Christmas Eve 2025

Welcome to our Christmas. Eve service it is.

Truly the most wonderful time of the year and you all look

wonderful. So great.

Job getting here and and and looking your best.

Will you join me in Luke? Chapter 2 as we just read the

great story of the 1st. Christmas as given to us in the.

Gospel of Luke. I'm going to start in.

Verse 8 it says. Now there were in the same

country. Shepherds.

Living out in the fields, keeping.

Watch over their flock. By night, and behold, an Angel

of the Lord. Stood.

Before them and the. Glory of the Lord.

Is shown around them and they were.

Greatly afraid. Then the Angel said to them, do

not. Be afraid for behold.

I bring you good tidings of great joy.

Which will be to all people, for there is.

Born to you this day in the City of David.

A Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to

you. He will find a babe wrapped in

swaddling clothes, lying in a Manger and suddenly.

There was with the. Angel now a multitude of the

heavenly host, praising God and saying.

Glory to. God in the highest and on earth,

peace, goodwill toward men. We'll, we'll stop there.

For now and come. Back to this story I hope you

never tire of. Hearing this incredible moment

captured in scripture given to. Us of the very.

First Christmas where Jesus, the fulfillment of God's promise to

send a savior and a Messiah, came.

Just as he said he would. And became unto.

US A. Savior, I love this particular

telling of the. Story because it overlaps 2 of.

The great moments in. Scripture throughout Scripture.

And that is simply the revelation of God.

Overlapped with the. Response of man of.

Course we just saw. That, in our reading, it was.

A great. Revelation as seemingly heaven

opened up and a messenger in the form of an Angel gave the

revelation of God's redemptive plan in sending his son.

And then there is a response to the glory and goodness of God as

seen in And there will be continued responses as we.

Go through the story, but that is.

In a sense going to be captured for some of you if you exchange

gifts. I think it's a.

Great tradition tomorrow morning, children.

You've waited this whole time you've you've seen the presents

under the. Tree.

You've asked. You've waited.

And tomorrow there will be a symbolic recapturing of these

two great moments, revelation and response.

That is the revelation of what's behind the wrapping, when it

opens and as I get. Older father.

Of children, I now love the moment where the response

happens. How will you respond to the gift

that is given? I heard a story recently of a

grandfather. Who put a?

Present under the tree for his grandson, a young boy opens.

It up with great. Excitement, longing for the day

that finally arrived where he could open it up.

And he finds the under the wrapping is a box.

And he opens the box and he finds a Bible with his name

inscribed on it, his very first Bible given to him as a gift

from his grandfather. He pulls it out of the.

Box and opens it up and starts looking through the pages and

the grandfather says you're you've got it upside down and he

says oh, I'm not reading it yet. I'm looking to see if you put

any money in here and Christmas through the eyes of a child in

ways that some some ways. Tell of.

All of our hearts and you know now that we're adults.

We're too sophisticated to. Give a response to gifts like

that you all know how to fake it and like it and and pretend that

everything you got is everything you wanted but the.

Reality is. Our response can sometimes be

less than complete satisfaction and joy in the goodness of God

for these moments. All of this can turn into

traditions on the road to the thing you really want and.

Today we will look. At this amazing reality that

opening a present is a small symbol.

Of the. Revelation of God-given to us in

this incredible story. The good news as it unfolds.

This this this story is that this.

Is not unique to this moment in Scripture that God wants to

reveal Himself to humanity. Throughout the.

Christmas Story. In fact, we could have picked a

number of moments in the Christmas story.

Where it is clear. That God is revealing Himself

sovereignly and purposefully to all of mankind.

You'll remember earlier in the. Gospel of Luke.

Mary has an encounter with an Angel named Gabriel in which he

tells her God's plan for her. Specific.

Role in the coming Savior. In the Gospel of Matthew, there

is a messenger sent to Joseph. To reveal God's.

Plan for Mary and. Joseph to take her as his wife,

as the the story. Will continue.

The nativity scene will include wise men from the East who get a

revelation in the sky. God wanting to organize ways for

the message. Of his love to get out to all

people. And that is true now.

God is a God. Who wants to reveal?

Himself to each. And every one of us.

And the message may. Stop there for.

Some of you thinking that you're here.

As a favor or a social grace to a.

Friend or family member, you're joining them, There'll be a

photo op and then the real. Festivities will start later.

No, God wants to. Speak to you too.

God has a. Purpose and a plan to reveal

himself to. Every.

Person and the great news is that he reveals himself with a

message of good news and great joy.

And once again, we can. Pause before.

We get to some of the responses of the revelation of God.

That are worth our copying, let us pause at the.

First response as we. Already read it.

Says in verse 10, the Angel said to them, don't be afraid.

And that is where many people. Stop in the revelations of God

as you find in a storyline of Scripture.

Where the glory? Of God, as we're seeing in this

in this story when the. Glory of God.

Is on display. Seemingly, the heavens open up

to proclaim the glory. Of God.

It is almost a constant theme that the initial human response

is not let's. Take a photo.

In front of this magical moment and hang it on our fridge that

the normal human response. Is that of fear.

Which makes perfect sense theologically, whether you know

it or not. We are.

Proclaiming that the perfect and holy and faithful and just and

righteous. God.

Is sending His Son to redeem unrighteous, unjust, sinful

humanity. There is a divide.

That our senses know that. If you get too close to the

glory. Of God, your natural response

should. Very well be fear.

But that is not. What the revelation of this

story? Wants to proclaim this morning

that some are called and some aren't.

I heard another. Story of the Great.

English preacher Charles Spurgeon, 19th century he had a

famous Christmas Eve sermon that he gave in which he told a story

that happened just. Earlier that week as a.

Special offering was made. For a particular.

Widow and poor woman of their church, where he was going to

bring her the funds necessary. To help her at the.

Time of year that can sometimes be taxi and they also brought.

Some food. Just to bless her.

And he comes to her door and knocks on the door and she

doesn't answer. So he waits and knocks again.

And again. She doesn't answer.

And he doesn't. See her until that very

Christmas Eve service. She comes and he says.

To her. I came to your house, but you

didn't open the door, she said. When did you come?

He said just. The other day I came, she said.

What time? He said.

I came around noon. She said.

Oh I heard you knocking but I thought it was my landlord

coming to collect. The debt that I.

Owe and I don't have and this is the.

Perfect story. For this moment in the first

response that. All of us have.

When we consider the glory and the goodness of.

God, our first response. Is that of unworthy, and Even

so. Far.

As skepticism that God is not actually coming into your.

World this day to bless your life.

But he's actually coming to demand things of your life.

So some of you don't come to church often.

Some of you are are here and you you may not come back and and

and something happening in. Your heart of hearts.

Is that you may consider that participating in the family of

God, the church setting and listening to sermons and

applying them to your life, there is a sneaky suspicion that

you have that it actually wouldn't be good for your life.

That that. God actually sends the preacher

into your life. To tell you all about.

His commandments and his demands and his rules and his rituals

and to. Require a debt.

Of your life and you say I'd rather not open.

But This is why this story is so.

Powerful, the Angel says. Don't be afraid, because Jesus

does come into your world to open the door of your heart.

And it is not bad news, it's not burdensome news.

It's actually good tidings, which means it's great news and

it's good tidings or great news of.

Great joy, this. Is a message.

That, if true, will radically. Change every.

Person's life who? Experiences this message.

Received the same. Way this woman would have

received opening the door. It's a message to say.

Yes, you're in debt and we've come.

To pay the debt. Yes, you need help, and you need

help lifting the burden. The point is Jesus.

Doesn't come to demand from you, he comes to give.

To you SO. Fear not.

This would be the great joy if you and could relate to this

story. At all and the phone is wrong

and you know that it's someone asking for money that you don't

have that is a small. Picture a parable of your life.

To help you understand the theological predicament we're

all in. There is a God.

Who we are in debt to that no matter.

How you believe the debt works? In the form of karma, doing more

good than than bad, trying your best to work more than you've

than you've taken the. Scales are always tipped.

Against you and Jesus comes into the world with a message.

Of joy. Why?

Because it says for this. Day is born to you verse 11

Christ the. Lord the Savior.

Matthew will complement this as the Angel tells Joseph, call his

name Jesus, because he will. Save you.

From your sins he has come to. Pay the debt.

The incarnation will in fact turn into the resurrection.

The Manger only matters as much as the empty tomb.

Is a reality. And I'll remind you John 316, a

verse that could. Easily be preached today, for

God so loved the world. He sent his son to be born in a

Manger. That whoever.

Believes in him. That he is a savior with the

power to pay the debt the. Penalty of sin is death, but let

you be reminded also of what John 317 says, for God did not

send his Son into the world to condemn the world.

But that through. Him the world might be saved.

This is. Great news of joy and the

messages. Good joy for all people.

The Revelation. Is a revelation of God's love

and the scope. Of God's love is to all people.

And what better way? For God to get.

That message across than by his interesting choice of who the

messengers would be. If you come back for Easter,

you'll know that Jesus, Jesus in the empty tomb, had some

scandalous witnesses as the first.

People to. Declare him alive.

They were women, and as much as modern times have advanced the

status of women, in ancient times women did not make legal

witnesses. An interesting choice as the

first witnesses to the empty tomb.

And now we have an interesting choice as the first witnesses to

God sending his Son. He has chosen shepherds, so we

don't have. A lot of.

Sheep herding in our valley anymore.

And maybe we have some shepherds among us.

I'm sure you'll you'll tell me if you are.

But in ancient times, shepherds were considered the very lowest

rung of the ladder. Of the social class.

In fact. Legally a shepherd.

'S witness would not count in court because they were known to

be untrustworthy people. And it is not that the message

was supposed to be invalidated by the shepherds.

The message was supposed to be confirmed that it is in fact.

To the least of these the shepherds.

Fulfilling the promise of. Isaiah, that those.

Sitting in darkness have now seen a great light as they were

in the. Dark of the field that they

were. Hurting their.

Sheep, the shepherds. Themselves turn into messengers.

Of the Savior of the world, to prove to all of us that this is

for all people. So once again, lest you think

that you're here not really as a religious person that you're

here, you know, and and the people you know are kind of the.

Church goers, but this? This message doesn't really

apply to you. The.

Revelation of God is. For you today, yes, you.

And one of. The ways that we're.

Breaking the tradition in. Fact is that you.

Actually don't need to come listen to a preacher.

With a with a. Suit coat standing on a stage of

flowers in this well lit sanctuary to hear the message.

The whole point is he comes first to the darkness of a

field. It is to the scope of all

people, to the place of all people, that is.

How the revelation is meant to be received.

Young and old, rich and poor, he will later send.

Gifts through. Wise Magi and he'll.

Start with Shepherds. This is a message that radically

changed the world. Because it is for all people.

There is never one time as a. Preacher of the.

Good news message that I have to qualify the audience.

I never have to tell the ushers, you know, make sure certain

people don't come in because I'm about to give a message of.

God's love. That turns into salvation and

newness of life. It is always.

For everyone. So you are here.

To hear that and that is the. Scope of.

Who this message is For now, consider how the revelation

comes. The revelation comes very simply

as the story continues in what can.

Only be described as. Glorious humility.

Consider these two competing statuses given to us starting in

verse. 12 It says this will be the.

Sign to you. You will find a babe wrapped in

swaddling clothes lying in a Manger.

God Incarnate. God sends His Son encoded into

human DNA. Paul will say.

Have this mind in in you which was also in Christ, who did not

consider. Equality with God.

A thing to be clung to. He emptied himself of his divine

nature. And how?

Does he come? In a Manger, they say.

These are the. Three things to look.

For a baby. Swaddling clothes and a Manger.

The 1st 2 are not very descriptive of a unique thing.

Many people are born at all times of the year.

There's probably someone born today.

In fact. I know the Seth who led us in

worship was in fact born on December 24th.

It's his birthday today. So say you know Merry Christmas

to him with a wink. The fact.

That a baby was born is not unique.

The fact that a baby is born and then put in swaddling cloth.

Not unique, just very common. We do it to this day.

Wrap the baby. Up keep him warm, let him sleep

the uniqueness is the humility that the.

Baby would be. Found laying amongst the

barnyard animals in a feeding through.

The glory of God, humbled to the lowest of the low, that is how.

Christ enters the world and it's described as glorious humility.

Because look what it. Says in the very next verse and

suddenly. There was with the.

Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and

saying glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace and

goodwill towards men in in in one moment the humility of God

is on display and sending him to a Manger and not a mansion and

with in almost a spontaneous form of worship as the heavens

open up. It is the glory of the heavenly

hosts, the It's not one Angel. It is countless angels that

break into a song of worship and.

Praise this is. The glorious king that we're

celebrating now this. Is the God who humbled himself

to. Come into our world and still

humbles himself now to come into each and every one of your

worlds, in your heart and in your mind.

Who will receive him? He comes to all people, and He

comes with glorious humility. And here is now the revelation

that demands a response. If you will receive that this

is. Good news, and you will go

beyond the fear that sometimes keeps you from coming into the

light we now see in this story. The.

Beautiful responses that are worth our attention.

It says in verse 15. So it was when the angels had

gone away from them into heaven. That the Shepherd.

Said to one another, Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this

thing that has come to pass. Which the Lord?

Has made known to us. I want to point out once again

that when we talk about the revelation of this message, when

we talk about God sending his Son to proclaim His love,

notice. The Shepherds.

Did not call this a message from angels.

They didn't call it a message from.

Choirs, they said. Let us go see.

This message that has been made known.

To us which the. Lord has given us, and I want

to. Assure you.

Each and everyone of you that this is not a message from a

preacher. He can use my voice and my

feeble. Words.

This is not a message that comes to you through, you know,

Christmas movies and stories and parables.

This is a message that is. God gets a hold of your heart.

He uses the devices to get a hold of you because He.

Wants to reveal. Himself to you God.

Wants to know you, and God wants you to know him.

And then it says, And they came with haste, and found Mary and

Joseph, and the babe lying in a Manger.

Just. What they were looking for, and

now when they had seen him, they made widely known the saying

which was told them concerning. This child, this is.

A beginning point for us to begin to take notice.

You have now sat under the revelation of the redemptive

plan of God to send His Son into the world.

To give you life. Through this message and one of

the ways, we can begin to take note.

Is that these shepherds had their lives radically.

Changed and it did not live in a moment of time.

They immediately went and they saw and they confirmed and then

it says they went everywhere proclaiming and that will be one

of the. Ways that you live.

In the response of this message, you will become someone who

cannot help but allow the message of God to become the

message. Of your life that his love.

Will now come to define who you are.

And as the shepherds proclaim all that they saw and heard, we

now see 3 responses in the following.

Verses that is the. Beginning in the middle and the

progression of this story, it says in verse 18.

And all who heard. The proclamation of the

Shepherds. They marvelled at the things

which were told. Them by the shepherds.

This is a. Great.

Place to begin to respond to the revelation of God's love in your

life. It says.

They simply marvelled, other translations say.

That the people who. Hear this message.

We're amazed, in wonder, impressed.

Stopped. And they saw something that

grabbed a hold of their attention.

You know, we just sang a song, one of my favorite Christmas

songs, Joy to the World. And it's it's a song that's so

depth in in its message. That I still.

Can be blown. Away by the lyrics, year by

year. Listen to one of the.

Lyrics It says joy to the world. He rules the world.

With truth and grace and makes the nation's prove.

The glories. Of his righteousness and the

wonders of his love. We sing it over and over again.

The wonders. Of his love, that is what it.

Means to marvel. That God loves you.

And you're meant to to to wonder at that the.

Wonderful, marvelous love of God is supposed to radically.

Change your life. Have you ever marveled?

At the love of God if this story is real.

A moment in history. Where God so loved the world.

That he entered into. The story.

What a wonderful message. What a marvelous, amazing thing.

That the God who? Created heaven and earth.

Would declare his love for you, so it.

Begins with marveling and then it says in verse 19.

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

And this is the progression of the message.

It starts with amazement and wonder, but it cannot end there.

Mary is now given to us as an example of another response of

the revelation that must. Happen for this to.

Change your life. It goes.

From the mind to the heart, she takes all of these things and it

says she just ponders them. She considers them.

Think about all she had to consider as the story unfolds

around her. Earlier, Gabriel said that she

would be. Holding this child and

conceived. By the Holy Spirit.

And it would. Be the Son of God.

She must be thinking, What does this mean?

Elizabeth. Earlier she meets her cousin and

she's still pregnant and her cousin.

Says this is the, this is the. This is my Lord inside of you.

The Lord. Of people's lives inside of her

Now the shepherds are showing up and they've been confirmed

shepherds rush in she's just giving birth and saying.

This is the savior. Of the world and Mary's just

taking everything and putting them in her heart.

Other translations say she treasures these things.

She takes this beautiful. Confirmation, these revelations

given to her moment by moment, and she just continually puts

them in her heart. And if year after?

Year as she's. Raising this young child, she's

got a treasure in her heart that she's holding on to.

This is one of the most important things you'll ever

hear on Christmas. It's not meant to live in this

moment. You are not meant to impress.

God with your. Nice clothing and your

commitment to to come and remember him once a year.

This is supposed to. Live inside of your heart.

How many of you have seen the signs that say keep Christ in

Christmas? I think it's a great sign or

message or however you've seen it.

And of course we should keep Christ in Christmas because we,

and we need that reminder, especially in the busyness of

our culture. And there's so much on the

plate, and you've got, you know, plans you're making and food and

gifts and trappings and programs and there's so much that can

happen that we can forget. Christ all together, so please

keep. Christ in Christmas, you're

doing that now. Great job.

What I I'd like to propose that the day after.

Christmas We should put up a new sign that says don't leave

Christ in Christmas. We treat him like the Garland.

It goes in the box and up in the attic and we'll take.

It out next year. Ponder this all in your heart.

Allow him to radically change. Your life.

And that turns into verse 20. Then the shepherd's returned,

glorifying and praising. God for all the.

Things that they had heard. And here is the revelation of

God in the responses in full from marveling in the wonders.

Of God's love. To considering and treasuring

God's love in your life. To becoming a person.

Who lives your? Life under the praise and the

glory. Of God the Shepherd.

'S came and proclaimed him. They praised him.

They gave. Glory to His name and for some

of you that's the the exact reason you're here.

For others of you, until you come to this moment.

Then Jesus is just a story. It may be a true story, maybe a

good story, maybe a story you respect, but until you praise

Him and glorify him not as a babe in a Manger but as a king

of eternity, then nothing will actually change.

And So what we're going to do now is take one final moment to

allow these responses a moment in your life.

Some of you are. Probably still in the stage of.

The widow behind the door, not wanting to come into the light,

lest. God, get a hold of your life.

Receive the great joy today. Join us like a choir of angels.

Join us in in wondering and marveling in the love of God if

you'd like to do that. All you have to do is.

Take that candle and let it be lit.

Let the light of God invade your life as a.

Representation of that candle. For for.

Others of us, we need to ponder once again, God, what does this

mean for my life and now let's just take a moment for all of us

to to praise and. Glorify God.

In a final word, in between the Manger in the cross.

Jesus will gather his disciples together and say, let your

light. So shine before men, that they

may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

As we light these candles, it will be a.

Picture of that very. First Christmas morning where

light invaded and then it spread.

Everywhere let your light. So shine.

If you've received the. Revelation that God.

So loved you. That He sent his Son into your

world to take away the penalty of sin and give you newness of

life. Let your light so shine and

spread like. Wildfire, thanks for joining us

today. If you would like to watch the

full service, check out the link in the description.

For next steps and to learn more, visit calvaryboise.com.