The Wonder of Christmas

Dannah Gresh: Merry Christmas, my friend. Today we celebrate the birth of our Savior. I have a special plan for today. Come on over to my little white sofa and sit next to my teeny, tiny tree. This is the one I decorate for my twin grandbabies. They’re only two-and-a-half. That’s why it’s covered in big yarn pom poms and felt animals. But no matter what is on them, those Christmas lights always invite me to cozy up with some Christmas tea and just . . . remember! That’s what I’m inviting you to do with me today. Throughout our time together, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth will be reading the Christmas story. She’s gonna have some help from a young friend. And be ready for some soul-stirring Christmas music. 

Before we start, let's light the final flame in the advent wreath. Our last candle is the one in the middle: the Christ candle, because Christ was born on Christmas day.

To start our time together, let’s join Chris Tomlin and friends for a little "Silent Night." Then Nancy will read to us from Luke 2.

Chris Tomlin: "Silent Night"

Silent night, holy night.
All is calm; all is bright.
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night.
Son of God, love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face.
With the dawn of redeeming grace.
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night.
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glory streams from heaven afar.
Heavenly hosts sing allelujah.
Christ the Savior is born.
Christ the Savior is born.¹

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth Reading Luke 2

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. (vv. 2–5)

Rend Collective: "Once in David's Royal City":

Once in David's royal city stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother lay her baby in a manger for His bed.
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.²

Nancy:

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (vv. 6–7)

Steven Curtis Chapman: "Away in the Manger":

Away in the manger no crib for a bed.
The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked where He lay.
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing the Baby awakes.
But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes.
I love You Lord Jesus look down from the sky.
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.³

Dannah: You’re listening to Revive Our Hearts Weekend. I’m Dannah Gresh, and today is my Christmas card to you. We’ve been intermingly some Christmas hymns in as we listen to Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth read the Christmas story. 

That was Steven Curtis Chapman singing "Away in a Manger." On that Christmas album of his was a special reading by his daughter Shaoey, who at the time of the recording was . . . well, you’ll hear . . . she was so cute and little. Here’s Shaoey.

Shaoey:

And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country, shepherds were living out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people: for there is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. (vv. 8–14)⁴

The Gettys: "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing":

Hark, the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King.
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.

Joyful all ye nation rise,
Join the triumph of the skies.
With the angelic hosts proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark, the herald angels sing,
Glory to newborn King.

Christ by highest heaven adored,
Christ the everlasting Lord.
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity.
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.
Hark, the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King.

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace,
Hail the Son of righteouness.
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark, the herald angels sing,
Glory to newborn King.

Hark, listen to the angels.
Hark, listen to the angels.⁵

Nancy:

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (vv. 15–20)

Matthew West: "O Come All Ye Faithful":

Oh let us come.

Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant.
Oh come ye, oh come ye to Bethelehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels.
Oh come let us adore Him.
Oh come let us adore Him.
Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation.
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above.
Glory to God, glory in the highest.
Oh come let us adore Him.
Oh come let us adore Him.
Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord we greet Thee, born this happy morning.
Jesus to Thee be all glory given.
Word of the Father now in flesh appearing.
Oh come let us adore Him.
Oh come let us adore Him.
Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Christ the Lord.⁶

Nancy:

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lor (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
   according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
   that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
   and for glory to your people Israel.”

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (vv. 22–35)

Gaither Vocal Band: “Mary, Did You Know?":

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy he's Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I AM.⁷

Nancy:

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. (vv. 36–40).

We the Kingdom: “Light of the World (Sing Hallelujah)”:

Light of the world, treasure of heaven.
Brilliant like the stars in the wintery sky.
Joy of the Father reached through the darkness.
Shine across the earth, send the shadows afar.

Light of the world, from the beginning.
The tragedies of time were no match for Your love.
From great heights of glory, You saw my story.
God You entered in and became one of us.

Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah
For the things He has done.
Come and adore Him, come now before Him, sing hallelujah
To the light of the world.

Light of the world, crowned in a manger.
Born for the cross, to suffer, to save.
High King of heaven, death is the poorer.
We are the richer, by the price He paid.

Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah
For the things He has done.
Come and adore Him, bow down before Him, sing hallelujah
To the light of the world.

Light of the world, soon You'll be coming.
With fire in His eyes, He will ransom His own.
Through clouds He will lead, straight into glory.
And there He shall reign forever more.⁸ 

Dannah: That was We the Kingdom with their Christmas song, "Light of the Word."

Oh, friend, what a beautiful day to celebrate. I want to thank you for spending some of this special weekend with me. Thanks to our team who are celebrating with their families, and that’s where I’m heading right now.

For Revive Our Hearts Weekend, I’m Dannah Gresh, with a little help from my grandbabies to wish you a Merry Christmas.

Addie, say, "Merry Christmas."

Addie: Merry Christmas.

Zoe, say, "Merry Christmas."

Zoe: Merry Christmas.

Revive Our Hearts calling women to freedom, fullness and fruitfulness in Christ.

¹Chris Tomlin. "Silent Night." Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship. ℗ 2015 sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records.

²“Once in Royal David’s City,” Rend Collective, A Jolly Irish Christmas (Vol. 2). ℗ 2021 Rend Family Records, under exclusive license to Capitol CMG, Inc.

³Steven Curtis Chapman. “Away in a Manger.” Christmas. ℗ 1988 Sparrow records.

⁴Steven Curtis Chapman. “Luke 2:7–14 As Told by Shaoey.” All I Really Want for Christmas. ℗ 2005 Sparrow Records.

⁵Keith & Kristyn Getty. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” Joy—An Irish Christmas. ℗ 2011 Getty Music Label, LLC.

⁶Matthew West. “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” The Heart of Christmas ℗ 2011 Sparrow Records.

⁷Mark Lowry, Guy Penrod & David Phelps. “Mary, Did You Know?” Gaither Vocal Band—Reunion Volume 2. ℗ 2009 Spring House Music Group.

⁸We the Kingdom. “Light of the World (Sing Hallelujah).” Sparrow Records ℗ 2020 Capitol CMG, Inc.

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