Love Has Come: Emmanuel, God With Us Tonight

I invited us to slow down and recover awe—not just at lights and tradition, but at Emmanuel, God with us. Christmas is not simply a date to observe; it is God’s decisive choice to come near in love. Not love as sentiment or slogan, but love in motion—God taking on flesh in Jesus, then offering that body to be torn for our sins so we could be reconciled to His holiness. He stepped into our brokenness to bring us out of it. He did not simply come once; by His Spirit, He is here now among us, indwelling those who believe.

Many expected a king to change the government, economy, or empire. Jesus came for something deeper: internal restoration that endures beyond circumstances. He is more concerned with our eternity than our prosperity, and that is good news because He gives what the world cannot—hope, peace, joy, and purpose—right in the middle of chaos. The angel’s announcement was specific and personal: “A Savior has been born to you.” Not a politician or therapist, but a Savior. And “all people” includes you—no exceptions, no qualifiers, no self-salvation. We are created in the image of God, and in Jesus, grace has come to forgive, heal, fill, resurrect, and fulfill.

So receive His love—and then share it. The shepherds show us the way: they listened, responded with haste, told everyone, and returned to the same fields with new hearts. That is our pattern too. Ordinary places become our mountains—classrooms, checkout lines, cubicles, and kitchens—where we bear witness with our actions, reactions, and words. We don’t preach ourselves; we point to one name: Jesus.

Tonight many said yes to Him. And at the table of communion we remembered not His birth, but His death—His body broken, His blood poured out—the new covenant we believe, receive, and proclaim until He comes. Heaven rejoices when hearts turn to Him; so do we. Love has come. His name is Jesus. Salvation is here.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Love came near in action God’s love doesn’t hover at a safe distance; it moves toward us, takes on flesh, and absorbs our sin. The manger and the cross are one continuous decision of self-giving love. If God’s love is embodied, ours must be too—costly, concrete, and committed. Receive it personally, then practice it locally. [01:55]
• 2. Restoration within before external rescue Jesus subverts our expectations by transforming the heart before overturning circumstances. He is more concerned with your eternity than your prosperity, because internal freedom outlasts external change. This reframes prayer—from escape to formation—and teaches trust when outcomes delay. Hope grows roots when it’s planted deeper than circumstances. [06:48]
• 3. Humble birth, hope for the broken Jesus came low—manger, shepherds, and a lineage of flawed people—to show He is for those who know their need. No story is too tangled for His grace, no failure too final for His mercy. He meets us where we are “dead in sin” to raise us to life with Him. Your past is not a barrier; it’s context for redemption. [05:17]
• 4. Listen, hurry, tell—like the shepherds The shepherds listened, moved with haste, and made known what they had seen. Haste matters because delayed obedience often becomes disobedience by neglect. Tell what you know, not what you don’t; witness is reporting, not performing. Then return to your ordinary places with extraordinary praise. [17:25]
• 5. Believe, receive, proclaim the cross Communion trains our souls to hold the gospel with mind, heart, and life. We believe the truth, receive grace into our deepest places, and proclaim Jesus with our daily choices. Rhythm becomes formation; remembrance becomes mission. Keep the cross central so your love doesn’t drift into sentiment. [32:46]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:29] - Jesus is here with us
• [01:41] - Christmas: God’s choice to come near
• [01:55] - Love as action, not feeling
• [05:17] - He came for broken people
• [06:48] - Internal restoration over external rescue
• [08:32] - Good news: a Savior to you
• [09:36] - All people includes you
• [13:32] - Hope, peace, and joy in hardship
• [14:13] - Go tell it on your mountain
• [16:34] - Shepherds return—ordinary life, new hearts
• [22:13] - Ambassadors: preach with life and words
• [23:16] - Invitation to receive Jesus
• [29:55] - Remember His death at communion
• [35:59] - Heaven rejoices; we rejoice

1. In Luke 2:10–11, what is announced and to whom? List the key words you see: “good news,” “great joy,” “all people,” “to you,” “Savior,” “Messiah,” “Lord.”
2. Track the verbs in Luke 2:15–20. What did the shepherds do in order? Which verb stands out to you and why?
3. What details in Luke 2 highlight humility and lowliness (place, people, setting)? How do those details shape how we view who Jesus came for?
4. “Go tell it on your mountain” was applied to everyday places like stores, schools, workplaces, and homes. Which “mountains” were named? [14:13]

1. “They wanted external rescue… Jesus came to bring internal restoration.” What does this reveal about God’s priorities, and how might that reframe expectations when circumstances don’t change right away? [06:48]
2. “Not love as a slogan… but love as an expressed action.” How does the manger-to-cross story define love, and how is that different from sentiment or seasonal feeling? [01:55]
3. “The shepherds returned… glorifying and praising God.” What does their return to the same fields teach about meeting Jesus and then living faithfully in ordinary routines? [16:34]
4. “All people include you.” Why do some struggle to believe grace is really for them, and what lies or wounds might be behind that struggle? [09:36]

1. Love in motion: Where can you practice a costly, concrete act of love this week (time, money, forgiveness, presence)? Name one person and one action you will take in the next 72 hours. “Not love as a slogan… but love as an expressed action.” [01:55]
2. Formation over escape: Where are you asking God mainly to change your situation? How could you also ask Him to change you in it—your heart, habits, hopes? Write a simple prayer of internal restoration for this week. [06:48]
3. Haste matters: Is there an area where delayed obedience has become neglect (reconciliation, generosity, serving, baptism, sharing your story)? What is one “with haste” step you will take in the next 48 hours? [16:04]
4. Your mountains: List three ordinary “mountains” in your week (classroom, checkout line, cubicle, kitchen). What is one simple way you can bear witness there—through your actions, reactions, or words? [22:13]
5. Keep the cross central: Since we are told to remember His death, not just His birth, what practice will you add this week to keep the cross central (Scripture reading, family devotion at dinner, confession before bed, a gratitude list for the cross)? [29:55]
6. Hope for the broken: Where do you feel most disqualified—past mistakes, present struggles, hidden shame? How does Jesus’ humble birth and broken lineage speak into that? What step of confession, accountability, or asking for prayer will you take? [05:17]
7. Believe, receive, proclaim: Of these three, which is hardest for you right now? What daily rhythm could help (e.g., Believe—memorize one verse; Receive—5 minutes of honest prayer; Proclaim—one intentional conversation)? [32:46]