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[1:41] . . . . . . . . . us for worship today. I want to let you know that today's service is going to look a little bit different. The choir is going to be here the whole time. They're going to sing throughout our service, and we'll share from God's Word throughout as well. But I'm really excited that you're able to join us today. I hope that you are eagerly anticipating Christmas.
[2:08] I'm excited. That's this week, in case you didn't know. Men, time to get your wives those Christmas presents. I saw a Facebook post yesterday. Somebody said, guys, now is the time to start thinking about Christmas, if you haven't yet. So anyway, it's got a couple of announcements for you real quick. First of all, please join us tonight for our candlelight service.
[2:29] 5 p.m. here in the sanctuary. We're going to sing songs together. We'll light candles together. And you will also hear from our Taiwan mission team the presentation that we did on our mission trip in Taiwan in the schools there. So if you're curious about that trip and curious if you could do it, then come tonight and witness it, because you can. It's going to be great. So you'll hear from a handful of people, but it'll be a lot of fun. And afterwards, stay and head down to the fellowship hall for a little Finger Foods fellowship, the three F's of Baptist Church. Okay, Finger Foods.
[3:05] All right. And so with that, I have also, oh yeah, this Wednesday, we do not have church. I don't know if you know this, that's Christmas Eve. And the next Wednesday, we do not have church, because that's New Year's Eve. And I don't want you driving out on New Year's Eve, if you can avoid it. Okay.
[3:23] And then the Wednesday after that, we don't have church again. And that's because school's getting back, and we want people to have a week to get a routine down. Okay. So Wednesday night activities will be back on January 14th. Please plan to join us if you have not. We would love to have you on Wednesdays. We have a fellowship meal. We have Bible study, the choir practices. It's a good time.
[3:42] We have things for kids and youth as well. And speaking of Bible studies, the women's Bible study on Wednesday night is going to start a new study on January 21st. On the 14th?
[3:58] Intro on the 14th, and then going through it starting the next week too. So if you are interested in joining that women's Bible study, then you can sign up right over there. There's a sign up sheet so that we know how many books to get. So I think actually, if you're in the Bible study already or not, go ahead and put your name on that sheet so that we know how many books to buy. And then if you're interested in starting, joining the women's Bible study, then Wednesday, January 14th is the night to do it. Right, Jennifer? That's the time to do it. Okay. One other thing that we have is it's the Christmas season. And so it is the month that we do the Lottie Moon Christmas offering for international missions. You heard our spiel last week on our mission trip, and my plea to you to support the Lottie Moon Christmas offering for international missions. Today we actually have an international missionary in our church. So Olivia Schultz, she's not going to come up here, but she's right there.
[4:53] And she serves through the IMB in Argentina. So Olivia, if you could just like, everyone, let's guilt trip. Here, here's the, you can pay Olivia's salary. Okay. So give to the IMB, the Lottie Moon Christmas offering, support that. Our church goal is $7,500. Seriously, all of the money that we give to Lottie Moon goes directly to the field to support God's work among the nations. So great, great offering, great opportunity to expand the kingdom of God through international missions. All right. Now, I wouldn't normally read a Bible verse here, but instead I'm going to have Eric and Emily come forward and they're going to light the Advent candle and then we will move right along in the service. Okay. All right. It's to you.
[5:43] All right. This morning, we're going to light the fourth candle of the Advent season. This candle is known as the love candle. So as we light this candle today, let us reflect on the great love that God has for us. It is only because of God's love that we are saved.
[6:03] It is because of his love that he sent his son, Jesus, to be our savior. We're going to read John 3, 16 through 18. For God so loved the world in this way. He gave his one and only son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned because he has not believed in the name of the one and only son of God. John 15, 12 through 14 says, this is my command.
[6:42] Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends. If you do what I command you. Romans 5, 5 through 8 says, this hope will not disappoint us because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. But rarely will someone die for a just person, though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die.
[7:16] But God proves his own love for us and that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Let's pray. God, thank you for your amazing love that you have given to us. It is because of your love that we are saved and it is because of your love that we can love others. Let us be lights for you, sharing your love with those around us. Amen.
[7:41] Amen. As we dedicate this offer now, let's pray. Dear Lord, be with us as we go through the week and guide us as we need to be guided, dear Lord. Take this money that you will bless it and we will honor you in the way we use it. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
[8:16] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[8:47] ¶¶ ¶¶ ¶¶ ¶¶ ¶¶
[10:01] All right.
[10:25] So as Pastor Joe mentioned, this will be a little different. It'll be exciting. It'll be fun. And I wish I could just sit out there and watch it. You know, we've been working on this for, you know, a month or so.
[10:38] Just how many of you have finished your Christmas shopping? Huh. Good. How many? Okay. How many are going to be Christmas shopping? It's really quick, right? It's coming up. I already talked about the stress of Christmas.
[10:51] And you guys know I get real stressed at Christmas. So this morning we're just going to let that go. And we're going to hear about the hope of Christ, the whole reason behind Christmas.
[11:01] Through song and through scripture. Through the kids, through the adults. It's just a celebration. Jill will be reading. So we'll begin now with Mary's call.
[11:15] I guess the slide says, the call to believe. That's what it's called. Yeah, you see it right there. All right. Mary knew God from the stories that she read in his word.
[11:29] He was the God who rescued her people from slavery in Egypt. He was the God who delivered them from the hands of the Egyptian armies by parting the Red Sea.
[11:41] He was the God who provided for them in the desert and knocked down the walls in Jericho. He was their victory in battle, their protector in exile, their redeemer from exile, and the restorer of the nation.
[11:56] Mary believed in the God of Israel. She believed that just like he kept his promises to free them from slavery and to give them the promised land, he would come to their rescue again.
[12:07] God sent the angel Gabriel to give a message to Mary. Luke 1, 28 through 38 says, And the angel came to her and said, Greetings, favored woman. The Lord is with you. But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be.
[12:23] Then the angel told her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen, You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
[12:34] He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.
[12:47] Mary asked the angel, How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man? The angel replied to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
[12:59] Therefore, the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. And consider, your relative Elizabeth, even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her, who was once called childless.
[13:12] For nothing will be impossible with God. See, I am the Lord's servant, said Mary. May it happen to me as you have said. Then the angel left her.
[13:23] Mary believed that God had already done a miracle for Elizabeth, and immediately left to go witness that miracle and meet Elizabeth. She believed God's promise through the angel would come true, and she gave herself freely and without hesitation to his plan.
[13:37] In the past, the people of Israel praised God for his amazing work after they saw everything work out. They believed and celebrated after the victory. But Mary rejoiced in God's promise.
[13:51] She believed God as though she had already seen his word come to pass. And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant.
[14:07] Surely, from now on, all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me, and his name is holy. His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him.
[14:22] Many years later, after Jesus had died and rose again three days later, he told his disciple Thomas, Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. Mary was one of those people, and we can be too.
[14:35] Let's rejoice today, not only because Jesus came, but also because we believe the promise that he is coming again. Amen.
[14:46] Joy to the world, the Lord is come.
[15:12] Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room.
[15:26] Heaven and nature sing. Heaven and nature sing. Heaven and nature sing.
[15:37] Heaven and nature sing. We will sing, sing, sing. Joy to the world.
[15:53] We will sing, sing, sing. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns.
[16:09] Let men their songs employ. While fields and floods, rocks, seals and plains.
[16:23] Repeat the sound of joy. Repeat the sound of joy. Repeat, repeat the sound of joy.
[16:35] Joy to the world. We will sing, sing, sing. Joy to the world.
[16:48] We will sing, sing, sing. Joy to the world. Joy to the world. Joy to the world.
[17:00] Joy to the world. He rules the world with truth and grace. And makes the nations prove.
[17:11] The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love And wonders of His love And wonders, wonders of His love We will sing, sing, sing We're singing, we're singing Joy to the world We will sing, sing, sing Joy to the world Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee God of glory, Lord Our Son, full of life
[18:13] As we call Thee O bring to the Son of God Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee God of glory, Lord and Lord Our Son, full of life God of glory, eternal, eternal, eternal, eternal, eternal, eternal, eternal, eternal, eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal eternal Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you are to name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet. See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son and they will name him Emmanuel, which means God with us. When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord's angel had commanded him. He married her, but he did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son and he named him Jesus. Trust can be defined as a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. It's possible that no one understood this quite like Joseph. Joseph could have acted like Ebenezer Scrooge and attributed that dream to something that he ate the night before. He could have rationalized his fear and gone forward with his plan to divorce Mary anyways, but Joseph trusted that God's word to him was reliable. He trusted that
[20:45] God had the strength and the ability to do the impossible. Then he exercised that trust by taking Mary to be his wife. No wavering or deliberating. He did what God commanded him to do. Joseph's ability to trust and obey gave him a front row seat to the miracle that was Emmanuel, God with us.
[21:12] Joseph said, When we walk with the Lord In the light of His Word What a glory He sheds on our way While we do His good deal He abides with us still And with all who will trust and obey Trust and obey
[22:13] For there's no other way To be happy in Jesus But to trust and obey But we never can prove The delights of His love Until all on the altar we lay For the favor He shows And the joy He bestows Are for those who will trust and obey Trust and obey For there's no other way To be happy in Jesus But to trust and obey
[23:14] Lord, I love You Please help me to trust and obey Lord, I love You Please help me to trust and obey And in fellowships we We will sit at His feet Or we'll walk by His side in the way What He says we will do Where He says we will go Never fear, only trust and obey Trust and obey For there's no other way For there's no other way To be happy in Jesus But to trust and obey Lord, I love You
[24:15] Please help me to trust and obey Lord, I love You Please help me to trust and obey Lord, I love You Please help me to trust and obey They say the Lord works in mysterious ways And sometimes He does He spoke to Moses through a burning bush And if you remember, He spoke to Balaam Through a donkey But most of the time God speaks through the One, through His Word But then two, through the everyday moments of life Luke 2, 1-5 tells us In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus That the whole empire should be registered This first registration took place While Quirinius was governing Syria So everyone went to be registered Each to his own town
[25:15] Joseph also went up From the town of Nazareth in Galilee To Judea, to the city of David Which is called Bethlehem Because he was of the house And family line of David To be registered along with Mary Who was engaged to him And was pregnant Joseph and Mary had to go register for the census I can promise you They would not have chosen to do that She was very pregnant And still they had to Because the government spoke And the people listened They traveled 93 plus miles From Nazareth to Bethlehem For the census All to fulfill the law But while they were fulfilling the law God was fulfilling His grand plan His people were looking for a ruler To come from Bethlehem The prophet Micah said Bethlehem, Ephrathah You are small among the clans of Judah One will come from you To be a ruler over Israel for me His origin is from antiquity From ancient times
[26:15] It's Micah 5.2 Mary and Joseph Probably did not realize That they would be fulfilling A 700 year old prophecy When they left Nazareth To head to Bethlehem But that's exactly What God had in mind The call to Bethlehem Wasn't a call from Caesar Augustus It was a call from God Oh little town of Bethlehem How still we see Thee lie Above thy deep and dreamlessly The silent stars go by Yet in thy dark streets
[27:16] Shines the everlasting light The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight For Christ is born of Mary And gathered all above While mortals sleep The angels keep Their watch of wandering love Oh morning stars together Proclaim the holy birth And praises sing to God the King
[28:17] And peace to men on earth Oh Bethlehem How can you sleep A time has come That's wilder than your dreams Awaken your forsaken hope And look upon your King A baby born to set you free O holy child of Bethlehem Descend to us we pray Cast out our sin and enter in
[29:18] Be born in us today We hear the Christmas angels The same glad tidings tell Oh come to us Abide with us Our Lord Emmanuel To be with us Thank you.
[30:05] Y'all can come on up. I'll stay down here. Isaiah 9-6 prophesied the coming of Jesus.
[30:17] For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
[30:31] These titles belong to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and yet he came to us as a baby, born to common people. He was born in a barn and spent the first hours on earth resting where animals ate their food.
[30:48] Luke describes the humble conditions of his birth in Luke 2-6-7. It says, while they were there, the time came for her, Mary, to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
[31:08] Jesus chose to enter our world in complete humility. Philippians 2-6-7 tells us that Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.
[31:21] Instead, he humbled himself, taking on the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And Jesus would later tell his own followers in Matthew chapter 11, come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
[31:37] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
[31:48] Maybe you're here today and you're worn out, stressed out, burned out, you're running on fumes. The call for all of us is to humble ourselves before our humble Savior.
[32:02] He has rest and healing for your soul. Thank you.
[32:26] Amen. Amen.
[33:26] Amen. Amen.
[34:26] Amen. In the history of music, there is a concert that stands far above the rest. It wasn't that one.
[34:37] It wasn't one performed at Madison Square Garden. It wasn't one performed at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. It wasn't one performed for the President of the United States or the King of England.
[34:49] This concert that puts all others to shame occurred in the sky over a field in the Middle East outside of the town of Bethlehem.
[35:00] The audience was made up of a few filthy shepherds and a modest crowd of sheep. Luke 2, 8-16 says, And they were terrified.
[35:21] But the angel said to them, Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the city of David, a Savior was born for you who is the Messiah, the Lord.
[35:36] This will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger. Suddenly, there was a multitude of the heavenly hosts with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors.
[35:52] When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. They hurried off and they found both Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in the manger.
[36:09] The long awaited hope of the nation of Israel had come to bring hope to every nation. The shepherds stood awestruck by the light of the glory of God that shone around them.
[36:21] Today, we who have trusted Jesus have the blessing and honor of carrying that light within us. Matthew 5, 14 through 16, Jesus told his followers, You are the light of the world.
[36:33] A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
[36:52] The light that shines through us who believe is the hope of Jesus. Let's stand together and we're going to sing.
[37:08] We're going to get you guys involved. You guys ready? You warmed up your voices and everything? We're going to sing, Good Christian Men Rejoice. Let's sing together.
[37:19] Good Christian Men Rejoice. Good Christian Men Rejoice. With heart and soul and voice.
[37:30] Give heed to what we say. Jesus Christ is born today. Ox and lamb before him bow. And he is in the manger now.
[37:45] Christ is born today. Christ is born today. Good Christian Men Rejoice. With heart and soul and voice.
[37:58] Now ye hear of endless bliss. Jesus Christ was born for this. He has opened heaven's door.
[38:09] And man is blessed forevermore. Christ was born for this. Christ was born for this.
[38:20] Good Christian Men Rejoice. With heart and soul and voice. Now ye need not fear the grave. Jesus Christ was born to save.
[38:34] Calls you one and calls you all. To gain his everlasting hall. Christ was born to save.
[38:45] Christ was born to save. Amen. Amen. You may be seated. I want you to consider something with me.
[38:58] Jesus' birth wasn't only the greatest example of humility ever displayed. But it was also a demonstration that he was the king who would offer true peace.
[39:11] Go back with me to Mary and Joseph and their journey to Bethlehem. Although the Bible doesn't mention it. Tradition often places a very very pregnant Mary riding on the back of a donkey to cover the many miles to Bethlehem.
[39:25] This fits tradition for a couple of reasons. First, Mary was super pregnant. And walking for 93 miles at the end of pregnancy is not a legitimate option.
[39:36] I'm not saying it's not possible. You ladies are strong. You could do it. But you wouldn't want to. Right? On top of that, common people often rode donkeys all over the place.
[39:48] That was a common form of travel. Now what you may not know is that kings and princes did too. This was because donkeys and mules symbolized peace. Horses were reserved for times of war.
[40:01] In fact, the great king Solomon himself rode a mule to his inauguration of Israel. As king of Israel. Jesus would ride a donkey again later in his life.
[40:12] Also to symbolize the peace that he brought. Maybe you'll remember that when Jesus made his public appearance in Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday. A week before his death on the cross.
[40:25] He rode in to the city on the colt of a donkey. It wasn't a spur of the moment decision either. Jesus was fulfilling a years old prophecy from the prophet Zechariah.
[40:36] Who promised that a king was coming to bring peace to the nations. Zechariah 9, 9 and 10 says rejoice greatly daughter Zion. Shout in triumph daughter Jerusalem. Look, your king is coming to you.
[40:49] He is righteous and victorious. Humble and riding on a donkey. On a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim. And the horse from Jerusalem.
[41:00] The bow of war will be removed. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
[41:12] Jesus, the prince of peace, offers peace to the whole world. More personally, he's given his gift of peace to everyone who's trusted in him.
[41:26] Romans 5, 1 and 2 declares, Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We've also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand.
[41:42] And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. John 14, 27 records Jesus' words to his followers. The Christian standard Bible says it this way, Peace I leave with you.
[41:56] My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don't let your heart be troubled or fearful. But listen to how the New Living Translation describes this promise of peace from Jesus.
[42:08] I'm leaving with you a gift. Peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift that the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.
[42:19] If you only open one gift this Christmas season, let it be Jesus' precious gift of peace. Peel out of peace. Amen.
[42:59] Amen. Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright.
[43:48] Now, young virgin, mother and child, O ear and soul tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Jesus, Sleep in heavenly peace.
[44:20] Silent night, holy night, all bright, the snow will be the night.
[44:42] When the angels finally sing, the song and gloria to the King.
[44:58] On this silent holy night, all of this silent holy night.
[45:16] All of this silent night, the silent night.
[45:30] Silent night. If you've never been to church before today, it's likely that you still have heard the words, Jesus loves you somewhere along the way.
[45:53] But just hearing that Jesus loves you without experiencing his love for yourself doesn't mean much. In fact, many of us who've been in church our whole lives struggle to understand God's love.
[46:05] Some of us have been abused, abandoned, or rejected by people who are supposed to love us. And because of that, words like love or family become very challenging and make us feel disillusioned.
[46:17] But where people can fail us, God cannot. He is love itself, according to 1 John 4, 16.
[46:28] And because of his love, he offers you peace and hope and eternal life if you trust in him. John 3, 16 says, For God loved the world in this way.
[46:39] He gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life. The love of Jesus is unmatched. You'll never know a love like Jesus' love toward you.
[46:51] God proved his love in the most incredible way possible. Romans 5, 8 says, But God proves his own love for us in this, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
[47:03] And the Bible tells us how we can receive his love. Romans 10, 9, and 10 says, Isn't that amazing?
[47:23] God, in his love, saves you when you trust in him. There's nothing that you have to do to earn his love. His love towards those he offers salvation is greater than any effort we could ever give.
[47:37] The song that we're about to hear explains this beautifully. It says, You don't have to be enough to be somebody Jesus loves. His love is available to you freely. Will you receive his love today?
[47:49] Amen. Amen. All the renegades, the rebels, and the runaways.
[48:22] All the prodigals who got a little lost along the way. And all the backsliders up all nighters down in a rut.
[48:38] These are the ones, the ones that Jesus loves. Every dream shattered, bruised, and battered, barely hanging on.
[48:52] Every heartbroken, lonely soul sitting all alone. And every outcast, past, scared of letting go.
[49:08] These are the ones, the ones that Jesus chose. The five sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp To be someone Jesus loves And all the too proud, holier than thou, looking down on them And all the high and mighty, fallen from grace, trying to start again And all the stones cast, judgment passed, he's forgiven you
[50:12] He's leaving the light on, so you know where to run to So come on in, the door is open, and the Savior's arms are tuned The table said a seat is waiting, and he saved it just for you So no more running, no more hiding, come on in and you will find That you don't have to be enough, to be someone Jesus loves Don't gotta fight for His forgiveness Don't gotta beg for His grace Don't gotta argue for acceptance If you hear nothing else, child, hear me say
[51:13] Yes, Jesus loves Oh yes, Jesus loves you So come on in, the door is open, and the Savior's arms are tuned The table said a seat is waiting, and he saved it just for you So no more running, no more hiding, come on in and you will find That you don't have to tune my love No, no, no, it's been decided by the blood Yes, you're someone Jesus loves Yes, you're someone Jesus loves you
[52:20] All right, first of all, let's give a round of applause to all the choir and everybody Eric and Emily, thank you all for everything you did Cindy and Paula, Chandler, Courtney, thanks for leading the kids And sitting with the kids for a whole service That's a bold decision But thank you all for everything that you've done in preparing for this We got a tech team up there that's working, you guys are always working Thank you all for everything you did Yeah, it was a really, really cool way to go about the Christmas story And music has a special way of helping us understand and see the story, right?
[53:14] It has a special way of bringing something home I mean, we can read the Christmas story time and time again And still somehow miss the beauty and the wonder and amazement at what God has done I mean, the beautiful thing here is not that a baby was born And that's an awesome experience When you see a child, a newborn child, what a precious gift from God But that's not the amazing thing about Christmas The beautiful thing is that God himself took on flesh This is the incarnation God took on human flesh Jesus knows our weakness Jesus knows our weakness When we were in Taiwan One of the kids asked someone on our team Why did God have to be born as a baby?
[53:57] Why couldn't he just pop in? You know, why couldn't he just show up? And that's actually a really good question, by the way If you've never wondered that It's because Hebrews tells us that we have a high priest who knows our weakness Jesus knows the fullness of the human experience He knows what it's like to be a baby A baby in poverty at that Jesus knows what it's like to be a young man Jesus knows what it's like to die Because he died for you and for me That's why Christmas is so special It's not just a fairy This isn't a fairy tale This isn't up there with, you know, a Christmas story It's not about Santa Claus This isn't We've been watching The Grinch a lot in our house Jack has discovered The Grinch This is not a fairy tale Like The Grinch This is not Dr. Seuss This is real life This is history God himself took on flesh John 1, 14 says The word became flesh and dwelt among us We observed his glory The glory as the one and only son from the Father
[54:58] Full of grace and truth And so as we kind of wrap up this service I want you to think about the various calls throughout this program The call to peace The call to hope The call to love The call to love Those things are available to you in Jesus In Jesus Jesus took on this world Our sin The cross and death And rose again victorious So that he could offer you life That's what makes the Christmas story special So look if you're just here doing a favor for a friend Thank you for coming But that's You might think that's why you're here That's not why you're here You're here to hear that God loves you And Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins And that if you trust in him And repent of your sins And you can have eternal life You can have peace If you've been looking for peace It's available in Jesus If you feel hopeless It's available in Hope is available in Jesus So we're gonna have a
[56:00] We're gonna have a time of invitation Eric's gonna play a song or two Normally I would stand down here And invite you to come speak to me But we have three baptisms today Celebrating what God has done in people's lives So I have to run But We've got three guys So Steven You're gonna come on down And Clint Where are you?
[56:21] Okay Clint's gonna come on down And Jason is gonna come around here too So we've got three guys They're gonna be at the front If God is calling you To a relationship with himself Then don't delay Respond obediently Come and talk to any of these three men They'll be happy to explain The truths of God's word to you They'll be happy to explain How you can have the hope and peace And love that's available in Jesus But if God's calling you Don't delay I'm gonna pray for us Eric's gonna play And then you respond As God leads you to respond Let's pray together Lord Jesus Thank you Thank you that you came to this earth That you were born in such humble conditions That you showed us your love in such a miraculous way God I pray That everybody in this room Who's here Who maybe has Become worn down by the Christmas story Hearing it every year That it's so It's become monotonous God I pray that you would Give them a fresh Excitement
[57:22] A renewed Energy Renewed spirit As they consider Your miracle Of incarnation Of taking on human flesh God you did not have to leave heaven And yet you chose to Because you love us So Jesus we praise you I pray now that If there's anybody in this room Who does not yet know you That you would Move in their heart In such a way That they have no choice To respond in faith And again Lord we trust you We trust you With salvation We thank you for the Baptisms that we're about to celebrate That point to And show The beauty of salvation God I pray that You would just move in this room That we would respond faithfully We love you And praise you And it's in Jesus name that we pray Amen Let's stand together and sing The altars are open if you want to come and pray It's open right now
[58:23] Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for me See on the portals He's waiting and watching Watching for you and for me Come home Come home Come home Ye who are weary Come home Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling Calling Calling O sinner Come home Oh Oh
[59:24] For the wonderful love He has promised Promise for you and for me Though we have sinned He has mercy and pardon Pardon Pardon Pardon For you and for me And for me Come home Come home Come home Come home Come home Come home Come home Come home Come home Ye who are weary, come home Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling Calling, O sinner, come home
[60:29] Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading Pleading for you and for me Why should we linger and heed not his mercies Mercies for you and for me Come home, come home Ye who are weary, come home Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling Calling, O sinner, come home
[61:33] There's one more verse If you feel that call in your life today To accept Christ or to make a new commitment Just come, one more verse, softly and tenderly Gently he leads Gently he leads those who carry their young ones Shepherd for you and for me Surely his goodness and mercy will follow Ever with you and with me Come home, come home All you are weary, come home Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling
[62:39] Calling, O sinner, come home Amen, amen Let's sing one more O come all ye faithful today O come all ye faithful They're getting ready We're going to sing one more song They're still going to get ready O come all ye faithful Joyful and triumphant O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem Come and behold him Come and behold him Born the king of angels O come let us adore him
[63:40] O come let us adore him O come let us adore him Christ the Lord Amen Amen Amen You may be seated Well this morning we're going to celebrate Is this mic on?
[64:05] I'm scared of nothing I don't hear you yet Can you hear me? Nope No? Pat? Pat? Can you hear me now? Testing How about I yell?
[64:18] How does that sound? Sounds good Sounds good Today we're going to celebrate believers baptism So just so you know Believers baptism doesn't save you If you It's on?
[64:30] It is now It is now Alright If you Maybe you're confused about what baptism is Baptism is not a salvific experience God saves by his grace alone Through faith in his son Jesus alone And so what these three are coming to do today Is publicly declare That Jesus Christ has entered their lives And transformed them for eternity So we're going to have three people Charlie and Cindy Amigrande And so I'm going to have you go ahead and come in the water Guys it's kind of cold in here Just so you all know Yeah It's You know Catch your breath It's okay But Eric kept singing I was a little bit Okay You can do it Okay Alright Miss Cindy Are you coming today To publicly profess your faith in Jesus Christ As Savior and Lord?
[65:24] Yes Praise the Lord I'm going to read Miss Cindy's testimony It says I have experienced challenges Hardships and tragedy in life As we all have As a result There were times when I questioned Or doubted My faith in God But I came to realize Over and over again The reason I survived these trials Is because Jesus Was walking beside me Even when I turned away from him He never turned away from me I was baptized as a baby And always believed that I was saved I have come to realize as an adult However That I need to make A conscious thoughtful decision About baptism I understand through scripture And prayer That this action Is a public acknowledgement Of my faith And that I will walk in new life With Jesus Christ I have also come to realize More recently That I don't need to earn My way to heaven But that through The grace of God And Jesus' death on the cross And resurrection It is given freely To all who believe With this shared affirmation Of faith And continued prayer I will strive to accept His will And pray that Jesus Will be in my heart My soul
[66:24] My mind My words My actions And my reactions Psalm 25 4 says Show me your ways Lord Teach me your paths And Psalm 25 7 Do not let the sins Of my youth And my rebellious ways Do not remember The sins of my youth And my rebellious ways According to your love Remember me For you Lord Are good Praise the Lord Can someone hold this For me real quick Thank you I'll get that back For me in one second Alright Miss Cindy You step right here In front of me Okay I have a Okay here we go Alright Cindy it is my joy To baptize you My sister In the name of the Father And of the Son And of the Holy Spirit Buried with Christ And raised to walk In newness of life If you're wondering What's going on We have a stool here And it floated up So I was trying to stop it
[67:25] Alright Mr. Charlie Can I get that Thank you Alright Come on down man Pacific Ocean That's right We can do this Okay Charlie are you here today To be baptized As a public profession Of your faith In Jesus Christ That he's your only Savior and Lord Yes I am Praise the Lord I'm going to read Your testimony It says I was raised Catholic And attended Eight years of Catholic school At the hands of Benedictine nuns This is where I first Learned about discipline I graduated high school And immediately joined The Navy where discipline Is key I learned about integrity And how it means Different things To different people But the most important Thing I learned Is to do what's right Even when no one Is watching These disciplines Led me to my Lord And Savior Because I realized That I'm not perfect And I am in need Of a perfect Savior I try to live my life Knowing that he is Watching everything I do And I try not to Disappoint him But even though I have messed up I trust the grace And forgiveness Offered freely By Jesus Christ I pray to him Every day Please don't give up On me I work with fire For most of my life
[68:26] And I will not Spend eternity in it Alright Thank you Charlie Or you can hold This down If you want I'll try it Alright Charlie It's my joy To baptize you My brother In the name Of the Father And of the Son And of the Holy Spirit Buried with Christ And raised to walk In newness of life Alright Yeah Yeah It kind of warms up You know Alright Mason Mason Are you here today To be baptized As a public profession Of your faith In Jesus Christ And he's your only Savior and Lord Yes Alright So I need his testimony Also Remember Mason's testimony He says I grew up in church And at five years old I made the decision To be baptized At that time I truly believed I had given my life To Jesus But as I grew older I noticed things
[69:26] About my life That made me question Whether I had fully Surrendered to him I struggled with doubts Habits And patterns of thinking That didn't line up With what it meant To follow Christ Wholeheartedly Those struggles Slowly led me Into a season Of uncertainty About my faith Everything shifted During my mission trip To Taiwan While I was there I saw firsthand The deep spirit Spiritual hunger Of the people We were ministering to A desperation To believe in something And find truth And hope Their longing Made me reflect On my own faith In a way I hadn't before During that trip I had a meaningful Conversation with Pastor Joe Who asked me Some challenging But necessary questions That I do not feel Like I had been asked Before Through that conversation God revealed Something important I had been trying To live the Christian life In my own strength I realized that Despite being baptized As a child I had never truly Surrendered every part Of my life To Jesus It was in that moment Seeing the need In Taiwan Facing those tough questions And feeling the Holy Spirit Gently convicting me That I fully understood What it meant To give everything to Christ I let go of every
[70:27] Of trying to control things On my own And committed my life To Jesus In a way that was Real, personal, and complete Today I can confidently say That my faith Is no longer rooted In what I thought I had done as a child But in the grace And transformation Jesus is continually Working in me And now instead Of trying to walk This journey alone I'm committed To strengthening The foundation That so many Brothers and sisters In Christ Have laid for me Throughout my life In the church Thank you Alright Mason As the public Profession of your faith It's my joy To baptize you My brother In the name of the Father And of the Son And of the Holy Spirit Buried with Christ And raised to walk In the newness of life I would normally Have them stay in here And be like Hey look This is your church family But with good reason They've gotten out of the water So again I want to remind you That baptism is not salvific
[71:27] Baptism does not save I'm encouraged From the testimony Of each of the three Of these people Charlie and Cindy Were raised in a Catholic home And were baptized as infants But that's not Believer's baptism The Bible describes One baptism And it is As the public Declaration of your faith In Jesus Christ It shows the work That Christ has done Washing us new Washing us clean Of our sins And also It pictures It shows for us It models for us The death To our old self And the life That we have in Christ So if you have never Been baptized If you've been Questioning whether or not You should be baptized I would encourage you To study the scriptures Study the New Testament And you'll find That the New Testament Model for believers Baptism is just that It's the public Profession of faith In Jesus And also That there is no You know Baptism outside of this church Okay Outside of Not this church The church Alright Alright With that If you'll stand with me We're going to read The Great Commission together
[72:28] Jesus came near And said to them All authority Has been given to me In heaven And on earth Go there For And make disciples Of all nations Baptizing them In the name Of the Father And of the Son And of the Holy Spirit Teaching them To observe Everything I've commanded you And remember I'm with you Always To the end Of the age Thank you for gathering To worship with us today Thank you for having me