Sunday December 24th Service_transcript.txt

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[30.00 --> 59.98]  Let's pray.
[60.00 --> 89.98]  Thank you.
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[1259.78 --> 1289.76]  May you.
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[1619.70 --> 1649.68]  Amen.
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[2699.60 --> 2729.60]  Thank you.
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[2759.60 --> 2789.60]  He's God.
[2789.60 --> 2819.60]  Thank you.
[2819.60 --> 2849.60]  Thank you.
[2849.60 --> 2879.60]  Thank you.
[2879.60 --> 2880.60]  Thank you.
[2909.60 --> 2910.60]  Thank you.
[2939.60 --> 2969.60]  Thank you.
[2969.60 --> 2970.60]  Thank you.
[2999.64 --> 3000.60]  you.
[3000.60 --> 3005.32]  are with you to share life, to share companionship. And some of you know that all too well as you get
[3005.32 --> 3011.48]  around the Christmas table and there's somebody missing because they have passed away. Paul,
[3011.66 --> 3020.32]  in the face of a brutal, violent world full of death, says, there is one person who overcame death.
[3021.04 --> 3026.40]  And here's the important word, firstborn. When I say that I have a firstborn child, what does that
[3026.40 --> 3034.18]  imply? It implies I have more kids, doesn't it? Right? I don't say firstborn. And the reason Paul
[3034.18 --> 3039.52]  uses this language, and we see this elsewhere, is because the point and the purpose of Jesus rising
[3039.52 --> 3045.04]  from the dead was not just a trick to show how much power he had. The reason for it was that those who
[3045.04 --> 3054.02]  follow him by faith also rise from the dead because they follow a resurrected king. It's at this point
[3054.02 --> 3061.34]  that you can say amen, by the way. You got this. If you were to visit, and you still can do this,
[3061.76 --> 3068.06]  a cemetery in different parts of Europe, you would see on many tombstones a statement in Latin that
[3068.06 --> 3075.04]  says resurgam. Anyone know what that means? It's a Latin word that says quite defiantly, I might add,
[3075.04 --> 3084.04]  I shall rise. And many Christians throughout history have said, what's the thing I want on my tombstone?
[3084.24 --> 3088.80]  Well, I follow Jesus, and so the word on my tombstone will be resurgam, because by faith,
[3089.00 --> 3094.18]  I share in the resurrection life of Jesus, who not only brings renewal and life to me now,
[3094.78 --> 3100.30]  but raises my body back from death after I die. Praise the Lord.
[3100.30 --> 3109.40]  Now I want to get to the part that gets even more controversial, you might say, because Paul says
[3109.40 --> 3113.40]  he's the firstborn of creation. He's the firstborn among the dead. And what's his next line?
[3114.28 --> 3123.20]  So that in all things, Jesus will have the supremacy. You have to remember, Paul's writing this at a time
[3123.20 --> 3130.24]  where people all kind of knew who had the supremacy. He kind of sat on a throne. He was known as the
[3130.24 --> 3134.82]  Caesar people. We're worshiping him and burning incense in his name. And Paul's got the guts to be
[3134.82 --> 3141.30]  like, in all things, the firstborn of creation, the firstborn among the dead, Jesus Christ must have
[3141.30 --> 3150.42]  supremacy. And in my opinion, Paul gets in our business with this passage, because he knows then,
[3150.42 --> 3157.76]  just like now, people will organize their lives around something or someone. And many people in
[3157.76 --> 3162.52]  Roman cities, they place their hope, they place their trust, they place their love and affection
[3162.52 --> 3169.18]  on this Caesar. Many people worshiped him as a God. And Paul says, he's not someone who will triumph
[3169.18 --> 3173.76]  over the grave. He will live and he will die, but there is someone who has supremacy, who has defeated
[3173.76 --> 3179.60]  death, and that is Jesus. But for us, maybe some of us put our hope in a political leader. I certainly
[3179.60 --> 3183.50]  hope not. These are not easy days to put hope in political leaders. I'm not going to get all political,
[3183.50 --> 3186.78]  but I think you can agree with me on that. It doesn't matter where you live in the world.
[3187.44 --> 3193.82]  But we organize our life around something for meaning, purpose, for joy. Perhaps it's some
[3193.82 --> 3200.14]  accomplishment at work that you hope gives you your legacy. Perhaps it's the favor of those around you.
[3200.28 --> 3205.66]  Perhaps it's a certain level of influence on Instagram or certain wealth by the end of your life.
[3206.46 --> 3211.78]  And Paul says, in all things, Christ must have supremacy. And all other created things,
[3211.78 --> 3216.10]  even though they are good, like world leaders and relationships and our work,
[3216.46 --> 3221.52]  they cannot be the center that gives meaning, purpose, and significance to our lives.
[3221.88 --> 3229.98]  The child who comes in fragility in the moment of Christmas is also the risen Lord who claims
[3229.98 --> 3237.46]  supremacy over all of our lives after his resurrection. But now I want to finish with where the poem finishes.
[3237.46 --> 3241.16]  And it really gets more at the why of Christmas.
[3242.46 --> 3252.44]  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself
[3252.44 --> 3260.04]  all things, whether things on earth or in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross.
[3260.04 --> 3264.28]  If you don't already know this, I will say this as clearly as possible.
[3264.62 --> 3271.60]  The goal of God in sending Jesus was to bring healing to the whole creation.
[3272.40 --> 3277.78]  If you didn't notice this, a repeated phrase throughout this whole passage is all things.
[3278.62 --> 3281.78]  Not just certain individuals, but the whole of creation.
[3282.26 --> 3288.94]  And then, yes, healing and forgiveness to a world that is corrupted by sin and lives in rebellion and rejection to God.
[3288.94 --> 3290.56]  God came for us also.
[3290.78 --> 3295.76]  And then also to overcome the finality and the brutality of death itself.
[3297.06 --> 3302.54]  And the reason we worship today is because we believe that God did what God sent Jesus to do.
[3303.50 --> 3304.84]  The grave is empty.
[3306.30 --> 3307.34]  Forgiveness has come.
[3308.40 --> 3309.42]  Death has been defeated.
[3309.68 --> 3313.78]  And Jesus is exalted at the right hand of God.
[3314.50 --> 3315.38]  Praise the Lord.
[3315.38 --> 3320.66]  And so I'm going to finish with some poetry by Charles Wesley.
[3321.82 --> 3323.82]  Words that we will sing in just a minute.
[3324.26 --> 3326.86]  In fact, as I read it, I'll invite the worship team up on the stage.
[3327.20 --> 3331.26]  But this is the third verse to Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
[3331.26 --> 3361.24]  Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
[3361.26 --> 3362.68]  Herald Angels Sing.
[3362.68 --> 3366.30]  Glory to the newborn King.
[3367.30 --> 3367.90]  Amen.
[3368.62 --> 3370.88]  Let's stand and sing to this King.
[3370.88 --> 3372.00]  Amen.
[3378.52 --> 3380.46]  Amen.
[3380.46 --> 3380.80]  Amen.
[3382.02 --> 3382.16]  Amen.
[3382.16 --> 3382.24]  Amen.
[3382.24 --> 3382.52]  Amen.
[3382.52 --> 3382.92]  Amen.
[3382.92 --> 3383.84]  Amen.
[3383.84 --> 3384.28]  Amen.
[3384.28 --> 3388.32]  Amen.
[3397.12 --> 3398.28]  Amen.
[3398.28 --> 3398.56]  Amen.
[3398.56 --> 3408.50]  Let the herald angels sing
[3408.50 --> 3412.74]  Glory to the newborn King
[3412.74 --> 3417.10]  Peace on earth and mercy mild
[3417.10 --> 3421.30]  God and sinners reconciled
[3421.30 --> 3425.68]  Joyful all ye nations ride
[3425.68 --> 3429.84]  Join the triumph of the sky
[3429.84 --> 3433.84]  With angelic calls proclaim
[3433.84 --> 3437.68]  Christ is born in Bethlehem
[3438.34 --> 3442.50]  Hark the herald angels sing
[3442.50 --> 3446.68]  Glory to the newborn King
[3447.54 --> 3453.68]  Christ by highest heaven adore
[3453.68 --> 3457.68]  Christ the everlasting Lord
[3458.48 --> 3462.84]  Mid in time behold Him come
[3462.84 --> 3466.88]  O offspring of the virgin day
[3466.88 --> 3470.68]  Hail in flesh the Godhead see
[3471.20 --> 3474.68]  Hail the incarnate deity
[3474.68 --> 3479.58]  Please as men with us to dwell
[3479.58 --> 3483.28]  Jesus our Emmanuel
[3483.28 --> 3488.08]  Hark the herald angels sing
[3488.08 --> 3492.68]  Glory to the newborn King
[3492.68 --> 3499.68]  Hail the heaven Prince of Peace
[3499.68 --> 3503.84]  Hail the song of righteousness
[3503.84 --> 3507.88]  Life and life to all He brings
[3507.88 --> 3511.84]  Risen when He leads me
[3511.84 --> 3516.84]  While He lays His glory by
[3516.84 --> 3521.00]  Born that when no more may die
[3521.00 --> 3525.08]  Born to raise the sons of earth
[3525.08 --> 3528.84]  Born to give them second birth
[3528.84 --> 3533.00]  Hark the herald angels sing
[3533.00 --> 3538.40]  Glory to the newborn King
[3538.40 --> 3552.54]  Glory to the newborn King
[3552.54 --> 3555.48]  Well friends this is the part of our service where we get to light our Christ candles
[3555.48 --> 3558.48]  And I'll ask that we bring the house lights down for this
[3558.48 --> 3564.48]  If you did not grab a candle on your way in there should be some in the foyer
[3564.48 --> 3570.04]  And the only request that our custodian has made is we try not to burn the building down
[3570.04 --> 3572.12]  We've had some close calls in the past
[3572.12 --> 3577.42]  But this is the image that we have that Christ Himself gives us
[3577.42 --> 3581.54]  In John chapter 8 Jesus has the boldness to say
[3581.54 --> 3585.52]  I am the light of the world
[3585.52 --> 3589.60]  That lights up into the darkness and brings healing
[3589.60 --> 3594.30]  But also in Matthew 5 Jesus says to those who follow Him and will believe in Him
[3594.30 --> 3597.50]  You are the light of the world
[3597.50 --> 3599.44]  And so we light these candles
[3599.44 --> 3602.54]  I'm going to light my candle in a moment from the Christ candle
[3602.54 --> 3603.68]  And then I'm going to go to the front
[3603.68 --> 3605.96]  And light some of the candles of those in the front
[3605.96 --> 3609.32]  And if you could just be so kind as to sort of turn behind to those behind you
[3609.32 --> 3610.14]  And light their candles
[3610.14 --> 3613.24]  And as we do that we are going to sing O Holy Night
[3613.24 --> 3615.94]  And as I already mentioned this is another song
[3615.94 --> 3618.10]  That has been banned through the years
[3618.10 --> 3619.62]  Because it was so controversial
[3619.62 --> 3622.56]  And it was poetry that challenged oppression
[3622.56 --> 3625.32]  Because Jesus Christ is our Prince of Peace
[3625.32 --> 3627.94]  So let's light our candles from the Christ candle
[3627.94 --> 3629.88]  And we'll sing together O Holy Night
[3629.88 --> 3642.14]  O Holy Night
[3642.14 --> 3647.24]  The stars are brightly shining
[3647.24 --> 3654.74]  It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
[3654.74 --> 3666.58]  Long lay the world in sin and ever pining
[3666.58 --> 3674.68]  Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
[3674.68 --> 3679.96]  A thrill of hope
[3679.96 --> 3684.68]  The weary world rejoices
[3684.68 --> 3687.78]  For yonder breaks
[3687.78 --> 3693.72]  A new and glorious Lord
[3693.72 --> 3701.34]  Far on your knees
[3701.34 --> 3708.92]  O hear the angel's voices
[3708.92 --> 3714.02]  O night divine
[3714.02 --> 3715.92]  O night divine
[3715.92 --> 3725.78]  O night when Christ was born
[3725.78 --> 3732.92]  O night divine
[3732.92 --> 3738.02]  O night and night divine
[3738.02 --> 3739.92]  O night divine
[3739.92 --> 3741.92]  O night divine
[3741.92 --> 3742.02]  O night divine
[3742.02 --> 3742.92]  O night divine
[3742.92 --> 3746.92]  Truly He taught us to love one another
[3746.92 --> 3750.92]  Truly He taught us to love one another
[3750.92 --> 3751.92]  Love one another
[3751.92 --> 3757.92]  Is not His love
[3757.92 --> 3763.92]  And His gospel is peace
[3763.92 --> 3765.90]  Do you please
[3765.90 --> 3766.92]  He prayed and His love
[3766.92 --> 3767.92]  O Lord
[3767.92 --> 3768.92]  O night divine
[3768.92 --> 3769.92]  năm
[3769.92 --> 3782.86]  Lord
[3782.86 --> 3785.92]  He prayed and His?
[3785.92 --> 3786.92] � tulul
[3786.92 --> 3788.50]  of joy
[3788.50 --> 3790.60]  in grateful
[3790.60 --> 3793.04]  chorus raise
[3793.04 --> 3795.26]  we that all
[3795.26 --> 3796.42]  within
[3796.42 --> 3799.12]  as praise
[3799.12 --> 3800.92]  his holy name
[3801.96 --> 3804.92]  Christ
[3805.82 --> 3806.96]  is the
[3806.96 --> 3808.92]  Lord
[3808.92 --> 3810.92]  O praise
[3811.76 --> 3814.88]  his name
[3814.88 --> 3815.40]  for
[3815.40 --> 3817.40]  ever
[3817.40 --> 3819.50]  his
[3819.50 --> 3821.40]  love
[3823.02 --> 3823.40]  and
[3823.82 --> 3825.40]  glory
[3827.24 --> 3829.40]  ever
[3829.40 --> 3831.40]  more
[3832.16 --> 3833.40]  proclaim
[3833.40 --> 3835.40]  his
[3836.76 --> 3837.40]  love
[3839.52 --> 3840.90]  and
[3840.90 --> 3843.40]  glory
[3843.40 --> 3845.40]  evermore
[3845.40 --> 3849.40]  proclaim
[3849.40 --> 3853.40]  Christ
[3853.40 --> 3859.40]  is the Lord
[3859.40 --> 3861.40]  Lord
[3861.40 --> 3863.40]  O praise
[3863.40 --> 3865.40]  his name
[3865.40 --> 3867.40]  forever
[3867.40 --> 3869.40]  his
[3869.40 --> 3871.40]  power
[3871.40 --> 3875.40]  and glory
[3875.40 --> 3877.40]  ever
[3877.40 --> 3879.40]  and glory
[3879.40 --> 3881.40]  evermore
[3881.40 --> 3883.40]  proclaim
[3883.40 --> 3885.40]  his
[3885.40 --> 3887.40]  power
[3887.40 --> 3889.40]  and
[3889.40 --> 3891.40]  glory
[3891.40 --> 3893.40]  evermore
[3893.40 --> 3895.40]  proclaim
[3895.40 --> 3897.40]  glory
[3897.40 --> 3899.40]  and
[3899.40 --> 3901.40]  glory
[3901.40 --> 3903.40]  ever
[3903.40 --> 3905.40]  proclaim
[3905.40 --> 3907.40]  glory
[3907.40 --> 3909.40]  and
[3909.40 --> 3911.40]  glory
[3911.40 --> 3913.40]  amen
[3913.40 --> 3915.40]  to
[3915.40 --> 3917.40]  the
[3917.40 --> 3919.40]  glory
[3919.40 --> 3921.40]  and
[3921.40 --> 3923.40]  glory
[3923.40 --> 3925.40]  and
[3925.40 --> 3927.40]  glory
[3927.40 --> 3929.40]  and
[3929.40 --> 3931.40]  glory
[3931.40 --> 3933.40]  and
[3933.40 --> 3935.40]  glory
[3935.40 --> 3952.94]  Bar
[3953.40 --> 3954.92]  to
[3954.92 --> 3957.16]  Lecture
[3957.40 --> 3961.40]  n
[3961.40 --> 3963.68]  Finally, let me say this as words of sending.
[3964.56 --> 3968.06]  The way Jesus shines his light in the world
[3968.06 --> 3970.16]  is through the church.
[3971.04 --> 3973.72]  It is through your ordinary acts of love,
[3974.62 --> 3978.78]  of generosity, of sacrifice and justice
[3978.78 --> 3981.30]  in your family over Christmas,
[3981.64 --> 3983.60]  in your workplace when you go back,
[3983.88 --> 3984.76]  in your neighborhood.
[3985.10 --> 3987.12]  That is how the light of Christ shines.
[3987.28 --> 3991.06]  And so we are sent to bear witness with our little lights
[3991.06 --> 3993.72]  to Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
[3994.66 --> 3996.10]  And so receive his blessing.
[3997.54 --> 3999.14]  Go in the love of God.
[4000.24 --> 4002.98]  Go in the grace of Jesus Christ, his son,
[4003.12 --> 4004.78]  who has rescued us by the cross.
[4005.26 --> 4009.24]  And go in the power and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
[4009.94 --> 4010.28]  Amen.
[4011.40 --> 4014.50]  Now I've got a request that came after the 4 p.m. service.
[4015.18 --> 4016.80]  Is there any chance we could sing
[4016.80 --> 4019.10]  Go Tell It on the Mountain one more time?
[4019.10 --> 4022.76]  Does that sound favorable to our worship team?
[4023.54 --> 4024.82]  And to our media people?
[4024.88 --> 4025.90]  Is that something we want to do?
[4026.50 --> 4027.76]  Okay, let's sing it together.
[4027.98 --> 4029.84]  And you can also, after we sing,
[4029.92 --> 4030.88]  you can blow out your candles
[4030.88 --> 4031.84]  and there's little basins.
[4031.94 --> 4034.16]  You can put the finished off candlesticks
[4034.16 --> 4034.90]  on your way out.
[4034.98 --> 4035.60]  Go in peace.
[4035.60 --> 4055.04]  Go tell it on the mountain
[4055.04 --> 4058.92]  Over the hills and everywhere
[4058.92 --> 4062.36]  Go tell it on the mountain
[4062.36 --> 4066.10]  That Jesus Christ is born
[4066.10 --> 4069.80]  While shepherds kept their watching
[4069.80 --> 4073.62]  O'er silent thoughts by night
[4073.62 --> 4077.38]  Behold, throughout the heavens
[4077.38 --> 4081.04]  There showed a holy light
[4081.04 --> 4086.36]  Go tell it on the mountain
[4086.36 --> 4090.26]  Over the hills and everywhere
[4090.26 --> 4093.86]  Go tell it on the mountain
[4093.86 --> 4097.32]  That Jesus Christ is born
[4097.32 --> 4101.32]  The shepherds leered and trembled
[4101.32 --> 4104.94]  When low above the earth
[4104.94 --> 4108.86]  Play out the angel chorus
[4108.86 --> 4112.48]  That hailed the Savior's birth
[4112.48 --> 4117.80]  Oh tell it on the mountain
[4117.80 --> 4121.70]  Over the hills and everywhere
[4121.70 --> 4125.22]  Go tell it on the mountain
[4125.22 --> 4128.86]  That Jesus Christ is born
[4128.86 --> 4131.86]  Down in a lonely manger
[4132.48 --> 4136.30]  The humble Christ was born
[4136.30 --> 4139.80]  And God sent us salvation
[4139.80 --> 4143.92]  That blessed Christmas was born
[4143.92 --> 4149.34]  Go tell it on the mountain
[4149.34 --> 4153.24]  Over the hills and everywhere
[4153.24 --> 4156.76]  Go tell it on the mountain
[4156.76 --> 4159.76]  Sing it one more time
[4159.76 --> 4161.14]  Go tell it on the mountain
[4161.14 --> 4164.14]  Go tell it on the mountain
[4164.14 --> 4168.04]  Over the hills and everywhere
[4168.04 --> 4171.56]  Go tell it on the mountain
[4171.56 --> 4174.14]  That Jesus Christ is born
[4174.14 --> 4178.42]  That Jesus Christ is born
[4178.42 --> 4184.08]  That Jesus Christ is born
[4184.08 --> 4188.42]  Amen
[4188.42 --> 4189.68]  Go in peace
[4189.68 --> 4190.48]  Merry Christmas