Christmas Eve Experience – 12/24/2018

First time here?

May we recommend…

Our children’s program. We have age-appropriate programming for infants through 5th graders during our Adult Worship Experience.

Completing our Connection Card (click here) to share your interests and prayer requests with us.

Using our message outline to help you follow along with today’s speaker.

That you not feel obligated to participate in the offering. This is for regular attenders who consider Exponential Church their church home.

Visiting the Welcome Center in the lobby to learn more about the exciting things going on at Exponential Church.

Using our free WiFi. Login using the password NextSteps.

Order of Service

Music……………………..Worship Team
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Welcome……………………….Bill Butler
Offering & Announcements
Music……………………..Worship Team
O Come All Ye Faithful
Hearts Waiting (Joy to the World)
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Special Music………….Worship Team
Be Born in Me
Message………………Gilbert Thurston
Silent Night
Music & Candle Lighting 
Silent Night
Dismissal………………………Bill Butler

Message notes

In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and truly is God… The Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

-John 1:1, 14

While they were in Bethlehem the time came for Mary’s baby to be born and she have birth to her first-born son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn… And Joseph named the baby, Jesus.

-Luke 2:6-7, Matthew 1:25

That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in strip of cloth and lying on a bed of hay.”

Suddenly many other angels came down from heaven and joined in praising God. They said: “Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.” After the angels had left and gone back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.” They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and they saw the baby lying on a bed of hay.

When the shepherds saw Jesus, they told his parents what the angel had said about him. Everyone listened and was surprised. But Mary kept thinking about all this and wondering what it meant. As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said.

-Luke 2:8-20

Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory, when he was born as a man and humbled himself to become a servant. And he humbled himself even further, going so far as to actually die a criminal’s death on a cross.

-Philippians 2:5-8

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

-John 3:16

I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.

-John 8:12

LIFE APPLICATION
To discuss during the week with your family or Life Group

1. What was Christmas like for you as a child? How has it changed for you now that you are an adult?
2. As you reflected on these verses during the message, how did God speak to you?
3. What amazes you most about the story of God becoming a man?
4. What is your next step as a result of this message?