Lessons for December 25, 2008 – Christmas Day

The first lesson

Isaiah 52:7-10
 
    How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! [8] The watchmen shout and sing with joy, for before their very eyes they see the Lord bringing his people home to Jerusalem. [9] Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song, for the Lord has comforted his people. He has redeemed Jerusalem. [10] The Lord will demonstrate his holy power before the eyes of all the nations. The ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.  (NLT)

 Psalm 98

L.  Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds.
C.  He has won a mighty victory by his power and holiness. 
L.  The Lord has announced his victory and has revealed his righteousness to every nation! 
C.  He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.
L.  The whole earth has seen the salvation of our God.
C.  Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! 
L.  Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp, 
C.  with the harp and melodious song, 
L.  with trumpets and the sound of the ram's horn.
C.  Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!
L.  Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! 
C.  Let the earth and all living things join in. 
L.  Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
C.  Let the hills sing out their songs of joy  before the Lord.
L.  For the Lord is coming to judge the earth.
C.  He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness.  (NLT)
 
The second lesson

Hebrews 1:1-12 

    Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. [2] But now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he made the universe and everything in it. [3] The Son reflects God's own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly. He sustains the universe by the mighty power of his command. After he died to cleanse us from the stain of sin, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God of heaven.
 
    [4] This shows that God's Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is far greater than their names. [5] For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus:

    "You are my Son.
        Today I have become your Father."

And again God said,

    "I will be his Father,
        and he will be my Son."
 
[6] And then, when he presented his honored Son to the world, God said, "Let all the angels of God worship him." [7] God calls his angels

    "messengers swift as the wind,
        and servants made of flaming fire."
 
[8] But to his Son he says,

    "Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
        Your royal power is expressed in righteousness. 
    [9] You love what is right and hate what is wrong.
        Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
        pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else."
 
[10] And,

    "Lord, in the beginning you laid the foundation of the earth,
        and the heavens are the work of your hands. 
    [11] Even they will perish, but you remain forever.
        They will wear out like old clothing. 
    [12] You will roll them up like an old coat.
        They will fade away like old clothing.
    But you are always the same;
        you will never grow old."  (NLT)
 
The Gospel Lesson

John 1:1-14
 
    In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. [4] Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. [5] The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. [6] God sent John the Baptist [7] to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. [8] John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light. [9] The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world. [10] But although the world was made through him, the world didn't recognize him when he came. [11] Even in his own land and among his own people, he was not accepted. [12] But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. [13] They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan—this rebirth comes from God. [14] So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.  (NLT)