What if the most powerful way to celebrate Christmas is to see it through the eyes of the Holy Spirit—past, present, and future? Join us in this message delivered by Theodore Gardner, as we revisit the manger without sentimentality, the stable that smelled of hay and animals, and the unexpected guests who arrived dusty from the fields. That humble scene reframes everything we think we know about glory, reminding us that the greatest event in history unfolded with no comfort but with unshakable purpose.
From there we step into the present and confront a tension many of us feel: crowded traditions and thin devotion. We talk honestly about how the church grew with fire and unity, and how we’ve drifted into division and distraction. The heartbeat of the message is simple and urgent—return to the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit, Christmas becomes performance; with the Spirit, Jesus stays at the center. We wrestle with symbols that shape faith—the cross, the blood of Christ, the gifts of the Spirit—and ask whether replacing them with plastic trees and seasonal cheer has dulled our worship. James 1:27 challenges us to care for the vulnerable and keep our lives unpolluted by the world.
Then we look ahead to Christmas future, to the feast hosted by Jesus and the song of angels. The narrow way is not meant to scare us but to sharpen our focus. Grace saves us through faith, and faith grows as we hear the word of God again and again. So we make a clear call: preach the Holy Spirit, preach the blood, point to the cross, open the altars, and keep Christ at the center—not by guilt, but by commitment. We end in worship, lifting up the One who moved from throne to manger to cross to throne, all for love.
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