Christmas at Merge | Part 3 | Pastor Jacob Howell episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 23, 2025 · 34 MIN

Christmas at Merge | Part 3 | Pastor Jacob Howell

from Merge.Church · host Merge.Church

The sermon explored the historical and spiritual significance of celebrating Christmas on December 25th - chosen as the darkest, coldest day of the year to symbolize Christ as the light of the world breaking into our darkness. We examined Luke's account of the first Christmas and the angel's declaration to the shepherds: "good news of great joy for all people." In our current climate of overwhelming negativity - where 90% of news carries a negative bias - this message reminds us that Christ's coming represents hope, redemption, and a light that cannot be overcome by darkness. The sermon challenged us to recognize that this celebration isn't about comparison or measuring up, but about grace that is freely available to all people, regardless of status or circumstance.Welcome to our podcast of Merge.Church in Van Buren, Arkansas, led by Pastor Jacob Howell. We desire to help everyone, everywhere discover new life in Christ by creating a warm and welcoming family home where you can feel the love and forgiveness that Jesus offers to all. Wherever you are today, we pray that you would be encouraged, challenged, and inspired to take your NEXT STEP in you relationship with Jesus. For more information, visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merge.church/⁠⁠⁠⁠

The sermon explored the historical and spiritual significance of celebrating Christmas on December 25th - chosen as the darkest, coldest day of the year to symbolize Christ as the light of the world breaking into our darkness. We examined Luke's account of the first Christmas and the angel's declaration to the shepherds: "good news of great joy for all people." In our current climate of overwhelming negativity - where 90% of news carries a negative bias - this message reminds us that Christ's coming represents hope, redemption, and a light that cannot be overcome by darkness. The sermon challenged us to recognize that this celebration isn't about comparison or measuring up, but about grace that is freely available to all people, regardless of status or circumstance.Welcome to our podcast of Merge.Church in Van Buren, Arkansas, led by Pastor Jacob Howell. We desire to help everyone, everywhere discover new life in Christ by creating a warm and welcoming family home where you can feel the love and forgiveness that Jesus offers to all. Wherever you are today, we pray that you would be encouraged, challenged, and inspired to take your NEXT STEP in you relationship with Jesus. For more information, visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://merge.church/⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Christmas at Merge | Part 3 | Pastor Jacob Howell

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This episode was published on December 23, 2025.

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The sermon explored the historical and spiritual significance of celebrating Christmas on December 25th - chosen as the darkest, coldest day of the year to symbolize Christ as the light of the world breaking into our darkness. We examined Luke's...

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