Simply Jesus 2025 Recap
Sunday, December 28, 2025
Welcome! What a wonderful Christmas Eve service we shared in. I pray you were all blessed in the riches of God’s love in a multitude of ways this Christmas.
Announcements: Do we want a potluck on Jan 4th or hold off till Feb?
Thank you to our nursery volunteers! I would like to ask Courtney, Karen, Shari, Dawn, Marlene and Kelsey to come forward for a moment. Some are still serving, some served for part of the year and we are so very grateful.
A prayer of blessing and thanksgiving over you all and a small gift.
"Gracious God, we thank You for these faithful servants in our nursery, who give their time, energy, and love to care for our littlest ones. We know their work—changing diapers, wiping messes, singing songs, and calming fears—is often unseen, but it is foundational to our church family and reveals Your heart for the vulnerable. Lord, we ask for Your special blessing on each one: fill them with Your joy, peace, and strength. May they feel Your presence and know their service is deeply valued and seen by You. Bless their hands, their words, and their patience. May they be refreshed and renewed as they pour out love, reflecting Christ's own care for children. For those who are now serving in other areas we ask your continued grace and provision in the areas they are serving. Multiply each of their efforts and bless them abundantly, for Your glory and the good of our community. Amen
Call to Worship: Philippians 2:5-11
Let us remember and emulate the nature of Christ our Lord this morning as we gather to worship Him. What was the posture of His heart?
Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
And how did God the Father respond to His Son’s humble obedience?
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And so let us bring humble hearts in adoration and thanksgiving to our Lord, for this is why we just celebrated the miraculous birth and His arrival to earth in the form of man-this fulfillment of victory over sin and death, in order that, we may now live FREE in Him! Let our hearts sing out in praise to the only One who saves and redeems! Let our hearts sing out to our King of kings, the One, True and Living God, Jesus Christ!
Praise Songs
As we are in our final Sunday for 2025, I like to have us all reflect and look back upon where we began 2025 and the focus God gave us. Do you remember all the way back to January the first message of this year? It gave our direction and a challenge to grow in our faith as we explored what we truly need: Simply Jesus.
He is still and always will be, all we truly need. I was just reminded from a past post from Life 102.5, that showed up as a memory because I shared it a few years ago- if after the whirlwind of the holidays we’re left feeling a bit melancholy it’s because the celebrations no matter how wonderful they are, were never meant to satisfy us; only the Savior can.
How fitting as we bring this year of Simply Jesus into focus once again.
When we strip away everything else; and we are left only with Jesus, we can find He is enough. He is sufficient in every way.
Jesus Christ is our source of life, purpose, peace, security, and hope. He holds all that we are longing for and freely offers all that He is to us as we trust in Him and follow Him.
So how did this year go for you in seeking Simply Jesus?
Do you feel you have grown in your faith? Closer to Him? Trusting more in who He says He is? Standing on the foundation of Truth in who Christ is as your Savior? Have you acted with new levels of faith, pushing yourself beyond what you see or know, and trusting God will meet you in your obedience?
Scaling it all back and coming into an assurance that Simply Jesus is all I need in every area of my life and professing His name over those areas, speaking His Word of life into those areas, and trusting in His sovereignty can seem risky can’t it? It’s letting go of our sense of control. It’s letting go of our timelines, our agendas, our plans, and our pride and saying You are enough.
But it’s also exhilarating! Because when we begin to live this way more and more, we soon discover how awesome our God is-that He delights in rewarding His faithful children in really cool ways! We see He actually has pretty spectacular plans far beyond what we could ever come up with! We experience His unending favor and we wonder why me??? Then we come to rest in the truth, to display the riches of His grace to those He loves. Period…
And best of all, as we come into truly trusting in Jesus for who He says He is, we come to know His abiding peace that is flowing within us and the gift of peace is priceless isn’t it?
So if you weren’t here with us at the start of 2025-We’re so glad you’re here now! You can hear what God called us to and let it be a base for you to build on as you enter 2026.
If you got off course in 2025 and haven’t drawn closer to Jesus; maybe you drifted and in doing so have put your trust more into your self or your things; you can begin again right now! Our God is so gracious and He is ever beckoning us to Him, to His Son and to see His Son for who He is.
As we’re just coming off of celebrating the birth of Jesus, let us close out the year remembering the fulfillment of who the Christ is, our Lord who reigns supreme forever, and our Savior.
We began the year in Hebrews so let’s look again.
Hebrews 1:1-12 NASB
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. 3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, “You are My Son,
Today I have fathered You”? And again, “I will be a Father to Him And He will be a Son to Me”? 6 And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.” 7 And regarding the angels He says, “He makes His angels winds, And His ministers a flame of fire.” 8 But regarding the Son He says, “Your throne, God, is forever and ever,
And the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of His kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of joy above Your companions.” 10 And, “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands; 11 They will perish, but You remain; And they all will wear out like a garment,
12 And like a robe You will roll them up; Like a garment they will also be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.”
Who do we hear Jesus Christ is? The Son of the Living God, the radiance of God’s glory, and the exact representation of God. He laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning-He was always present. He holds all things together and while all earthly things will wear out; our God never will. He is King now and forevermore.
Have you pondered these truths in your heart this past year? Is there a certainty within you to know Jesus is Lord over all-including all the plates you might be currently trying to keep spinning, or across the nations in conflict?
Because if you don’t know this-really know this- when life hits hard - you have no foundation to stand on; everything crumbles. BUT when you do know who Jesus is and you have Him to cling to, you may get pushed and trampled upon, but you will rise and be able to stand. When you know who Jesus is, you can cling to His promise, “in this world you will have many trials of all kinds, but take heart, because I have overcome the world!”
How many have spoken His words of encouragement and hope over your situations this past year?
If you haven’t, let’s close out this year recounting again just who Jesus is and I want to encourage you specifically, let these truths be sealed in your heart, for what is within the heart flows out of us.
All Sufficient.
We find the truth of who Christ is, in His Word. Look for yourself and find out who Jesus is. Movies, music, other people’s thoughts can all be great…but they should never replace going to the source. If you really don’t know, can I encourage you to look and determine for yourself what is revealed to you. Don’t remain ignorant when God so freely gives us His written Word. If you doubt, then seek and pray for God to pierce your heart with His truth.
You know that is what Simeon told Mary and Joseph about Jesus. Luke 2:35 AMP and a sword will pierce through your own soul—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
Later in Hebrews 4:12 we read, 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Pray for God to pierce your heart and show you truth. We should all pray for this.
Let’s look again what His Word shows us about who Christ, the Messiah is.
Hebrews 1:8 8 But regarding the Son He says, “Your throne, God, is forever and ever,
And the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of His kingdom. Jesus is the king of kings forever. His power is sufficient. His authority is sufficient.
Colossians 2: 9-10 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
As the exact representation of God, the fullness of deity lives in bodily form. He is the head over every power-on the earth and even over the enemy. There is no one more powerful. There is no name higher. Do you believe this?
Do you stand in this truth when the enemy is coming for you, your family, your marriage, our nation? Do you profess the power found in the name of Jesus and bind the work of the enemy? Do you profess Jesus and victory in His name over your families, your marriages, your work, your health, your relationships, the world?
THIS IS what we are called to do! We trust Jesus is ALL SUFFICIENT.
2 Corinthians 9:8 NASB 8 And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
Through the grace of God, He ensures we have all sufficiency in everything-so that…. we have an abundance for every good deed! Meaning to carry out our purpose to help bring about His kingdom of peace and love here on earth.
Where are you struggling right now as we’re ending this year? Do you see Jesus as sufficient?
What are you hoping for as we enter a new year? Do you see Jesus as sufficient to provide all you need?
What are you waiting for in prayer? Do you believe Jesus is all sufficient to bring that request into reality?
All Supreme.
Colossians 1: 18-20 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Jesus is supreme in every way. He is the head; He is the beginning; He is the firstborn (of those who die in the flesh yet live eternal) as He came in the flesh so that in everything, He might have supremacy.
When we doubt in His supremacy, we’re not alone. Humans have doubted God ever since we had sin enter our hearts-because sin separates us from God and the intimate relationship He intends for us. Let me ask you, when you walk closely with Jesus, reading His Word, spending time in prayer, maybe journaling or talking with Him, sharing your needs with Him, praising Him- how often do you doubt in His supremacy? How often do you doubt His plans for you?
But when you stop doing these things and allow clutter to fill up your head and heart, to take your time away from Him, and you are no longer filling yourself with the life-giving Word, you are no longer talking intimately with your God-how frequently would you say you doubt then?
Not sure? Check your level of peace, worry, and fear this past year. Think about it and look back. What has the proximity of your relationship to Jesus been in times of peace and times of higher fear or worry?
After Jesus rose from the grave He revealed the plans of the Father for His Son and the glory, honor, and power bestowed on Him forevermore.
Matthew 28:18 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Coming back to our Scripture in Hebrews, the author states the heavens and the earth will one day parish-their current states will not last forever, but says the Lord will remain.
Hebrews 1: 11-12 11 They will perish, but You remain; And they all will wear out like a garment, 12 And like a robe You will roll them up; Like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.”
Jesus is-the One we call on for help. He is the One we follow. He is sufficient and supreme.
No Add On’s Needed.
Do you remember us talking about this at the start of the year? Removing all added forms of religion, idols, politics, self-made power-all these things we cling to for security as much if not more than we do Jesus and who He is.
How are we doing with that as we’re bringing 2025 to a close. I pray for each of us we have remembered this truth and in times we’re drawn to find security in something else, we choose to profess our faith in Christ alone. Let us in those moments pause from the scurry, the panic, the anger, and let us worship our Lord.
Do you know that is the best medicine for any of us; the best way to bring us to peace and calm again, is to worship Him and remind our soul just who our Jesus is.
Even the angels are commanded to worship Jesus because He is the supreme being and Lord
Hebrews 1: 6-7 6 And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.” 7 And regarding the angels He says, “He makes His angels winds, And His ministers a flame of fire.”
As we just recounted in our Christmas Eve service, the angels were commanded to rejoice in the birth of our Savior and the Son of God. They worshipped Christ and His arrival and they ministered to Him during His ministry on earth.
We don’t need anything else but Jesus. So if you have put other practices aside and have chosen Jesus more and more this past year-that is awesome! Stay on that path. It’s not to say we can’t find enjoyment in certain traditions or practices, but we shouldn’t view them as our security or foundation to stand upon. Our foundation is in and through Christ alone.
If you’re still clinging to other things or practices to make you feel secure, remember and know, there is no other name higher or more powerful than Jesus. Turn to Him, Choose to trust in Him and see how He shows up for you.
Conclusion: Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory, upholding all things by the power of His Word. There is no name higher for us to call on. He is all sufficient and all supreme. He is our Lord and Messiah. Let our faith reflect His Truth.
Let’s pray:
Offering: Lord, You are the great provider, the source of every good and perfect gift, and we thank You for supplying all our needs according to Your riches and glory. Accept these gifts, Lord, as tokens of our gratitude, and use them for Your purposes: to bring shelter to those in need, comfort to the sick, and hope to the hopeless. May these offerings advance Your kingdom, strengthen the ministry You entrust to us, and bless those in need, reflecting Your abundant love and grace. May we always give thanks in all circumstances, trusting You to continue Your faithful provision, in Jesus' name, Amen.
Prayers
Final Song
Final Blessing: Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy a
nd peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope as we enter a new year.
