LIVE Worship: Celebrating the Savior of All People

Today, we gathered as a family of God to celebrate the beauty and depth of our faith, focusing on the foundational truth of who Jesus is. We honored the legacy of faithfulness in our community, recognizing the impact of lives lived for Christ, and then turned our hearts to the core of Christian belief: the Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of all people, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, fully God and fully man. This is not a peripheral doctrine, but the very heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

The story of Jesus’ coming is not just a historical event, but the fulfillment of God’s design and prophecy, connecting the Old Testament promises to their realization in Christ. The angel’s words to Mary, the prophecies of Isaiah, and the profound opening of John’s Gospel all point to the uniqueness of Jesus’ birth and identity. He is not merely a great teacher or a moral example; He is God in the flesh, the eternal Word who became human to dwell among us.

It is essential to remember that Jesus is the Savior for all people. We are not called to decide who is worthy of the gospel, but to share the good news freely, knowing that God’s love extends to every person, regardless of background, status, or circumstance. The universality of Christ’s saving work challenges us to examine our own hearts and actions—are we truly living as ambassadors of this inclusive grace?

The virgin birth is not a detail to be glossed over or explained away. It is central to Jesus’ sinlessness and His qualification as the perfect, unblemished sacrifice for our sins. Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Jesus did not inherit the sinful nature that marks humanity, making Him the only one able to reconcile us to God.

The mystery of Jesus being fully God and fully man is profound and beyond full human comprehension, yet it is a truth we embrace by faith. In His divinity, He reveals the Father perfectly; in His humanity, He empathizes with our weaknesses and provides the perfect example of humility and obedience. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He bridges the gap between God and humanity, inviting us into restored relationship.

Ultimately, the only fitting response to the greatness of Jesus is humble submission—bowing our knees, confessing Him as Lord, and living lives marked by gratitude, repentance, and faith. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The universality of Christ’s salvation means we must resist the temptation to limit the reach of the gospel. God’s love is not restricted by our preferences, fears, or prejudices; every person is invited to know Jesus, and we are called to be faithful messengers of that invitation, even when it challenges our comfort or assumptions. [52:06]
• 2. The virgin birth is not just a miraculous event, but a theological necessity. By being conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Jesus was free from the inherited sinful nature, qualifying Him as the perfect, unblemished Lamb who could truly take away the sins of the world. This truth anchors our confidence in His sufficiency as Savior. [58:15]
• 3. The dual nature of Christ—fully God and fully man—means He is both the perfect revelation of God and the perfect representative of humanity. He experienced real human growth, temptation, and suffering, yet without sin, making Him uniquely able to empathize with us and intercede for us before the Father. [64:14]
• 4. The humility of Jesus, who did not cling to His divine privileges but emptied Himself to become a servant, sets the pattern for our own relationships and discipleship. True greatness in the kingdom is found not in power or status, but in self-giving love and obedience, even to the point of sacrifice. [66:35]
• 5. Our response to the person and work of Jesus must be wholehearted and personal. It is not enough to assent to doctrine; we are called to bow our knees, confess Him as Lord, repent, and be united with Him in baptism, living daily in the reality of His grace and Lordship. [71:59]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [15:45] - Honoring Faithful Lives: Bill’s 95th Birthday
• [16:48] - Centering Our Worship and Hearts
• [17:32] - Prayer of Gratitude and Focus
• [39:51] - Empowered by the Spirit in Worship
• [40:54] - Passing Faith to the Next Generation
• [42:35] - Why Revisit the Basics of Belief?
• [45:31] - What We Believe: The Lord Jesus Christ
• [47:12] - Prophecy and the Birth of Jesus
• [50:23] - Jesus: Savior of All People
• [52:06] - The Challenge of Sharing the Gospel
• [57:17] - Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of a Virgin
• [58:15] - The Significance of the Virgin Birth
• [62:02] - Jesus: Fully God and Fully Man
• [64:14] - Our Great High Priest: Tempted Yet Sinless
• [66:35] - The Humility and Example of Christ
• [67:32] - The Supremacy and Sufficiency of Jesus
• [69:18] - The Importance of Deep Conviction
• [70:16] - Exalted Name: Every Knee Shall Bow
• [71:59] - Invitation to Confess and Submit to Jesus

Bible Reading

Luke 1:30-33 (ESV) — > And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

2. John 1:1, 14, 18 (ESV)
> In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ... No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

3. Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)
> Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Observation Questions

1. According to Luke 1:30-33, what specific promises did the angel make to Mary about her child?
2. In John 1:1 and 1:14, what does John say about the identity of “the Word” and what happened when “the Word” became flesh?
3. What is the significance of the name “Immanuel” in Isaiah 7:14, and how does it connect to the story of Jesus’ birth?
4. The sermon emphasized that Jesus is “the Savior of all people.” What evidence from the sermon or the passages supports this claim? ([52:06])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says the virgin birth is not just a miraculous event but a theological necessity. Why is it so important that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin? ([58:15])
2. The preacher mentioned that Jesus is both fully God and fully man, and that this is a mystery we accept by faith. What does it mean for Jesus to be both, and why does it matter for our relationship with God? ([46:27])
3. The sermon challenges us to see Jesus as the Savior for all people, not just a select group. How does this truth challenge our own attitudes or assumptions about who is “worthy” of the gospel? ([52:06])
4. According to the sermon, what does Jesus’ humility—his willingness to “empty himself” and become a servant—teach us about true greatness in God’s kingdom? ([01:06:35])

Application Questions

1. The sermon pointed out that sometimes we “pick and choose” who we share the gospel with, even if we don’t realize it. Can you think of a time when you hesitated to share your faith because of someone’s background, status, or appearance? What would it look like to overcome that hesitation? ([52:24])
2. The virgin birth means Jesus was free from the inherited sinful nature, making him the perfect sacrifice. How does this truth affect your confidence in Jesus as your Savior? Are there doubts or questions you still wrestle with? ([58:15])
3. Jesus is both fully God and fully man, which means he understands our weaknesses and temptations. Is there a struggle or weakness in your life right now where you need to remember that Jesus truly “gets it” and can help you? ([01:04:14])
4. The humility of Jesus is described as a pattern for our own relationships and discipleship. What is one practical way you can show self-giving love or humility in a relationship this week? ([01:06:35])
5. The only fitting response to Jesus is “humble submission—bowing our knees, confessing Him as Lord, and living lives marked by gratitude, repentance, and faith.” What does “bowing your knee” to Jesus look like in your daily life? Is there an area where you need to submit more fully? ([01:11:59])
6. The sermon called us to be “faithful messengers” of the gospel, even when it challenges our comfort or assumptions. Who is one person in your life you feel God might be prompting you to reach out to with the good news of Jesus? ([52:06])
7. The preacher said, “It is not enough to assent to doctrine; we are called to bow our knees, confess Him as Lord, repent, and be united with Him in baptism, living daily in the reality of His grace and Lordship.” How can you move from just believing the right things about Jesus to actually living them out this week? ([01:11:59])