Pastor’s Page | December 18th, 2025
Sermon Prep (Read Isa 9:1-7)
I love to look at Christmas lights. Even more so, I love to put up Christmas lights. When my girls were younger (and I could easily climb roofs), I would go all out and decorate the house to look similar to the Griswold house. One Christmas when I lived in Starkville, Mississippi (home of the Mississippi State Bulldogs), I put a gigantic outline of the Kentucky Wildcats logo on my roof and people drove from all over to come and root for my beloved wildcats (at least that is what I told myself…the toilet paper in my yard may have said otherwise). Another time, I put an outline of a huge cross on my roof. We had a very large high-pitched roof that faced the road on a hill so you could see it for what seemed like miles. We lived in a rural area, and my house was the only house decorated at the time. It lit up the sky! One of our neighbors was having a particularly bad day. Things had not gone as planned, people were mad, she was worried about many things, and she felt like just breaking down and crying. When she was driving home from work, she said that when she turned the corner and looked up the hill, all she could see was this beautiful cross all lit up. At that moment, she knew that no matter how bad her day had been, God was with her, He loved her, and He was going to take care of her. It was all going to be okay.
Isaiah tells us that “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” This world can be a pretty dark place at times. It can be depressing, discouraging, and deflating. We all experience it (even pastors). It can bring you down, but no matter how dark it may seem, Isaiah reminds us that the light has come.
As you read over this text, think about the immediate context of Isaiah. The Assyrians have plundered and destroyed Israel. War and famine have set in. The people had wandered from God and were now wondering if all was lost (read the ending of chapter 8…yikes. These people were in a bad place spiritually). Yet notice how chapter 9 starts. What is the significance of the word “nevertheless”. Notice the change that happens from the ending of chapter 8 to the beginning of chapter 9. Why is this the case? What is the thing (or better yet Who is the change) that gives the hope that things will get better?
Chapter 9 reminds us that there is hope even in the midst of all the suffering and misery. There is joy even in the midst of sadness. Even in the darkness, there is a light. That Light has a name and His name is Jesus. We can either focus on the darkness, or we can gaze into the glory of His light and the hope He brings.
Some things to look for in this text: Notice all that God will do for the people. What difference does having hope make when you are going through the darkness? Next, notice the reason for this hope. Why do you think Isaiah makes the distinction between a child is born and then a son is given. What is the significance of this? Think also of how the story of the incarnation brings light into our world on a global scale, but also how does the truth of Christmas impact your life, even in your own darkness?
Here are some verses to help you as you prepare for this Sunday: John 8:12, John 9:5, John 12:46, Matthew 5:14-16, Ephesians 5:8, John 1:5, 2 Corinthians 4:6, 1 John 1:7, John 1:5,
Sermon Series
“A Crazy Christmas Vacation”
12/21 - The Lights Aren’t Twinkling, Clark (Isa 9:1-7)
12/24 - What Christmas Means To Me (John 3:16-17)
12/28 - SOUND OF PRAISE: MUSIC FOR HEAVEN & TESTIMONIES FOR THE SOUL
Updates, Thoughts and More
It is hard to believe that Christmas is already upon us. Christmas Eve is always a beautiful worship service. It is my favorite service of the year. I want to encourage you to make the effort to invite your family and friends to come and worship with you on Christmas Eve at 5 pm. The music will be beautiful; the message will be Gospel centered and uplifting. We will have a children’s moment where we will be passing out a little gift stocking to all the kids. And of course, we will light our candles and end with the singing of Silent Night. Let’s get the word out to everyone to join us on Christmas Eve at 5 pm.
Jeff and Michelle Mastick are going to be having a Christmas dinner here at the church in much the same way we had a Thanksgiving meal. We hate the idea of people being alone on Christmas, so we would love to invite you to come and enjoy a Christmas ham dinner with us. You can call the church office to let them know you are coming.
We have finished up our study on World Religions for our Table Talk series and we are taking a hiatus until the beginning of January. Our next series will be about addressing the difficult questions of our faith. Here is a favor I want to ask of you: Please send me any and all questions you would like for us to address. The questions can range from “How does a loving God allow such terrible things to happen to those He loves?” to “Where in the world did Cain’s wife come from?”. You can email those questions to me at barry@actonmethodist.com and we will try to address every topic and question that is submitted.
The college football playoffs begin this week. There is a big game this Friday between Oklahoma and Alabama. I think Bama is out for revenge after OU’s upset win earlier this season. Plus, Bama is due for some good games. I think they begin a run and make a deep showing in the playoffs. A&M will have a tight game with Miami, but I think they will win by at least 2 touchdowns. Ole Miss and Tulane is hard to figure out. Tulane has had a great season, but Ole Miss is the better team. Yet, their coach is gone so how inspired is the team? If it was me, I would be ready to show the coach that he should have stayed. I predict Ole Miss by 3 touchdowns. Oregon and James Madison is a joke. James Madison shouldn’t be in the playoffs.
What’s Going On This Week
Sunday (12/21)
Worship Services - 9am & 10:30am
Monday (12/22)
Stitching Angels - 1:30pm
Tuesday (12/23)
Men’s Prayer Breakfast - 7:30am
Wednesday (12/24)
Christmas Eve Service - 5pm
Sunday (12/28)
Combined Worship - 10am
*The Church Office is closed starting December 24th and reopens January 5th.
Joke of the Week
A long time ago, in Communist Russia, there was a famous weather man named Rudolf.
He’s always had a 100% accuracy rate for his forecasts of the Russian weather conditions. His people loved him and respected him for his faultless foresight. He was particularly good at predicting rain. One night, despite clear skies, he made the prediction on the 6:00pm news broadcast that a violent storm was approaching. It would flood the town in which he and his wife lived. He warned the people to take proper precautions and prepare for the worst.
After he arrived home later that evening, his wife met him at the door and started arguing with him that his weather prediction was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. This time, she said, he had made a terrible mistake. There wasn’t a cloud anywhere within 10 miles of the village. As a matter of fact, that day had been the most beautiful day that the town had ever had and it was quite obvious to everyone it simply wasn’t going to rain.
He told her she was to be quiet and listen to him. If he said it was going to rain, IT WAS GOING TO RAIN. He had all his Russian heritage behind him and he knew what he was talking about. She argued that although he came from a proud heritage, IT STILL WASN’T GOING TO RAIN.
They argued back and forth for hours, so much that they went to bed mad at each other.
During the night, sure enough, one of the worst rainstorms hit the village the likes of which they had never seen.
That morning, when Rudolf and his wife arose, they looked out the window and saw all the water had fallen that night.
“See,” said Rudolf, “I told you it was going to rain.”
His wife admitted: “Once again your prediction came true. But I want toknow, just how were you so accurate, Rudolf.”
To which he replied, “You see, Rudolf the Red knows rain dear!”
Memory Verse of the Week
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
~Isaiah 9:6 (NIV84)
Quote of the Week
“The story of Christmas celebrates the fulfillment of God’s promises and the incarnation of God in human flesh. That meaning was memorably captured by John 3:16. God loves, and God gives in order to save… It meant giving rather than getting, and Christ gave until He was empty; but His obedience led to an empty tomb and ultimate vindication that will culminate when throngs in heaven and on earth and under the earth, not just a host of angels, will bow down and sing glory in the highest to the One who name is above every name
~David Garland
