Connect Church
The Light Still Shines
  • Hark The Herald Angels Sing / King Of Heaven
  • Go Tell It On The Mountain
  • Silent Night (Stille Nacht)
  • Here I Am To Worship
  • O Holy Night
  • Before we begin today, I want to talk to our kids for just a moment—but adults, stay with me, because this story is for all of us.
    Kids, how many of you have ever watched A Charlie Brown Christmas?
    (Wait for hands.)
    You remember how the whole movie feels kind of sad at first?
    Charlie Brown is frustrated.
    He says, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”
    Everything feels noisy, busy, commercial, and empty—and Charlie Brown feels like something important is missing.
    Then something amazing happens.
    All the lights go dim.
    The music stops.
    And Linus steps into the spotlight—holding his blanket—and begins to say:
    “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field…”
    No decorations.
    No big stage.
    No flashing lights.
    Just the story of Jesus.
    What I love about that moment is this:
    The movie doesn’t get brighter when Linus starts talking.
    It gets quieter.
    And yet—that’s the moment when everything becomes clear.
    Because Christmas isn’t about adding more noise.
    It’s about remembering the Light that came into the darkness.
    And did you know something else?
    Linus drops his blanket when he says, “Fear not.”
    Even kids notice that.
    The moment the story of Jesus is told—
    Fear loosens its grip.
    That’s exactly what Jesus was saying in John 12 when He cried out:
    John 12:46 NIV
    46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
    Jesus didn’t whisper that truth.
    He shouted it—because the world was dark, and people needed hope.
    This message closes this series with this truth:

    The Light Still Shines—Yesterday, Today, and Forever.

    Look at the whole text for today.
    John 12:44–46 NIV
    44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
    This is one of Jesus’ last declarations before the cross.
    He cries out. He wants everyone then and now to know…
    John 12:46 NIV
    46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

    The Light Shined Yesterday (The Past)

    Jesus came to break darkness once and for all.
    When Jesus was born, the world was spiritually dark. God had not spoken to His people for 400 years. But God sent a light—not a concept, not a force, but a Person.
    (Hand out glow sticks to kids)
    Kids hold up the glow stick I gave you.
    You haven’t activated this stick yet. So, it is Dark.
    What happens when you activate the glow stick.
    Response: “It Shines.”
    That’s what Jesus did at Christmas. He turned the light on.
    Kids go ahead and activate the glow stick.
    Jesus came to show us what God looks like, what truth looks like, what love looks like.
    The light shines yesterday.

    The Light Shines Today (The Present)

    Jesus’ light is shining right now—here in this room, in your life.
    Jesus says…
    John 12:46 NIV
    46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
    He doesn’t say you’ll never face darkness. He says you don’t have to live there anymore.
    Today, His light is shinning:
    In your fear
    In your uncertainty
    In your family
    In our kids
    In our church
    In a world that feels darker than ever
    Kid’s, what happens when you turn a light switch on?
    The darkness runs away. That’s what Jesus does in our hearts.
    He still shines today.

    His Light will Shine Forever (The Future)

    Jesus’ light is eternal. it never burns out.
    Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
    Unlike these glow sticks, Jesus’ light doesn’t dim with time. It doesn’t get weaker. It shines into eternity.
    Revelation 21:23 NIV
    23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
    Jesus Himself lights up eternity. So if you walk with Him, your future is filled with light.
    (Dim the Remaining Lights)
    (Point to the Main Candle)
    This candle represents Christ—the Light of the World.
    (Invite Two People to Come Forward with Candles)
    These candles represent our lives—lives that need His Light.
    (Light Their Candles from the Main One)
    This is how the Gospel spreads: one person touched by Jesus, lighting another… and another…
    (Have them Light Others Peoples Candles and Every Candle is Lit)
    No matter how dark our world gets… the Light still shines.
    And the darkness cannot overcome it.
    Tonight we remember:
    The Light came.
    The Light died.
    The Light rose.
    And the Light still shines.
    In us.
    Through us.
    And forever.
    Sing - O Come Let Us Adore Him

      • John 12:46NIV2011

      • John 12:44–46NIV2011

      • John 12:46NIV2011

      • John 12:46NIV2011

      • Revelation 21:23NIV2011

      • Matthew 6:21NIV2011

Connect Church
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