The Notes

We will not meet for worship on Christmas Day or New Years Day.  Our next worship time together will kick off the new year on Wednesday night - January 8, 2025 - and we share a theme for this year: Alive in 2025.  Come join us for an uplifting message, to get excited about this new year, and to experience some mid-week encouragement for the soul.  It's going to be a great night!

If you can't attend in person, join us on our Facebook page at 6:30 p.m. or listen to the message later when you have time.  

For those without Facebook, come back here to our website the following day and watch a replay of the message anytime!  And for those in a hurry, you can download the notes for the message from the "Past and Future Messages" page of our website.  There are many ways to be spiritually fed and encouraged.

Our Bible study this past Wednesday night, December 18, 2024, was our Christmas candlelight service.  It's based on the words of Jesus - that He is the light of the world.  

John 1:9 says: "The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” We celebrate the light that came at Christmas - it's Jesus. He was born in Bethlehem, and the light of a star and angels broadcast the message that He had arrived.

Matt. 4:16 tells us: “The people living in darkness have seen a great light.”  It's because Jesus was born, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 9:2 - that a light would dawn.

Jesus, the Son of God, who was with God in the beginning of time, came to share His light with us.  John 1:4-5 - "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Darkness never conquers light.  Darkness simply cannot exist in the presence of light.  Light always wins!  If you light a candle in the darkness, there will be light and the darkness ends.

John 12:46– “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.”

Believing in Jesus means believing His words - that He is the resurrection and the life.  The curse that was placed on all of mankind because of the sin of Adam and Even is broken because of Jesus.  The apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:2 – “For as in Adam all die… in Christ all will be made alive.”
His life is light to every soul who accepts Him, and we are made alive with Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6 tells us that God made his light to shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God.  When that lights shines in our hearts, it changes everything.  It also gives us a responsibility.  Jesus said that we are the light of the world. You don't light a candle and hide it.  Nope, you put it in a candlestick and set it out o that it gives light throughout the house.  Once we know the light of God, as seen through the life of Jesus, we are called upon to share that light.  To let our lives shine.  We who have already receive the light shouldn’t hide it, we need to share it.

Today, many still live in darkness.  They need to know about Jesus.  It may seem strange . . . and many people may question how could anyone in this day and age not know of Jesus?  But it's the same today as it was in the time of Jesus.  Although the light came into this world, many in the “world did not recognize Him.” (John 1:10).  Many today don't understand who Jesus truly was. 

We know that because darkness still exists.  The father of lies is still at work. Evil exists.  Just look in the news to see how it is at work.

Murder happens every day.  Yes, people are still living in darkness and need to see the light.  People are still living with greed, committing robberies, stealing, cheating.  They are living in darkness.   And even people who believe in Jesus still find moments in their lives when it seems that darkness has overtaken them.  They go through times of grief, suffering, and disappointment.  They get discouraged and stopped looking for the light of God to shine in their dark place.  It is up to all of us - believers and followers of Jesus - to keep shining a light.  To keep reminding each other that Jesus is the light.  Jesus makes all the difference in our lives.  He gives hope when the enemy lies.  He gives life to what the enemy destroys. 

In the theatre, the lights go black at a scene change.  It's dark, but it's not done.  Some people get stuck, staying in a dark place.

They think it’s over, but it's not.  It's just between scenes. There is still more ahead, and God will lead them out.  He is the Great Shepherd; He does not abandon His sheep in the dark.

It's love that sent Jesus to us, and the love of God our Heavenly Father will continue throughout our lives.  

Remember Isaiah 9:6 –“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Jesus is the child born for us.  Jesus was given for us, in our place, so that we could forever be united with God.

Jesus said in John 12:36– “believe in the light so that you may become children of light.”  Believe.  What do you believe?

Do you believe in His light?  Do you believe He is the savior?  Do you believe your are loved?  That's what Christmas is all about.