December 24, 2018

Surviving Christmas (Christmas Eve Service)

40 minutes

The visit of the magi, outwitting Herod, his murderous response, and the Holy Family’s narrow escape. It’s a story of spiritual pursuit, political intrigue, deceit, murder, and running for your life! God is the Hero! (and he went to a lot of trouble to save you).

Transcript

Christmas Eve, 2018

Pastor Joe Wittwer

Surviving Christmas

Introduction and offering:

Merry Christmas! “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.” That’s what we’re celebrating! God’s great gift to us! God gave His Son so that we could live—really live! Jesus didn’t come to make you more religious; He came to make you more alive!

Before I start this talk, we are going to celebrate God’s great gift of Jesus by giving back to Him. If you brought your tithe or an offering, thank you for your generosity. Your offering will be used to help people find and follow Jesus. If you are a guest, please don’t feel obligated to give.

Offering here.

I love Christmas! I love the music, the food, the festivities, the Carol Sing, the food, the lights and decorations, the food, the gifts and time with family, and did I mention the food. I even love Christmas movies:

White Christmas: “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…” “Sisters, sisters”

It’s a Wonderful Life: “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.”

Miracle on 34th Street: “I believe, I believe…stop the car, Uncle Fred!”

Elf: “We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.”

A Christmas Story: “You’ll shoot your eye out, Ralphie!”

And of course, that heart-warming Christmas classic, Die

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