CHRISTMAS IS FOR EVERYONE
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
5:00 pm. December 24, 2023
(Psalm 117, NLT) “Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord!”
(Luke 2:8–14, NLT) “That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
1. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME TO EVERYONE.
(Psalm 145:9, NLT) “The Lord is good to everyone.”
(Matthew 5:45, Message) “This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.”
(Titus 3:4–5, NIV) “When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us,”
2. GOD POURS HIS LOVE ON EVERYONE.
(Romans 5:5, NCV) “God has poured out his love to fill our hearts.”
(Psalm 42:8, NLT) “Each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me…”
a. Love pays attention.
(Job 23:10, AMP) “He knows the way that I take [He … pays attention to it].”
b. Love acts.
(Luke 2:11, NKJV) “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
3. GOD UNDERSTANDS EVERYONE’S PAIN.
(Psalm 33:15, NLT) “He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do.”
(Psalm 34:18, NLT) “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
4. GOD TOOK UPON HIMSELF THE SINS OF EVERYONE.
(1 Timothy 2:6, GW) “He sacrificed himself for all people to free them from their sins.”
(John 1:29, NLT) “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
5. GOD INVITES ALL WHO BELIEVE AND RECEIVE HIS SON TO DWELL WITH HIM FOREVER.
(John 1:12, ESV) “To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”
(Acts 2:21, NLT) “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
PRAYER
“Heavenly Father, thank you for opening my eyes tonight. God, You are good all the time! I can see that I am more flawed that I ever thought; however, I am more loved than I ever dreamed I could be. By faith, I turn from my old life of sin to follow Jesus, who took my sin and pain to the Cross, so that I could be saved, and receive Him into my heart as the Lord of my life. From this Christmas Eve forward, help me to live for Your glory by Your power. Thank you for preparing for me a forever home of love, peace, and joy with You and all who love the Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”