More Than A Tradition Pt. 2 | Chris Gross | Radiant Life Church

But so good, so thankful for each of you

being here today and we are going to

jump into the word of God and see what

the word will speak to us this morning.

Okay. Well, awesome. Well, we are ready

to get into the word. There we go. Got

some got some students back. What a

group. Okay. So, this morning we are

going to talk about celebrations. Hey,

kids. Kids up here. Anybody like

celebrations? You like parties? How

about adults? Adults, do we like

parties? There's more excitement up here

for parties than out there. I think it

just feels like it is that way. And I

think Christmas is so much fun because

we go from party to party to party and

game to game to game and maybe recital

to recital to s sing along, whatever it

might be. It is a fun season of the

year. And sometimes, I'm just saying if

it's like this morning, it's extra

special when there are five fresh inches

of snow on the ground. I don't know why.

It just makes things better. uh as long

as you can get there and all is good.

It's just so beautiful. But when I think

about Christmas gatherings, Christmas

gatherings are something that can be

wonderful and they can also just be a

lot. Does anybody ever like ah Christmas

there's so much stuff I'm just so busy.

I don't know. Sometimes I can get in

that sort of a place and I never want

Christmas or gatherings or parties to be

something that become a problem when it

comes to my life. But instead I want it

to bring joy, right? want it to be

something that brings the peace of God

into our lives. And I just want to talk

for a few minutes today about the fact

that Christmas gatherings that what

we're doing here, what we do with

celebrations, what we do with parties,

on Friday night, we had 120 adults right

up here at the front at tables. We ate

together. We had a Christmas party. They

can be worshiped if Jesus is at the

center. In fact, did you know everything

you do can be worshiped if Jesus is at

the center? There's nothing more

important than Jesus. So this morning as

we look, we're going to look at a few

different scriptures and portions of

scripture today. The true the the

amazing word of God. And point one today

is we do not celebrate a baby. Anybody

know that? This might be when we're

coming December 25th, we're celebrating

the birth of Jesus, but we don't

celebrate a baby. Now, we celebrate a

king. We celebrate the Lord and the day

that he came. We celebrate a king.

Isaiah 9:6 and 7 say, "For to us a child

Isaiah 9:6

is born. To us a son is given and the

government shall be upon his shoulder

and his name shall be called wonderful

counselor, mighty God, everlasting

father and prince of peace. Of the

increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end. When we think

about the words that we just read, kids

in the room, adults, wonderful

counselor, mighty God, everlasting

father and prince of peace, those are

royal names. Those are titles, not just

cute baby nicknames. Maybe you have one

if you have a kid in the house that you

you have a nickname for your kid. You

have something that you call them like

Peanut or whatever it might be. We call

our youngest still today. I don't know

if he likes it or not, but we call him

Chan Baby. He's now 11 years old. So, I

don't know. But hey, right, you you come

up with these nicknames. Well, Jesus,

the names, wonderful counselor, mighty

God, everlasting father, and prince of

peace. In fact, could we all help me?

Could you repeat after me each one of

these? We're gonna do an order. Okay.

So, I'm gonna say wonderful counselor.

You're gonna say wonderful counselor.

Okay. Here we go, everybody. Adults,

help me in the room. Let's go through

that list. Wonderful counselor.

>> Wonderful counselor.

>> Mighty God.

>> Everlasting father.

>> And prince of peace.

>> Prince of peace.

>> Right? These names are important. They

matter. They show who Jesus is when he

was born. but also right now. He's our

wonderful counselor, our mighty God, our

everlasting father and our prince of

peace. There was a baby in a manger, but

there was a throne in heaven. There was

the moment that we celebrate with Jesus

as a baby, but way more. He's our God,

our king, and our savior. And I just

want us to think about this. Every

cookie we bake, every singalong song we

sing, every invitation we accept, it

should be about celebrating the king.

It's really a celebration for King Jesus

who once again is our wonderful

counselor, our mighty God, our

everlasting father, and our prince of

priest peace. There's nothing like

Jesus. Now, I want everyone to help me

out the rest of the time this morning

for our service. I have a couple of

motions I want you to help me. So, kids,

adults in the room, we're going to do

something. Whenever I say Jesus, I want

you to just put your hands on your chest

like this. Okay? Jesus. And when I say

exalted, I want you to raise the roof.

Right? Just raise the roof. Right? So,

we're going to do this a few times this

morning. But Jesus is exalted, right?

Jesus is exalted. He's the King of

Kings, the Lord of Lords, right? We

don't just celebrate a baby. We

celebrate a king. And second, he is not

just celebrated, but Jesus is exalted.

Thank you. You got it. Perfect. There it

is. Jesus

is exalted. Come on. He's good. He's

powerful. In Philippians 2:9,

Philippians 2:9

we see this uh played out the word of

God. It says, "Therefore, God has highly

exalted him and bestowed on him the name

that is above every name, so that at the

name of Jesus,

every knee should bow in heaven and on

earth and under the earth, and every

tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord

to the glory of God the Father." He's

not just celebrated, but Jesus

is exalted, right? He's exalted in the

house today.

Even people who do not follow Jesus at

this time of year know and hear and see

the name of Jesus. Maybe when we walk

through uh department stores or through

the places we go, we hear the name of

Jesus. We hear him being exalted. Even

while we're just in public, there's

something about the name of Jesus.

He's powerful. He's faithful. He's true.

In fact, when I think about the name of

Jesus, in fact, when I think about how

he is exalted, when Jesus is exalted,

his light pierces the darkness. When

Jesus is exalted, hope begins to bloom

in weary hearts. When Jesus is exalted,

broken lives find healing. When Jesus is

exalted, fear loses its grip. Should I

keep going?

>> Okay. When Jesus is exalted, faith rises

like a mighty river. When Jesus is

exalted, the atmosphere shifts. When

Jesus is exalted, heaven touches earth

and power and grace. When Jesus is

exalted, chains of sin fall away. When

Jesus is exalted, freedom becomes our

reality. When Jesus is exalted, his

glory fills the room. When Jesus is

exalted, peace floods our minds. When

Jesus is exalted, the impossible becomes

possible. When Jesus is exalted,

miracles break forth among us. When

Jesus is exalted, his kingdom advances.

When Jesus is exalted, worship becomes

the language of our souls. And finally

here today, when Jesus is exalted, lives

are transformed

forever. Church, there's something about

that name. The name that's above every

other name.

The wonderful, the counselor, the mighty

God, the everlasting father, and the

prince of peace. When Jesus is exalted,

anything is possible. Anything is

possible.

Now, this morning, I'm going to have a

little break here in the middle of our

sermon as I think we've got a little bit

of an illustration. In fact, if we could

come our game number two today, we're

going to have four people come and join

on the stage. Emma, we've she's got

that. We are going to move a table over

here. And I just want you to notice the

skills that it takes to make this game

possible. Right? It is a difficult game

to play, but I think these kids can do

it. I think they can make it happen. So,

we are going to see what they have to do

real easy or something like that is

they're going to take a candy cane.

You're going to put it in your mouth

like this. Okay? And then you have to

pick up these candy canes and grab them

with your hand once they're up in the

air. And whoever gets the most candy

canes picked up is going to be our

winner today. Now, just real fast, I'm

going to give you a little bit of of uh

help here. It is all about

slow thinking through being strategic

how you get this hook to hook onto some

of those. Okay, so here we go. We're

going to make this happen. We'll give

you 30 seconds or a minute. We'll see

what happens here. It's going to be a

good time. So, three, two, one, go.

>> Here we go. Look.

>> Oh, just so we know, I tried this

earlier. It is. There's one. There's

one. Good job.

Yeah, Hannah's got one.

>> There you go. Now get another one.

>> Yes. Good job. You can grab it. Grab it.

Grab it. Good job.

>> They're getting it now. They're getting

it now.

Woo.

So close.

>> Oh, the care.

>> YEAH. TWO. She had four. FIRST ONE TO

FIVE. WE'LL GO FIRST ONE TO FIVE.

WOO!

>> Come on.

>> CAN WE GET ONE? OH,

>> we're so close. Yeah.

>> Good job.

>> Did you get five?

>> There it is. We've got a winner right

here. Woo!

Good job. Good job. Thank you. Thank

you. Thank you. Good job. We have three.

I think we got four. We got two and

five. Great job. You are a big winner

today. Awesome job everyone. Hey Emmy,

you'll grab the other side.

>> Come on. That's good.

>> Well, there's nothing like seeing kids

try to pick up candy canes with other

candy canes. And you know, when I was

thinking and preparing the thought about

Have a seat, kids. Have a seat. Sit

down. The thought about we have Jesus

is Jesus back with it is exalted right

but Mary showed us how to celebrate in

Luke 146 today we see uh that Mary it

said my soul magnifies the Lord and my

spirit rejoices in God my savior and in

fact it goes on for several more verses

magnifying the Lord worshiping ing the

Lord. Mary showed us how to celebrate.

And that celebration was worship to the

King. It was something that was

important. It was magnified. It was

rejoicing in the Lord. He's powerful.

He's faithful. The joy of the Lord is

our strength. The word of God would say.

And you know, as these kids were up here

trying to get the candy canes with the

other candy cane, it took it took care.

It took thought. It wasn't JUST DOING

IT, BUT THEY had to get it to connect,

get it to hook so that they could get

that candy cane. And you know, when I

think about our walk with Jesus, I think

about the word, it takes care to follow

Jesus. We have to put effort in to ask

the Lord, Lord, what do you want to

speak? Lord, how do you want to move?

We've got to be careful in our walk.

We've got to follow him and see. And in

fact, our worship should be something of

care.

Every Sunday morning, we get to worship

God together as a church family. And

today, it might have been a tad bit more

chaotic than a maybe a normal Sunday

would be in here. But we worship him.

And even with all the kids and the fun,

we worship him. We lift him up. We care

about the one who is our creator, who's

our savior, and who is our lord. Worship

first must be the key. It must be what

leads us. It must be what guides us.

She magnified the Lord and rejoiced in

God her savior. Today I want you to hear

Christmas is not only a party but it is

a proclamation. It is a proclamation

that the king has come. In fact, could

all of you could you repeat after me

that that last line? The king has come.

>> One more time. The king has come.

>> That's right. He's here. And let's let

this Christmas season, let's let our

gatherings and our parties and our

recital and our singalongs, whatever

things we might do, let our gatherings

become worship and put Jesus at the

center. And whether you're the youngest

kid in the room or maybe you're the

oldest adult, most seasoned adult in the

room, if we miss the point of Christmas,

we miss Jesus and we go to all the

gatherings and all the special services

and all the special events, we haven't

gained anything. But if we come and we

let Jesus speak to our heart, we

celebrate our kids. We celebrate the

Lord. We magnify the Lord like Mary

showed us how to do, then church, we're

exalting the King of Kings, the Lord of

Lords. We're celebrating King Jesus

because he loves us and he want to walk

in relationship with you. So I invite

you today, don't leave this room without

saying yes to Jesus. The Bible says that

all we have to do to accept Jesus, to

invite him to be Lord of our life, is

confess him as Lord. Believe that he

died and he rose again, that he's seated

now at the right hand of the father.

That we celebrate a risen king. And we

can make King Jesus our savior. We can

exalt him in our lives. We can give him

all the glory and all the honor. And in

fact, before we leave today, I want to

invite everyone in the room just to bow

our heads, to close our eyes, to just

focus on the Lord. And it's not a have

to. We don't have to bow our heads to

pray. We can pray with our eyes open.

But today, as we focus on Jesus, if

you're in this room right now and maybe

you say, you know what, I need the touch

of Jesus. I need the the one that's the

savior of the world. I need the exalted

one in my life. I need him to show up.

In fact, I need to give my life to him.

You've never made him the Lord of your

life. Then the most important thing we

do at Radiant Life Church on any Sunday

is give him glory and then give an

opportunity to receive him. And today,

if you're in the room and you say, "I've

never made Jesus Lord, but on this kid

Sunday with five inches of snow outside,

I want this to be the day that I know

forever my life has been changed. My I'm

set free. I'm made whole." If this is

that day for you, I want to invite you

just to in a moment to pray with me as a

church family. We're going to pray. But

before that, with all of our eyes closed

and heads bowed, especially up here in

the front, let's just think about, do I

need to make my life right with Jesus?

And if you today need to make your life

right with Jesus, you want to make him

the Lord of your life, then right now I

just invite you, youngest kid to the

oldest adult, just to raise your hand

together so we can pray together so we

can see who Jesus is. Yes, absolutely.

Adults in the room, this is for you,

too. Not only our kids, and I see some

kids up here with their hands raised,

but all through the room saying, "Yes to

Jesus." There's nothing more powerful

than saying, "Lord, I need you. I love

you. Yes, sir. Yes, ma'am. I see those

hand kids up here. I see those hands.

Nothing better than celebrating King

Jesus than lifting up the name of Jesus.

So right now, if you just raised your

hand, I invite you along with everybody

else in the room. Could we pray this

prayer together? And maybe you didn't

raise your hand. If you pray this, you

mean it. You believe it in your heart.

Today is the day of salvation. You'll be

called a child, a son, or daughter of

the most high. Let's pray together. If

you would repeat after me. Dear Jesus,

>> Dear Jesus,

>> I love you.

>> And I make you the Lord.

>> I make you the Lord

>> of my life.

>> Forever more.

>> Would you lead me

>> and guide me

>> guide me

>> and show me your way.

>> Show me your way.

>> I repent of my sins.

>> I repent of my s.

>> I turn turn from those things.

>> I turn from those things.

>> And I turn to you.

>> Turn to you.

>> Help me today.

>> Help me

>> to walk in you.

>> Walk in you. And thank you Jesus.

>> Thank you Jesus.

>> For your love

>> for your love.

>> For your grace

>> for your

>> and your mercy

>> for your mercy

>> in my life.

>> Amen.

>> Amen. Come on. God is good in this room

for those who just said yes to Jesus.

There's nothing better than that. And we

invite you when you exit, not yet. We're

not not done yet. But when it is time,

stop by the new here table. We'd love

just to say hi and connect with you on

that decision that you just made.

One last thing and then the kids are

going to exit. But I just want to pray

for us as a church family. If you need

something in your body, if you need a

healing touch, a direction, something's

going on that's a difficult moment,

today is the day. We believe God, he

heals, he restores, he makes new, he

sets free. Whatever you need, we believe

he does. And most days we come pray at

the front, but today we're going to pray

in our seats. But if you'd say, "That's

me. I have a need, something in my

life." Would you just raise your hand

from the kids in the front to the people

in the back? you say yes. I see those

hands all over the place, all over the

room, the needs in this place. So, let's

pray. Lord, we're thankful for your

touch. We're thankful, God, that you

heal and restore. You give guidance and

direction. And we pray that right now,

every person in this room that has a

need, that has a problem, that has a

situation that needs direction, whatever

it might be. Lord, would you show up?

Would you heal them? Would you set them

free and do something new in their body?

Lord, we're thankful that we're not just

celebrating a baby from 2,000 years ago,

but we're celebrating God, the King of

Kings and the Lord of Lords who is in

heaven. And Lord, we lift you up. We

exalt you. We give you all the praise

and all the glory. Lord, you are good.

We praise you, heal and restore in your

name. Amen. Amen. Well, parents, stay

where you are right now. All of our

kids, we've got to run away. All of our

kids, head out. You're going to go to

kids church. That way parents, you can

pick them up there and be sure we get

everybody returned to the right person

with their tags and all the things that

we do. But thank you kids. Can we give

them a round of applause while they exit

this morning? It was great having them.

Great having them.

We're Yes. Perfect. Well, awesome. Well,

I just want to give a couple of really

quick announcements for today. Uh there

is such great stuff happening at Radiant

Life Church. And also want to thank you

all of the people that had the adult

Christmas party on Friday. It was such a

blast. We had such a great time. Thank

you for coming for all those that helped

as well. It was absolutely amazing. But

just so we know the schedule of events

as we move forward. Uh our kids

Christmas party is next Sunday morning.

Don't want to miss that. They're going

to have a blast in kids church. They're

going to be I think doing some having

some food and I'm I'm not even sure what

all but it's going to be good. I

remember hearing but it's going to be a

party. Uh it's going to be great. Also,

if you have gifts to return for Revive

Church, our Christmas gift, bring them

back by tomorrow. That would be great as

we're going to be taking those out. Uh

Christmas women's open house also is

tomorrow. And uh be sure to sign up. Let

uh let Melissa know that that's how or

you're coming. That would help her

tremendously, wouldn't it? She's right

there. Uh she would love that. It's

going to be a great great time as well.

This is our final Wednesday night this

week. Wednesday night is our final

midweek of the year. We'll start back up

in January after this week. Come this

Wednesday. Then we'll have two weeks

off. And also want to invite you all out

to our Christmas Eve service, which is

going to be on December 24th, Christmas

Eve at 5:00. Hope you can come join us.

We're going to celebrate Jesus. We're

going to remember him. Five o'clock on

Christmas Eve. Hope you can come and

have just a great day. And uh it's going

to be a good time. Obviously, next week

9:30 and 11, that is our Christmas

service for adults. And uh we're just

looking forward to it. But we're so

thankful that each of you came today,

that you are with us, that you

celebrated our kids. And thank you to

all the grandparents and parents and

aunts and uncles, all the people that

are here to celebrate our kids. We value

you and are so thankful for you. There's

nothing like the family coming together

to celebrate Jesus. Well, here in a few

moments, we have special cookies that

are in the foyer. As you leave today,

you can be sure to grab a cookie, hang

out a little while, meet somebody new,

uh celebrate with your your kids or

grandkids today. And uh we're just so

thankful once again that you are here

and that we got to celebrate Jesus

together. Let's take Jesus not just to a

party, not just go to one, but let's

take Jesus everywhere we go. Thank you

so much for being at Radiant Life

Church. I want to say merry Christmas.

And this week, be careful what you

watch. Be careful what you listen to. Be

careful what you talk about. Savor the

presence of Jesus. Have a great week.