1 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:24,400 what if we had to live with the fairness of unforgiveness and 2 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,300 execution of the Justice we deserve, no gospel delivered to 3 00:00:28,300 --> 00:00:34,100 be witnessed or heard To the people walking in darkness, a 4 00:00:34,100 --> 00:00:36,900 great light, never dawned hopeless. 5 00:00:36,900 --> 00:00:44,200 Only to wander, lonely and lost. No way truth or life through the 6 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:48,900 Good Shepherd, only the debt and debt, incurred from sin Fletcher 7 00:00:48,900 --> 00:00:52,500 faded to remain chained as slaves to sin. 8 00:00:52,500 --> 00:00:56,700 No one and only son to secure us as God's children. 9 00:00:56,700 --> 00:01:00,900 No wonderful counselor, no Prince of Peace. 10 00:01:00,900 --> 00:01:07,800 Only Allah, we are too weak to keep only a Chasm between our 11 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,700 creator and us a divided. So why'd we stand no chance. 12 00:01:11,700 --> 00:01:17,500 Hands to cross. What if this was the only kind 13 00:01:17,500 --> 00:01:21,200 of life we could live, what have God had withheld. 14 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:33,500 The very best he had to give Crossing family. 15 00:01:33,500 --> 00:01:36,100 It is so good to be with you. I want to welcome those of you 16 00:01:36,100 --> 00:01:39,900 here and Quincy at our 48th Street campus as well as our 929 17 00:01:39,900 --> 00:01:42,200 campus. To those of you apart of our 18 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,600 Macomb family, Kirksville, family Pike County, Hannibal 19 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:49,500 Lima, Mount Sterling, Monmouth, and Jacksonville to those of you 20 00:01:49,500 --> 00:01:52,200 who are watching all across this region and around the United 21 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,000 States online. Into those of you who are part 22 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,500 of the crossing inside, I also want to welcome those of you who 23 00:01:58,500 --> 00:02:02,000 are joining us for the first time or the first time in a long 24 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,500 time. Why we are so glad that you are 25 00:02:04,500 --> 00:02:07,800 here and that you're allowing us to be part of your Christmas 26 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,800 celebration. So on behalf of Jennifer and I, 27 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,300 as in our family, as well, as all of those who call The 28 00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:16,900 Crossing home, I want to wish you a merry Christmas. 29 00:02:17,300 --> 00:02:21,700 And I know that many of you are joining us from for your 30 00:02:21,700 --> 00:02:24,200 Christmas Eve services, all across this region. 31 00:02:24,700 --> 00:02:27,300 There are some of you who are incredibly excited to be here. 32 00:02:28,100 --> 00:02:32,100 You got your time slot, you send out your text messages, you 33 00:02:32,100 --> 00:02:35,500 couldn't wait, you fit it into your crazy schedule and you're 34 00:02:35,500 --> 00:02:39,200 happy to be here. But I also know that in a room, 35 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:43,800 this big all across this region. There are some of you who you 36 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:48,100 don't want to be here, you got dragged here, maybe you lost a 37 00:02:48,108 --> 00:02:50,800 bet with someone, if you're like, my kids, you're having to 38 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,500 wear an outfit, you didn't plan on wearing and it's not as 39 00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:55,300 comfortable as you thought it would be. 40 00:02:55,700 --> 00:02:58,200 And you're frustrated, I want, you know, we get that. 41 00:02:58,900 --> 00:03:02,800 I also know that there's some of you Who you're trying to 42 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,200 navigate your first Christmas without somebody? 43 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:09,500 Maybe that's why you're sitting alone. 44 00:03:09,500 --> 00:03:13,600 I mean, there's people around you, but you're sitting alone or 45 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,700 maybe there's people around you and you're feeling alone. 46 00:03:17,900 --> 00:03:20,600 Maybe this year you're having Christmas because of someone's 47 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:27,100 loss at a different house. You're trying to figure out, are 48 00:03:27,100 --> 00:03:30,000 you going to carry the weight of their Christmas traditions or 49 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:34,200 you just going to can them and try and start some new ones? 50 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,200 And there are some of you in here that because of recent 51 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:44,100 Health, Revelations your Pondering the reality that this 52 00:03:44,100 --> 00:03:49,900 might be your last Christmas. You're trying to soak it all in, 53 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,000 you're trying to figure out if there's a way to set everything 54 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:58,200 that's gone, wrong relationally, right? 55 00:04:01,300 --> 00:04:03,200 And there's some of you. You're just trying to make 56 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,500 people happy. You're just getting pulled in a 57 00:04:06,500 --> 00:04:10,300 thousand different directions. And you're here, just to put a 58 00:04:10,300 --> 00:04:13,200 smile on Grandma's face. That's what you've been told. 59 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,600 Do it for Grandma and I want you to hear me say this. 60 00:04:17,300 --> 00:04:20,800 I'm glad you're here. No matter where you find 61 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:25,300 yourself, emotionally or relationally, or physically, or 62 00:04:25,300 --> 00:04:29,900 spiritually, I believe that there is a gift for you today. 63 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,600 I believes there's a gift for your past a gift for your 64 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,900 present and ultimately a gift for your future. 65 00:04:37,100 --> 00:04:40,400 Let me explain the video. We just watched ended with a 66 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,400 really powerful question for us to ponder. 67 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:48,300 More than just being powerful. It's a little scary. 68 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:52,600 Here's what the question was. What if God had withheld? 69 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:58,900 The very best he had to give? What would our world look like? 70 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:06,000 Without the birth of Jesus. The social scientific 71 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:11,800 educational economic Financial impact alone would be staggering 72 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,700 you see, it was from the Christian Community that the 73 00:05:15,700 --> 00:05:19,900 first colleges and universities were formed Oxford's motto is 74 00:05:19,900 --> 00:05:24,300 the Lord is my light. It was Jesus followers who 75 00:05:24,300 --> 00:05:27,400 started Cambridge in the University of Paris, as well as 76 00:05:27,700 --> 00:05:31,700 Harvard and Yale. In fact, 127 of the first 77 00:05:31,700 --> 00:05:34,500 hundred and thirty eight universities established here in 78 00:05:34,500 --> 00:05:38,000 the United States where stablished in Jesus name. 79 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:42,200 It was a desire to understand Jesus as creator. 80 00:05:42,500 --> 00:05:45,000 That led to five. Fantastic scientific, 81 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,700 discoveries and advancements. It was Florence Nightingale a 82 00:05:48,707 --> 00:05:52,700 Jesus follower that transformed the occupation of Nursing. 83 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,800 And it was j.j. Thomson in Elder who discovered 84 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,800 the electron and was the inventor of the mass 85 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:00,600 spectrometer. And I know that doesn't mean 86 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,500 much to almost anybody including myself, but let me tell you why 87 00:06:03,500 --> 00:06:07,100 this is important because that Discovery and that invention 88 00:06:07,100 --> 00:06:10,500 changed forever their studies in chemistry, biochemistry, 89 00:06:10,500 --> 00:06:14,400 Pharmacy and medicine. So if this past week you found 90 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,500 yourself in a pharmacy needing medicine you can trace it back 91 00:06:17,500 --> 00:06:20,700 to that Jesus follower who wanted to understand Jesus as a 92 00:06:20,707 --> 00:06:24,300 Creator, it was Blaise Pascal. Who invented the hydraulic press 93 00:06:24,300 --> 00:06:26,800 in the mechanical, calculator, along with many other things. 94 00:06:27,100 --> 00:06:30,200 It was William Thompson, a Jesus follower who deduced absolute 95 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:33,400 zero in invented signaling equipment that was used in the 96 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:38,000 first transatlantic Telegraph. I could go on and on, we could 97 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,200 talk about George Washington, Carver, Carver. 98 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,100 We could talk about Carl Gauss. We can talk about Isaac Newton 99 00:06:43,100 --> 00:06:48,500 and so many more. What about art will Jesus impact 100 00:06:48,500 --> 00:06:51,500 on art is profound as well? Did you know, that musical 101 00:06:51,500 --> 00:06:55,500 notation was an invention of Jesus followers to be able to 102 00:06:55,500 --> 00:06:57,800 give people an opportunity to worship? 103 00:06:58,500 --> 00:07:02,700 Or to sing worship songs to Jesus all across the globe. 104 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,300 It was the languages of Italian and German in English that were 105 00:07:07,300 --> 00:07:10,500 all shaped through. Jesus followers translating the 106 00:07:10,500 --> 00:07:15,600 Bible into their language and then teaching them how to read, 107 00:07:17,300 --> 00:07:20,600 there would be no Narnia. No, Lord of the Rings. 108 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,800 No, Sistine Chapel. No Dante's Divine Comedy. 109 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,200 How about this one this year, Alone? 110 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:34,100 Christian philanthropy, accounted for 70% of All 111 00:07:34,100 --> 00:07:39,700 American philanthropy? It was Jesus followers that out. 112 00:07:39,700 --> 00:07:43,000 Gave the US government in addressing Global poverty. 113 00:07:45,900 --> 00:07:47,700 Or take the invention of hospitals. 114 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:52,000 I'm guessing over the last three years, many of you have had to 115 00:07:52,008 --> 00:07:54,600 spend some time in a hospital. Did you know that that was a 116 00:07:54,608 --> 00:07:59,200 uniquely Christian invention. It was an outgrowth of Christian 117 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:03,000 people trying to live out the words of Jesus to help the down 118 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,800 and out that they started to welcome into their house, the 119 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:09,000 sick and needy and then they started to give them a place to 120 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:14,800 go for the sick and needy. And the result became hospitals 121 00:08:15,500 --> 00:08:19,600 as people tried to live out the teachings of Jesus as it 122 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:26,800 pertained to hospitality. In other words, the answer to 123 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:30,100 the question is that this world would not be as educated 124 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:35,200 inspired Advanced or is cared for without Jesus and that 125 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:39,299 barely scratches the surface because those of us who have our 126 00:08:39,299 --> 00:08:43,200 relationship with Jesus Christ realize that he has done so much 127 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,900 more for us on an individual level. 128 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:50,700 How do you articulate the beauty of the birth of Jesus in just a 129 00:08:50,708 --> 00:08:54,500 few words? What if you only had 12? 130 00:08:55,300 --> 00:08:58,900 What 12 words would you use to articulate the beauty of Jesus 131 00:08:58,900 --> 00:09:03,700 showing up here on planet Earth? Well, we could do unto us a 132 00:09:03,700 --> 00:09:07,700 child is born unto us a son is given. 133 00:09:08,100 --> 00:09:11,600 That's Isaiah chapter 9, that though he was rich yet for your 134 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:13,800 sakes. He became poor that second 135 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:17,100 Corinthians chapter 8. Also 12 words for in him, all 136 00:09:17,100 --> 00:09:22,000 the fullness of deity, dwells in bodily form, Colossians 2:9 you 137 00:09:22,300 --> 00:09:25,200 Is know the answer to this one. John 3:16 God. 138 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:29,600 So loved the world that he gave his only. 139 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:33,900 We got to go King James version here for a second begotten son. 140 00:09:35,100 --> 00:09:36,600 What have you had to do it in 11? 141 00:09:37,900 --> 00:09:40,400 Could you deduce the magnitude of Jesus? 142 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:42,700 Coming to Earth? Just 11 words. 143 00:09:43,700 --> 00:09:47,500 Luke chapter 1 verse 78 says, the Morning Light from Heaven is 144 00:09:47,500 --> 00:09:52,900 about to break Upon Us 10 from his fullness. 145 00:09:52,900 --> 00:09:57,300 We have all received Grace, upon Grace, there's a whole sermon 146 00:09:57,300 --> 00:09:59,000 there. Could you do it? 147 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:04,500 Nine. Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, 148 00:10:04,900 --> 00:10:08,900 Everlasting father Prince of Peace. 149 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:13,700 Can you do it in eight? Good news of great. 150 00:10:13,700 --> 00:10:19,800 Joy for all people Duke 2:10, seven, a savior who is Christ 151 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:22,700 the lord six, the image of the invisible. 152 00:10:22,700 --> 00:10:32,700 God 5 full of grace and truth for The word became flesh. 153 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:37,500 Three God came down to, you have to go to Acts chapter 4, verse 154 00:10:37,500 --> 00:10:42,200 30, holy child. Could, you could you reduce the 155 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:47,600 magnitude of Jesus coming to Earth down to just one word? 156 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:53,000 I think you can you Manuel Look what it says, in Matthew chapter 157 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,100 1 verse 22. Through 23, all this took place 158 00:10:56,100 --> 00:10:58,200 to fulfill what the Lord had said. 159 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:01,800 Through the prophet, the Virgin will conceive and give birth to 160 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,600 a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means Say it 161 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:07,800 With Me. God With Us. 162 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,500 That's three words. God With Us. 163 00:11:13,900 --> 00:11:18,100 God With Us. I got to be honest with you, 164 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:19,700 that doesn't make a lot of sense. 165 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:24,800 How can God be there and here? And with you, and me and every 166 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:28,100 single one of us simultaneously, it doesn't make a lot of sense, 167 00:11:28,100 --> 00:11:30,600 but just so, you know, there's a lot of things about Christmas 168 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,600 that just don't make sense. For instance to my knowledge 169 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,600 Christmas is the only birthday party where everybody else gets 170 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,600 the presents. Right? 171 00:11:41,900 --> 00:11:44,800 You didn't go, hey, Mom's birthday's in a couple of weeks. 172 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,600 What are you getting me, right? Nobody has. 173 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:51,000 But when it comes to Jesus were like, yeah, what are you getting 174 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,700 me? Here's another one Angels 175 00:11:53,700 --> 00:11:56,600 ripping apart the heavens and singing a song to Shepherds 176 00:11:56,900 --> 00:12:02,200 doesn't make sense. Wise men, following a star and 177 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:05,400 finding a house in Bethlehem. Doesn't make sense? 178 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:12,100 I'm no scientist But a virgin being pregnant, doesn't make 179 00:12:12,100 --> 00:12:15,100 sense either. But all of that is found right 180 00:12:15,100 --> 00:12:19,200 here in this story, how Does that happen? 181 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:24,100 Well Luke gives us a clue in Luke 1:37 inside the birth 182 00:12:24,100 --> 00:12:27,800 Narrative of Jesus. This is what it says for nothing 183 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:33,800 will be impossible with God. How can God be with us? 184 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:35,800 Because nothing is impossible for him. 185 00:12:37,300 --> 00:12:42,400 How can God be with you and me and every situation and in every 186 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:47,200 circumstance because with him, nothing is impossible, and God 187 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:49,800 has made it his mission to be with you. 188 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:52,800 If you will let him. As I said from the very 189 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,700 beginning, this is a gift for your past, a gift for your 190 00:12:55,700 --> 00:12:58,100 present, and it's a gift for your future. 191 00:12:58,500 --> 00:13:01,600 How is this baby in a Manger? Good news for your past. 192 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:04,800 Well, that baby doesn't stay in a Manger 33 years later. 193 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:09,100 He walks alone loan to Calvary and he dies a death that nobody 194 00:13:09,100 --> 00:13:12,600 else can die in your place on your behalf. 195 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:17,600 So that way you don't have to, and he was on the cross, he 196 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:21,700 brought about healing and redemption and forgiveness for 197 00:13:21,700 --> 00:13:27,100 your past. Recently, my family's been sick. 198 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:32,100 I kid came home last Thursday sick from school then my other 199 00:13:32,100 --> 00:13:34,000 kid got sick then my wife got sick. 200 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,900 It's a miracle that I'm here. I've been ducking and weaving 201 00:13:36,900 --> 00:13:43,900 all week long and 11 night at about 2 in the morning. 202 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:50,400 One of my kids start screaming from upstairs Dad, I threw up. 203 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:56,900 I get up. I'm like okay you guys, I threw 204 00:13:56,900 --> 00:14:01,300 up in my room like all right. Go to another bedroom and go to 205 00:14:01,300 --> 00:14:08,300 sleep and I went back to bed. I figured listen, I figured it 206 00:14:08,300 --> 00:14:16,300 wasn't going to be that bad. I was wrong, he he didn't miss 207 00:14:16,300 --> 00:14:18,400 the toilet, he didn't even make it into the vicinity of the 208 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:20,600 bathroom. I brought pictures. 209 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:22,200 Now, I'm joking. I didn't, I wouldn't do that to 210 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,300 you. So I go and get the paper towels 211 00:14:25,300 --> 00:14:31,200 and I get the spray and I start in And it's not going so well. 212 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:37,000 And my son said, why don't we just light some candles? 213 00:14:40,700 --> 00:14:43,500 Right? And I said that won't work. 214 00:14:43,500 --> 00:14:44,100 And he goes. Why? 215 00:14:44,100 --> 00:14:47,400 I said because cannibals only / only deal with the smell. 216 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:55,600 They don't deal with the stain. So, I went to Walmart, went to 217 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:59,500 the vacuum section, and then I was looking for, like the 218 00:15:00,300 --> 00:15:03,400 whatever you call them. You can see how how useful I am 219 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:07,400 around the house, the wet vacs, you know, like the pet urine 220 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:11,700 scrubbing, machines and I bought the one where you put the water 221 00:15:11,700 --> 00:15:18,300 in and you get the added Heat. And this Bissell bad boy, you 222 00:15:18,300 --> 00:15:22,100 know, and I went to work and I got the Bissell. 223 00:15:22,100 --> 00:15:27,000 Added heat pet scrubbing, water holding OxiClean solution, 224 00:15:27,100 --> 00:15:32,100 shooting stain, Destroyer. And I went to work. 225 00:15:35,500 --> 00:15:39,400 And eventually. That spot. 226 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:46,400 Look brand new. When it comes to your past. 227 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,600 You don't need more candles. You need Bissell? 228 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:54,700 Jesus. And some of us have been buying 229 00:15:54,700 --> 00:15:59,200 candles for a really long time. We've just been trying to cover 230 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:03,200 up the smell of our past instead of dealing with the stain of our 231 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,900 past. Now you so you go out and you 232 00:16:07,900 --> 00:16:13,500 Goodbye. The you buy the job candle and 233 00:16:13,500 --> 00:16:16,300 the new boyfriend candle and the vacation. 234 00:16:16,300 --> 00:16:20,200 You can't afford candle and a different car candle and you 235 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:23,600 move to a different neighborhood candle or you, you leave that 236 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:27,400 job and you get the new job candle and you just keep getting 237 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:29,800 more. And more candles trying to solve 238 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:33,800 the smell instead of spending your time actually addressing 239 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:37,100 the stain. And you get like the one with 240 00:16:37,100 --> 00:16:38,800 candle then you like, well, that's not enough. 241 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:40,000 We need to get the to wit candle. 242 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,100 Then you get the three wit candle the other day I was 243 00:16:42,300 --> 00:16:45,100 lighting are for Witkin on. Mike, why are we? 244 00:16:45,100 --> 00:16:47,800 Why are we buying these? Because the last one is always 245 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,500 the hardest one to lighten. You end up burning the hair off 246 00:16:50,500 --> 00:16:52,500 your wife's Knuckles when you when she's trying to get it 247 00:16:52,500 --> 00:16:55,300 going right and you just want to go stop. 248 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:59,800 And some of us, we've written so many candles in our lives that 249 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:03,100 we can hardly breathe. And then eventually the candles, 250 00:17:03,100 --> 00:17:06,500 go out and the smell returns. And so we go and buy more 251 00:17:06,500 --> 00:17:10,800 candles. When all along, all you needed 252 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:14,200 was Bissell. Jesus my boys took pictures 253 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:16,000 before and after I'm not going to show them. 254 00:17:17,300 --> 00:17:20,700 But can I tell you something? The area where I let Bissell 255 00:17:20,700 --> 00:17:24,500 Jesus do his work? Is the cleanest room in the 256 00:17:24,500 --> 00:17:28,200 cleanest part of that room. Isn't that interesting? 257 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,700 The place where the biggest stain is is now the most 258 00:17:31,700 --> 00:17:33,400 beautiful piece of carpet in the room. 259 00:17:35,300 --> 00:17:39,300 And those of us who have a long history with Jesus Christ, isn't 260 00:17:39,300 --> 00:17:43,200 that our testimony? That he took the most beat-up 261 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:47,000 parts of us and made it the most beautiful that you can look 262 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:50,700 through our lives and you can see exactly where we've let him 263 00:17:50,700 --> 00:17:54,600 do his work. And you can see exactly where we 264 00:17:54,600 --> 00:18:00,000 stole him to stop. You could choose candles. 265 00:18:02,100 --> 00:18:07,100 But Bissell, Jesus is the only thing that will fix the stain of 266 00:18:07,100 --> 00:18:09,500 your past. There is no sinner. 267 00:18:09,500 --> 00:18:12,900 He can't save. There is no failure. 268 00:18:12,900 --> 00:18:15,300 He can't fix. There is no, there is no 269 00:18:15,300 --> 00:18:20,900 situation that he can't solve his good news for your past. 270 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:25,300 How is this baby in a Manger? Good news for your present. 271 00:18:26,100 --> 00:18:30,000 Well, that baby doesn't stay in a Manger after his crucifixion 272 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,300 and Resurrection. He ascended into heaven. 273 00:18:32,300 --> 00:18:35,700 He seated at the right hand of God and there, he intercedes for 274 00:18:35,700 --> 00:18:37,100 you. It's a big church word. 275 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:41,800 All it means is, he talks to God on your behalf and at the same 276 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:45,200 time that he's doing that. He's placed his spirit in those 277 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:49,000 who are believers in Jesus, where he goes with us, no matter 278 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:52,000 what we face. Here's what that means. 279 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:58,200 Emmanuel means god with you. No matter what you're going 280 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:02,200 through, Immanuel god with you. And you might be tempted to say, 281 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:05,500 but Clayton, you don't know about my unique situation and my 282 00:19:05,500 --> 00:19:08,500 unique challenges and that's why he's not with me. 283 00:19:09,300 --> 00:19:14,000 So I put a list together. If you're dealing with addiction 284 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:18,100 abuse and anger management, you need to hear this Emmanuel. 285 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,100 God is with you and your Brokenness bad habits, and 286 00:19:22,100 --> 00:19:27,400 business blunders Emmanuel God is with you, and your closeted 287 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:32,400 cynicism, and in your colossal challenges Emmanuel, God is with 288 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:37,100 you, in your doubts, Darkness, depression, diagnosis and 289 00:19:37,100 --> 00:19:42,800 defeats the Bible, screams Emmanuel, God is with you in 290 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:45,700 your embarrassment and in your emptiness Emmanuel. 291 00:19:46,700 --> 00:19:50,200 In your fatigue and failures gloom, and guilt hate, and 292 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:56,300 heartbreak imperfections. And inadequacies Emmanuel, God 293 00:19:56,300 --> 00:19:57,700 is with you. Some of you are going. 294 00:19:57,700 --> 00:19:59,000 Is he doing what? I think he's doing. 295 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:01,600 The answer is, yes. If you're becoming jaded and 296 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:04,600 judgmental, and if you're facing jeering and needing Justice, 297 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:08,600 Emmanuel, God is with you. When you're standing in your 298 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:13,100 kitchen looking at koalas or staring through kaleidoscopes, 299 00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:19,500 Emmanuel, God is with you in your loneliness, messiness 300 00:20:19,500 --> 00:20:21,700 neediness, oppressiveness and pettiness. 301 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:29,400 You manual, in your questioning. God is with you and your raging 302 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:31,500 and restlessness shaming and sadness. 303 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:36,600 Trying and tiredness. Emmanuel, God is with you in 304 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:43,100 your uncertainty and uneasiness. Emmanuel, God is with you in 305 00:20:43,100 --> 00:20:46,900 your vices and victories. And when you take your dog to 306 00:20:46,900 --> 00:20:53,800 the vet Emmanuel, God is with you in your worry and weariness 307 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,600 and weakness. Immanuel God. 308 00:20:56,700 --> 00:21:00,200 God is with you XYZ bare with me. 309 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,600 And when you're getting an x-ray because you got kicked by a yak 310 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:09,300 at the zoo Emmanuel. God is with you. 311 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,600 There is no situation that you will face. 312 00:21:12,700 --> 00:21:16,300 There is no circumstance that you will walk through where God 313 00:21:16,300 --> 00:21:22,000 is not fully ready and prepared to be with you in that moment 314 00:21:22,100 --> 00:21:27,000 Emmanuel God is with you and that is good news for your 315 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:29,400 present. But what about your future? 316 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:31,400 Well, these promises are not just for today. 317 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:35,000 A before every day in front of you, there is no mountain too 318 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:36,900 high. That you can go and Escape him. 319 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:40,300 And there is no Valley too low that you can go and hide out. 320 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:43,800 It was David who says, in Psalm 23, you've all been to a 321 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:45,900 funeral. You've heard these words, even 322 00:21:45,900 --> 00:21:48,600 though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will 323 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:49,700 fear. No evil. 324 00:21:49,700 --> 00:21:53,300 Why? Because you are with me. 325 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:57,900 Emmanuel. There are a lot of gifts that 326 00:21:57,900 --> 00:22:01,000 you're going to want this Christmas, but there is only one 327 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:06,000 gift you need. And that is Emmanuel. 328 00:22:06,900 --> 00:22:10,300 You need God with you. And here at the Crossing, we 329 00:22:10,300 --> 00:22:14,000 call that an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 330 00:22:14,700 --> 00:22:17,400 And you can open that gift today. 331 00:22:18,100 --> 00:22:21,700 And when you open that gift, it will make all the difference. 332 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,900 And I hope you'll do just that that we love you remember to a 333 00:22:25,908 --> 00:22:34,800 time of decision. Just talking about gifts gets me 334 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:36,800 excited. I don't know about you tomorrow. 335 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:39,900 Morning's a special morning when you especially with kids and you 336 00:22:39,900 --> 00:22:41,900 open up gifts. But the special thing about this 337 00:22:41,900 --> 00:22:46,900 gift that we are talking about right now is this listen, it has 338 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:52,200 your name on it. It has your name on it all week 339 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:53,500 long. My kids been going around the 340 00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:55,400 tree. The saying that has my name on 341 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:57,100 it. It has my name on it because you 342 00:22:57,100 --> 00:22:59,800 get excited about when you see a gift and you have that gift tag 343 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:02,000 and it has his name on it. It's special. 344 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:04,900 But here's what the Angels declared the day. 345 00:23:04,900 --> 00:23:08,700 Jesus was born, they said, hey, this child is good news of 346 00:23:08,700 --> 00:23:12,700 great, joy for all people, which includes every single one of you 347 00:23:13,500 --> 00:23:16,500 that it doesn't matter. Like he said, where you've been 348 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:21,700 It doesn't matter what you've done in your past, this gift, 349 00:23:22,300 --> 00:23:27,900 this gift of Jesus is available to you, this gift of him being 350 00:23:27,900 --> 00:23:33,000 Immanuel god with you has your name on it and I hope you'll 351 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,700 consider that today opening that because when you open it, this 352 00:23:35,700 --> 00:23:38,400 is what it looks like it's when you open it, you're saying, I 353 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:43,500 believe that Jesus is the son of God, and that I'm going to 354 00:23:43,500 --> 00:23:47,200 pursue the very call that he has on my life. 355 00:23:48,100 --> 00:23:53,200 And listen, I know all of you are at least I should say most 356 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:55,600 of you you have all your Christmas shopping done, there 357 00:23:55,600 --> 00:24:01,000 may be a crazy one out there. And you're like, I got the 358 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,700 perfect gifts, I have it, it's wrapped. 359 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:08,100 I'm ready to for Christmas morning, for my kid or my wife 360 00:24:08,100 --> 00:24:11,500 or my my husband open it. My grandma to open this gift, 361 00:24:11,500 --> 00:24:15,300 it's the perfect gift. And I will tell you this. 362 00:24:16,700 --> 00:24:19,400 The greatest gift you can give your family. 363 00:24:20,700 --> 00:24:23,900 The greatest gift you can give those who love you and care for 364 00:24:23,900 --> 00:24:26,800 you. Deeply is the Assurance of where 365 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:30,100 you're spending eternity. When this life is over, when you 366 00:24:30,100 --> 00:24:32,700 start an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus, when 367 00:24:32,700 --> 00:24:37,100 you confess that with your mouth, that Jesus is Lord. 368 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:39,600 When you start that intimate personal relationship with 369 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:42,800 Jesus, you would be joining. You will be joining several 370 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:44,400 people. Making that step this very 371 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:48,100 weekend, we've had one on Wednesday, one on Thursday, our 372 00:24:48,100 --> 00:24:50,100 sorry. One on Thursday, one on Friday 373 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:51,700 we had Add to right before service. 374 00:24:51,700 --> 00:24:54,700 We have another one happening. This service people are saying, 375 00:24:54,700 --> 00:24:57,100 I'm accepting that free gift of grace. 376 00:24:57,100 --> 00:25:00,700 And mercy, I am opening that gift and I am believing that 377 00:25:00,700 --> 00:25:03,300 Jesus who he says he is their starting that relationship and I 378 00:25:03,308 --> 00:25:06,600 want to, I want to ask if you've never started that before. 379 00:25:07,300 --> 00:25:10,700 If you've never opened and received that gift, it can 380 00:25:10,700 --> 00:25:14,700 happen today just a little bit. The music is going to start, and 381 00:25:14,700 --> 00:25:17,700 I'm going to be right up by the stage and we'd love to help you 382 00:25:17,700 --> 00:25:19,800 navigate what your next steps are. 383 00:25:20,500 --> 00:25:22,900 And you can do that next step today. 384 00:25:23,100 --> 00:25:25,900 You can start that relationship today. 385 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:29,600 But for us as Christians in here, maybe you made that 386 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:33,000 decision in the past, maybe it's been recent. 387 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:37,700 Maybe it was a long time ago, you open the gift, you started 388 00:25:37,700 --> 00:25:41,900 walking with Jesus, but like some presents that we get in our 389 00:25:41,900 --> 00:25:45,100 past. Sometimes we just kind of put 390 00:25:45,100 --> 00:25:49,100 them off to the side. We start just kind of saying 391 00:25:49,900 --> 00:25:53,900 I'll come back to it eventually and you've been kind of living a 392 00:25:53,900 --> 00:25:58,300 life not with Jesus in this in this time that you're living 393 00:25:58,300 --> 00:26:02,000 right now, you're not engaging with him, you just put it to 394 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:05,000 your side and your you're just living in your own wisdom and 395 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:08,700 your own strength. It looks like you're not walking 396 00:26:08,700 --> 00:26:10,900 daily with Jesus. You're not opening up the word 397 00:26:10,900 --> 00:26:12,700 of God. You're not allowing it to come 398 00:26:12,700 --> 00:26:16,500 inside of you and transform you, but I have to remind you 399 00:26:16,500 --> 00:26:17,400 something. Listen. 400 00:26:17,500 --> 00:26:22,500 So we have everything that we need in Christ. 401 00:26:22,500 --> 00:26:27,500 We have everything we need in Jesus, but yet for some reason 402 00:26:28,500 --> 00:26:31,500 and I get it, the lower Story Probably came inside of your 403 00:26:31,500 --> 00:26:34,700 life. We keep leaving behind that gift 404 00:26:34,900 --> 00:26:38,200 and ignoring the plans and the purposes that he has for you, 405 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:43,000 for your family, for your friends, your finances, and even 406 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:46,600 your future. So maybe in this moment, you're 407 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:49,200 not accepting the gift for the first time, but maybe you need 408 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:51,800 to reclaim it, you need to get down on your knees. 409 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:55,000 And you just say, God, I've been, I've been living away from 410 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:56,300 you. I've been living on my own 411 00:26:56,300 --> 00:27:01,500 strength and I just need you to know that I'm all in and I need 412 00:27:01,500 --> 00:27:04,700 to live with that accepting that gift today, and maybe that's 413 00:27:04,700 --> 00:27:06,100 what you're going to do in this time. 414 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:09,800 For all of us in this room to there's something special that 415 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:13,600 we have, we have this message, we have this truth, we have this 416 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:15,700 hope. And the best thing we could do 417 00:27:15,700 --> 00:27:18,800 is we could give it to others. We could re-gift it without 418 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:20,900 losing it ourselves. We can, you know, around the 419 00:27:20,900 --> 00:27:23,600 Christmas table, with your family, or your friends, and 420 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:27,100 just a little bit, you can share this, hope this gift that's 421 00:27:27,100 --> 00:27:29,300 available to your family and friends and let them know that 422 00:27:29,300 --> 00:27:32,000 they are loved, and they can start that intimate personal 423 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:37,200 relationship with him. But right now, this church, we 424 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:41,500 have a small gift for you and it's up in these gift boxes and 425 00:27:41,500 --> 00:27:43,600 there's several up here and I get it. 426 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:46,600 I'm this, this is gift is for every single person and just a 427 00:27:46,608 --> 00:27:48,000 little bit. You're going to see people come 428 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:49,000 forward. They're going to come up and 429 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:51,600 grab it and you're gonna be like it's too crowded up there. 430 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:54,700 There's too many people, listen, there's a lot of time on this 431 00:27:54,700 --> 00:27:56,700 back-end. I'm just going to encourage you 432 00:27:56,700 --> 00:28:00,300 to just take a moment and come claim this gift. 433 00:28:00,700 --> 00:28:03,800 Because all this is is a reminder for you. 434 00:28:04,500 --> 00:28:08,600 A reminder for me, it has a simple phrase on their just says 435 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:12,000 this. God loves you, and so do we. 436 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:14,800 And I know that may not seem like, oh, wow. 437 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:16,600 That's so deep. That's so powerful. 438 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:19,300 But listen, I'm going to encourage you. 439 00:28:19,300 --> 00:28:23,600 When you grab this gift, you put it somewhere special, whether 440 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:26,700 it's in your car, whether it's in your Bible, whether it's in 441 00:28:26,700 --> 00:28:29,200 your nightstand, whether it's in your bathroom, when you get up 442 00:28:29,208 --> 00:28:32,100 in the morning you get ready and you're brushing your hair or for 443 00:28:32,100 --> 00:28:34,100 those guys who just trying to comb a couple here. 444 00:28:34,300 --> 00:28:37,800 Is like, it's there. And you just need that. 445 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:41,800 Reminder, God loves me and so do I. 446 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:45,400 And so, do we this church? Listen, this church absolutely 447 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:47,300 loves you. And if you don't know this, I 448 00:28:47,300 --> 00:28:48,900 want you to hear it from my voice. 449 00:28:49,300 --> 00:28:52,600 We are in your corner. We are rooting for you. 450 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:54,700 We're rooting for your families, we want. 451 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:57,100 What's best for you? We know what's best for you is 452 00:28:57,100 --> 00:28:59,200 living inside that relationship with Jesus. 453 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:02,600 And so, and just a little bit, I'm gonna encourage you come get 454 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:05,600 this gift, maybe you pray over it a little bit and there might 455 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:09,500 be a time where At just the right moment you're having that 456 00:29:09,500 --> 00:29:12,800 lower Storey moment and you don't know where to go and you 457 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:14,900 don't know where to look. But then all of a sudden that 458 00:29:14,900 --> 00:29:18,800 card is going to minister to you and just the right point and 459 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:22,300 remind you that he loves you and that this church is for you. 460 00:29:22,700 --> 00:29:25,000 So I want you to consider that as you stand to your feet right 461 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:26,200 now. As we go into this time of 462 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:28,200 worship. Let's pray together, Heavenly 463 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:32,100 Father, Lord, I'm so thankful for each and every single person 464 00:29:32,100 --> 00:29:35,900 that is in this place right now, this Christmas before all the 465 00:29:35,900 --> 00:29:38,500 busyness For all the preparations. 466 00:29:38,500 --> 00:29:42,500 God, they are here for a reason. They're here for a reason, Lord. 467 00:29:42,500 --> 00:29:46,300 And I pray for that person who just needs to accept that gift 468 00:29:46,300 --> 00:29:50,200 for the very first time, I pray for boldness, for them to let 469 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:51,700 them know that it is. Okay. 470 00:29:51,700 --> 00:29:54,300 And they're not alone and that they have a church family and 471 00:29:54,300 --> 00:29:57,300 they have people in their lives. That mean, that is the greatest 472 00:29:57,300 --> 00:30:00,700 gift they can give them is by starting that relationship with 473 00:30:00,700 --> 00:30:03,900 you, but Lord, I know there's others, we get stuck in this 474 00:30:03,900 --> 00:30:06,600 lower story of a life that just need to reclaim. 475 00:30:06,700 --> 00:30:09,500 That gift they need to just refresh their relationship with 476 00:30:09,500 --> 00:30:10,800 you. And I pray, they do business 477 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:14,700 with you and this time, but Lord also I know that there is a 478 00:30:14,700 --> 00:30:18,200 broken world out there where they need people. 479 00:30:18,900 --> 00:30:21,600 The people in this room to tell them about this gift that 480 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:24,300 they've received and to help share that with them. 481 00:30:24,300 --> 00:30:27,100 In this moment, I pray God just for these next few moments, 482 00:30:27,900 --> 00:30:30,800 powerful moments for families, the circle around each other and 483 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:33,400 pray together to claim this gift that God. 484 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:36,500 You love us. And that we're in their Corner 485 00:30:36,500 --> 00:30:38,400 as well. We love you and pray all this in 486 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:40,200 Jesus name. Amen. 487 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:36,900 And that we're in their Corner as well. 488 00:30:36,900 --> 00:30:39,300 We love you and pray all this in Jesus name. 489 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:40,200 Amen.