Podcasts about christmas god

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20251231dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Matthew 2:16 The Comfort of Christmas Herod, furious that the Magi left without telling him where Jesus was, went scorched earth and ordered every boy in the vicinity two years old and younger to be killed. Historians estimate that twenty to thirty children were murdered in his desperate attempt to eliminate the Christ child. It is uncomfortable to read this so soon after Christmas. Wouldn’t it be better to skip this part? Why remember such horror during Christmastime? Because it shows what happens when light enters a world of darkness. When the light arrives, the darkness does not politely step aside. It tries to snuff the light out. This is why Jesus came: to battle the darkness that rejected him from his very first days. This same battle between light and darkness continues in your own heart. When Christ’s light shines within you, your sinful nature fights against it. Yet God remains on your side—God rescued his Son from Herod’s sword so that his Son could rescue you from eternal darkness. Jesus’ death and resurrection became the ultimate light that conquers the darkness. And here lies one of the Bible’s hardest truths: though God possesses all power and hates evil, he still permits suffering. So here is the comfort of Christmas: God may save us from evil, or he may save us through evil. The boys of Bethlehem died tragically, but Christ the Savior was born not to save them from Herod, but from hell, and that is what he did. With God, wherever there is weeping, comfort follows. The grieving mothers of Bethlehem would see their sons again because their King came to save them through tragedy into heaven’s triumph. This is the comfort of Christmas. That even though the darkness could take the boys of Bethlehem away from their parents, it could not take them away from Christ. It cannot take you away from him either. Prayer: Merciful Father, thank you for the comfort of knowing that no darkness can separate me from the light of your Son. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20251231dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Matthew 2:16 The Comfort of Christmas Herod, furious that the Magi left without telling him where Jesus was, went scorched earth and ordered every boy in the vicinity two years old and younger to be killed. Historians estimate that twenty to thirty children were murdered in his desperate attempt to eliminate the Christ child. It is uncomfortable to read this so soon after Christmas. Wouldn’t it be better to skip this part? Why remember such horror during Christmastime? Because it shows what happens when light enters a world of darkness. When the light arrives, the darkness does not politely step aside. It tries to snuff the light out. This is why Jesus came: to battle the darkness that rejected him from his very first days. This same battle between light and darkness continues in your own heart. When Christ’s light shines within you, your sinful nature fights against it. Yet God remains on your side—God rescued his Son from Herod’s sword so that his Son could rescue you from eternal darkness. Jesus’ death and resurrection became the ultimate light that conquers the darkness. And here lies one of the Bible’s hardest truths: though God possesses all power and hates evil, he still permits suffering. So here is the comfort of Christmas: God may save us from evil, or he may save us through evil. The boys of Bethlehem died tragically, but Christ the Savior was born not to save them from Herod, but from hell, and that is what he did. With God, wherever there is weeping, comfort follows. The grieving mothers of Bethlehem would see their sons again because their King came to save them through tragedy into heaven’s triumph. This is the comfort of Christmas. That even though the darkness could take the boys of Bethlehem away from their parents, it could not take them away from Christ. It cannot take you away from him either. Prayer: Merciful Father, thank you for the comfort of knowing that no darkness can separate me from the light of your Son. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20251231dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Matthew 2:16 The Comfort of Christmas Herod, furious that the Magi left without telling him where Jesus was, went scorched earth and ordered every boy in the vicinity two years old and younger to be killed. Historians estimate that twenty to thirty children were murdered in his desperate attempt to eliminate the Christ child. It is uncomfortable to read this so soon after Christmas. Wouldn’t it be better to skip this part? Why remember such horror during Christmastime? Because it shows what happens when light enters a world of darkness. When the light arrives, the darkness does not politely step aside. It tries to snuff the light out. This is why Jesus came: to battle the darkness that rejected him from his very first days. This same battle between light and darkness continues in your own heart. When Christ’s light shines within you, your sinful nature fights against it. Yet God remains on your side—God rescued his Son from Herod’s sword so that his Son could rescue you from eternal darkness. Jesus’ death and resurrection became the ultimate light that conquers the darkness. And here lies one of the Bible’s hardest truths: though God possesses all power and hates evil, he still permits suffering. So here is the comfort of Christmas: God may save us from evil, or he may save us through evil. The boys of Bethlehem died tragically, but Christ the Savior was born not to save them from Herod, but from hell, and that is what he did. With God, wherever there is weeping, comfort follows. The grieving mothers of Bethlehem would see their sons again because their King came to save them through tragedy into heaven’s triumph. This is the comfort of Christmas. That even though the darkness could take the boys of Bethlehem away from their parents, it could not take them away from Christ. It cannot take you away from him either. Prayer: Merciful Father, thank you for the comfort of knowing that no darkness can separate me from the light of your Son. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Welcome to Wellspring Church!In this message, Pastor Billy Waters invites us to linger in the heart of the Christmas story and carry its truth forward: God is with us.Centered on Matthew 1:18–23, this sermon reminds us that the incarnation is not just something we celebrate once a year—it is the defining reality of our lives. In Jesus, God does not remain distant or abstract; He comes near, dwelling with His people in real, embodied ways.Pastor Billy weaves together Scripture, reflection, and wisdom from the Church to show that God's presence is not passive. God desires to be known, welcomed, and wanted, and His nearness reshapes how we live, listen, and respond.

In this Christmas Eve message from our From Ruin to Redemption: The Gospel According to Isaiah series, Pastor Bob Erbig walks through Isaiah 62:1–5 to address the tension many of us feel during the holidays—why life often feels heavier than the picture we present to the world. Isaiah speaks to people who appear faithful on the outside but feel forgotten, weary, or desolate on the inside, and announces the good news of Christmas: God has broken the silence. Through the birth of Jesus Christ, God steps into real darkness, gives His people a new name, and declares His delight over them. This message reminds us that Christmas is not about curated images or perfect lives, but about a God who enters our brokenness, speaks hope into silence, and invites us into a restored relationship through His Son.Christmas is not proof that life is perfect—it is proof that God has come near, broken the silence, and given us hope in the darkness.

In this sermon on the Prologue of John's Gospel, we explore how God's light enters human darkness not as an abstract idea, but as a living presence. Through stories of discovery, revelation, and grace, we're invited to see Christmas as more than a memory of Jesus' birth. It becomes the possibility of new life, new meaning, and the awakening of the soul.This is the good news of Christmas: God comes to us where we are, opening our eyes to a reality far larger than we imagined.

Today is a special teaching from host Dave Wager. He slows down the Christmas story and reads Luke 2:1–21, letting the details land, Caesar's decree, Joseph and Mary's trip to Bethlehem, the manger, the angel's announcement, the sky filled with praise, and the shepherds rushing in to see what God had made known. From there, Dave brings in reflections from V. Raymond Edmond's 1960 book Wiser Than They Thought, using imagined conversations and scenes to help us picture what it may have felt like for real people to be standing in the middle of something they could not fully explain. The shepherds are shown as working a routine night shift when heaven interrupts it, and Dave uses that to challenge listeners to stop assuming God only works in “big moments.” He can move in the middle of the normal day, if we're paying attention. As the program continues, Dave connects the shepherds' encounter to other “windows into eternity” in Scripture. He points to Luke 15, where Jesus says there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents, and he turns that into a simple, personal appeal: heaven is not bored, and your response to Christ matters. He also leans on Luke 16's account of Lazarus and the rich man to underline the seriousness of eternity and the hope of being carried home by God's provision, not by our own goodness. He returns again and again to the heart of Christmas: God does not need us, but He wants us, love invites a real choice, and salvation is a gift purchased by Jesus, the baby in the manger who became the man of the cross. The closing takeaway is clear, Christmas is not a seasonal story, it's a fact that changes life now, and it calls each listener to respond to Christ with faith and obedience.

In our fallen world, we experience dysfunction on so many levels. There is the obvious dysfunction of violence and oppression. There is the dysfunction of my sinfulness. But daily we also experience our brokenness and poverty. What is God's response to all of this? A helpless baby lies in a trough in poverty, sleeping peacefully under the protective watch of his parents. A poor woman and a poor man, deeply in love, gaze with joy and wonder at their child. Merry Christmas!

God may be answering prayers you whispered decades ago, prayers you thought were forgotten or out of season. I reveal how Scripture shows that youthful faith and early promises are often fulfilled later, when the timing is right and the vessel is ready. This Christmas message will help you recognize what God may already be setting in motion for your future.   Podcast Episode 1979: Proof - This Christmas God May Be Answering Prayers From Your Youth | don't miss this! Listen to more episodes of the Lance Wallnau Show at lancewallnau.com/podcast

Fr. Bryan Kassa - "On Christmas, God Comes to the Tired First" Christmas 2025 by Chaldean Diocese

Fr. Patrick preached this homily on December 24, 2025. The readings are from Isaiah 9:1-6, Psalm 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13, Titus 2:11-14 & Luke 2:1-14. — Connect with us! Website: https://slakingthirsts.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCytcnEsuKXBI-xN8mv9mkfw

Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family! This episode features Favour Obasi-ike offering a holiday greeting to his precious listeners. This captures a seasonal well-wish intended to convey warmth and spiritual favor during the winter festivities. By using a traditional festive salutation, Favour aims to establish a positive connection with you, the listener. The message is succinct and celebratory, focusing entirely on a Christian blessing associated with the Christmas season. This simple piece of media serves as a sincere gesture of goodwill and holiday cheer.Thank you for listening to the We Don't PLAY™️ Podcast Show! God bless you!-------------------------------------------------------------------------Next Steps for Booking A Discovery Call | Digital Marketing + SEO Services:>> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need SEO Services? Book a Complimentary SEO Discovery Call with Favour Obasi-Ike⁠ here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠>> Visit our Work and PLAY Entertainment website to learn about our digital marketing services.>> Visit our Official website for the best digital marketing, SEO, and AI strategies today!>> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our exclusive SEO Marketing community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠>> Read SEO Articles>> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need SEO Services? Book a Complimentary SEO Discovery Call with Favour Obasi-Ike⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠>> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the We Don't PLAY Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-------------------------------------------------------------------------See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The True Meaning of Christmas- God With Us (Matthew 1:18-25 ) Daniel Nealon December 24, 2025 by Deer Creek Church

The Meaning of Christmas - God Sent forth His Son by David Antwi

Spring Lake Church – DowntownSermon: God Gave His SonTeacher: Bill Van KirkPassages: John 3:16For the Christmas Eve service at Spring Lake Church Downtown, Pastor Bill Van Kirk centers our hearts on the simple yet world-changing truth of Christmas: God gave His Son. Rooted in John 3:16, the message reminds us that the incarnation flows from God's deep love for the world. Out of that love, He gave His one and only Son—not as an abstract idea, but as a real gift for real people in real need. And in giving His Son, God also gives us a choice: to believe, to receive, and to step into the life He offers. Christmas proclaims that love has come near, and every heart is invited to respond.springlakechurch.org | springlakechurch.org/give | springlakechurch.org/prayer

Spring Lake Church – BellevueSermon: God Gave His SonTeacher: Jack GuerraPassages: John 3:16For the Christmas Eve service at Spring Lake Church Bellevue, Pastor Jack Guerra centers our hearts on the simple yet world-changing truth of Christmas: God gave His Son. Rooted in John 3:16, the message reminds us that the incarnation flows from God's deep love for the world. Out of that love, He gave His one and only Son—not as an abstract idea, but as a real gift for real people in real need. And in giving His Son, God also gives us a choice: to believe, to receive, and to step into the life He offers. Christmas proclaims that love has come near, and every heart is invited to respond.springlakechurch.org | springlakechurch.org/give | springlakechurch.org/prayer

Year A – Christmas Eve – December 24, 2025 Pastor Megan Floyd Luke 2:1-20 Grace and peace to you from God and the Holy Spirit, and from Jesus Christ, our savior, who is born this day for us… who is God with us. Amen. *** Merry Christmas, friends… this is truly a night for wonder. Christ is born this day for you… for us! …What an incredible proclamation! Our Creator God has come to dwell with us… to share joy and laughter with us… and… to suffer and cry out in pain… with us… and for us. Through the newborn Jesus, God has revealed God-self to us … arriving in the form of pure love… for only true and perfect love is as vulnerable as a newborn child. To you… is born this day… a Savior… born into a world full of pain and sorrow… of war and greed and corruption… born into a world that is weeping… a world that is being crushed by Empire. To you… is born this day… a Savior. Amazing! It is no wonder… that Mary pondered all these things in her heart. Stories of babies always bring me around to remembering my own children when they were young… young enough for me to hold in my arms. And I think about those times when they were sick… when they were crying out in need… as parents, if we could have… we would have taken on their sickness just to ease their pain. Even when they were bigger… too big to carry… as parents, the most natural reaction to your child's sorrow is to draw close to them… wrap your arms around them… and remind them that they do not face their troubles alone. We draw close to our children when they are suffering, and we share the burden of their pain… and on this night… on Christmas night… God, our holy parent… does just that. Our God, who loves us beyond measure, cannot bear our sorrow from afar, and so our holy parent draws close… and takes on the pain and brokenness of the world… by being born among us… as a child… arriving to humble humans, surrounded by animals… and placed in a manger, for there was no bed. To you… is born this day a Savior… It's a birth story so humble and ordinary; it takes your breath away. …So ordinary… that we may overlook the incredible circumstances that brought Mary and Joseph so far from their home in Nazareth, so near to the time of her baby's arrival… It was the audacity of Empire, seeking to control the whole world… compelling all people to be registered for the purpose of exploitation… that's what brought them to that stable… to that manger, in the city of Bethlehem… the city of David. But what Empire forced for the purpose of control… God chose to use for the purpose of salvation. Control and conquest forced them into such a precarious situation… but from amid that brokenness, and from under the pressure of oppression, rises the green shoot from the stump of Jesse… …as the prophet Isaiah foretold, the savior would come from the royal line of Jesse, father of King David, whose lineage seemed to be cut off like a dead stump after the downfall of Israel… This impossible new life shines a great light in the darkness… bringing love so powerful that it can overcome cruelty… offering hope so secure that it drives out despair… and breaking the chains of oppression for the sake of justice and mercy. This is the power and promise of God, who comes to turn the world upside down, by drawing close to us… by arriving among us… God arrives, not amid wealth and power… not with military might or gold and grandeur… but in complete vulnerability, to those who are poor and lowly. Christ arrives on the margins… to those who are considered disposable… this is where our God… Word of the Father… is born. …this is where Christ is found… Christ arrives, always, where good news is most needed. It is… almost too wonderful to behold. And then, as if daring our God to be even more subversive to earthly powers… the angel of the Lord announces the arrival of our Savior… to shepherds, tending their flocks by night. It was to those who were even further in the margins of society… literally on the outskirts of the community… to them, the angel appears to proclaim the good news of great JOY… And those shepherds went to see the child, and saw that it was as the angel had told… and once they saw the promise of Love incarnate… they went on their way, glorifying and praising God… They proclaimed the good news for all to hear! TO YOU is born this day in the city of David… a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. God has heard your cry… God feels your sorrow and longs to take your pain… and so in pure Love, your holy parent has drawn close to you to bring comfort… and peace. O Holy Night! …indeed… except Christ's arrival is so much more than one holy night… it is so much more than that first, humble Christmas… all those years ago. The arrival of Jesus Christ …the incarnation of our God… is not a one-time event… it is… eternal. Christ is arriving… every day… to the poor… the needy… the lonely… Christ is born every day for those who are marginalized and oppressed… to those for whom justice has been too long delayed and denied. Our world is still broken… and so our God is still arriving… still coming among us… choosing to show up for us and walk alongside us, ever faithful to the promise of Emmanuel that began on that first Christmas… God with us. To YOU… to US… a child is born, who is Christ the Lord… ever inviting us to take notice of those in need as if they were Christ himself… to embrace empathy, and act with compassion and love for our neighbor. Because Jesus Christ is born this day! …and therefore, we are born into the holy truth that God's love and grace and mercy are so much greater and deeper than we can ever understand. To us, a child is born… humble and lowly… so that we might understand that power is made perfect in weakness, and love is the greatest force of all. Jesus Christ has brought salvation to the world, but we still live amid brokenness… we live in the truth that the healing of the world… will not be achieved in a swift, dramatic movement. And so, the coming of our Lord teaches us… that Christ is born wherever love is shown and wherever light shines… Christ is born in humble acts of kindness… and born when we choose to live with integrity and seek justice and mercy. Christ is born when we honor and value those who are in the margins, and when we seek to heal the sin that pushed them there. Christ is born when we draw from the strength of God's love, and seek to heal our world. And so to us, a child is born, who is Christ our savior… inviting us to share the good news… and to keep the wonder that is the miracle of Christmas… that Christ is born in love… this day, and every day. Amen.

Why was Jesus born in a manger, and why does it matter?At Christmas, we as Christians celebrate more than a birthday. The birth of Jesus reveals the heart of the gospel: God stepped into human history and didn't leave us on our own. The Creator entered His creation to save it.Joe Kirby shares the true meaning of Christmas - God with us, salvation offered to all through Jesus Christ. On his cup of Joe podcast.

When Jesus was on earth, there were no visible clues that He was from Heaven. He did not have a halo or a golden glow. Yet He was God in the flesh. In today's message, Pastor Cucuzza explains this significance and the miracle that God took on flesh for us.

Welcome to Wellspring Church!On Christmas Eve, Pastor Billy Waters invites us into the heart of the Christmas story—not as a distant memory, but as a present and living reality. At the center of his message is the simple yet profound truth of Christmas: God with us. Christmas is more than a celebration of something that once happened; it is the assurance that God has drawn near and remains present with us.Drawing on the story of Jesus' birth and the comforting imagery of Psalm 23, we're reminded that our deepest longings—for peace, rest, guidance, and restoration—are ultimately met in Christ. God does not promise an easy path, but He does promise His presence, walking with us through every valley and leading us toward life.

Gods Promise Was to Save Us, Not Simply Inspire Us When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, he announced news unlike anything the world had ever heard:You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end(Luke 1:3033). This was not merely the announcement of a child, but of a Kinga King whose reign would never end. For the first time in history, God took on human flesh. Immanuel became tired like us, hungry like us, exhausted like us; in every way Jesus became like us, yet without sin. He was born so that we would have One who could truly sympathize with our weaknesses, so that we might receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:1416). The angel didnt tell Mary she would give birth to a teacher or a moral example, but to a King and a Savior; One who would be call Son of the Most High and whose Kingdom would never end. What Gabriel told Mary tells us something important about ourselvesour greatest problem isnt ignorance, weakness, or circumstance, but sin. Our greatest need is redemption. We spend our lives trying to fix whats broken, but Christmas declares that God came to do what we could notto save lost sinners. This is why Jesus said: For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). God Came to Us When We Could Not Come to Him On the night Jesus was born, God did not summon kings, dignitaries, or celebrities; He invited shepherds. To the poorest of the poor, the angels declared,Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.And then heaven itself erupted in praise:Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!When the shepherds arrived at the manger, they beheld something staggeringthe Word of God in human flesh. John tells us that all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. The power that created the universe lay wrapped in swaddling cloths; the One through whom the heavens were made was sleeping in a feeding trough. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men, and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Some people walk into Christmas Eve feeling unworthy, unseen, or spiritually distant. The shepherds are proof that with God, it does not matter how far you are from Him, for He is the God who meets sinners where they areto save them, to redeem them, and to bring them out of spiritual death into new life. We have a God whose mercy, love, and grace are far greater than our worst sins and any distance we imagine exists between Him and us. As Scripture says,Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come(2 Cor. 5:17). Jesus Entered Our Darkness to Deliver Us from It The darkness Jesus entered was not merely the darkness of night, but the darkness that has covered the human heart since Eden. Ever since Adam and Eve were driven from the garden, humanity has lived outsideoutside the place of Gods immediate presence, outside in the wilderness of thorns and sweat, pain and death. Though the Creator came into the world He made, John tells us the world did not recognize Him, and even His own people did not receive Him. What the world needed most stood in its midst, and it hardly noticed. Yet this is the wonder of Christmas: God came anyway. The promised Savior entered a world marked by sin and sorrow to bring light where only darkness reigned. Christmas speaks to our guilt, our grief, and our wearinessand it does more than speak to them; it swallows them up by the light of the life of Jesus. Some of you are carrying grief, regret, despair, and hopelessness into this room. The message and promise of Christmas is that unto us was born a Savior who steps into the darkness to conquer it. Jesus Came for Those Who Know They are Far from God The message to the shepherds was simple and clear:And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11). Jesus was born to redeem sinners who were and are real people: real broken people, real guilty people, real overlooked people, and real people living in shame. The Bible shows us this even in Jesus family treeGod-usurpers like Adam, schemers like Abraham and Sarah, the guilty like Judah, the exploited like Tamar, prostitutes like Rahab, widows like Naomi, outsiders like Ruth, adulterers and murderers like David, and the grieving like Bathsheba. When you look at Jesus family line, you dont find a list of heroesyou find a gallery of grace. Broken marriages, moral failures, exploitation, grief, and loss. And God placed them there on purpose, to show us the kind of people Jesus came to save. Jesus came for people like them, and He came for people like us. He came to break the chains of sin and death, to reverse the curse, and to make peace by the blood of His cross. And that brings us to the most personal question of Christmas: what do we do with this Savior? Christmas is an Invitation, Not Just an Announcement John tells us thatHe was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God... (John 1:10-12). Then, John wrote one of the most astonishing sentences ever penned:The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.... (v. 14). Literally, He made His home with us. God chose to reverse the curse not by removing us from the world, but by entering itby dwelling among us in the person of His Son. Why? So that we might finally come home. I dont know where you are tonight or what youre carrying; I dont know the pain you carry or the disappointments that weigh on your heart, but I do know thisJesus came not to condemn you, but to make you whole. This Christmas Eve, the invitation is simple: come to the Light, come to the Word made flesh, come home. Jesus must be received by faith, not merely admired from a distance. This Christmas Eve, the invitation is simple: come to the Light, come to the Savior, find your light and life in Him. Conclusion In just a moment, the lights in this room will be dimmed, and one small flame will be passed from candle to candle. And as that light spreads, I want you to remember this: the darkness was not overcome by noise or force, but by the Light of Christ. That is how God came to usnot with spectacle, but with a child; not with condemnation, but with grace. Jesus entered our darkness to save us. This news is called the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here is how the apostle Paul described this News and promise of Christmas: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Rom. 1:16). And tonight, as the light moves from one person to the next, may it remind you that no darkness is too deep, no past so bad, and no heart too far gone for the Light of the gospel of Jesus Christ to overcome. As John 1:5 promises: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER: (not tax-deductible) You can find out how to become a monthly partner including how to receive your "thank you" gift - our bonus podcast called "Digging Deeper." God t: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:13–15 - Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” [14] And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt [15] and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

This fourth Sunday of Advent, we celebrate the heart of Christmas: God's love. From the promise of Emmanuel—God with us—to the rescue Jesus brings, this episode reminds us that Christmas is about a God who comes near, saves what's broken, makes room for us, and shines light into our darkest places. Love isn't far away. In Jesus, love has come near.Support the show

In our final episode of the Advent Together series, Michael Smith sits down with Bethany and Paisley James to talk about the heart of Christmas—God's love coming close. The James family shares stories from their joyful Christmas traditions, the kindness they see in others, and the simple ways we can show God's love every day—writing letters to teachers, baking cookies for neighbors, giving generously, and serving with a joyful heart.

Aaron Lee | Jeremiah 33:14-16 | December 21, 2025 | Youth Sunday School

Week 52 - Christmas: "God was the first one ever to make a blood sacrifice on this earth"Please visit us at CFMpodcast.org

Pastor Nehru explores John 1 to reveal the heart of Christmas: God being with us through his son Jesus. New to Echo Grace? We'd love to get to know you! Fill out a quick connect form at https://echograce.com/connect. Want to support our ministries & mission? Your generosity makes a difference. Give at https://echograce.com/give.

Our church recently presented A Son Is Given, a powerful Christmas cantata written by Adam Morgan that proclaims the gospel message through a compelling courtroom drama. Set within the framework of a trial, the cantata vividly portrays humanity standing guilty before a righteous Judge, only to discover hope, redemption, and justification through Jesus Christ. Through Scripture, narration, and music, A Son Is Given reminds us that Christ came not merely as a baby in a manger, but as the Savior who willingly took our place, paid our debt, and offered forgiveness and new life. This moving presentation points clearly to the heart of Christmas: God's gift of His Son, given so that we might be redeemed and declared righteous through faith in Him.

SUNDAY SERVICE

Christmas is God announcing good news to all people through Jesus Christ—so receive His joy, reject fear, and share the gospel boldly this season.

Beginnings | Week 19 Christmas: God's Answer to the Problem of Sin December 21, 2025 Pastor Ben Bufkin 00:00 Christmas is about the problem of sin 20:07 Christmas is about God's answer to the problem of sin

The nostalgia of an old fashioned Christmas.

Lisa Smith sharing at Grace on December 21, 2025

There is good news for all at Christmas: God has drawn near in Jesus Christ to each one of us, revealing His love and offering salvation. The post Emmanuel – God with us appeared first on Preachers Corner.

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” (James 1:17 NLT) You’ve probably heard the saying, “All that glitters is not gold.” But it’s equally important to remember that all that’s gold doesn’t necessarily glitter. That is, not all valuable things appear to be valuable at first glance. Some of the most precious gifts tend not to attract our attention at first. We take a hurried glance and see nothing of significance. But if we go back and take another look, we begin to discover the glory and wonder of that gift. Think of Christmases past when you set aside a present that didn’t have that “wow” factor to move on to other shinier gifts with more bells and whistles, only to come back later to the less showy but more useful gift. So it was with the helpless baby in the manger in Bethlehem on the first Christmas. At first glance, He probably didn’t appear to be much of a gift. Another child born into humble circumstances. What value could He have? Why would He even merit a second look? The Bible practically bursts at the seams to answer that question. God dispatched angels to keep people from looking past His gift. That baby was the only begotten Son of God. Words cannot describe His value. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” (NLT). Even God couldn’t give a greater gift. He sent His dearly beloved Son into the world as a baby so that, ultimately, we could be saved. God gave us that which was most precious to Him so that His Son would be most precious to us. Our Lord Himself spoke of such a sacrificial act in Matthew 21:33–46 in His parable about the vineyard owner. The owner, who had unworthy servants looking after his property, sent his representatives and servants to the vineyard. One after another was maltreated and even killed. Then the owner thought, “If I send my son, they won’t do this to him. Surely, they will respect my son. There is nothing beyond this. It is the last act.” Hebrews 1:1–2 says, “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe” (nlt). God sent many servants into the world and to the nation of Israel. He dispatched countless outstanding men and women to accomplish His work. But He surpassed them all with the gift of His Son. This is what should fill our minds and hearts with astonishment at Christmas: God has done something that even He Himself cannot exceed. He gave His only Son, His eternal Son, so that we might have eternal life. Reflection question: What impact has God’s surpassing gift had on your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is Christmas really about? In this brief yet powerful message, we explore the true reality of Christmas—God stepping into the world through Jesus Christ to bring hope, light, and salvation. This episode invites you to look beyond the traditions and rediscover the life-changing truth at the heart of Christmas.

Welcome back to the podcast! Join us today as we start a new Christmas series!--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --The Christmas Family Tree: The Part We Usually SkipMost people love Luke 2 at Christmas—the angels, the shepherds, the manger scene. But few of us slow down for Matthew 1, the chapter that looks like the “skip intro” button of the New Testament. Genealogies feel like the part you breeze through on your Bible-in-a-year plan. Yet Matthew opens the story of Jesus with a family tree on purpose—not to bore us, but to prepare us for what Christmas is really about.Matthew organizes Jesus' genealogy into three sets of fourteen generations (Matthew 1:1–17). It's not intended to be exhaustive; it's designed to make a theological point. Jesus is the promised Son of David, the fulfillment of God's long-awaited plan. But Matthew also includes something shocking for ancient readers: five women—and three of them appear in the very first section of the genealogy.In the first century, writers didn't include women in genealogies, and certainly not women with complicated, painful, or morally messy backstories. But Matthew breaks the rules to highlight a truth at the heart of Christmas: God invites outsiders, sinners, strugglers, and the unexpected into His family. These women tell us what kind of Savior Jesus really is—and what kind of grace He brings.TAMAR — The God Who Sees the Hidden StoryMatthew 1:3 (NLT): “Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar).”Tamar's story in Genesis 38 is one of the most uncomfortable chapters in the Bible. She marries into Judah's family, but tragedy and injustice quickly follow. Her first husband dies. The second refuses to fulfill his duty to give her a child. Judah promises his youngest son to her “later,” but he never intends to keep his word.Tamar is left childless, powerless, and trapped in a culture where bearing children was the only path to honor, security, and a future. Judah fails her completely, and out of desperation she takes matters into her own hands—posing as a prostitute to confront Judah's neglect. When Judah discovers what happened, he responds with a shocking confession:Genesis 38:26 (NLT): “She is more righteous than I am.”This isn't a story celebrating deception—it's a story exposing Judah's injustice. Tamar is the wronged one, and yet God sees her, steps into her story, and brings redemption through the birth of Perez—a direct ancestor of Jesus.The lesson of Tamar:God steps into the stories we try to hide.He doesn't turn away from the messy parts of our past—He redeems them. Tamar reminds us that God moves toward the abandoned and overlooked with purpose and...

In this message, we explore the breathtaking truth at the center of Christmas: God became human and dwelt among us. Walking through John 1:1–18, we linger on the mystery of the incarnation and what it means that Jesus fully entered the human experience—our weakness, suffering, sorrow, and joy. Far from being distant or unrelatable, Jesus is the God who understands, sympathizes, and draws near in our pain. Because God is with us, we are invited to approach him with confidence, honesty, and hope.

SUNDAY SERVICE

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel…” These sacred verses have been chanted, proclaimed, and sung for nearly 1,200 years.Echoing an ancient longing, they express every soul's deep cry for rescue—a rescue of God descending into our chaos. It's a moving idea: God living with us. Yet it can feel difficult to imagine in our everyday lives. We may feel unworthy, unsure, or even a little afraid of God stepping too close into our daily spaces. Many of us struggle to believe that this kind of nearness is truly possible.But this is precisely the message of Christmas: God came near. Jesus stepped into our world—and He continues to extend His invitation to you.In this message, discover what it means to experience Emmanuel—God with us.

The lights are twinkling, the carols are playing, and everything should feel magical... but sometimes, it just doesn't. Whether your kids are navigating big feelings of disappointment or you're trying to balance joy and weariness in your own heart, this conversation is for you.This week I'm joined by author and speaker Sheila Walsh, and we're talking about what really matters this Christmas: God's love, Emmanuel with us, and how to guide our children through holiday letdowns with grace, presence, and prayer.Here are just a few things we talked about: How to help kids walk through disappointment (even when they don't get the part they wanted in the play) Why our prayers for our children matter more than any gift we could ever wrap Simple ways to re-center your home on Jesus in a culture that's always asking for moreHow unmet expectations can be invitations to discover God's love more deeplySheila's brand-new picture book, The Little Drummer Girl, tells a beautiful story about a child who doesn't get what she wants… and instead finds the joy of giving to Jesus. It's such a special book to read together this season. You can find the link in the show notes!Sheila Walsh is a best-selling author, Bible teacher, speaker, and co-host of TBN's Praise. She has written over 50 books for women and children, including It's Okay Not to Be Okay, Holding On When You Want to Let Go, and The Storm Inside. Her new book, The Little Drummer Girl, is a heartwarming Christmas story for kids about faith, giving, and the love of Jesus.So whether you're on your third cup of cocoa or hiding wrapping paper in the closet, I hope this episode wraps around you like a warm blanket and reminds you: Jesus is with us. That's what matters most.(00:00) Embracing the Christmas Spirit(02:52) Sheila Walsh: A Journey of Faith and Family(05:59) The Heart of Christmas: Lessons from Isabella(08:59) Navigating Disappointments: Teaching Kids Resilience(12:06) The Power of Prayer in Parenting(15:05) Finding Joy in Community and Service(18:13) Understanding God's Love and Forgiveness(20:47) The Impact of Prayer Across Generations(24:08) Celebrating God's Plan in Our Lives(26:54) The Gift of Christmas: Sharing God's LoveConnect with SheilaWebsiteFacebook InstagramBetter Together showResources MentionedThe Little Drummer Girl bookChristian Parenting resourcesChristian Parenting Christmas Gift GuidePrefer video? This episode is on YouTube!The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out Everyday Dose and use my code CPPODCAST for a great deal: https://everydaydose.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join host, Monica Kirsch, and Director of K-4 Ministries, Kylie Martin, as they reflect on what the announcement of the coming of Christ must have felt like after 400 years of perceived silence. Passages referenced in this episode: Luke 2Matthew 2

The Christ Brings a New Story.  Rev Patrick Abent, Inner Quest Church, Alpharetta, Ga www.innerquestchurch.org

Text: John 1:14–18Main Idea: The incarnation is the first gift of Christmas—God dwelling with us.Description:This week we dive deeper into the meaning of Christmas: God pitched His tent among us. Through Jesus, we see the glory of God—full of grace and truth. Pastor Antonio unpacks how the presence of Christ brings us grace upon grace in our everyday lives.Give- https://thebridgechurch.org/give/#AmongUsSeries #ChristmasAtTheBridge #TheBridgeChurch #PastorAntonioThomas#Advent #John1 #TheWordMadeFlesh #SundayService #LivestreamWorship