Berea Update for December 24, 2025
On Christmas Eve, we come to the final theme of Advent: love. Throughout this month, we have reflected on hope, peace, and joy—but love stands at the center of them all. Christmas is, at its heart, the story of God’s love breaking into a broken world. The Bible tells us that love is not something we define or manufacture. Love is revealed: “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9) God’s love is not abstract or sentimental. It is costly. It is intentional. It is personal. On a quiet night in Bethlehem, God demonstrated His love by sending His Son—not to be admired from a distance, but to be received, followed, and trusted.
For some, Christmas Eve is filled with warmth and joy. For others, it carries grief, loneliness, or longing. Wherever you find yourself today, the message remains the same: you are deeply loved by God. Christ came not because we were worthy, but because we were lost. Not because we had earned His favor, but because His love is gracious and free. As you move beyond the Christmas holiday itself, may the love of Christ steady your heart, shape your worship, and overflow into the way you love others. Love has come—and His name is Jesus.
We hope that you'll be able to join us today for our Christmas Eve Service, which begins at 4:30 PM here at the church. Come celebrate the birth of our Savior through song, the Christmas story, and candlelight!
Upcoming Events
1. I hope you'll all also be able to join us this Sunday as I will finish the Christmas series called: "From Promise to Presence: God With Us." This Sunday's message is called: "Immanuel...Forever: God With Us to the End of the Age." We'll be in many different portions of Scripture, in both the Old Testament and New as we journey through the sermon and conclude this series!
2. The winter quarter for Sunday School began a few weeks agao, but it's not too late to join! There are two options for adults:
A Study on the Sermon on the Mount
Teacher: Pastor Mark Gainer
This class, which is a continuation from the Summer and Fall quarters, on the Sermon on the Mount, will explore Jesus’ transformative teachings in Matthew 5–7 diving into themes of kingdom living, righteousness, and discipleship. Discover how these timeless principles challenge and inspire us to live faithfully in today’s world. This sermon is as relevant today as it was back then! Participants will be encouraged to apply Jesus’ teachings to their own lives in very practical ways throughout the course.
Biblical Forgiveness
Teacher: Dana Love
This course explores how Scripture presents forgiveness as the foundation for restoring humanity’s relationship with God. Together we will examine the theological basis for God’s forgiveness and learn how those principles shape our journey to forgive others in practical, meaningful ways.
3. The church office will be closed on Thursday, December 25 and Friday, December 26 in observance of Christmas. If you need something, please submit on online prayer request, or you can message one of the pastors directly.
Ways You Can Pray This Week
1. Pray that the Lord would use each Christmas service to point people to the true meaning of the season—Jesus Christ—and that those who attend would encounter His peace, hope, and saving grace.
2. Pray for all in our church family who will be traveling during this week to see friends and family for Christmas.
***Please know that there are many individuals who need prayer this week due to health concerns and other events going on in their lives. Out of sensitivity to each individual's situation, these requests may not appear in this weekly blog. We have a "Prayer Team" at the church who receives more detailed information, and commits to praying for individuals in our church family.
This Week's Devotions
DAY 1 — Love Sent from Heaven
John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
Christmas begins with God’s love. Before we ever loved Him, God loved us and proved it by giving His Son. The manger is a declaration that God did not hold back what was most precious to Him. Love moved God to act—and that same love still reaches for us today.
Reflection Question: How does knowing you are loved by God change the way you see yourself?
DAY 2 — Love Displayed in Humility
Philippians 2:5–8 — "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
God’s love led Christ downward—from heaven to earth, from glory to humility. Jesus entered our world fully, taking on flesh, weakness, and suffering. True love humbles itself for the sake of others. Christmas reminds us that love is often quiet, unseen, and sacrificial.
Reflection Question: Where might God be calling you to express love through humility?
DAY 3 — Love for the Unlikely
Luke 2:8–11 — “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
The first people to hear the news of Jesus’ birth were shepherds—ordinary, overlooked, and unimpressive by the world’s standards. God’s love reaches those on the margins. No one is too insignificant, too broken, or too far away to be welcomed by Christ.
Reflection Question: Who might God be calling you to love intentionally this season?
DAY 4 — Love That Saves
Romans 5:8 — “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
The manger points forward to the cross. Jesus did not come merely to be born—He came to die. Christmas love is saving love. It confronts sin, offers forgiveness, and brings new life. This is love that rescues, restores, and redeems.
Reflection Question: Have you personally received the saving love of Christ?
DAY 5 — Love Poured into Our Hearts
Romans 5:1-5 — “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
God’s love does not stop at forgiveness—it transforms us from the inside out. Through the Holy Spirit, His love now lives within every believer. We love others not by our own strength, but by drawing from the love God continually supplies.
Reflection Question: How can you rely on God’s love to love others more faithfully?
DAY 6 — Love That Changes How We Live
1 John 4:11 — “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
"Christmas love" is meant to be shared. Those who have been loved by God are called to reflect that love to the world. In our words, actions, patience, and forgiveness, we display the reality of Christ living in us.
Reflection Question: What is one tangible way you can show Christlike love this week?
DAY 7 — Love That Will Last Forever
Revelation 21:3–4 — “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'”
The love that brought Christ into the world will one day make all things new. Christmas looks forward as well as backward. A day is coming when God’s love will wipe away every tear and dwell with His people forever. Until then, we wait, worship, and live in hope.
Reflection Question: How does the promise of eternal love shape the way you celebrate Christmas today?
Kids (and Kids at Heart) Korner
Merry Christmas!
Mark