Theological Status: THERAPEUTIC / COMPLACENT
Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Laodicea
❓ What do these grades mean?
🔍 Biblical Discernment: The 7 Church Parallels
The Cold Orthodox Parallel
Ephesus
Teaching that upholds doctrinal precision yet parallels the loss of the "first love"—the vital, motivating power of the Gospel (Rev 2:4).
The Formalist Parallels
Pergamum
Teaching that parallels churches tolerating the "doctrine of Balaam" through cultural accommodation (Rev 2:14), characterized by weak boundaries, sloppy theology, and worldly compromise.
Why strictly "Mark & Avoid"?
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This ministry's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This ministry's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
🧐 Overview
Sermon Summary: A sermon exploring the meaning of Christmas through the lens of Jesus as the reason for all things, but with critical gaps in presenting the Gospel's core message of sin and redemption.
Big Idea: Jesus, the Logos — the divine Reason behind all existence — is not merely the reason for the Christmas season, but the reason for everything; and in becoming flesh, He reveals God’s character as humble, loving, and grace-filled. [00:19:34 ▶️ 📄]
Pastoral Analysis: While the sermon effectively highlighted Christ's humility and love through His incarnation, it faltered by framing salvation as finding personal purpose rather than addressing humanity's need for atonement. This misstep risks leading listeners away from the biblical Gospel toward a self-help approach to faith.
Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Laodicea — The sermon's framing of faith as personal fulfillment rather than redemption from sin reflects the spiritual complacency condemned in Revelation 3:15-16.
🎨 The Visual Metaphor
The cradle symbolizes Christ’s incarnation — not as a grand spectacle, but in humble, earthly fragility. The unlit candle represents humanity’s spiritual complacency, waiting for the Light to enter. The shadow, long and unbroken, points to the Gospel: Christ is the reason for all things, and His coming reorients even the coldest, quietest places.
📖 How they Handle Scripture & Jesus
- Primary Text: John 1:1-18
- Usage Classification: Therapeutic Deism
- Text-to-Talk Ratio: High
- Pulpit Decorum: ⚠️ CAUTION - Professionally delivered but theologically compromised in key areas.
✝️ Christological Focus: Weak
"Jesus is portrayed as a purpose-provider rather than sovereign Redeemer who atones for sin."
Scripture Saturation: Verses Read: 18 | Referenced: 2 | Alluded: 2
Passages Read Aloud:
-
John 1:1-18
[00:03:25 ▶️ 📄]
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God He was in the beginning with God All things came into being through Him and without Him not one thing came into being What has come into being in Him was life and the life was the light of all people The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it There was a man sent from God whose name was John He came as a witness to testify to the light so that all might believe through him He himself was not the light but he came to testify to the light The true light which enlightens everyone was coming into the world He was in the world and the world came into being through Him yet the world did not know Him He came to what was known His own and His own people did not accept Him But to all who received Him who believed in His name He gave power to become children of God who were born not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man but of God And the Word became flesh and lived among us and we have seen His glory the glory as of a father's only son full of grace and truth John testified to Him and cried out This was He of whom I said He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because He was before me From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace The law indeed was given through Moses Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ No one has ever seen God it is God the only Son who is close to the Father's heart who has made Him known"
Key References: Genesis 1:1-5, Colossians 1:15
🎙️ Sermon Content & Delivery
Word Count: 1,781 words
📌 Key Topics Addressed
-
The Logos (Word/Reason) of God
[00:10:16 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor explores the Greek term 'logos' in John 1, comparing its translation as 'Word' with philosophical meanings like 'reason' or 'meaning,' and argues that Jesus is the divine Reason behind all existence. -
The Incarnation
[00:14:56 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor emphasizes that the Logos became flesh, revealing God’s nature as humble, loving, and accessible — not as a distant deity but as one who enters human suffering. -
The Meaning of Life
[00:18:44 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor contrasts secular sources of meaning (wealth, family, survival) with the Christian claim that Jesus, as the Logos, is the true and ultimate reason for human existence.
🖼️ Illustrations & Stories
-
Sermon Illustration
[00:06:09 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor humorously references the 'four calling birds' from the '12 Days of Christmas' song to engage the congregation and transition into his sermon on the liturgical season. -
Sermon Illustration
[00:17:14 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor describes God's character through the life of Jesus: born in humility, fleeing as a refugee, healing the sick, teaching forgiveness — illustrating that 'God looks like' Jesus.
🚀 Calls to Action (Application)
-
Pastoral Charge
[00:19:33 ▶️ 📄]
> Make Jesus your reason for living — the foundational purpose of your life.
🧭 Biblical Alignment Dashboard
Overall Verdict: Fundamentally in Error
| Category | Status | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Gospel Presentation | ❌ FAIL | The sermon frames salvation as finding personal purpose rather than addressing sin and Christ's atoning work, omitting the necessity of His sacrificial death. |
| Soteriology | ❌ FAIL | Salvation is presented as achieving personal fulfillment rather than redemption from sin through Christ's atonement. |
| Bibliology | ✅ PASS | Scripture was referenced without denying its authority, though application required refinement. |
| Hermeneutic | ❌ FAIL | Scripture was interpreted through secular psychology rather than a redemptive-historical lens. |
| Theology Proper | ✅ PASS | No direct errors regarding God's nature were identified, though the sermon's focus on purpose limited deeper theological exploration. |
| Sacramentology | ⚪ N/A | No discussion of baptism or communion occurred. |
| Confessional Depth | ❌ FAIL | Lacks depth in addressing sin and redemption, focusing on surface-level purpose rather than the Gospel's transformative power. |
⚙️ The Gospel Engine (Confessional Distinctives)
❌ The Law And Wrath: Not observed in the sermon.
❌ Total Depravity And Inability: Not observed in the sermon.
❌ Active Obedience Of Christ: Not observed in the sermon.
❌ The Cross And Atonement: Not observed in the sermon.
✅ Commendations
Scripture Handling | Biblical Authority Affirmed
Scripture was referenced without denying its authority, though application required refinement.
Theology Proper | God's Nature Accurately Portrayed
No direct errors were noted regarding God's character, though the sermon's focus on purpose overshadowed deeper theological truths.
⚠️ Theological Concerns
🟡 Secular Purpose Framing (Misrepresenting Sin and Redemption)
Root Cause: Therapeutic Deism (The belief that God exists primarily to fulfill human desires and provide personal happiness)
"For some people, their reason is just survival... For some people, their reason is their family... For some people, their reason is to accumulate as much stuff... Maybe for some people it's just to love... Whoever we are, there's a reason why we get up out of bed every day... And what John is telling us today in our Scripture is, he's saying, make Jesus your reason." [00:18:56 ▶️ 📄]
Correction: All humans are sinners (Romans 3:23), separated from God by sin (Isaiah 59:2), and the solution is Christ's atoning death (1 John 2:2), not merely finding purpose in Him.
📜 Full Sermon Transcript (Audit)
Use the 📄 icons next to quotes above to automatically jump to their location in this raw transcript.
[00:01:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:01:09] Let us begin our prayer of confession.
[00:01:13] Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.
[00:01:20] We have failed to be an obedient church.
[00:01:24] We have not done your will.
[00:01:26] We have broken your law.
[00:01:29] We have rebelled against your love.
[00:01:32] We have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy.
[00:01:38] Forgive us, we pray.
[00:01:41] Free us for joyful obedience through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
[00:02:50] Hear the good news. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.
[00:02:55] This proves God's love toward us.
[00:02:58] In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
[00:03:07] Glory to God. Amen.
[00:03:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:03:10] Please stand as you are able.
[00:03:25] The scripture today is from the Gospel according to John, chapter 1, beginning with the first verse in the beginning was the word and the word was with god and the word was god he was in the beginning with god all things came into being through him and without him
[00:03:45] not one thing came into being what has come into being in him was life and the life was the light of all people the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it
[00:04:00] there was a man sent from god whose name was john he came as a witness to testify to the light so that all might believe through him he himself was not the light but he came to testify to the
[00:04:13] light the true light which enlightens everyone was coming into the world he was in the world and the world came into being through him yet the world did not know him he came to what was known
[00:04:26] his own and his own people did not accept him but to all who received him who believed in his name he gave power to become children of god who were born not of blood or of the will of the flesh
[00:04:40] or of the will of man but of god and the word became flesh and lived among us and we have seen his glory the glory as of a father's only son full of grace and truth john testified to him and cried
[00:04:55] out this was he of whom i said he who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace the law indeed was given through moses
[00:05:11] grace and truth came through jesus christ no one has ever seen god it is god the only son who is close to the father's heart who has made him known this is the gospel of our lord
[00:05:25] Praise to you, O Christ.
[00:05:37] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:05:37] Good morning.
[00:05:38] Merry Christmas.
[00:05:43] Of course, Christmas is not over.
[00:05:46] Only Christmas Day is over.
[00:05:49] Today is the fourth day of the season of Christmas, which we will celebrate all the way up to Epiphany on January the 6th.
[00:05:58] So I assume that since today is the fourth day out of 12 days of Christmas that everyone has received their four calling birds for a gift today.
[00:06:09] No? Nobody?
[00:06:13] So I have a confession to make this morning.
[00:06:16] As a pastor, someone who is called to live my life according to the church calendar, according to the Christian liturgical year, I know what I'm supposed to say as a pastor.
[00:06:35] What I'm supposed to say is our culture's obsession with beginning to celebrate Christmas so early, long before Christmas Day, that's just not the traditional, not the theologically correct way for us to understand this holy day and this holy season of Christmas.
[00:07:00] That's what I'm supposed to say.
[00:07:02] But if I'm honest, I don't mind at all that people start singing Christmas carols the day after Halloween.
[00:07:13] I think that's kind of fun.
[00:07:17] And I don't really mind it if people in my neighborhood begin decorating their yards and their houses for Christmas, you know, long before Thanksgiving even.
[00:07:26] I don't mind that at all.
[00:07:27] Now listen, I still believe very, very strongly in the Advent message of preparation and anticipation and waiting.
[00:07:38] This is an important message for us.
[00:07:40] But I'm not quite as, maybe I'm just getting old, I don't know, but I'm not as dogmatic about it as I used to be several years ago.
[00:07:47] If decorating and singing carols in November can help us be kinder to people, more loving and caring of other people for a longer period of time, I think Jesus is okay with that.
[00:08:04] I think we're forgiven for wanting to get to Christmas as quickly as we can.
[00:08:12] And in his own way, I think John, the writer of the gospel today, I think John helps us understand why people feel so strongly about Christmas and want to get to it so quickly.
[00:08:27] One of the very first things that a future preacher is taught in seminary is the importance of the word study.
[00:08:37] In other words, when we are doing preparation work for a sermon, very often what will happen in the Scripture that we're reading is that there will be a word, certain words that kind of jump out at you.
[00:08:49] Words that deserve more investigation and more research.
[00:08:54] So a word study, in a word study we essentially do what I would call an exegetical deep dive into that particular word.
[00:09:02] We will take that word and we will look at the origins of the word.
[00:09:06] When did it start?
[00:09:08] We'll look at the Hebrew, or in our case today, the Greek root of the word to figure out what it means.
[00:09:16] We'll look at the author's original intent when he was writing this, and is the original intent different from what we understand that word to mean today.
[00:09:27] We'll look at how that particular word is translated perhaps in other parts of the Bible, because it may be translated one way here and one way in a different place.
[00:09:39] We'll look at all kinds of things.
[00:09:40] So many factors come into play as to why certain words are chosen in the Bible.
[00:09:49] And sometimes just better understanding that one word can sort of help unlock an entire meaning to a passage.
[00:09:59] It can help us understand it in a new way.
[00:10:03] Well, when we read John chapter 1, the prologue it's often called, When we read John 1, there is definitely a word in there that deserves a word study.
[00:10:16] And the word is word.
[00:10:21] Word is the word.
[00:10:24] This fabulous Greek word, logos, sometimes pronounced logos, which is kind of an English, American English way to pronounce it.
[00:10:34] I learned it as logos in seminary, so I'm going to stick with that.
[00:10:38] In the beginning was the logos.
[00:10:39] The logos was with God and the logos was God.
[00:10:45] Now virtually every English translation of the Bible, every version that's been in English since the beginning has translated logos as Word.
[00:10:57] Word with a capital W.
[00:11:00] In the beginning was the Word.
[00:11:03] And using this translation makes sense.
[00:11:05] This translation makes a good connection between John chapter 1 all the way back to Genesis 1, where Genesis says, in the beginning, God created heaven and earth.
[00:11:21] And God said, let there be light, and there was light.
[00:11:25] In other words, God expressed God's self.
[00:11:29] God created through the act of speaking.
[00:11:35] And so John 1, as we just heard, starts out very much like Genesis 1.
[00:11:40] In the beginning was the Word.
[00:11:45] John is trying to help us understand that Jesus was there at the beginning.
[00:11:53] Even before the beginning.
[00:11:55] What we can understand is the beginning.
[00:11:57] Jesus has always been there.
[00:11:59] Jesus didn't just come into the picture when he was born in Bethlehem.
[00:12:06] Remember, you may know this, John's gospel is different from some of the other gospels.
[00:12:10] John is more of a theological gospel.
[00:12:12] gospel. Whereas Matthew and Luke are telling us the story of the birth of Jesus, kind of the details of it, the how and the when and all that, John looks at it differently. John is not going
[00:12:27] into detail. He's telling us why. What does his birth mean? So when everything is being formed, when the word was spoken by God, bringing all things into being, Jesus was there. Jesus is the very Word of God. So Word is a completely appropriate and right translation of Logos.
[00:12:53] It really is. But as we learn in a word study, as I was talking about, and I've been doing a word study this past week, as we learn in that word study, Logos has other translations. It has
[00:13:07] translations in the Greek language. It has specifically translations in Greek philosophy.
[00:13:12] And Logos does have other translations in the Bible.
[00:13:17] For instance, sometimes Logos is translated as idea, or thought, or meaning, or reason.
[00:13:30] So I think it's sort of fascinating, even compelling, if we were to reread John chapter 1 with one of those other translations of Logos.
[00:13:41] in the beginning was the reason and the reason was with god and the reason was god when you read it that way at least i do anyway i immediately hear this this phrase that we've all heard all of our
[00:14:01] lives jesus is the reason for the season but that's not really what john means here john is actually going way beyond that he's not saying jesus is the reason for this season he's saying jesus is the reason period that everything came into being through the reason that is everything
[00:14:28] that that you and i could ever possibly see or know or touch or feel or understand it all came to us through jesus he is the reason for everything there is he was with god he is god and furthermore
[00:14:49] But this logos, this reason, became flesh and lived among us, John says.
[00:14:56] So when we hear Jesus speak, we hear God.
[00:15:02] We hear God's very word.
[00:15:08] The reason that we are all here is because of the reason.
[00:15:14] This logos, this reason.
[00:15:15] In becoming flesh, John says, brought us grace.
[00:15:22] Grace upon grace.
[00:15:24] In other words, the reason we're here is to receive the undeserved, unmerited love of God.
[00:15:32] That's why we are here on this planet.
[00:15:36] We're here to receive the love of God the way that a parent, John says, loves a child.
[00:15:44] But then John writes this interesting thing.
[00:15:47] He says, but no one has ever seen God, to which we might respond and say, well, sure they have, John.
[00:15:55] Maybe not the invisible spirit God that we think of in the Old Testament.
[00:15:58] Maybe not Father God of the Trinity, but John, you just told us that the Logos was God and that the Logos came and lived among us.
[00:16:12] So, in fact, we have seen God.
[00:16:15] People have seen God because they've seen Jesus.
[00:16:19] And this, getting back to my original thought, I think is why people love Christmas so much.
[00:16:26] This is why we sing it's the most wonderful time of the year.
[00:16:29] Why we can't wait for it to start.
[00:16:32] Because the Logos we celebrate is God.
[00:16:39] It's the reason for everything.
[00:16:45] When we see this Logos, when we see Jesus, we see God and we know for certain what God is like.
[00:16:55] God is the one who humbles himself to be born, not in a palace or a mansion, or to be born with great power, but instead just simply to be born of a regular family, a simple family in the most modest of circumstances.
[00:17:14] That's what God looks like.
[00:17:17] God is the one who flees for his life to another country as a refugee not long after he's born.
[00:17:28] That's who God looks like.
[00:17:32] God looks like that baby who will grow up to love the outcast and to feed the poor and to heal the sick.
[00:17:43] God looks like that.
[00:17:44] He looks like the one who will teach us not to allow money to become our God.
[00:17:53] He looks like the one who will tell us to forgive rather than to judge.
[00:18:00] Jesus is what God looks like on earth.
[00:18:03] As Colossians says, he's the visible image of the invisible God.
[00:18:09] And this is who we worship during this season.
[00:18:14] This is who we follow throughout the year.
[00:18:16] And importantly, this is who and why we celebrate Christmas and why we can't wait to get to it.
[00:18:25] It's because the reason for everything is with us.
[00:18:31] One of the oldest, I think, most fundamental questions that has been asked by human beings, maybe even from the beginning of time, is what is the meaning of life?
[00:18:44] What's our purpose?
[00:18:45] Why are we here?
[00:18:48] What's the meaning of all this?
[00:18:51] For some, I know their reason is just survival, just making it day to day.
[00:18:56] For some people, their reason is their family.
[00:19:01] For some people, their reason is to accumulate as much stuff, as much wealth and power as they can.
[00:19:11] Maybe for some people it's just to love, to love and to want to be loved.
[00:19:18] Whoever we are, there's a reason why we get up out of bed every day.
[00:19:24] And what John is telling us today in our Scripture is, he's saying, make Jesus your reason.
[00:19:33] He is the logos.
[00:19:34] He is the Word of God.
[00:19:37] Not just the reason for the season,
[00:19:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:19:38] but Jesus is the reason. Period. Amen. Please stand. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is one true church, apostolic and universal, whose holy faith let us now declare.
[00:20:13] We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, power, and love, whose mercy is over all his works and whose will is ever directed to his children's good.
[00:20:27] We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man, the gift of the Father's unfailing grace, the ground of our hope, and the promise of our deliverance from sin and death.
[00:20:42] We believe in the Holy Spirit as the divine presence in our lives, whereby we are kept in perpetual remembrance of the truth of Christ and find strength and help in time of need. We believe that this faith
[00:21:00] should manifest itself in the service of love as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord, to the end that the kingdom of God may come upon the earth. Amen. Please join me as we go to God
[00:22:34] in prayer. Gracious and holy God, we give you thanks that we are here in your presence, that you have drawn us together, that you meet us here in worship, and that your light is already among us. God, for those who are tired in this season, for those who are carrying grief
[00:23:05] that feels heavier through and after Christmas, for those who feel lonely and uncertain, or overwhelmed. May your light shine in the darkness and remind them they are not alone.
[00:23:23] Lord, in your mercy. For those who are sick or recovering, God, for those waiting for answers, for caregivers who are weary, and for all whose bodies or spirits feel fragile, Bring healing, strength, and peace.
[00:23:46] Lord, in your mercy.
[00:23:50] For those struggling with addiction, anxiety, depression.
[00:23:55] For those living with shame or fear they cannot name.
[00:24:01] For those who feel unseen, unheard.
[00:24:06] For those who are misunderstood.
[00:24:09] Let your grace be received as a gift, not something to earn.
[00:24:15] May it wash over all Lord, in your mercy God, for your world For places torn by violence and injustice For leaders entrusted with great responsibility For our community And for our church, your church As it seeks to bear your light
[00:24:43] Shape us to live with truth Even when it's scary compassion even when it costs us something and love that is unconditional lord in your mercy god we not only know but we believe that you hear us when we pray that you are with us in
[00:25:09] this very moment that your spirit is alive and moving in this room so in faith we take this opportunity now to name aloud to you those praises and concerns we carry. Lord, we pray for. Lord,
[00:25:33] in your mercy, we pray all of this in the precious name of Jesus, who taught us to pray, saying, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
[00:25:51] on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
[00:26:08] evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Well, good morning and welcome to Davidson United Methodist Church. We're certainly glad that you are here. If this is your first time worshiping with us, we would like to extend a special welcome to you and let you know
[00:26:28] that we have a special gift for you out in our gathering space. And we'd also like to invite all of you to take the time to grab the fellowship register at the end of your pew and sign in so
[00:26:39] that you can let us know that you are with us in worship this morning. We are glad to know that you are here with us. If you look in your bulletin, kind of towards the back, you'll see a list of
[00:26:49] a lot of opportunities and announcements and ways to get involved with our congregation throughout this upcoming year. And we hope that you'll take your worship bulletin home, or if not, at least take a picture of some of the options that you have coming up so that you can
[00:27:04] add those to your calendar. We have a newsletter that goes out every week. We communicate as much as often as we can. We promise not to flood your inbox, but we would love for you to know about all
[00:27:17] of the various ways that you can be an integral part of the ministry here at DMC. We would love to spend more time with you. And I want to say thank you all for your generosity throughout the
[00:27:29] year, and thank you for the ways that you have given of your tithes and your offerings, because that is a way that we say to God, I want to partner with you, and I want to thank you for all of the
[00:27:39] many blessings that you have given me in my life. It's a way to give back to God, and God has done amazing things throughout this year to help transform lives and help feed people and offer
[00:27:52] shelter to people and transformation for people all through your generosity and your giving.
[00:27:58] So whether you give online, by text message, by dropping your offering in the plate as it passes in front of you. Thank you for saying, God, I want to be a part of your vision for the world.
[00:28:12] God, your generosity overflows. Accept these our gifts so that with your blessing, we may use them to proclaim Christ in our community and beyond.
[00:34:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:34:01] Well, the next time we are together for worship, it will be 2026. So happy new year to everyone.
[00:37:32] Also, the next time we're together for worship, it will still be Christmas.
[00:37:38] It'll still be the season of Christmas.
[00:37:40] It will then be the 11th day of the season of Christmas.
[00:37:46] So, Happy New Year and Merry Christmas to everyone.
[00:37:50] As I said just a moment ago, our society is really good at starting to celebrate Christmas really early.
[00:37:59] We don't need any help with that.
[00:38:00] One of the things that we're not very good at, though, is how we cut it off almost immediately.
[00:38:06] For some of us, it's like the day after Christmas, and it's done.
[00:38:10] So I hope that maybe we can be better about that, and I hope that we can celebrate Christmas throughout the entire season of Christmas up into Epiphany, celebrating the fact that the Word, the reason, the light, as John said, the light that overcomes the darkness is with us.
[00:38:31] And the best way, really, to celebrate the light of Christ is to be His light in the world. And as we go out into our weeks to try to do that, let's remember our mission, that we will be the body of
[00:38:45] Christ and our community through worship, education, fellowship, and service. Merry Christmas.
[00:01:09] Let us begin our prayer of confession.
[00:01:13] Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.
[00:01:20] We have failed to be an obedient church.
[00:01:24] We have not done your will.
[00:01:26] We have broken your law.
[00:01:29] We have rebelled against your love.
[00:01:32] We have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy.
[00:01:38] Forgive us, we pray.
[00:01:41] Free us for joyful obedience through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
[00:02:50] Hear the good news. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.
[00:02:55] This proves God's love toward us.
[00:02:58] In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
[00:03:07] Glory to God. Amen.
[00:03:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:03:10] Please stand as you are able.
[00:03:25] The scripture today is from the Gospel according to John, chapter 1, beginning with the first verse in the beginning was the word and the word was with god and the word was god he was in the beginning with god all things came into being through him and without him
[00:03:45] not one thing came into being what has come into being in him was life and the life was the light of all people the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it
[00:04:00] there was a man sent from god whose name was john he came as a witness to testify to the light so that all might believe through him he himself was not the light but he came to testify to the
[00:04:13] light the true light which enlightens everyone was coming into the world he was in the world and the world came into being through him yet the world did not know him he came to what was known
[00:04:26] his own and his own people did not accept him but to all who received him who believed in his name he gave power to become children of god who were born not of blood or of the will of the flesh
[00:04:40] or of the will of man but of god and the word became flesh and lived among us and we have seen his glory the glory as of a father's only son full of grace and truth john testified to him and cried
[00:04:55] out this was he of whom i said he who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace the law indeed was given through moses
[00:05:11] grace and truth came through jesus christ no one has ever seen god it is god the only son who is close to the father's heart who has made him known this is the gospel of our lord
[00:05:25] Praise to you, O Christ.
[00:05:37] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:05:37] Good morning.
[00:05:38] Merry Christmas.
[00:05:43] Of course, Christmas is not over.
[00:05:46] Only Christmas Day is over.
[00:05:49] Today is the fourth day of the season of Christmas, which we will celebrate all the way up to Epiphany on January the 6th.
[00:05:58] So I assume that since today is the fourth day out of 12 days of Christmas that everyone has received their four calling birds for a gift today.
[00:06:09] No? Nobody?
[00:06:13] So I have a confession to make this morning.
[00:06:16] As a pastor, someone who is called to live my life according to the church calendar, according to the Christian liturgical year, I know what I'm supposed to say as a pastor.
[00:06:35] What I'm supposed to say is our culture's obsession with beginning to celebrate Christmas so early, long before Christmas Day, that's just not the traditional, not the theologically correct way for us to understand this holy day and this holy season of Christmas.
[00:07:00] That's what I'm supposed to say.
[00:07:02] But if I'm honest, I don't mind at all that people start singing Christmas carols the day after Halloween.
[00:07:13] I think that's kind of fun.
[00:07:17] And I don't really mind it if people in my neighborhood begin decorating their yards and their houses for Christmas, you know, long before Thanksgiving even.
[00:07:26] I don't mind that at all.
[00:07:27] Now listen, I still believe very, very strongly in the Advent message of preparation and anticipation and waiting.
[00:07:38] This is an important message for us.
[00:07:40] But I'm not quite as, maybe I'm just getting old, I don't know, but I'm not as dogmatic about it as I used to be several years ago.
[00:07:47] If decorating and singing carols in November can help us be kinder to people, more loving and caring of other people for a longer period of time, I think Jesus is okay with that.
[00:08:04] I think we're forgiven for wanting to get to Christmas as quickly as we can.
[00:08:12] And in his own way, I think John, the writer of the gospel today, I think John helps us understand why people feel so strongly about Christmas and want to get to it so quickly.
[00:08:27] One of the very first things that a future preacher is taught in seminary is the importance of the word study.
[00:08:37] In other words, when we are doing preparation work for a sermon, very often what will happen in the Scripture that we're reading is that there will be a word, certain words that kind of jump out at you.
[00:08:49] Words that deserve more investigation and more research.
[00:08:54] So a word study, in a word study we essentially do what I would call an exegetical deep dive into that particular word.
[00:09:02] We will take that word and we will look at the origins of the word.
[00:09:06] When did it start?
[00:09:08] We'll look at the Hebrew, or in our case today, the Greek root of the word to figure out what it means.
[00:09:16] We'll look at the author's original intent when he was writing this, and is the original intent different from what we understand that word to mean today.
[00:09:27] We'll look at how that particular word is translated perhaps in other parts of the Bible, because it may be translated one way here and one way in a different place.
[00:09:39] We'll look at all kinds of things.
[00:09:40] So many factors come into play as to why certain words are chosen in the Bible.
[00:09:49] And sometimes just better understanding that one word can sort of help unlock an entire meaning to a passage.
[00:09:59] It can help us understand it in a new way.
[00:10:03] Well, when we read John chapter 1, the prologue it's often called, When we read John 1, there is definitely a word in there that deserves a word study.
[00:10:16] And the word is word.
[00:10:21] Word is the word.
[00:10:24] This fabulous Greek word, logos, sometimes pronounced logos, which is kind of an English, American English way to pronounce it.
[00:10:34] I learned it as logos in seminary, so I'm going to stick with that.
[00:10:38] In the beginning was the logos.
[00:10:39] The logos was with God and the logos was God.
[00:10:45] Now virtually every English translation of the Bible, every version that's been in English since the beginning has translated logos as Word.
[00:10:57] Word with a capital W.
[00:11:00] In the beginning was the Word.
[00:11:03] And using this translation makes sense.
[00:11:05] This translation makes a good connection between John chapter 1 all the way back to Genesis 1, where Genesis says, in the beginning, God created heaven and earth.
[00:11:21] And God said, let there be light, and there was light.
[00:11:25] In other words, God expressed God's self.
[00:11:29] God created through the act of speaking.
[00:11:35] And so John 1, as we just heard, starts out very much like Genesis 1.
[00:11:40] In the beginning was the Word.
[00:11:45] John is trying to help us understand that Jesus was there at the beginning.
[00:11:53] Even before the beginning.
[00:11:55] What we can understand is the beginning.
[00:11:57] Jesus has always been there.
[00:11:59] Jesus didn't just come into the picture when he was born in Bethlehem.
[00:12:06] Remember, you may know this, John's gospel is different from some of the other gospels.
[00:12:10] John is more of a theological gospel.
[00:12:12] gospel. Whereas Matthew and Luke are telling us the story of the birth of Jesus, kind of the details of it, the how and the when and all that, John looks at it differently. John is not going
[00:12:27] into detail. He's telling us why. What does his birth mean? So when everything is being formed, when the word was spoken by God, bringing all things into being, Jesus was there. Jesus is the very Word of God. So Word is a completely appropriate and right translation of Logos.
[00:12:53] It really is. But as we learn in a word study, as I was talking about, and I've been doing a word study this past week, as we learn in that word study, Logos has other translations. It has
[00:13:07] translations in the Greek language. It has specifically translations in Greek philosophy.
[00:13:12] And Logos does have other translations in the Bible.
[00:13:17] For instance, sometimes Logos is translated as idea, or thought, or meaning, or reason.
[00:13:30] So I think it's sort of fascinating, even compelling, if we were to reread John chapter 1 with one of those other translations of Logos.
[00:13:41] in the beginning was the reason and the reason was with god and the reason was god when you read it that way at least i do anyway i immediately hear this this phrase that we've all heard all of our
[00:14:01] lives jesus is the reason for the season but that's not really what john means here john is actually going way beyond that he's not saying jesus is the reason for this season he's saying jesus is the reason period that everything came into being through the reason that is everything
[00:14:28] that that you and i could ever possibly see or know or touch or feel or understand it all came to us through jesus he is the reason for everything there is he was with god he is god and furthermore
[00:14:49] But this logos, this reason, became flesh and lived among us, John says.
[00:14:56] So when we hear Jesus speak, we hear God.
[00:15:02] We hear God's very word.
[00:15:08] The reason that we are all here is because of the reason.
[00:15:14] This logos, this reason.
[00:15:15] In becoming flesh, John says, brought us grace.
[00:15:22] Grace upon grace.
[00:15:24] In other words, the reason we're here is to receive the undeserved, unmerited love of God.
[00:15:32] That's why we are here on this planet.
[00:15:36] We're here to receive the love of God the way that a parent, John says, loves a child.
[00:15:44] But then John writes this interesting thing.
[00:15:47] He says, but no one has ever seen God, to which we might respond and say, well, sure they have, John.
[00:15:55] Maybe not the invisible spirit God that we think of in the Old Testament.
[00:15:58] Maybe not Father God of the Trinity, but John, you just told us that the Logos was God and that the Logos came and lived among us.
[00:16:12] So, in fact, we have seen God.
[00:16:15] People have seen God because they've seen Jesus.
[00:16:19] And this, getting back to my original thought, I think is why people love Christmas so much.
[00:16:26] This is why we sing it's the most wonderful time of the year.
[00:16:29] Why we can't wait for it to start.
[00:16:32] Because the Logos we celebrate is God.
[00:16:39] It's the reason for everything.
[00:16:45] When we see this Logos, when we see Jesus, we see God and we know for certain what God is like.
[00:16:55] God is the one who humbles himself to be born, not in a palace or a mansion, or to be born with great power, but instead just simply to be born of a regular family, a simple family in the most modest of circumstances.
[00:17:14] That's what God looks like.
[00:17:17] God is the one who flees for his life to another country as a refugee not long after he's born.
[00:17:28] That's who God looks like.
[00:17:32] God looks like that baby who will grow up to love the outcast and to feed the poor and to heal the sick.
[00:17:43] God looks like that.
[00:17:44] He looks like the one who will teach us not to allow money to become our God.
[00:17:53] He looks like the one who will tell us to forgive rather than to judge.
[00:18:00] Jesus is what God looks like on earth.
[00:18:03] As Colossians says, he's the visible image of the invisible God.
[00:18:09] And this is who we worship during this season.
[00:18:14] This is who we follow throughout the year.
[00:18:16] And importantly, this is who and why we celebrate Christmas and why we can't wait to get to it.
[00:18:25] It's because the reason for everything is with us.
[00:18:31] One of the oldest, I think, most fundamental questions that has been asked by human beings, maybe even from the beginning of time, is what is the meaning of life?
[00:18:44] What's our purpose?
[00:18:45] Why are we here?
[00:18:48] What's the meaning of all this?
[00:18:51] For some, I know their reason is just survival, just making it day to day.
[00:18:56] For some people, their reason is their family.
[00:19:01] For some people, their reason is to accumulate as much stuff, as much wealth and power as they can.
[00:19:11] Maybe for some people it's just to love, to love and to want to be loved.
[00:19:18] Whoever we are, there's a reason why we get up out of bed every day.
[00:19:24] And what John is telling us today in our Scripture is, he's saying, make Jesus your reason.
[00:19:33] He is the logos.
[00:19:34] He is the Word of God.
[00:19:37] Not just the reason for the season,
[00:19:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:19:38] but Jesus is the reason. Period. Amen. Please stand. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is one true church, apostolic and universal, whose holy faith let us now declare.
[00:20:13] We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, power, and love, whose mercy is over all his works and whose will is ever directed to his children's good.
[00:20:27] We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man, the gift of the Father's unfailing grace, the ground of our hope, and the promise of our deliverance from sin and death.
[00:20:42] We believe in the Holy Spirit as the divine presence in our lives, whereby we are kept in perpetual remembrance of the truth of Christ and find strength and help in time of need. We believe that this faith
[00:21:00] should manifest itself in the service of love as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord, to the end that the kingdom of God may come upon the earth. Amen. Please join me as we go to God
[00:22:34] in prayer. Gracious and holy God, we give you thanks that we are here in your presence, that you have drawn us together, that you meet us here in worship, and that your light is already among us. God, for those who are tired in this season, for those who are carrying grief
[00:23:05] that feels heavier through and after Christmas, for those who feel lonely and uncertain, or overwhelmed. May your light shine in the darkness and remind them they are not alone.
[00:23:23] Lord, in your mercy. For those who are sick or recovering, God, for those waiting for answers, for caregivers who are weary, and for all whose bodies or spirits feel fragile, Bring healing, strength, and peace.
[00:23:46] Lord, in your mercy.
[00:23:50] For those struggling with addiction, anxiety, depression.
[00:23:55] For those living with shame or fear they cannot name.
[00:24:01] For those who feel unseen, unheard.
[00:24:06] For those who are misunderstood.
[00:24:09] Let your grace be received as a gift, not something to earn.
[00:24:15] May it wash over all Lord, in your mercy God, for your world For places torn by violence and injustice For leaders entrusted with great responsibility For our community And for our church, your church As it seeks to bear your light
[00:24:43] Shape us to live with truth Even when it's scary compassion even when it costs us something and love that is unconditional lord in your mercy god we not only know but we believe that you hear us when we pray that you are with us in
[00:25:09] this very moment that your spirit is alive and moving in this room so in faith we take this opportunity now to name aloud to you those praises and concerns we carry. Lord, we pray for. Lord,
[00:25:33] in your mercy, we pray all of this in the precious name of Jesus, who taught us to pray, saying, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
[00:25:51] on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
[00:26:08] evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Well, good morning and welcome to Davidson United Methodist Church. We're certainly glad that you are here. If this is your first time worshiping with us, we would like to extend a special welcome to you and let you know
[00:26:28] that we have a special gift for you out in our gathering space. And we'd also like to invite all of you to take the time to grab the fellowship register at the end of your pew and sign in so
[00:26:39] that you can let us know that you are with us in worship this morning. We are glad to know that you are here with us. If you look in your bulletin, kind of towards the back, you'll see a list of
[00:26:49] a lot of opportunities and announcements and ways to get involved with our congregation throughout this upcoming year. And we hope that you'll take your worship bulletin home, or if not, at least take a picture of some of the options that you have coming up so that you can
[00:27:04] add those to your calendar. We have a newsletter that goes out every week. We communicate as much as often as we can. We promise not to flood your inbox, but we would love for you to know about all
[00:27:17] of the various ways that you can be an integral part of the ministry here at DMC. We would love to spend more time with you. And I want to say thank you all for your generosity throughout the
[00:27:29] year, and thank you for the ways that you have given of your tithes and your offerings, because that is a way that we say to God, I want to partner with you, and I want to thank you for all of the
[00:27:39] many blessings that you have given me in my life. It's a way to give back to God, and God has done amazing things throughout this year to help transform lives and help feed people and offer
[00:27:52] shelter to people and transformation for people all through your generosity and your giving.
[00:27:58] So whether you give online, by text message, by dropping your offering in the plate as it passes in front of you. Thank you for saying, God, I want to be a part of your vision for the world.
[00:28:12] God, your generosity overflows. Accept these our gifts so that with your blessing, we may use them to proclaim Christ in our community and beyond.
[00:34:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:34:01] Well, the next time we are together for worship, it will be 2026. So happy new year to everyone.
[00:37:32] Also, the next time we're together for worship, it will still be Christmas.
[00:37:38] It'll still be the season of Christmas.
[00:37:40] It will then be the 11th day of the season of Christmas.
[00:37:46] So, Happy New Year and Merry Christmas to everyone.
[00:37:50] As I said just a moment ago, our society is really good at starting to celebrate Christmas really early.
[00:37:59] We don't need any help with that.
[00:38:00] One of the things that we're not very good at, though, is how we cut it off almost immediately.
[00:38:06] For some of us, it's like the day after Christmas, and it's done.
[00:38:10] So I hope that maybe we can be better about that, and I hope that we can celebrate Christmas throughout the entire season of Christmas up into Epiphany, celebrating the fact that the Word, the reason, the light, as John said, the light that overcomes the darkness is with us.
[00:38:31] And the best way, really, to celebrate the light of Christ is to be His light in the world. And as we go out into our weeks to try to do that, let's remember our mission, that we will be the body of
[00:38:45] Christ and our community through worship, education, fellowship, and service. Merry Christmas.
