Songs for Sunday, December 22, 2o24 @ Christ Community Church

Sunday’s coming, and I’m excited!

And it’s almost Christmas! Tomorrow, we will be singing about the true meaning of Christmas.

What is the true meaning of Christmas?

It is a simple question, but sometimes we make simple things complicated. The Christmas season can quickly become one of the busiest times of the year. Some say family is the true meaning of Christmas, but it is easy to get so busy or distracted that we miss out on being with our loved ones. Others say joy is the true meaning of Christmas, but many people find themselves mourning or feeling alone during the holiday season. Still others say the giving and receiving of presents is the true meaning of Christmas, but Christmas cannot be put in a box.

No, Christmas is all of these things and much more. Christmas finds its true meaning in Jesus, who gives family, joy, and gifts their meaning and place. Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas, and if you will forgive the pun, His presence illustrates that better than any presents ever could.

When I think about Jesus’s presence at Christmas, it becomes clear that there would be no Christmas without Him. The world “walked in darkness” (Isaiah 9:2), and God became flesh and dwelled among us. Jesus, the Light of the World, shined in the darkness (John 1:5, 14; 8:12). The world needed a Savior and received “Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). God could have chosen to save us in any way, but He knew we needed His presence as Emmanuel, “God with us.” What a beautiful picture of love and grace! Better than a storybook hero, Jesus came Himself to rescue and save us—not just showing up in our time of need but living among us and remaining until He had saved “to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him” (Hebrews 7:25).

If all Jesus had done was live on earth and die on the cross, that would have been more than enough. But death usually ends presence—except with Jesus. His presence goes beyond His first coming and His death on the cross. Jesus rose from the dead and has given us His Spirit. Emmanuel, “God with us,” is not just something from a Christmas story. Christmas reminds us that God is with us now because His Holy Spirit “dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).

It is so easy to feel alone in this world, especially around the holidays. It is easy to feel joyless when people around you seem so cheerful. But if you are in Christ, He is closer than you can imagine. His presence is within you.

Finally, Christmas points to the promise of God’s presence not just in the past but also in the future. Advent, a word meaning “arrival” or “coming,” represents the anticipation Israel felt as they awaited the Messiah. Theirs was an anxious anticipation, waiting for a king to rescue them. For us, the King of kings has already come to our rescue. Ours is an expectant anticipation because we are waiting for our King to return and take us home. Jesus’s return will be one of joy, comfort, and peace, when God will dwell with us, and we will dwell with Him. His nail-scarred hands will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and His presence will remove mourning, crying, pain, and death forever (Revelation 21:3–4).

The true meaning of Christmas is found in His presence. He has come for us. He is here with us. And He is preparing a forever home for us. That’s good news! As the old Christmas hymn says, “Let every heart prepare Him room.” This Christmas, let’s make room in our hearts to feel and experience His presence, allowing His love and grace to refresh and restore us.

Lord willing, His love and grace will refresh us tomorrow as we sing to Jesus, in the presence of His Spirit, and awaiting the advent of His coming. We will lift our voices in praise. We will sit under the teaching of His Word.

Won’t you gather with us?

Here are our Scriptures & songs for Sunday:

Song | O Come, All Ye Unfaithful —
Scripture Inspiration: John 1:38-39, Luke 2:8-20, Isaiah 53:7, John 1:29, 1 Peter 1:19, Revelation 5:6-13, Revelation 7:9-17, Revelation 12:11, Hebrews 9:22, 1 John 4:16-19, Hebrews 4:15-16, Matthew 11:28-30

Advent Reading | Love —

As the fourth candle, the candle of love, shines, ponder God’s profound love revealed through Christ’s birth and sacrifice, echoing 1 John 4:10. Reflect on John 3:16 and Romans 5:8, recognizing the Gospel as the ultimate display of God’s unconditional love. This divine love calls for embracing it fully and extending it sacrificially to others, as highlighted in Ephesians 5:2. Let Christ’s love inspire you to practice radical love in your relationships, mirroring His example.

The heart of Christmas lies in God’s immense love shown by sending His Son, Jesus, as the ultimate gift. This Advent phase illuminates the depth of the Father’s love, echoing the truth found in 1 John 4:10. Amidst the festivities, remember that Christmas revolves around God’s extraordinary love revealed through the sacrificial gift of His beloved Son for unworthy sinners like us.

Scripture | 1 John 4:9-10 —

⁹In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. ¹⁰In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Song | O Holy Night —
Scripture Inspiration: Luke 2:9-11, Romans 3:23, John 3:16, Isaiah 9:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Malachi 4:2, Philippians 2:10-11, John 13:34-35, Matthew 22:37-40, Galatians 5:1, Psalm 95:1-2, Psalm 103:1

Song | King of Kings —
Scripture Inspiration: Proverbs 4:19, John 3:19-21, Ephesians 2:1, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 5:17, Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:31, Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 2:7, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 8:1, John 1:14, Psalm 136:3, Matthew 28:18, Revelation 19:16, Matthew 13:24-52, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Isaiah 53, John 3:16, Romans 5:6-10, Galatians 3:13, Colossians 2:14, Titus 2:14, Acts 4:33, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Matthew 27:52-53, Luke 15:7, Acts 2:1-4, Matthew 24:35, Ephesians 1:7, Galatians 5:1, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11

Advent Reading | Christ —

The Christ candle marks the culmination of Advent, embodying hope, peace, joy, and love of Jesus. He is the heart of the Gospel message, representing hope for humanity’s reconciliation with God. Embrace His presence, allowing His light to shine through your life, illuminating the world with the Gospel’s transformative power.

Jesus’ birth led to His sacrificial death, offering us new life through His resurrection. He is our sole hope, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Amid the Christmas hustle, ponder the profound impact of Christ’s birth in history, changing humanity forever.

This Christmas, reflect on His birth, mourn the necessity of His death, celebrate His resurrection, and gather with fellow believers to worship Him.

Scripture | Philippians 2:5-11 —

⁵Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Song | The First Noel (Born is the King) —
Scripture Inspiration: Luke 2:13-14, Psalm 148:2-3, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, John 1:14, Luke 2:7, Luke 2:10-11, Titus 3:4-5, Matthew 2:2, John 1:49, Luke 1:32-33, Romans 5:8, Luke 4:18, Matthew 11:5, Mark 2:17, Isaiah 53:3-5, 1 Peter 2:24, John 1:11, Zechariah 12:10, John 20:27, Acts 3:15, Mark 15:37-39, Luke 22:53, John 1:4-5, 2 Timothy 1:10, Romans 6:9, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, Revelation 1:18, Matthew 28:5-6, Acts 1:14, Philippians 2:2, Psalm 47:6-7, Revelation 19:16, Revelation 4:1, Revelation 5:13, 1 Timothy 1:17

Song | What a Beautiful Name —
Scripture Inspiration: John 1:1, John 10:30, John 1:14, John 1:3, John 1:10, Matthew 6:13, 1 Timothy 6:15, Isaiah 40:18-20, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, John 14:6, Philippians 2:5-11, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:36-39, Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 1:18, Matthew 27:51, Romans 6:9, Revelation 19:1-6, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Colossians 1:16, Deuteronomy 11:25