Advent Week 4: Love Came Down And It Still Changes Everything

Author: Rev. Daniel Johnson
December 23, 2025

Hello Gracepoint Family,

Christmas has a way of feeling familiar, doesn't it?

We know the songs. We recognize the scenes. We can almost recite the story from memory. And yet, if we’re not careful, familiarity can cause us to miss the wonder hiding in plain sight.

This past Sunday, we were reminded that Advent invites us to slow down and look closely—to notice the diamonds we may have overlooked. At the heart of Christmas is not sentiment or nostalgia, but something far deeper and far more powerful: love.

Scripture tells us plainly, “God is love.” Not that God simply shows love or offers love—but that love flows from His very nature. And that love didn’t remain distant or abstract. It came down. It took on flesh. It entered our broken world in the person of Jesus Christ.

That’s what makes Christmas so extraordinary.

God did not wait for humanity to reach Him. He moved toward us. He sent His Son, not merely so we could survive, but so that we might truly live. The manger, as humble as it is, points us toward the cross—a reminder that real love always costs something. God gave what was most precious to Him so that we could be restored to Him.

And that love doesn’t stop at salvation. It refines us. It shapes us. Sometimes it comforts us with joy, and sometimes it walks with us through sorrow—not to harm us, but to make us whole. The same love that rescues also transforms.

But Scripture doesn’t let us keep that love to ourselves.
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” Christmas love is meant to move outward—into our relationships, our communities, and our everyday lives. God continues to love the world through His people.

As we celebrate Christmas this week, we invite you to worship with us in a way that fits your plans and rhythms.

If Christmas Eve works best for you, join us for our Candlelight Service at 6:00 PM, a meaningful time of Scripture, song, and reflection as we welcome the light of Christ together. If Christmas Day is a better fit, we’ll gather again at 10:00 AM to celebrate the joy of Jesus’ birth and the hope He brings.

Whether you join us on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, we’d be honored to worship with you. Choose the service that best serves your family and schedule — and come celebrate the love that came down for us all.

Don’t rush past the diamonds!
Love came down.
And now, by God’s grace, love goes out.
Merry Christmas!
Pastor Dan

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