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Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. My grand-niece’s Nativity Scene. The City of Bethlehem Today. The Church of the Nativity. The Church of the Nativity. Cut Away View of the Church. Underground Passages of the Church. The Manger Bed of Jesus. The Birth Place of Jesus.

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Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

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  1. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

  2. My grand-niece’s Nativity Scene

  3. The City of Bethlehem Today The Church of the Nativity

  4. The Church of the Nativity Cut Away View of the Church Underground Passages of the Church The Manger Bed of Jesus The Birth Place of Jesus

  5. The Shepherd’s Field Today The Church of the Nativity In Bethlehem Today

  6. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

  7. “Great Joy” Christmas Eve Text: Luke 2:10-12

  8. Luke 2:10-12 10 But the angel said to [the shepherds], "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

  9. Introduction • The Promise of the Christmas Story – the one most Missing today - GREAT JOY! • The angels declared it; • Mary and Joseph were amazed by it; • The wise men were filled with it; • The shepherds returned with it; • John the Baptist leaped in his mother’s womb with it;

  10. Lack of Joy • Reasons for our lack of joy… • Sickness, stress, setbacks, suffering, struggles and sin…. • It is a mistake to think that happiness and joy are the same thing; • Happiness depends on circumstances: • Joy depends on relationships – i.e. Family They’re Not! When life happens to happen the way I want it to happen = Then I am Happy! Our family does not change in sickness, poverty or sin!

  11. The Shepherd’s Joy • The shepherds returned with joy, but did their circumstances in life change? • They were still poor; • They were still the lowest social order; • Their sheep still smelled and badly so; • They returned to the same wife and kids; Not at all! But they still had JOY!

  12. Personal Significance brings JOY • How important are you to God? • We’re no accident! God created us on purpose! • The angel’s message said to the shepherds, “For unto YOU, is born this night…” • These shepherds were special because God loved them, cared for them, as He does you and me!

  13. Star Sticker Rewards • Star sticker cost maybe a whole penny. • Worth their weight in gold because it said “I have been noticed.”

  14. Trusting God’s Promises brings JOY • To experience Joy we are to move, trusting the promises of God. • “Unto you is born this day in the city of Bethlehem - a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” • They got up and went to Bethlehem. • God’s promises to us are just as real. But will we act on them, move on them? • C. S. Lewis wrote, “God must surely find our prayers very weak indeed, when compared to all the promises offered to believers.”

  15. Pardon from Sin bring JOY • Real joy comes when we personally know we are forgiven. • “For unto you is born … a Savior.” • David in Psalm 32:1 “Joy-filled is the man whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is covered.” • Sin separates us from God and from others; • “Let every heart prepare Him room.” • “Restore to us the JOY of our salvation.”

  16. Participation with Other Believers brings JOY • Christmas Joy is ours when we know we will never stand alone in life. • Mary received the message from the angel by herself, but she was not alone. • Joseph took her as his wife; • Elizabeth stood by her; • The shepherds came and rejoiced with her; • “Friends double our joys and divide our sorrows.”

  17. A PUZZLE: What’s the Goal? • My goal was to put the puzzle together! • Her goal was to spend time with Papa! • GREAT Joy is God’s Christmas Gift to YOU! Don’t wait to open it!

  18. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

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