Today we are welcoming the Christmas season. As you can see, our auditorium has been beautifully decorated with greenery, wreaths, & lights. We decorate it to honor & celebrate the remembrance of the birth of our LORD JESUS CHRIST who, being GOD, took for Himself the form of man that HE might be our Redeemer, Example & High Priest. Let us examine today the symbols that we see around us every day during the Christmas season that play an important role in the remembrance of that special night so long ago when GOD’s perfect Gift was given to us. At the end of the service you too will have the opportunity to share your gifts & blessings with GOD as we take the first part of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Foreign Missions. With the offering that is received, we will have the chance to share the greatest story ever told with people all over the world. And not just at Christmas time, but every single day of the year! Today we celebrate the greatest gift ever given!
SHEPHERDS Luke 2:8-12
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
GOD shows HIS magnificence in all creatures, from the glory of the heavens to the creatures he made to inhabit the earth. Sheep are of great symbolic importance throughout the Bible. They were a source of food & clothing. They are a symbol of innocence & need. And they represent a precious sacrifice to cover the stain of sin. Is it any wonder that the birth of the Lamb of GOD should be revealed to shepherds who were out in the fields watching over their sheep by night. Let us celebrate that amazing night that these humble herders of sheep discovered the Lamb of GOD sent to take away the sins of the world!
HYMN #95 “Go Tell It On The Mountain” (vs. 1&3)
WREATHS Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them… For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
The wreaths before us symbolize the glorious characteristics of GOD. The vine wreaths remind us of the crown of thorns, a symbol of suffering that CHRIST would eventually bear on our behalf. Because the needles of the pine & fir trees do not die each season like the leaves of most trees, the ancients saw them as symbols of things that last forever. In the Scripture passage just read, the prophet Isaiah tells us that there will be no end to the reign of the Messiah, & so we hang wreaths shaped in a circle, which itself has no end, to signify the eternal kingdom of JESUS, the CHRIST!
HYMN #87 “Joy To The World, The LORD Is Come” (vs. 1, 2, &4)
ANGELS Luke 2:13-14
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
On that glorious night, the shepherds looked & beheld among them heavenly messengers from GOD bringing good news to all men of the birth of the Savior. The word angel means messenger, & GOD’s messengers certainly played an important role in the Christmas story. First, an angel of the LORD appeared to Zechariah, foretelling the birth of John the Baptist who was to prepare the way of the LORD. Then an angel appeared to Mary & Joseph, telling them of the mystery of the ages, the coming of JESUS as a human baby through Mary. They appeared to the shepherds proclaiming “Glory to GOD in the highest, & on earth peace & good will to all men”. And finally, an angel appeared to the wise men & to Joseph warning of King Herod’s wicked plans. Let us join together & proclaim the message of Good News, just as the angels did on that glorious night!
HYMN #88 “Hark The Angels Sing” (vs. 1&3)
GREENERY
The greenery that decorates the auditorium today symbolizes life & growth. 1 John 5:12 tells us that “HE who has the SON has life, he who has not the SON, has not life.” Long before the birth of JESUS, evergreens were used as an emblem of eternal life. Now as a Christian symbol, evergreen represents JESUS CHRIST, who is eternal life. By receiving JESUS CHRIST we have new life, eternal life, abundant life.
HYMN #89 “O Come All Ye Faithful” (vs. 1&3)
STARS Luke 2:1-2, 9-11
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria… And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
The Bible tells us that GOD is the creator of the Big Dipper, Orion & all of the other constellations. And although there are billions of stars, GOD calls each of them by name & keeps them in their place. GOD told HIS faithful servant Abraham to look up in the night’s sky & count the stars, for his descendents would be like the stars in number, & all nations would be blessed through him.
Moses prophesied that “a star will come out of Jacob” & as that prophecy came about in the birth of JESUS, a special star appeared in the sky to mark the time & place of the coming of the star which had been foretold.
The wise men saw the special star in the east & followed it to meet the new born king. Even today, the glory & wonder of the stars are there in the night sky to draw men to the “Bright Morning Star, the Creator of all Creation, JESUS CHRIST”
HYMN #113 “We Three Kings” (vs. 1&5)
CAROLS & SONG
How the news of the birth of the Messiah must have filled the hearts of all who heard it with music. And so it has done through the ages. The joy of Christmas has been so well expressed through music that in almost any culture on earth today, it just wouldn’t seem like Christmas without the carols, hymns & delightful songs that we have grown accustomed to. Let the purpose of Christmas, that is the dwelling of GOD with men, fill your heart with song evermore in praise to the ONE who created us, redeemed us, & is ever with us to give us life, joy & peace. Children’s Choir HYMN # 103 “Away in the Manger” (vs. 1)
THE CROSS
The pulpit is central in our worship services. It is from the pulpit that GOD’s word is read to us & HIS message proclaimed. Of all that is spoken from this pulpit, the most important message is that of JESUS CHRIST. In front of the pulpit is another great symbol of Christmas. The cross is a part of the Christmas story, for JESUS was born for a greater purpose than just the cradle. HE was the sacrifice needed to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross. The plan for JESUS’ death for us was the reason for HIS birth. And that is why we celebrate through these decorations, with this music, & by this season.
HYMN #144 “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross” (vs. 1&4)
THE GIVING OF GIFTS
When the wise men came to visit the Messiah they brought gifts to the new king. Today we also express love to one another during the Christmas season by the giving of gifts. Of all those we could wish to honor & show our love to in this season, who more deserves a show of our love & honor than JESUS CHRIST, The reason for the season. Through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for foreign missions, we have an opportunity to give to CHRIST for the furthering of His kingdom, the opportunity to share the Good News of the coming of the Savior as the angels did. By giving to this special Christmas offering today, we are helping to bring the gift of eternal life in JESUS CHRIST, our LORD to those lost in their sin. What better gift could be given this Christmas, & what better gift could we place under our Christmas tree than the means to make sharing this gift possible. Today as we sing songs of praise to the newborn king, will you come by family & place your Christmas offering in the cradle under the tree.
HYMN #91 “Silent Night, Holy Night” (vs. 1-3)
HYMN #93 “He Came Upon A Midnight Clear” (vs. 1, 2 &4)
HYMN #87 “Joy To The World” (vs. 1)
