to you. 00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:53.039 God, we thank you for your light and your life that you have given for us. 00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:55.920 We give our lives back to you in response. 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:57.039 In Jesus' name. 00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:58.079 Everybody said.