OPENING COMMENTS
The theme for this week is the incarnation is a new beginning. When the Son of God took on human flesh and entered our world, he brought with himself the kingdom of God. He is the light that brings a new beginning to all.
- Our call to worship psalm — Psalm 97:1–12 — reminds us that the coming of the Lord brings gladness and rejoicing. This is both prophetic and our new reality.
- In Isaiah 62:6–12 ESV, the prophet talks about God’s covenant promises with those he calls, “The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord.”
- In Titus 3:4–7, Paul reminds us that, having been justified by the Savior’s grace, we have become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
- In Luke 2:1–7, 8–14 and 15–20, Luke describes the birth of the Messiah, the shepherds’ response, and Mary’s reaction.
A Message from Our Home Office …
Picture a world waiting in silence. Centuries of longing, generations holding onto promises spoken through prophets and whispered in prayers. Darkness seemed to linger, and hope felt like a distant dream. Yet even in that waiting, God’s eternal plan of love was unfolding, drawing all things toward the light of Christ.
Then, in the most surprising way — not with loud celebration or great power, but with quiet humility and gentleness — light broke through the darkness. Eternity entered time, and the infinite God became human.
On that holy night, the world was forever changed. A young mother cradled her child, shepherds hurried in from the fields, and angels filled the sky with songs of glory. Into a world marked by struggle and longing, love was born.
The incarnation is God’s declaration that no darkness is too deep, no story too broken, no heart too far gone. Jesus entered our humanity to stay — bringing forgiveness, restoring joy, and igniting hope.
What began in a manger was the start of a kingdom. A kingdom not built on power or wealth, but on grace, mercy, and love that endures forever. The light has come, and with it, a new beginning for all people.
As we celebrate the birth of Christ, let’s reflect together:
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- What fills you with awe and wonder when you think about the birth of Christ?
- Where in your life do you long for the new beginning that only Jesus can bring?
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8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:8-12 (NIV)
On this Christmas Day, may awe and wonder fill our hearts. The God who is infinite became one of us, the God who is love has come near. The incarnation is our new beginning. Christ has come, Christ is with us, and Christ will come again.
SERMON
A New Beginning
Isaiah 62:6–12 NRSV
Several Old Testament prophecies point to the event we celebrate today — Christmas: when God became flesh (Immanuel) and dwelled among us. There is one prophecy in Isaiah that doesn’t get as much attention as others. We will look at it today. By doing so, we can get excited about what Jesus ushered in when he became one of us to live as fully human while also being fully God.
Isaiah has many prophetic passages. Today, we will look at Isaiah 62:6–12.
Isaiah 62:1–12
For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns.
2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name.
3 You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4 You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.
5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
6 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent,
7 And give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
8 The Lord has sworn by His right hand and by the arm of His strength: “Surely I will no longer give your grain as food for your enemies; And the sons of the foreigner shall not drink your new wine, aor which you have labored.
9 But those who have gathered it shall eat it, And praise the Lord; Those who have brought it together shall drink it in My holy courts.”
10 Go through, Go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people; Build up, Build up the highway! Take out the stones, Lift up a banner for the peoples!
11 Indeed the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the world: “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Surely your salvation is coming; Behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.’ ”
12 And they shall call them The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord; And you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.
This passage was meant to be an encouragement to Judah, who had been conquered by the Babylonians, and it was meant to give comfort and assurance to the chosen nation. I’m sure it did give comfort to those who were willing to hear. But the message is more than just for ancient Israel. It also speaks of a type of return to the Holy Land — to the place God has chosen for his people. To those who were from Judah, it was a promise that they would return to Jerusalem. But as we know from history, returning in their day didn’t solve all their problems. One could correctly say the prophecy didn’t come to fruition for ancient Israelites. But that’s because the real purpose of the prophecy was much bigger: it was pointing to the One who could restore all things.
Let’s look at this prophecy and see how its message is about the Incarnation.
In the first five verses of this prophecy, Isaiah talks about a future Israel could only dream of.
- Your vindication will shine out like the dawn — all will see it and be excited about a new day.
- All nations and kings will see your glory.
- You will be given a new name.
- You will be given a beautiful crown, a royal diadem.
- You won’t be forsaken; your land will not be desolate.
- You will be called, “My delight.”
- You will be rejoiced over like a bridegroom rejoices over a bride.
This prophecy, like all the Old Testament, points to Jesus, the Father’s delight. It points to the Incarnation when God becomes flesh and a new beginning emerges for all, not just all of Israel but all of humanity.
Let’s go through the verses in today’s passage.
Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted sentinels; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who remind the Lord, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it renowned throughout the earth. Isaiah 62:6–7 NRSVUE
Paul would rephrase this to say, “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thess. 5:17 ESV) Day and night we should be in conversation with Father, Son, and Spirit. And we can talk to our Papa because Jesus revealed him to us. Prayer has new meaning now that Jesus came. He showed us that prayer is building relationship. When he said to seek first the kingdom, he is telling us to seek Father, Son, and Spirit. Israel prayed for deliverance; we pray to the Deliverer. Jesus revealed that he is the One who saves. We have a Savior we can talk to. And just as Isaiah told Judah to never be silent, Jesus taught us to go to our Father and ask, seek, knock. Get to know the Deliverer. Get to know the One who has reconciled us, who is restoring us to our true identity. Spend time with the One who is continually giving us a new beginning.
We ask God to give us strength when we face trials, to gives us peace that surpasses understanding, to remind us of the hope we have in him. And our hope is a bit different than what Israel was hoping for.
The Lord has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink the wine for which you have labored, but those who harvest it shall eat it and praise the Lord, and those who gather it shall drink it in my holy courts. Isaiah 62:8–9 NRSVUE
Here is where it becomes quite clear that Isaiah is talking about a time in the future that Israel has not yet experienced. This refers to salvation — Isaiah says it is coming, and we know it has already come because of the Incarnation. Jesus brought salvation to all who receive it. A new beginning is given to all who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. The past is forgiven; our sins are remembered no more. We are called new, saints, beloved. We are given a new hope. We have a different outlook on death. We have a future we long for. We look forward to a time when there are no more tears, no more sorrow, when all will live in the joy of the Lord, and we will be in an eternity filled with purpose, hope, promise, peace, and love we can only imagine. The Incarnation of Jesus makes this possible.
Let’s continue:
Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway; clear it of stones; lift up an ensign over the peoples. Isaiah 62:10 NRSVUE
Just as the prophets prepared the people for their future, John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus’ message to be heard. And we are called to prepare the way for others to hear. This is about participating with Jesus in his mission of salvation. The prophets didn’t save, John the Baptist didn’t save, and we don’t save. But we all point to the One who does save and who gives us freedom and offers us a new beginning.
Let’s conclude the passage:
The Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, “Look, your savior comes; his reward is with him and his recompense before him.” They shall be called, “The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord,” and you shall be called, “Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.” Isaiah 62:11–12 NRSVUE
The Lord gives us new names: saint, called out ones, beloved. Peter emphasizes that we are a holy nation, a people chosen by God. These titles refer to you and me. The Incarnation changed everything and offered us new beginnings in every aspect of life.
As believers, we find the fulfillment of Isaiah 62:6–12 in Jesus. He is the Messiah who proclaimed and embodied God’s reign and he is the Suffering Servant who offered salvation to the world. It is revealing that Luke 4:16–21 records that Jesus began his ministry by reading the passage of Isaiah just before this, when he opened the scroll and read what we know to be Isaiah 61:1–3 and said, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21 ESV).
Christmas day begins the season of Christmas, which ends with Epiphany.
- In every day of this season, let’s remind ourselves of the new beginnings the Incarnation brought us.
- And let’s rejoice and give praise to the One who is the author of new beginnings — Jesus.
SONG OF RESPONSE
Small Group Discussion Questions
- What do you think of when you hear the word, Incarnation?
- Carne (Spanish for Meat) … Meat, as in Flesh
- God becoming flesh (John 1:1 and 14)
- God becoming flesh FOR ALL PEOPLE … via the hypostatic union
- QQQ … This prophecy, like all the Old Testament, points to Jesus, the Father’s delight. It points to the Incarnation when God becomes flesh and a new beginning emerges for all, not just all of Israel but all of humanity.
- What Jesus did … was for ALL people. Notice …
- Luke 2:10-11 … Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
- John 12:32 … And I, if I am [a]lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.
- 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not [d]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
- 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
- 1 Timothy 4:8-10 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
- 1 John 2:2 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
- Carne (Spanish for Meat) … Meat, as in Flesh
- What new beginnings have you experienced in your relationship with Jesus?
- a new way of seeing (and understanding) God
- I now read the Bible through the lens of Jesus Christ, who came to reveal the Father.
- As a result, I’m having a lot of problems reading OT passages the way I once did … because many of them present an image of God that is not consistent with Jesus Christ.
- What new beginnings do you look forward to?
- a life without the presence of sin
- Share your favorite Christmas passage in Scripture and why it means so much to you.
- Luke 2:1-20
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Christ Born of Mary
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed [a]wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Glory in the Highest
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
CLOSING PRAYER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- This evening … @ 8:00pm … another prayer meeting online … Theme: Thank God for Jesus
- Tomorrow morning … @ about 7:00am a baptism scheduled
- Tomorrow evening … @ 7:30pm … another Bible Study … probably continuing to investigate the deity of Jesus Christ.