WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.899 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:05.740 where we're dedicated to encouraging, equipping, 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:07.980 and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:07.980 --> 00:00:10.080 Located in Ontario, Oregon, 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:12.679 Pastor Patrick Daley preaches insightful sermons 00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:13.939 from the Word of God, 00:00:13.939 --> 00:00:16.940 offering practical applications for modern living. 00:00:16.940 --> 00:00:20.080 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:20.080 --> 00:00:24.760 What a great time is it to be able to sing praises 00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:26.560 to our God, 00:00:26.560 --> 00:00:28.560 to take time to worship Him, 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:31.859 to sing these Christmas songs, 00:00:31.859 --> 00:00:33.439 these songs that we sing, 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:38.439 they are a reminder of the love that God has for us 00:00:39.739 --> 00:00:43.179 in sending His Son down to the earth, 00:00:44.539 --> 00:00:46.379 to Bethlehem, 00:00:46.379 --> 00:00:48.619 to be born in a manger. 00:00:49.579 --> 00:00:54.579 The prophecies and the promises made so long ago 00:00:54.579 --> 00:00:59.579 were fulfilled because our God tells the truth. 00:00:59.879 --> 00:01:02.320 He is not a liar. 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:04.459 He is a promise keeper. 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:09.299 And there were many prophecies that were fulfilled 00:01:09.299 --> 00:01:12.799 on that holy night that we celebrate together. 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:16.099 Love came down, 00:01:16.099 --> 00:01:19.299 and that's the title of this message tonight. 00:01:19.299 --> 00:01:22.900 And we're basing this off of mainly two passages 00:01:22.900 --> 00:01:27.680 from John 3.16 and 1 John chapter four, verse nine. 00:01:28.780 --> 00:01:32.219 You know, the love that God has for us 00:01:32.219 --> 00:01:35.420 is a love that is unlike any sort of love 00:01:35.420 --> 00:01:37.560 that is found here on the earth. 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:40.560 It is something that is supernatural. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:44.000 It is something that is beyond our human understanding. 00:01:44.860 --> 00:01:49.860 The love of God, Christ came down into our world 00:01:49.859 --> 00:01:54.200 to live and dwell among us people. 00:01:54.200 --> 00:01:59.200 Love reached down to humble beginnings in a manger. 00:02:00.340 --> 00:02:03.480 Love came down to our level, 00:02:03.480 --> 00:02:08.020 down to us, down to our world from heavenly places. 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:12.419 The love that God has for us, it is active. 00:02:12.419 --> 00:02:16.360 It is sacrificing, and it is everlasting. 00:02:16.360 --> 00:02:19.440 And I want to bring up these two verses 00:02:19.440 --> 00:02:22.940 that will help us understand this kind of love. 00:02:22.940 --> 00:02:26.840 I'd like to go to the John 3.16 passage, 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:30.840 and it says, feel free to follow along on the screen. 00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:33.980 Some of you will know it. 00:02:35.980 --> 00:02:36.820 Maybe. 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:40.020 It's okay, that's all right, that's all right. 00:02:40.020 --> 00:02:41.720 Oh, there we go, all right. 00:02:41.720 --> 00:02:43.320 Let's read it together. 00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:48.319 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son 00:02:49.400 --> 00:02:53.400 that whoever believes in him should not perish 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:55.599 but have eternal life. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:03:00.599 This verse speaks of how God has this love for the world. 00:03:00.599 --> 00:03:04.979 So much so that because of this love, 00:03:04.979 --> 00:03:09.979 he sent his one, his only son, Jesus the Christ, 00:03:09.979 --> 00:03:13.879 Jesus the Messiah into the world. 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:18.879 And the love that this verse is speaking of is agape love. 00:03:20.079 --> 00:03:24.359 It is divine love, and it is greater than earthly love. 00:03:24.359 --> 00:03:27.060 It is something that is much more powerful. 00:03:27.060 --> 00:03:32.060 And God sent his son at the right appointed time 00:03:32.599 --> 00:03:37.599 for Christ to be born in Bethlehem in a manger. 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:42.599 And did you know that when John speaks of God loving the world, 00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:45.879 he's speaking of agape love, 00:03:45.879 --> 00:03:50.379 that word, the world is where we get the word cosmos. 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:56.719 Everyone in the world in this context, 00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:59.500 but in a similar way, it could mean everyone in the universe, 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:03.159 but we're thinking of people in this particular sense. 00:04:03.159 --> 00:04:05.199 And I found that to be very interesting, 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:10.199 everyone in the world, the word here in biblical times 00:04:11.799 --> 00:04:15.739 is speaking to everyone in the world. 00:04:15.739 --> 00:04:19.480 And this takes us to our second verse, 00:04:19.480 --> 00:04:23.339 which is found in 1st John chapter four, verse nine. 00:04:23.339 --> 00:04:24.579 Let's read this together. 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:29.579 It says, in this, the love of God was made manifest among us, 00:04:30.620 --> 00:04:33.959 that God sent his only son into the world 00:04:33.959 --> 00:04:36.599 so that we might live through him. 00:04:36.599 --> 00:04:40.299 And this verse is to show it's a connection 00:04:40.299 --> 00:04:42.799 with the John 3 16 passage. 00:04:42.799 --> 00:04:46.959 It helps us to understand that Christ was born. 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:51.959 It was a manifestation that Jesus was born among us, 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:56.240 among everyday people. 00:04:56.240 --> 00:05:01.240 And it's just such a radical thought if you think about it. 00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:02.980 When you think of other gods, 00:05:02.980 --> 00:05:06.519 it's about what you can do for the God. 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:10.280 But our God, the God of the Bible, 00:05:10.280 --> 00:05:13.920 sent his son to us. 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:15.819 And that's something that's very powerful 00:05:15.819 --> 00:05:20.220 just to think of Jesus Christ being born as a child, 00:05:21.060 --> 00:05:22.199 a young baby. 00:05:23.460 --> 00:05:25.259 That's something that is radical 00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:27.060 and that's something that's powerful 00:05:27.060 --> 00:05:30.300 of the love that God has for us. 00:05:30.300 --> 00:05:33.500 And this is the reason why we celebrate. 00:05:33.500 --> 00:05:35.040 It's that sacrifice. 00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:38.980 It's that agape love that God has for us, 00:05:38.980 --> 00:05:43.819 that God sent his son to dwell among us. 00:05:43.819 --> 00:05:47.319 And this love that God has for us, 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:51.860 it is active today as it was yesterday. 00:05:51.860 --> 00:05:56.860 God's love is sacrificing and it is everlasting. 00:05:56.860 --> 00:06:01.860 Jesus Christ coming down from heaven to be born in a manger 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:05.040 is a wonderful type of love. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:08.840 It is in the stillness. 00:06:08.840 --> 00:06:12.840 It is in the quiet, the silent night, 00:06:12.840 --> 00:06:16.780 being born in a stable among animals. 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:19.460 Now, I don't know about you. 00:06:19.460 --> 00:06:21.879 Has anyone here been born in a stable before? 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:25.660 If you have, then kudos to you, right? 00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:27.260 I think for majority of us, 00:06:27.260 --> 00:06:28.920 we were born in a hospital, right? 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:33.060 Where it's clean and it's appropriate for children. 00:06:33.060 --> 00:06:35.960 But to be born in hay, right? 00:06:35.960 --> 00:06:38.340 With animals, it's not always the, 00:06:38.340 --> 00:06:41.340 you don't get the cleanest thought with that. 00:06:41.340 --> 00:06:43.900 But that is the humble beginnings 00:06:43.900 --> 00:06:46.879 of our savior, of our Messiah. 00:06:48.180 --> 00:06:51.540 Not being born in a hotel or the Marriott 00:06:51.540 --> 00:06:54.020 or any of the fancy hotels. 00:06:54.020 --> 00:06:55.580 I don't know all the fancy hotels out there. 00:06:55.579 --> 00:06:58.159 I don't know you guys, but with that, 00:06:58.159 --> 00:07:00.319 in a humble beginning. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:03.819 And Christ was not born in a palace 00:07:03.819 --> 00:07:06.000 or in a fancy hotel like I'm saying, 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:11.000 but they're born in the manger in hay, right? 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:14.740 How many of us have animals, right? 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:17.779 Or you've played with hay before maybe? 00:07:17.779 --> 00:07:20.479 Have you laid in hay before? 00:07:20.479 --> 00:07:21.819 Right? 00:07:21.819 --> 00:07:24.120 It's kind of a funny imagery there, 00:07:24.120 --> 00:07:28.519 but not so much for our savior 00:07:28.519 --> 00:07:30.160 having that humble beginning. 00:07:31.259 --> 00:07:34.120 It was there that God's love came down. 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:37.519 And as we have read from Luke chapter two, 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:39.720 we heard about how the angels, 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:43.060 they proclaimed the good news with great joy 00:07:43.060 --> 00:07:45.660 about Christ, the Messiah, 00:07:45.660 --> 00:07:48.060 the son of the living God being born 00:07:48.060 --> 00:07:50.079 in the city of David. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:55.079 This Christmas story is the story of how love came down 00:07:55.479 --> 00:07:56.919 in Jesus Christ. 00:07:56.919 --> 00:07:59.419 And I want you to consider for a moment 00:07:59.419 --> 00:08:01.379 the shepherds that were there. 00:08:01.379 --> 00:08:04.879 They were watching their flocks at night 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:08.479 and how the gospel message was proclaimed to them, 00:08:08.479 --> 00:08:10.719 the good news of great joy. 00:08:11.719 --> 00:08:13.680 And in the same way, these shepherds, 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:16.279 they heard the good news of great joy 00:08:16.279 --> 00:08:19.680 of the arrival of Jesus being born. 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:22.959 There is a message of Jesus Christ 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:27.959 providing salvation for all who believe 00:08:27.959 --> 00:08:30.860 just as we went over the first verse, 00:08:30.860 --> 00:08:35.720 that whoever, whosoever, that all who believe, 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:39.039 it doesn't matter what ethnicity you have. 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:41.799 It doesn't matter your socioeconomic status. 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:43.960 It doesn't matter your education level. 00:08:43.960 --> 00:08:46.019 It doesn't matter if you're tall or short 00:08:46.019 --> 00:08:47.320 or if you're fat or skinny. 00:08:47.320 --> 00:08:51.879 All who believe shall not perish 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:54.960 but have eternal life or everlasting life 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:57.840 as some translations say. 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:00.000 That salvation is this free gift. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:04.160 And when we think of the manger, the nativity, 00:09:04.160 --> 00:09:09.160 we think of how God is changing the course of history, 00:09:09.680 --> 00:09:14.680 making salvation available for everyone, for all. 00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:17.439 And maybe this is a call for you, 00:09:17.439 --> 00:09:21.319 for this Christmas to believe in the Lord. 00:09:21.319 --> 00:09:25.799 Maybe this is a call for you to get right with the Lord. 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:27.159 Maybe it's been a long time 00:09:27.159 --> 00:09:29.639 since you've set foot in a church. 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:32.959 Maybe it's been a long time since you've opened a Bible. 00:09:32.959 --> 00:09:35.039 Maybe you don't even know what a Bible is. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:36.559 I don't know where you are at 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:40.240 in your own spiritual walk or journey. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:43.199 But I hope and I pray that all of you, 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:47.680 your spiritual journey begins with Christ. 00:09:47.680 --> 00:09:50.200 And from that point in belief 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:53.940 that you are on a path of growing in faith, 00:09:53.940 --> 00:09:56.560 growing in love with Christ. 00:09:58.220 --> 00:10:00.879 In John chapter eight, verse 12, 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:05.120 it reveals to us that Christ is the light of the world. 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:07.879 When we light these candles, 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:10.400 I want you to think about this that 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:13.879 Jesus Christ being the light of the world, right? 00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:16.360 It shines in the darkness. 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:20.079 I want to put this verse on the screen. 00:10:20.079 --> 00:10:21.959 Let's read it together. 00:10:21.959 --> 00:10:25.279 Again, Jesus spoke to them saying, 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:27.980 I am the light of the world. 00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:31.799 Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:34.439 but will have the light of life. 00:10:34.439 --> 00:10:37.159 And it is in believing in Christ. 00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:40.279 We exhibit that same light. 00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:42.519 Sharing in the hope of Jesus, 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:45.959 sharing in the good news of the gospel. 00:10:45.959 --> 00:10:48.600 There is hope in Jesus Christ. 00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:52.600 There is peace that surpasses all understanding. 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:55.399 There is joy that is inexpressible, 00:10:55.399 --> 00:10:57.339 that is unspeakable. 00:10:57.339 --> 00:11:00.679 And of course, there is everlasting love, 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:05.299 the agape love that is divine, that is transcendent. 00:11:05.299 --> 00:11:09.939 This is, these are but attributes of our God. 00:11:09.940 --> 00:11:12.340 And when we think of the light of Christ, 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:14.880 think of the darkness. 00:11:14.880 --> 00:11:17.760 If you're in a dark room and you turn on the light, 00:11:17.760 --> 00:11:22.160 you turn on a light bulb or a flashlight or a candle, 00:11:22.160 --> 00:11:25.280 you see how it illuminates the room. 00:11:25.280 --> 00:11:29.240 And it makes me think of how when we believe in the Lord, 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:33.320 in Matthew chapter five, 00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:35.220 I want to put that on the screen here. 00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:40.220 It's interesting that same light that comes from Christ 00:11:41.340 --> 00:11:46.340 can shine in us so that we can exhibit love to others. 00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:49.379 Sharing in the gospel message. 00:11:49.379 --> 00:11:51.620 Let's read this Matthew passage together. 00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:53.180 This is what Christ is saying. 00:11:53.180 --> 00:11:55.660 You are the light of the world. 00:11:55.660 --> 00:11:58.620 A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, 00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:02.899 nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, 00:12:02.899 --> 00:12:07.860 but on a stand and it gives light to all in the house. 00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:12.019 In the same way, let your light shine before others 00:12:12.019 --> 00:12:14.659 so that they may see your good works 00:12:14.659 --> 00:12:18.179 and give glory to your father who is in heaven. 00:12:19.059 --> 00:12:20.980 Believe in the Lord and be saved. 00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:22.919 That is first and foremost. 00:12:23.939 --> 00:12:25.220 In this Christmas season, 00:12:25.220 --> 00:12:28.779 we recognize the sacrifice that God made for us 00:12:28.779 --> 00:12:30.879 by sending his son down to earth. 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:34.840 We believe in the Lord and we shall be saved. 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:37.639 And because of this saving grace, 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:40.039 it should move us to grow in our faith 00:12:40.039 --> 00:12:43.759 and to do good in the name of the Lord. 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:46.279 And as we conclude our time, 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:47.759 we're gonna sing Silent Night, 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:51.879 but we're also going to light the candle together. 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:53.080 I actually don't have one. 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:55.559 Oh, I do have one. 00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:56.519 Okay. 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:58.759 We're gonna light this together. 00:12:58.759 --> 00:12:59.759 Do you all have a candle? 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:00.600 Please stand. 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:03.600 What we're gonna do, 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:06.759 let us know if you don't have a candle, please. 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:08.720 If anyone doesn't have a candle, 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:09.799 go ahead and raise your hand 00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:12.319 or let's make sure everyone has a candle. 00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:16.559 These candles represent the light of Christ 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:19.399 in these attributes that I was talking about. 00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:24.240 Hope of the Lord, peace that surpasses all understanding, 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:26.840 joy unspeakable and the love. 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:29.800 And they all point to Jesus Christ, 00:13:29.800 --> 00:13:32.240 who is the light of the world. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:35.240 And I wanna begin. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:42.360 By lighting my candle, hopefully it doesn't blow out. 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:45.879 It's just a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:48.080 that shines in the darkness. 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:53.080 And that we, as believers, we grow in faith. 00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:55.639 We become the light of the world, 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:59.799 showing Christ's likeness in all that we do. 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:04.480 As we hold our candles, 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:09.480 I want us to think of the love that Christ has for us 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:16.360 and think for a moment of how perhaps you have experienced 00:14:17.319 --> 00:14:20.039 or how you have felt or how you have seen 00:14:20.939 --> 00:14:23.480 the love of Christ in your own life. 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:28.480 Let us carry the light of Christ into the world, 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:34.960 not just tonight, but in everyday living, 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:40.279 in every action, in every word and in every deed, 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:42.200 and with all that we are. 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:46.200 May we share that love of Christ with others. 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:49.800 And may we thank the Lord for this love 00:14:49.800 --> 00:14:52.360 that he has given to us. 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:57.360 And let's pray, Father, we thank you for sending your son 00:14:58.759 --> 00:15:03.759 who is the way, the truth, and the life. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:08.240 Your son is the light of the world. 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:13.240 And oh, do we need a light in this world. 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:16.840 We need truth in this world. 00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:18.879 We need a constant. 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:23.360 And that constant is found in your son, Jesus. 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:29.360 Be with us, Father, as we go from this place. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:32.759 May we know who you are. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:38.759 May we grow in knowing you and go and do good 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:41.879 in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:43.879 And we all say together, amen. 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:45.200 Amen. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:47.879 Thank you for tuning in to the Ontario Community Church 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:49.519 sermon podcast. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:52.279 For more about our church and how you can get involved 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:54.320 or support our mission, please visit 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:57.320 ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:15:57.320 --> 00:16:19.320 May God's blessings be with you. 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:29.320 Thank you.