Christmas Concert 2025

10:32 My name is Kevin DeYoung. I'm the senior pastor here at Christ Covenant. And it is a wonderful thing that we can gather and do this each year. And Nathan and all these musicians will get a chance to thank them at the end. We were just praying beforehand, and I said, it's a really unique thing that we can do something like this at Christ Covenant. It doesn't make us a better church, but it's just a unique opportunity that we have with this many gifted musicians on instruments and voice and children and people of all ages, and of course, Nathan's leadership and many others. So we're really grateful to have you here. And whether you're here because this is your home church, or maybe you were watching some of these little ones sing, or you just love Christmas music, We're glad that you're here. One of the songs that an ensemble is going to do a little bit later, and it's a song that I sang when I was in college, and so they're nice enough to let me practice with them a couple of times and jump up here for the ensemble.

11:33 It's called Hodie Christus Natus Est. It's Latin. It means today. That's the word hodie. It's a beautiful song and arrangement. Hodie, today Christ is born. It's one of the few songs that really accentuates the tenors, so it's a very strong piece. And it was written by Jan Petersvun Zweylink, a good Dutchman, who was a church musician, composer, and organist for over 40 years in the same church in the 16th century in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. And I hope you'll enjoy that and enjoy the rest of the songs that we have tonight. But I highlight that because so many Christmas songs, and we've already had it in some of the words that we've sung, they have that word today. And so we're singing, today Christ is born. And of course, 2,000 years later, we're remembering that announcement that today is born.

12:29 Today you will find one wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Today. But it's an important word in the Bible, not just to look back and to be able to sing today as we celebrate in remembrance Christ's birth. But there is a profound theological significance to think about today. So just one passage from Hebrews chapter 3. Hebrews is all about Jesus Christ as superior to everyone and everything that had come before. Superior high priest, a superior sacrifice, a superior word, and a superior Moses. So we read, Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant to testify to the things that were to be spoken later.

13:45 But Christ is faithful over God's house. Notice the comparison. Not as a servant now, but as a son. We are his house. If indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in hope. And then here's the word that I just drew your attention to as the writer here. Now quotes from the Old Testament. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, and that's a reference to the Old Testament, inspired by the Holy Spirit and continuing to be spoken to our hearts by the Holy Spirit, here's what it says. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion on the day of testing in the wilderness. Today, you see what the author of Hebrews is doing. He's taking a passage that was many years ago when God's people were rebellious, and now he's applying it here to this congregation of people and saying that moment, that warning, that word from the Holy Spirit spoken years ago is still with you.

14:48 And that same Holy Spirit speaks that word to us today if you hear his voice. So here's the thought I encourage you with as you enjoy the music this evening. You think, how should I listen to these songs? Well, enjoy the common grace gifts of instruments and singing and music and enjoy the preparation from all of our musicians. And maybe you see someone that you know and love up here singing and maybe you love the Christmas spirit and season. All of that is good. But consider that word today. So listen to these songs, not just for all of that good music and even the nostalgia of Christmas, but consider today what the Holy Spirit might be saying to you through the truth of this gospel story, through the message of this Christmas season. Today, it would be a great shame if we came here and you enjoyed all of this and you didn't consider that God is with us in this place And God has something to say to you through his word.

15:55 Today and the weeks to come, Christmas Eve, this beautiful season of the year. Today, if you hear his voice, something strikes you in a new way. It reminds you of something you'd forgotten. Teaches you something you didn't know. Maybe presents to you for the first time in a new arresting way, Jesus Christ as the son of God and the savior of the world. Let us not harden our hearts, but let us listen and enjoy with the ears of faith that we might believe and receive him.