“We all suffer from soul amnesia, forgetting who God is and what He has done for us one day to the next. Like you, I too must remind myself each year who Jesus is and why His birth is so miraculous - not because my mind doesn’t know, but because my heart ceases to be amazed. As the old saying goes, ‘Familiarity breeds contempt’ and, sadly, my own heart loses that sense of wonder.”
—Asheritah Ciuciu, Unwrapping the Names of Jesus

“It makes no sense to celebrate the birth of Jesus when you strive for independence.” —Paul David Tripp, Come Let Us Adore Him

[4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
—John 1:4-5

1.) The Light Shines In The Darkness…

a.) DARKNESS: Evil and Ignorance

b.) LIGHT: Jesus - Life, Truth, and Beauty

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone. (ESV) —Isaiah 9:2

“O God, You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.” —Augustine

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
—John 8:12

“In short, Jesus is the divine Light of the World because he brings a new LIFE to replace our spiritual deadness, because he shows us the TRUTH that heals our spiritual blindness, and because he is the BEAUTY that breaks our addictions to money, sex, and power.” —Timothy Keller, Hidden Christmas

2.) …And The Darkness Has Not Overcome It

[5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
—John 1:5

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33

3.) A Witness To The Light

[6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. [8] He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
—John 1:6-8

[14] “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
—Matthew 5:14

…Through WORD and DEED

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” —1 Peter 2:9-10

“An Inviting, Welcoming, Loving and Caring Community”