The Council of Nicaea and Christmas: Worshiping the Eternal Son

What does a 4th-century church council have to do with Christmas in 2025? In this episode of afterWord, Pastor Kent Dresdow sits down with Executive Pastor Matt Rehrer to reflect on the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea—and why it still matters every time we celebrate the birth of Christ.Fresh from a pastors’ conference in Istanbul (historic Constantinople), Kent shares how walking through the Nicene Creed line by line deepened his worship of the Triune God. He explains the controversy with Arius, why the church had to answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?”, and how Athanasius and others defended the full deity of Christ against the claim that “there was a time when he was not.”From there, Kent and Matt trace how Nicaea safeguards the heart of the gospel: if Jesus is not truly God and truly man, there is no real mediator, no true grace, and no secure assurance. They explore the eternal love shared between Father, Son, and Spirit; the difference between the triune God of the Bible and every other “god” or idol; and how this rich theology shapes Advent preaching from passages like Luke 1–2, John 17, and 2 Corinthians 13.Whether you’re newer to church history or hungry to go deeper into the Trinity, this conversation will help you see Christmas not just as the story of a baby in a manger, but of the eternal Son—very God of very God—come to save.Welcome to NorthCreek Church!In glad reliance on the Holy Spirit and Scripture, we exist for the glory of Christ, to make disciples who worship God, walk in love, and witness to the world.Connect With Us:Sunday Services: 9:00AM & 10:45AM Address: 2303 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94598Online Resources:Main Website: https://www.northcreek.org/ NorthCreek Academy (TK-8): https://ncapschool.org/ Sermon Archive: https://northcreek.churchcenter.com/channels/19901 Church App: Download the Church Center App and search for "NorthCreek Church"