DISCLAIMER:  This text is not a verbatim transcript.  Communication Access Real Time Translation (CART) is provided in order to facilitate communication credibility and may not be a totally verbatim record of the proceedings.    (Joyful music playing) ¶ >> Kevin: Good morning, church! Welcome to First Colony Church of Christ. I'm Kevin Porter, a student minister here. Did you know today we're standing on holy ground? Jesus says that wherever two or three are gathered in His Name, there He is. You're not really alone at home because we have come together to worship the King who was born to us. That's my call to worship to us this morning. Would you come, all ye faithful, all the joyful, the triumphant? Let's go this morning together to Bethlehem to behold the King who was born the King of Angels? Church, let's stand together to get ready to worship, and let's come and adore Him. >> Richard: Amen! Let us adore Him! ("My Soul Magnifies the Lord" playing) >> Richard: Good news of great joy! >> Richard: My soul! ¶ >> Richard: The Lord has done great things, amen? He is still doing great things, even till today. ("What a Glorious Night" playing) >> Richard: This song has a little bit of a country feel so you have to imagine the shepherds may have been, I don't know, cowboys or something. ("What a Glorious Night" playing) >> Richard: Here we go! >> Richard: Now you have to slap your leg. ¶ >> Richard: You may be seated. >> Joel: Well, good morning, everyone! It is so good to see you all here in the audience and those of you that are checking us out online, good to see you guys as well. Merry Christmas. My name is Joel, Children's Minister here; and we have a trick or an illustration is probably a better word that requires a random number. I see my friend Sonny out here. How are you? Doing good? So what I will do is just throw up the dice and will do it one, two, or three times -- you pick. I'm just trying to come up with a random number. If the number on the front is not one you like, tell me to roll it again. If you're good with it, we'll go, all right? Are you good with that or roll again? >> Roll again. >> Joel: Roll it again! All right. You like that one? You're set. Okay. So here's our random number. We have four. Now, the setup is this, all right? So I don't know if any of you grew up in my era, but in my era, we got, like, the Sears Roebuck catalog or J.C. Penney catalog and went through that thing and found the best toys ever and we would circle it. OR if we wanted tour parents to, like, really not make a mistake on what we wanted for Christmas, we would spell out every letter of what we wanted. Kids these days, they can just text to it their parent on a phone. It's like, come on, where's the joy in that? So our number is four. Our mission is discovering what is the greatest gift of Christmas. So we will spell it out. We have F-O-U-R. This is the gift that you have chosen, all right? So let's see what some of these other gifts are. So in gift number one, we have candy canes and you're like, "Okay, so what?" But think about this. At Christmas time, you kind of are coming in with thanksgiving and ending with New Year's Day. You will eat better than you have eaten all year and there's really good things to eat so you might say, "You know what? The best gift of Christmas is the -- diet is out the window. We'll start that up again in January. But that's where we want to go." You also might say, "Joel, I love sports. It's the greatest time of the year. I mean, we'll find out who is going to the championship series. Basketball is starting up. Hockey is starting up. I'm still holding out for a better year in baseball.” But you may have gotten some toys and may want toys regarding baseball. Then we have a gift card. Some of you are like, "Joel, the best thing about Christmas is if we get money. Money is awesome." This, by the way, has nothing on it; I'm sorry. All right. Then some of you may say, "Hey, Joel, you know what I immediate? I need to upgrade my electronics. I need a better iPhone. Hey, there's one out right now. That's what I need for Christmas. That would be the greatest gift ever." Then we have -- dun dun dun dah -- does anybody know what company that represents? Tiffany's. Yes, you might say, "Oh, it has a label on here.” There's actually who actually works at Tiffany's at the church and gave me a box. Isn't that awesome? The box is almost as good as the real thing, but the point is all these gifts are really cool but don't last very long, and my verse for you today is 1 Corinthians 3:12-13. That is that what do you build your life on? Do you build it on gold, silver, wood, hay, stubble? These are things that will fade away, and I can tell you about an hour after opening presents, I'm sad. It's because Christmas is over. But what's the Greatest Gift of Christmas? The item you have chosen, Mr. Sonny. What could that be? Well, it's ultimately Jesus Christ, and the thing that I want you to walk away with is, yes, you know that; but I'm going to ask you, what will you do with Jesus Christ? These presents will be gone. What did you do with Jesus Christ? And that's my challenge. Thank you very much. (Applause) >> Kevin: We're going to light our candles now and the St. Jeans will do that. We have lit the candles of hope, peace, and joy so far. This week we will light the candle of love. I just want to remind us that the light that is on the candle is symbolic of what is in reality living inside of us by the Holy Spirit. We have hope and peace and joy and now love in us, literally, by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. St. Jeans. >> We relight the candles of hope, peace, and joy, because Jesus is the hope of the nations, the peace of God, and the joy of salvation. The fourth candle of love reminds us of the reason Jesus came, because God loved us so much that He sent His Only Son. (Reading John 3:16-17) >> Kevin: We'll take our communion now so if you're at home, o.k. ahead and gather what you will use for that -- no judgment, whatever that might be. And if you're here in the room and forgot to grab some on the way in, you can go to the back of the aisle and the ushers will help you. St. Jeans, lead us in communion. >> Let's pray as we receive the bread and the cup. Father in heaven, we just thank You for this day and thank You for Your many gifts. And, Father, as a year and a world we live in that has a lot of uncertainty and chaos, Father, we look to You more than ever and thank You for Your promise of eternal life. So Father, as we take this bread, as we take this cup, we will remember the sacrifice that You laid on the cross to give up Your body that You shed Your blood for us, Father, for the promise of a better day, a promise of eternal life with You. So Father, we just praise You and we -- please forgive us of our sins and shortcomings and thoughts that are not always pure. Today, Father, we know You can make us pure, white as snow. We lift it up to You and ask these thing in Jesus' Name. Amen. >>12:28-31. (Reading) ("O Holy Night" playing) >> Richard: Why don't we all stand together? (Richard joins the chorus) ¶ >> Richard: You may be seated. >> Kevin: We will enter into our time of giving and contributions and will be led by Don Reeves. >> Don: Good morning! And very pleasant season's greetings to each of you who are gathered with us here in the Worship Center and especially to all of you who are joining us online as we worship together. As we come to this time of giving in our service, let me first thank you sincerely for your continued faithfulness and dedication in your giving to the local church. It's vitally important. For us here in the building, there are offering boxes at the exit doors here in the Worship Center, and for those of you who are online, giving is simple and easy. On our online platform, just click "Giving." The procedure is simple. You can text to give or give online. We thank you so much for your continued support. As we near the end of the year, we also are aware that many offer special year-end contributions to the church here. We applaud that, and we pray that God will richly bless you and Grant you a spirit of selflessness and generosity in that noble act. Here at the First Colony Church, our giving provides and maintains a vast amount of work, not only for the support of the local needs of this body but also of continued support to ministries throughout this community such as Second Mile Mission, the chaplaincy, Houston Center -- excuse me, the Impact Houston -- and many more. These are not only at Christmas time. They're also in monthly offerings and support throughout the year as well as mission endeavors in places far away. Our giving should never be seen as an obligation or as a burden but rather as an expression of joyful giving, an expression of our love for God; our love for each other; and our love for the spreading of the Good News of Jesus throughout the world. Join me as we pray. Father of All Glory and Life, You who have blessed us and faithfully given to us far more than we could ever think or imagine, truly a role model in giving is You. As we offer our gifts to You today, we pray that these gifts may be used to the furtherance to Your Cause, to the glory of Your Name, and to the spreading of the Good News of Jesus throughout the world and to the glory and honor of His Name. In whose Name we pray, amen. ¶ >> Kevin: Paul in 1 Corinthians when he's talking about the Lord's Supper and taking communion -- he said if you're not taking care of each other, you're sinning. Don't do the ritual without caring for the body. So we're about to have our fellowship greeting and according to Paul may be the most important moment we get to have together as a service because we're gonna look each other in the eye and show our care for each other. So if you're at home with your loved ones or here in the room, let's stand right now and look somebody in the eye and wish them a very merry Christmas. Let's stand together. ("Angels We Have Heard on High" playing) >> Richard: Thank you for your worship today! You may be seated! >> Ronnie: Richard and team, thank you so very, very much. And good morning, everyone, glad to see you. To those in the room, welcome. To those of you online, we welcome you as well. And to those of you watching via our website, you'll see a live prayer button, and there are some really, really fine folks who would be eager to hear from you and pray with you this morning. Let me just sort of remind you that next Sunday, December 27, we'll have just one service next Sunday morning, one service next Sunday, at 10:00 a.m.; and so that is coming up next week. First of the year, we're back into the regular schedule -- but next Sunday, one service, 10:00 a.m. This Thursday is Christmas Eve, and we will have two Christmas Eve services at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., candle-lighting services. So yes, we will have in-person Christmas Eve services but also those Christmas Eve services will be online as well. Now, our theme in this Christmas series has been that wonderful little line from the song "O Holy Night" we were singing earlier: "A Weary World Rejoices." The title today is "Jesus Christ is Amazing!" We'll get to hear in just a moment. Often time this time of year you'll hear maybe some adults, especially the older you get, the more Christmases in your rear-view mirror, people tend to say "I can't believe it's Christmas" like "It's already here again." The calendar flip around pretty quickly. Now, for our younger people, our children, one Christmas to another feels like a century. For those of us who are older, it comes around pretty quickly. I can believe it's Christmas, and let me say that literally and with faith. I CAN believe; I DO believe in Christmas. I believe what the Bible records about the coming of Jesus Christ. I believe an angel told the shepherd where to find Him. I believe in the Miraculous Conception of Jesus. I believe in the story of Christ from the crib to the cross and the crown. And faith in Jesus Christ, I believe, is not a leap in the darkness. Rather, it's taking a step in the same direction where the evidence is pointing. So I don't believe in Christmas just for sentimental reasons but for reasonable dynamics. So the story of Christmas, the coming of Jesus Christ, involves a miracle not only 34thstreet but on an unknown street in the ancient city of Bethlehem so let's read through this well-known narrative and be encouraged by it today. Luke 2, beginning verse 1. (Reading) Let me stop there for a moment. His real name is Gaius Octavius, adopted son of Julius Caesar. When he became a Caesar, an emperor in Rome, he also changed his name to Augustus, which means "Majesty, majestic, Caesar god." He actually rule for a little over 40 years and was impressive in some ways and controversial in others. But this is who he is. (Reading) He said, "Read my lips. Lots of new taxes coming your way, and I need you to register because I need to know who's who because I need to make sure that you're paying your taxes. I have luxury palaces to build. I've got roads to build, and I need your tax money." Verse 4. (Reading) Joseph and Mary got bad news. The bad news is they had to go to Bethlehem, and Nazareth to Bethlehem is about 80 miles. You can drive it in an hour and a half or so. In that day, it was a four-day journey, and Mary is very, very pregnant -- no Hampton Inns, no frequent flyer miles. This is incredibly inconvenient. Verse 6. (Reading) Or in the older versions of the Bible you'll read "There was no room at the inn," a well-known line, no room at the inn. You know, a manger is not just the best crib -- no safety features. This manger, you know, it didn't have, you know, baseball sheets or pillows in the shape of a football, no soft mattress, just a feeding trough for animals and hay. Jesus was wrapped in swaddling cloths of linen. Isn't that an interesting picture? Jesus was born, I believe, a cave, not a wooden structure but a cave. In fact, from around 300 A.D., there has been a church built over that cave. To this day, you can go to the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, and there was even an earlier church; and the writings of Justin Martyr -- for example, people just sort of new, the cave where Jesus was born. I believe it's a legitimate site. But I believe that Jesus was born in a cave and so imagine that. But now here's what I want you to see: He's born in a cave and wrapped in linen, and 33 years later He'll be placed in a cave and wrapped in linen; and both times an angel will make a dramatic announcement. Verse 8. (Reading) Verse 9. Right now it's just one angel. (Reading) And now verse 13. (Reading) The angels are singing at the birth of Christ because there's a new King in town. Jesus came to redeem. He also came to rule and reign, and this Jesus Who was born -- yes, He had a birthday, but He never had a starting point. God in heaven is now God with us. Mary didn't have a little lamb. Mary had a Mighty Lamb, and God delivered our Deliverer. Verse 15. (Reading) So they hurried off and they found Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in a manger and when they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (Reading) In other words, there's a LOT to take in here. And the shepherds returned. (Reading) The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Isn't the story odd? Bethlehem, for cryin' out loud, Podunk -- not Cairo or Jerusalem, not Rome. Bethlehem. And the angels appeared to shepherds. Whoever is in charge of God's marketing campaign, what were they thinking? Shepherds? In a field? Really? You can't be any more strategic than that? Actually, maybe God IS making a point. You saw in it the video earlier. From shepherds to kings and everyone inbetween, ALL are welcome. And by the way, don't just read through this story and forget Mary and Joseph, how -- terribly inconvenient it all was. Why in the world would God want them, arrange it so they travel for four days, 80 miles? She's pregnant; she's expecting the Messiah. 700 years earlier, Micah had prophesied the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Caesar Augustus may have thought he was in charge of everything -- no, no, no. The Lord in heaven is in charge of all the detail; and by the way, sometimes God will use you and it will be incredibly inconvenient. Are you willing to be inconvenienced for the Lord? I've met a lot of people in my lifetime who sort of have the attitude of, "Lord, use me -- as long as it's convenient." Sometimes it's inconvenient. But Mary and Joseph that a beautiful spirit of humility and they weren't bitter about this. They became better, and you remember Mary's attitude when the angel first appeared to her. "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you will." In other words, "Use me, even if it's inconvenient." So there's a story that goes back a few years about a father and his daughter who were estranged and was a small thing and grew. Sometimes that happens. People are estranged and you ask them, "What's the real cause?" They may try to come up with something but it's just -- some hairy ball that grew. And this father and daughter, they were estranged. He didn't go to her graduation or her wedding. When the baby was born, he didn't visit in the hospital, and she didn't really want him to; but after that baby grew and became a toddler, one day she took him by the house. She wrote a note and pinned it on his shirt, opened the back door, nudged him in. That little toddler walks in. That grandfather sees him with that note pinned to his shirt that simply said "I am your grandson." And that grandfather's heart melted. Years of bitterness subsided, and I tell that little story just to say that, yes, there's been estrangement between us and God, every single one of us. There's a gap. God doesn't want that gap to be there. And then one day, God sent His Only Begotten Son and pins a note to Him saying, "I love you as much as I love my Son," shepherds to kings and everyone inbetween. And, you know, we do love Jesus in the crib. I mean, He comes to us in humility and weakness and brokenness, and He comes into our mess, and He identifies with us as humanity. And it is right to honor that. I would say, connect the dots, though. Connect the full narrative and the full story and the full package from the crib to the cross and to the crown of Jesus Christ as ruler and Lord. Well, let me draw two or three lessons from this narrative we have been reading today. First of all, I want to remind you that Jesus Christ is not Christmas folklore. He's not Christmas folklore. We read this and need to say to ourselves -- and maybe say to yourself every time you see a Nativity scene this Christmas season, "This really happened. THIS REALLY happened in human history." And that's why, you know, I've been to Israel several times. Several of you have been there, and you can stand in those shepherds' fields and I've been there and I'm just thought to myself -- and sometimes we've said it aloud. "This REALLY happened in human history." And we have been to the Sea of Galilee or the site of the birth of Christ. This really happened in human history." This is not folklore or myth. You need to add another little phrase to it. THIS really happened in human history, and it happened at least in part for me. For me. And for you. Jesus took on human form and came here. We are the visited planet. God lived in human flesh for 33 years, died for us, was raised to life again. This really happened in human history, and it happened in part for you and for me. Here's what we ask any of you to do, either in the room or watching online: if you stiff-arm the Message of Jesus Christ and the invitation to follow Historic Christianity, here's what I ask you to do: name your alternative. Go ahead and name your alternative. I mean, go ahead and put verbage to it. It's easy to sometimes sit back and say, "Well, I've got these questions" or "I've got these doubts" or "I am not going to go --" Okay, name your alternative. Is your alternative atheism? Well, you know, there's some questions to deal with there. How did life begin? Did things just, you know, happen from nothing? Or maybe it's not atheism but it's some form of personalized spirituality where you've just sort of pick and choose beliefs that make sense to you; and you become the arbiter of truth. You stand above the historic faith that's been passed along, and you choose instead your personal selection of beliefs. If that's it, name it; and you need to know I think that that raises a ton of red flags, too. If you've never considered what exactly you DO believe, if you reject historic Christianity, take some time to think it through. Have you ever asked a family member where they want to go eat and will tell you all the places they don't want to go? "Hey, where would you like to have dinner tonight?" "Well, I don't want to go to that sushi place again." "Okay, all right, so what are you hungry for? Where would you like to go tonight?" "Well, I -- I don't want to have a burger. I know that. I don't want to have a burger." "Okay, you don't want sushi or a burger. Where would you like to go?" "No Mexican. I had Mexican -- I don't want Mexican." "Okay, we know all the things you want to reject. Have you decided yet what you're willing to accept?" Jesus Christ is not part of Christmas folklore. He's no Buddy the Elf story. This REALLY happened in human history. It's called salvation history. This really happened in human history, and it happened in part for you and for you. Secondly, Jesus Christ still offers to a weary world what the St. Jeans were lighting for us this morning, these candles that represent hope and peace and joy and love. In this crazy pandemic-full world full of polarization and short fuses about EVERYTHING -- somebody was telling me about they saw something. It was a weather show from another city, and the weatherperson said, "Hey, it's going to be about 60 degrees today, and you might want to take a sweater." And they were talking about all the phone calls that came in. "I don't appreciate being told what to wear," you know. And, you know, it's like, the weatherperson just said, "It's going to be about 60 degrees and you might want to consider wearing a sweater." Short fuses on everything. In the midst of it all, in the midst of a weary world, Christ does still offer hope and peace and joy and love -- still offers that. You can't buy those qualities. They're not for sale, and, you know, you will not find them through some political campaign. You'll not find them through activism. They are SOLE qualities that come to a person of faith and trust in Christ. And they're very real. We don't always have the full measure of hope and peace and joy and love, but these qualities are very real and they come to us through Christ, the Holy Spirit, in various times and ways; and sometimes in a greater measure than -- hope, for example, what's hope? It's this beautiful expectation that God will act. 2000 years ago, believers were waiting for the promises of a Messiah. Will God bring this about? YES, He will. And gang, on this side of the empty tomb, Jesus is alive. All things are possible, and we're touched by hope. Don't lose your hope. Maybe tomorrow you go outside and look at the Bethlehem Star and have a little hope rekindled. Peace, oh, don't lose your peace. That awareness we are at peace with God; that we can experience the peace of God, knowing He IS with us in whatever assignment we have at the moment. He is with us. We are not alone. And we can actually be peacemakers. What a beautiful assignment. Don't lose that. And joy -- I know it's a weird, weird time, and it's easy to be disappointed, saying, "Oh, I wish this were different. I wish it was like this. I wish it were that way." But don't stop rejoicing. Don't stop rejoicing that wherever you are, even if you are alone, even if I'm speaking to you today and you're isolated, you're not isolated because the Living God is right there with YOU and you are never alone. You know what? If you were to take communion only with the Redeemer of the Universe beside you, He is there with you in spirit and in truth; and we have that reason to rejoice always. And love -- oh, my goodness, not just silly love but the love God invented where He's willing to love the unlovely and the people who have offended Him, truly. And you know what, everyone? It's easy for us to maybe lose what we're all supported to be about -- supposed to be about in this day of age. People of hope, people of joy, people of peace; people of love. Let me just ask you: don't lose that because this is such a great opportunity for true believers. You do know the church is going through a time of pruning, but God has always valued -- not superficial believism but that true faith born of the Holy Spirit that says, "I'm Your servant and even if I'm inconvenienced, I'm Yours, and You are mine." I believe as believers, we have a beautiful opportunity right now in the midst of craziness and polarization for us to be people; to let the light of God's love to show through us. Never let how someone treats you or what they say about you determine how you're going to treat them. What a beautiful opportunity you have to show your children; your grandchildren; the people you work with this resilience that comes through our walk with Jesus Christ. So Jesus Christ invites you today to open His promises. Let me just -- before I finish, just read some Scriptures to you. From Acts 3. (Reading) 1 John 1. (Reading) And then Philippians 4, a passage that for many of you has been sort of your walking promise this year. (Reading) Why does he say that? Because it's easy to be anxious about everything. Here's what we're going to do. >> Ronnie: It's that beautiful, quiet confidence. The Lord is with us. Is there any burden too heavy for the Lord to carry? Imagine yourself going to a station, an airport, a train station somewhere; and you've got your -- you're weighted down with all this luggage and the Lord walks up and says, "Here, let Me carry that for you." Do you think that's too heavy for Him? It's not too heavy. Add that one. And another. Our Great God and King is BIG enough to carry your load for you; and He is big enough and gracious enough to welcome every single one of us to Him from the shepherd to the king. I want to close and read something from S.M. Lockridge. I played with an audio before of him going through this. Today I will just read it. I wish I could do it in his unmistakably beautiful way. I can't. But his words are dynamic, and this summarizes the amazing Jesus. You ready? Jesus Christ is august and He is unique. He is unparalleled. He's unprecedented. He is supreme and pre-eminent. He's the superlative of every good you called call and I'm trying to tell you, you can trust Jesus Christ. He can satisfy ALL our needs, and He can do it simultaneously. He supplied strength for the weak. He's available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He sees; He guards and guides. He heals the sick, cleanses the lepers, forgives the sinners, discharges the debtors, delivers the captives. He defends the feel, blesses the young. He rapids the ancient, regards the diligent, beautifies the meek. I'm trying to tell you: you can trust Jesus Christ. He's the Master of the Mighty, the Captain of the Conquerors, Head of the Heroes. He's the leader of every legislator. He's the overseer of the overcomers. He's the governor of the governors, the prince of the princes. He's the King of Kings; Lord of Lords. I'm trying to tell you: you can trust Jesus Christ. His yoke is easy. His burden is light. I wish that I could adequately describe Him to you, but He's indescribable because He is incomprehensible. He's irresistible, and He is invincible. You CANNOT get Jesus Christ off of your hands. You CANNOT get Him out of your mind. You CANNOT outlive Him and cannot live without Him. Death could not handle Him, and thanks be to God, the grave could not hold Him. You cannot impeach Jesus, and He will not resign. I'm trying to tell you: you can trust Jesus Christ, the Amazing Jesus; and when He arrived, the angels sang and rejoiced; and the Bible tells us wherever a heart turns to Christ, comes to Him, is baptized in Him; comes back to Him; the angels rejoice as well. What's your next step? We'd love to help you. We can do it in person; you can communicate with us online. Merry Christmas, everyone! Mary did not have that little lamb; she had a Mighty Lamb, the amazing Jesus. Don, would you come lead us as we pray? >> Don: Holy and Divine Father, we thank You for the privilege of worshiping You today. We acknowledge You as being supreme above all, God of the Universe, and God of our hearts. Today, our hearts are lifted; our spirits are renewed. Our faith is increased, and we thank You for that; and we pray now as we go forth today for the challenges and the opportunities and the affairs of this new week that Your Holy Spirit will abide with us; that Your love will surround us; that Your peace will fill our hearts; that we truly may honor You as God of All. And the Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, as our Savior and King. To You be the honor and glory, might, and dominion forever and ever. Amen. >> Kevin: Amen! I want to remind you guys we have our Christmas Eve Service this week at 3:00 and 5:00. That will be online live stream as well if you want as well as in person. And then next week, the 27th, we'll have one service at 10:00 and so we can all join together there. And then the following week, January 3, we'll be back to the normal 8:30 and 11:00 hours. One final thing I want to tell you about is the Service of Remembrance is today at 4, livestream only. We won't do it in person so if you want to join us online for the Service of Remembrance, that's today at 4:00. How about -- how about everybody stand together and let's praise God with one more song? >> Richard: All right, my soul. ("My Soul Magnifies the Lord" playing) >> Richard: Thank you for worshiping with us today! Have a great Christmas and we'll see you next time! You are dismissed!