Christmas Eve
Key Scripture
Psalm 78
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
3 stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
5 For he issued his laws to Jacob;
he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to teach them to their children,
6 so the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.
We are only here today because generations of people spanning thousands of years have taken this passage from the Bible and others like it seriously.
Interesting Stats from 2025 (Various Church Research Organizations & Sources)
Bible sales are up 11% across the US - with young adults and teens driving the growth
People are reading the Bible 10-15% more
Millennial church attendance increased by 15-20% in recent years
40% of Millennials now self-describe as Christians who regularly participate in church
1 in 3 American churches are reporting growth rather than maintaining or decline
Over 1 in 4 Americans say they’ve had a “spiritual awakening” or renewed faith interest in recent years
People are remembering…
This is the perfect time to ask the big questions.
This is the perfect time to pray and ask for God to show Himself.
An honest prayer from George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life…
“Dear Father in heaven, I’m not a praying man, but if you’re up there and you can hear me, show me the way. I’m at the end of my rope. Show me the way, God.” - George Bailey (from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’)
When people pray prayers like that, God shows Himself.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
Psalm 34:6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.
Jeremiah 29:13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
Because this is the deepest cry of the human heart, it means that the message of Jesus will always be relevant and will always make a difference.
"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” - Scrooge (from ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens)
The true meaning of Christmas is that it’s not just about Christmas. It’s that the Good News of Jesus would affect every aspect of our lives.
On Christmas Eve 1968 - with an audience of over a billion people worldwide - while watching breathtaking images, the three men on the Apollo 8 space mission took turns reading from the Book of Genesis. For around 2 minutes they read from Genesis 1 and reminded the world about the God of creation. With a billion people watching - amazed at what they’re seeing - the astronauts invited everyone to remember the God behind it all.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The challenge for us is to remember the Savior of the world each and every day. By remembering Him everyday, it changes everything.
It brings hope.
It brings peace.
It brings the promise of forgiveness and new life.
Merry Christmas!