Blue Christmas

This was the message from a different kind of Christmas worship experience: Blue Christmas. It was worship for people who have a tough time at Christmas. We focused on hope and healing. Pastors and worship leaders -- if you want a copy of the liturgy we created -- just let us know and we'll send it to you.

Overcoming the World

Hurting people. Jesus spent a lot of time loving them and serving them. 

A woman was caught in sin. The leaders of the community wanted to throw rocks at her. They asked Jesus what they should do. Jesus looked at her with compassion and simultaneously told the men, “Let the one who is sinless among you throw the first stone.” One by one, the people dropped their rocks and went on to the day’s next project. Jesus then said to the woman, “Go and sin no more.” (John 8:1-11) Instead of defining the woman by her broken past, Jesus gave the woman a second chance and offered her hope. Grace.

The man had leprosy. Jesus did the unthinkable. He reached out and pressed his fingers against the leper’s skin. It had probably been years since the leper had felt another human. Can you imagine what it would be like not to have another person touch you for extended periods of time? Being touched was what the man needed most. Jesus gave the person a sense of sacred-worth and dignity. The leprosy also disappeared. But, somehow the fresh skin wasn’t quite as valuable as a fresh spirit. (Matthew 8:1-3) No matter how far we have fallen, Jesus offers his healing touch. Healing. 

A paralyzed man was brought to Jesus. The man’s friends and family asked Jesus to heal him. Jesus said: “Your sins are forgiven." (Matthew 9:2) The people scratched the heads and looked at each other. Everyone thought that the man needed a physical cure and that if he could walk again all would be well. Jesus gave the man what we need most: forgiveness. Jesus “doesn’t give as the world gives,” which is just as well. (John 14:27) We desire what we want. God gives us what we need. Provision. 

Lazarus died. Mary and Martha were grieving. They told the story to Jesus. He listened. He comforted them. And then two simple words provide for us one of the most beautiful pictures in the Bible: Jesus wept. (John 11:35) Beautiful because God isn’t some disengaged, distant God who doesn’t care. Our pain is His pain. Our burdens are His burdens. Jesus then raised the dead man to life. God cares and He still raises the dead everyday. Dead people and dying people are given life and raised to new levels of life. The old becomes new. The lost is found. The sinner transforms into a saint. Love. 

Sin, loneliness, hurts, and grief are the things of the world. God gives grace, healing, provision, and love. God overcomes the world (John 16:33) and helps us do the same. 

The best is yet to come… 

Craig

Healing, Hope, and Wholeness

John 5

In the beginning of this chapter, Jesus healed a man who was unable to walk. An important identity of Jesus was healer.

Read verse 7. The man feels trapped and hopeless. In verse 8 Jesus gives him hope.

In what areas of your life do you need healing, feel trapped, and maybe even experience hopelessness? Ask God for healing in these areas of your life. Also ask God to use your hurts and experiences to help others who share similar hurts.