Light of The World: Candlelight Service

This message invites us into the profound joy of celebrating Jesus as the light who breaks into our darkness. Drawing from Luke's account of the angel Gabriel visiting Mary and Isaiah's ancient prophecy, we're reminded that Jesus wasn't a random solution to humanity's problem—He was always God's intentional plan. The name 'Jesus' itself means 'the Lord saves,' a constant reminder of His mission every time it was spoken. We explore how Mary's humble response—'so be it'—models the kind of surrender God desires from us when He calls us to participate in His purposes. The candle-lighting ceremony beautifully illustrates how we, like John the Baptist, aren't the light ourselves but bear witness to the true Light. Each flame represents the Holy Spirit dwelling within believers, and when we hold our lights high together, we see the exponential power of God's light shining through His people. The challenge before us is clear: will we let our light shine boldly in an increasingly dark world, or will we hide it? This Christmas season isn't just about remembering a birth from 2,000 years ago—it's about recognizing that we carry that same transformative light within us today, with the responsibility and privilege to share it with everyone we encounter.