12/21/25 Greater Centennials Sunday Morning Service: "The Greatest Gift

When life backs us into a corner and the phone stays silent, there is still a name we can call—Jesus. I walked us through the moments we all know: when the bills outnumber the dollars, when the report from the doctor shakes you, when friends get few. In every season, in every condition—money in the pocket or not, food on the table or not—there’s one constant: Jesus. I challenged us to call His name not as a last resort but as our first response, because something happens when we call.

This is what Christmas is about: the Father sent a Gift that never needs charging, never breaks, and never misses a need. I told the story about gadgets that promise everything and deliver little; then I pointed us to the Gift that always works. This Gift heals bodies, mends broken hearts, reassembles shattered pieces, and arrives right on time. He is God’s perfect provision: prepared for us before the foundation of the world.

We remembered Isaiah’s vision—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace—not as a poetic bundle, but as living names that meet us distinctly. He’s still wonderful, still counselor, still mighty, still God; everlasting and Father; a Prince who brings peace that outlasts the storm. That’s why even when we’ve messed up and others withdraw love, He loves us everlastingly. So in this season, don’t let your joy rise and fall with what’s under the tree. You already have the greatest gift: Jesus.

I invited those ready to come home to receive this free gift of salvation, and those who wandered to rediscover that the Gift never left them. We welcomed family to the altar, prayed for healing, financial and health restoration, and asked God to put broken pieces back together. Then I encouraged you: enjoy your family, resist the urge to complain, be in the moment, and remember—Jesus is the absolute reason for the season.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Call on the name of Jesus Calling His name is not superstition; it is an act of trust that realigns our hearts to the only One who can help. In weakness and fear, saying “Jesus” is both a prayer and a proclamation: He is near and able. The name you call shapes the future you expect—so call the name that carries power. [90:43]
• 2. Jesus is God’s perfect, multi-purpose gift Our lives need more than tools; we need a Person who never fails. Jesus meets needs we can’t even name yet, arriving on time and restoring what we thought was beyond repair. He is the one Gift that works in the valley and on the mountaintop, in lack and in plenty. [107:22]
• 3. His names answer every season Wonderful Counselor for confusion, Mighty God for weakness, Everlasting Father for loneliness, Prince of Peace for conflict—each name is a doorway into His sufficiency. We don’t have to force one-size-fits-all faith; we can meet Him where the need is. Let His revealed names rewrite your situation’s name. [109:11]
• 4. Peace rooted in the Prince Himself Peace isn’t the absence of problems; it’s the presence of the Prince. When He governs your inner world, storms may rage but they don’t rule. Seek His rule, and you’ll find a steadiness that outlasts relief. [114:39]
• 5. Salvation is free; come home Grace does the heavy lifting; your part is to say yes. Even when you tried to leave, the Gift never left you—so return without shame. Home is where mercy, family, and a fresh start meet you at the altar. [118:03]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [90:43] - Call on the name of Jesus
• [99:53] - Christmas is deliverance in a name
• [104:01] - Healer God and faith response
• [105:57] - Gadget story sets up the Gift
• [107:22] - The Gift that always works
• [109:11] - Sent by God before time
• [113:05] - A love that won’t let go
• [114:39] - Prince of Peace for every storm
• [116:03] - Enjoy family, remember the reason
• [117:41] - Invitation: Receive the greatest Gift
• [119:14] - Welcome home and family embrace
• [124:16] - Altar prayer: healing and restoration
• [125:44] - Community life and upcoming events
• [135:20] - Offering and benediction

1. In Isaiah 9:6, four titles are spoken over the promised Son. What are they, and how are they distinct from one another?
2. List the real-life moments named when the call was to say “Jesus” (money tight or plenty, health reports, loneliness, daily needs). What one response was repeated in every case? “If you call that name, something gonna happen” [01:30:43]
3. What specific features were used to describe the Gift’s reliability? “It never breaks down… doesn’t need charging… steps in right on time” [01:47:22]
4. What was said about the timing and purpose of God’s Gift? “He sent this gift… before the foundation of the world” [01:49:11]

1. Isaiah calls Him “Wonderful Counselor.” What kind of counsel would reflect His wonder and wisdom for someone navigating confusion right now?
2. “If you call that name, something gonna happen.” Why is calling on the name of Jesus more than superstition—what does it say about who He is and what He does? [01:30:43]
3. “I’m the Prince of Peace.” How does His rule create peace in a person even when circumstances don’t change? What does that reveal about the difference between relief and true peace? [01:54:39]
4. “He sent this gift… before the foundation of the world.” What does this tell us about God’s foreknowledge of personal needs and His timing in meeting them? [01:49:11]

1. Where do you need to make “Jesus” your first response this week instead of your last resort? Name the situation and the exact moment you’ll call on His name. “Call that name” [01:30:43]
2. Identify a “gadget” solution you’ve been trusting (a tool, habit, shortcut, or coping mechanism) that “doesn’t work for you.” What would it look like to lay it down and lean on the Gift who actually works? “Slices, dices… didn’t work for me” [01:45:57]
3. Which name from Isaiah 9:6 do you most need today—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, or Prince of Peace? What two concrete practices will you use this week to invite Him into that specific need (a short daily prayer, a verse on your phone lock screen, asking a friend to check in)?
4. What storm are you facing where you need the Prince’s governance more than a quick fix? Choose one daily habit (like a breath prayer, a pause before replying, or a short news fast) to seek His rule over your inner world. “As long as I got peace I know it’s going to be alright” [01:54:39]
5. In your family time, what is one practical way you will “resist the temptation to complain” and be present—expressing thanks, putting the phone away, or blessing someone with your words? [01:56:03]
6. If you feel far from God, what is your next “yes” toward home—confessing sin to God, reaching out to a believer for support, or showing up to worship? “It doesn’t cost you anything… say yes” [01:57:41]
7. Where do you need restoration right now (health, finances, broken relationships)? Share one specific request and let the group pray for God to “take broken pieces and put them back together again.” [02:04:16]