Christmas is more than a story we remember — it’s a reality that changes everything.

In this sermon, Marcel Hall reflects on the true meaning of Christmas by focusing on the miracle of Jesus’ birth and the arrival of God’s promised King. Teaching from Isaiah 9, Marcel unpacks how the prophecy of a child born and a Son given reveals who Jesus is and what His coming means for our lives today.

Jesus is revealed as:

1. Wonderful Counselor — God’s wisdom made accessible
2. Mighty God — God’s strength near to us in our weakness
3. Everlasting Father — God’s faithful care and protection
4. Prince of Peace — God’s restoring presence in a broken and anxious world

Joined by his wife Karina, Marcel invites listeners to pause, reflect, and consider which name of Jesus they need to receive this Christmas. The message concludes with communion, connecting the miracle of the manger to the sacrifice that brings forgiveness, hope, and new life.

This message is for anyone longing for meaning, peace, and hope — especially in the midst of a busy and often overwhelming season.

00:00 Are You Ready for Christmas?

00:36 Looking Beyond the Traditions

01:25 A Family Reflection

04:11 Isaiah’s Promise of Light

06:45 The Arrival of the King

11:29 Wonderful Counselor

13:52 Mighty God

16:05 Everlasting Father

19:00 Prince of Peace

24:26 Living in the Reality of Christmas

25:39 Communion and Reflection

Click here to donate to the program

Click here for more sermons

OC Church of Christ

What, I mean, are you ready for Christmas?

2

I'm not really referring to gifts,

meals, and parties, but are you ready

3

to celebrate the miracle of Jesus birth?

4

Because I knew I was asked a question

similar about a week or two ago and

5

they said, Hey, what's going on?

6

How you feeling about Christmas?

7

And I was like, they were like, on a

scale of one to 10 and the group was

8

like eight and nine, I feel insecure.

9

I'm like, I'm nowhere near eight to nine.

10

I'm at like a four or five right now.

11

There's just a lot going on, and so

the idea of celebrating Jesus really

12

has been foreign until really getting

prepared for the sermon here today.

13

So God has been ministering to me as

I've been able to look at these things

14

here because Christmas, as we all know,

is what the celebration of Jesus' birth.

15

And we can become so familiar with it,

and we know there's a risk, there's

16

always a danger of us focusing on

everything else but Jesus' birth.

17

We can focus in on the gifts, we can

focus in on what we are receiving.

18

We can focusing on getting a

place ready or having to travel

19

and all these different things.

20

And none of those are bad, but

the idea of what the season is

21

about can become a little bit

faded and and fade into a distant.

22

Recognition.

23

Are you with me here?

24

I know that's how I can be

unless I intentionally focus

25

in Why are we gathering?

26

I know I'm gonna get some good

grub and in fact I have to cook.

27

My mom makes me cook on Christmas.

28

I get out there.

29

We have a tradition.

30

I barbecue on Christmas day.

31

Now we're not talking steak

brother can't do that.

32

We're talking about some

ribs down so we get down.

33

Y'all might be having

some Turkey and some ham.

34

Hallelujah for you.

35

Okay?

36

But in my household, right?

37

I'm out there on, it doesn't matter.

38

One time it was raining at Christmas and

I thought, mom, I don't have to do this.

39

And she was like, boy, get out there.

40

And thankfully there was a little covering

and I was out there with a jacket on

41

trying to barbecue the only foolish

person outside on that Christmas day.

42

You know what I'm saying?

43

But Christmas is a celebration of the

birth of Jesus, and it's important for

44

us to take a moment, especially as we go

into the next week here, to have a moment

45

where we really appreciate all that is.

46

In the Christmas, not story, but in the

reality of Christmas that we live in, it's

47

the time in which Divine took on flesh.

48

Heaven entered earth.

49

Eternity stepped into time.

50

Christmas is not just

the birth of a child.

51

It is the arrival of a king and a

kingdom that has been inaugurated.

52

And so right now we're gonna take some

time to look at a familiar passage, but

53

we're going to have an opportunity to

prepare our hearts to truly celebrate

54

not just the birth of a child.

55

But the arrival of the

King of Kings Church.

56

Are you with me this morning?

57

Let's go ahead.

58

Let's go to the father in prayer.

59

Father, we come to you, grateful,

humbled, excited, needing you and your

60

presence, needing your word to guide

us, to stir our hearts, to remember

61

all that we have in Christ and all

that we have in Christ came through.

62

Christmas, the day in which

Jesus was born, the king arrived.

63

Father, allow us to put to

the side anything that would

64

distract us from hearing your

spirit's voice in our ear today.

65

Allow us to draw nearer to you and walk

away with a greater appreciation and

66

a conviction to live in the reality

that Christmas we pray in Jesus name.

67

Amen.

68

Amen.

69

Uh, before we get into this, uh,

my wife was actually gonna come up

70

and she's gonna help me here today.

71

Uh, she's gonna be sharing some

things as we go ahead and, uh,

72

look into the scriptures there.

73

So, uh, let you know.

74

Let's give a, a quick love to

my wife, Karina Hall right now.

75

Amen.

76

All right.

77

We're gonna go on over

to Isaiah chapter nine.

78

We're not gonna look at

the King James version.

79

We're gonna go to Isaiah chapter

nine, and for those of us we are very

80

familiar, but some of us we don't know.

81

There's actually several prophecies

about Jesus' birth and Isaiah in which

82

we'll look at the book of Isaiah.

83

He was a prophet.

84

What's a prophet Basically

means to speak the word of God.

85

And so sometimes prophets would

have a divine inspiration and

86

directional what to tell God's people.

87

And there would be something which we

would call prophecy, which is a prediction

88

of something that was going to happen.

89

And the cool thing is that God always

comes through with his prophecies.

90

He always comes through on his

promises and the predictions, the

91

prophecies if you will get fulfilled.

92

And sometimes there's a dual prophecy,

meaning it's for the immediate audience,

93

but also for the future audience

being me and you and the generations.

94

After us.

95

And so the context and the background

here for Isaiah Chapter nine, God's

96

people had been a kingdom, but yet

they had some division, some strife,

97

and it splits into two kingdoms.

98

Most of us know that there's a northern

kingdom and a southern kingdom.

99

The northern kingdom was

the kingdom of Israel.

100

The southern kingdom is the kingdom of.

101

And the northern kingdom had

really a lot of bad kings.

102

They got into a lot of adultery, so they

would worship foreign gods or gods that

103

were images that they crafted themselves.

104

And so they were unfaithful to God.

105

And so God kept warning them and

warning them, but they refused

106

to repent and be faithful to God.

107

So he allowed the Assyrian empire to

come until a siege to their kingdom.

108

And so this is the context.

109

In which Isaiah writes this prophecy,

the Northern Kingdom has been seized.

110

They haven't been fully conquered

yet by the Syrian empire, but

111

the Southern Kingdom is in

fear and also their king Ahaz.

112

He's been making some poor choices and he

is actually been rebelling against God.

113

And so both kingdoms are

in a bad spot spiritually.

114

Are you with me, church?

115

So again, this is really

cool and important.

116

When you see the context of this passage

that you are very familiar with, you may

117

be seeing in videos or little, you know,

uh, uh, scripture postings or whatnot.

118

It allows us to appreciate this

prophecy, not only for them, but

119

also how it applies to you and me.

120

So in Isaiah chapter nine, in this

time of darkness, oppression and

121

hopelessness, God promises hope.

122

God promises that a light is

going to break into the darkness.

123

Isaiah chapter nine, verse one.

124

The title of the message today is Unto Us.

125

Unto Us.

126

Let's go to Isaiah chapter nine verse one.

127

Brother and sisters,

are you still with me?

128

All right, let's go.

129

Isaiah chapter nine, verse one.

130

It says, nevertheless, there will be no

more gloom for those who were in distress.

131

In the past, he humbled the land

of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali

132

or Naphtali, but in the future, he

will honor Galilee of the nations.

133

By the way of the sea, beyond the

Jordan, the people walking in darkness

134

has seen a great light on those

living in the land of deep darkness.

135

A light has dawned, in Matthew, he

actually quotes this passage when

136

Jesus starts his ministry in Galilee.

137

So we're able to connect

dots and understand that this

138

prophecy applied not only.

139

This prophecy.

140

All right.

141

That was strange.

142

Wasn't that?

143

That was kind of wild.

144

I was like, Karina, what

did you do back there?

145

All right.

146

This prophecy applied to

Jesus in the New Testament.

147

Is it still doing something?

148

Sorry man, I, you know,

I've been working out again.

149

You know what I'm saying?

150

All right.

151

I really have.

152

That's not a joke.

153

Y'all laughing at a brother.

154

Now, I haven't been doing

much, you know what I'm saying?

155

But I have been working out.

156

All right, here we go.

157

Alright, so.

158

Let's continue with the verse here.

159

In verse three, it says, you have enlarged

the nation and increased their joy.

160

They rejoice before you as a people.

161

Rejoice at the harvest as warriors.

162

Rejoice when dividing the plunder.

163

Amen.

164

For as in the day of Midian's

defeat, that's a reference.

165

Do you remember in the book of Judges,

Gideon and God using Gideon to deliver

166

his people from the Midianites?

167

He says, you have shattered

the yoke that burdens them.

168

The bar across their shoulder,

the rod of their oppressor.

169

Every Warrior's boot used in

battle and every garment rolled

170

in blood will be destined for

burning, will be fuel for the fire.

171

But here we go for to us.

172

A child is born to us, a son is given, and

the government will be on his shoulders

173

and he will be called Wonderful counselor.

174

Mighty God, everlasting

Father, prince of Peace.

175

Of the greatness of his government

and peace, there will be no end.

176

He will reign on Davis throne and over

his kingdom establishing and upholding

177

it with justice and righteousness.

178

From that time on and forever,

the zeal of the Lord Almighty

179

will accomplish this again.

180

We see the people are actually in a moment

of darkness, and what does God provide?

181

He says There is going to be light

that breaks through the darkness.

182

And we know that this wasn't a

promise that was just for them.

183

It was a promise for all of God's

people afterwards, because when the

184

Messiah would come, this would be

fulfilled and it would be completely

185

fulfilled when the Messiah returns.

186

But as prophecy reveals the power

and the significance of Christmas.

187

The power and the significance of

the birth of Jesus, the power and the

188

significance of the arrival of the

king who is inaugurating his kingdom.

189

So let's break this down some.

190

In verse six, he says to us, A

child is born, a son is given.

191

This really highlights the

scholarly term or a technical term.

192

Any of us are familiar with it.

193

The incarnation.

194

And the incarnation

means God in the flesh.

195

And we see this in this passage that Jesus

was fully human and fully divine 'cause he

196

is a son that was born but yet a son that

was given two things that the same time.

197

And I love the way it was said

this, the child was born in time

198

but the son was given from eternity.

199

So we get a chance to

see the awe of Jesus.

200

Yes.

201

He was born as a human,

fully taking on flesh.

202

However, he was given to mankind

because he already existed.

203

And then it goes on and it says the

government will be on his shoulders,

204

a kingdom he will establish in the

kingdom in which he will reign and rule.

205

And then it goes on, and now it starts

to give us a description of King Jesus

206

and gives us titles and names in which

he can be referred to as, but really more

207

describing his character and his actions.

208

And we will see how that applies

to us today as citizens in.

209

Jesus's kingdom.

210

And so we start off here where he says

he will be called, wonderful counselor.

211

Wonderful.

212

Another word is extraordinary.

213

It's the closest, this Hebrew word,

the closest word to what you get,

214

uh, what we would call supernatural.

215

And so it's saying that this

counselor will be at supernatural

216

wisdom, a divine wisdom.

217

And so we see in Jesus that God's

wisdom is revealed and seen.

218

In Jesus and because Jesus came,

that wisdom is now available to us.

219

Jesus is the wonderful counselor to us.

220

I don't know about you, but I

need some good counseling in

221

my life and I don't want this

average Joe counselor in my life.

222

But we have Jesus who has come

and he is the wonderful, the

223

supernatural, the extraordinary

counselor for those who would be

224

his royal subjects in his kingdom.

225

He is a counselor for our life.

226

When we are uncertain, overwhelmed, don't

know which way to turn, we seek direction.

227

And counsel from the King of King.

228

So Christmas means we are

never alone in our uncertainty.

229

Karina's gonna share something

230

Karina Hall: So I think when I

think of Jesus as a wonderful

231

counselor, I think about wisdom,

uh, having wisdom in my life.

232

I think about leadership.

233

And I think about guidance and when I

know, uh, what I'm supposed to do, when

234

I have, um, when I feel like I have

the answers, uh, I feel confident, I

235

feel comfortable, and I feel at peace.

236

It's a little bit like being a

student for those who are students

237

and the teacher calls on you.

238

And you know the right answer, you know,

you, you feel a sense of peace and a

239

sense of confidence to say the answer.

240

And that's what it's like to have a

wonderful counselor by my side, is that

241

I can, , let worry and fear disappear and

decrease and let confidence, and peace

242

increase, , because that is who Jesus is.

243

And so I can walk in confidence.

244

. Marcel Hall: Next up it says, mighty God.

245

Being powerful and divine God's power

to deliver spiritually and physically

246

was encased in the body of Jesus.

247

His

248

power, the divine's power was

encased in the body of Jesus.

249

I don't know about you, but that's crazy.

250

That's incredible.

251

I wish I could have been here and

touched Jesus's flesh and said, whoa,

252

I touched the power of the living God.

253

He is mighty.

254

And, and again, Isaiah, he actually says

in another prophecy, he says he's gonna

255

be called the Emmanuel God with us.

256

And so because Jesus came in the

flesh, that power is not distant.

257

It is near.

258

Jesus is the strength that we need

when we are weak and need help.

259

Jesus is there to empower us to overcome.

260

Christmas reminds us that God's

power is not far, but it's close,

261

and that's God's power will deliver.

262

Karina Hall: Jesus as a mighty

God for me calls me to humility.

263

Because it means that I am not in control.

264

I don't have all the

answers, and that's okay.

265

That's good because Jesus does.

266

And when I think about Jesus as

a mighty God, it, I don't, um,

267

I don't have to do everything.

268

I don't have to.

269

Know everything.

270

It, I, I can surrender to Jesus.

271

I can surrender to his leadership and his

wisdom and his power, as opposed to trying

272

to do things on my own, as opposed to

thinking that what my way is the best way.

273

I, you know, when things are

around me, out of my control,

274

it's okay because I am not God.

275

And I think that is what it reminds

me when I think about Jesus as.

276

Uh, mighty God is that

I have to be humble.

277

I have to surrender to Jesus's Lordship

278

Marcel Hall: Goes on.

279

He says He is everlasting father.

280

It means Jesus' protector, provider, and

faithful as a parent to their children.

281

You know, God's provision, protection,

and faithfulness is embodied in Jesus.

282

The eternal God has made

himself eternally accessible.

283

God's love is no longer mysterious,

but is made visible in Christ.

284

And so Jesus is our everlasting

protector and provider.

285

Not temporary, not just for the

moments, but always present, never

286

ending, protecting, and providing

what we need in every area of our

287

lives and in all aspects of our lives.

288

Whether the good or the

hard in challenging times.

289

When we need comfort, when

we feel vulnerable or afraid,

290

God's care is present.

291

So Christmas assures us

that we are looked after.

292

Karina Hall: This is probably, my

favorite I name for Jesus is to think

293

about him as an everlasting father.

294

I think about, . Him in the gospels when

he talks about longing to , gather God's

295

people, like a hen gathers his chicks.

296

And that is the idea that I

get as an everlasting father.

297

That's who Jesus is.

298

He wants to gather as close to him.

299

And so he's not just this provider,

he is this provider, but he's

300

also this nurturer, he nurtures

me as a parent does their child.

301

And I also, I've been

reading Galatians and.

302

In Galatians three, it talks about

how he was sent to specifically, uh,

303

make us his God's children so that

we could be adopted as God's child.

304

And the idea of a parents

sacrifice, parents sacrifice

305

so much for their kids, right?

306

I would gladly take the pain

of any of my children and take

307

it upon myself if it means that

they don't have to experience it.

308

And that's who Jesus is for us.

309

He wants to nurture us.

310

He wants to make those sacrifices.

311

He's willing to leave heaven so

that we could have a chance to be

312

co-heirs with Christ so that we could

have a chance to have eternal life.

313

And it's not, um, it gives me a sense of

security to have this type of father that,

314

you know, I'm, I'm safe, I'm protected.

315

I'm, I'm good.

316

And also it gives me a joy.

317

You know, you think, you think about

when, uh, a child is with their parents.

318

They're, they're joyful.

319

They're happy to have

to be with their parent.

320

And I think that's who, that's who I

can be when I have Jesus as my father.

321

I can be joyful.

322

I can be happy and at peace and

secure in my relationship with him.

323

Marcel Hall: And it goes on and

says he's the prince of peace.

324

The royalty who makes us whole

calms our hearts and restores our

325

brokenness as citizens in his kingdom.

326

And because Jesus came, peace

didn't remain a promise.

327

It entered the world.

328

That peace then can enter our hearts.

329

Jesus is the peace that you and I need.

330

When we are anxious, afraid, overwhelmed,

stressed, the presence of Jesus

331

brings a divine peace to our souls.

332

So Christmas reminds us that the

ultimate peace is found in God.

333

Karina Hall: When I think about

Jesus as the prince of peace, I also

334

think about the, in verse five, uh,

where it says, every Warrior's boot

335

used in battle and every garment

rolled in blood will be destined for

336

burning, will be fueled for the fire.

337

And this idea that Jesus,

there's no war with Jesus.

338

Like there's, there's no

hatred, no bitterness.

339

He really comes to bring peace, a,

a, a peace that is in our hearts and.

340

It can be in our lives

and in our relationships.

341

That's who he is.

342

He doesn't want there to be hatred.

343

He doesn't want there to be fighting.

344

He wants to bring us together.

345

Um, it with Jesus.

346

There is no Jew or gentile

slave or free male or female.

347

We're all wanting Christ.

348

And that's the kind of, um,

that's why he made the sacrifice

349

so that we could have peace.

350

Uh, he wants us to get rid of the

bitterness and the hatred, and even

351

the war that takes place in my soul.

352

I can't control the war that

takes place , in the world.

353

But I can take comfort in knowing

that he gives me peace in my heart

354

and that there doesn't have to be war.

355

And so when I think about all these

qualities of Jesus, all that He means

356

in my life, and that he can give

me confidence, that he can give me

357

peace, that He can give me humility

and joy, I also can feel a little

358

insecure because I don't always a

hundred percent feel that every day.

359

I do have times where I'm anxious

or I worry, or where I do struggle.

360

To get rid of bitterness or whatever

it is that, that, maybe I'm battling.

361

But I know that because Jesus is a

wonderful counselor, he is a mighty

362

God, he is an everlasting father.

363

He is a prince of peace, He's still

those things even when I don't feel that.

364

Even when I don't, I don't, uh,

feel his presence in my life.

365

That doesn't change who Jesus is.

366

It doesn't change that he is.

367

Still those things and those, um, and that

he's accessible to me and that's something

368

that is also really comforting that he

doesn't change or give up on me, but that

369

he will still be my wonderful counselor.

370

He will still be my mighty God, my

everlasting father and my prince of peace.

371

When I'm ready and when I'm there.

372

Marcel Hall: Amen.

373

Amen.

374

Awesome.

375

Thank you, Karina.

376

We continue.

377

In verse seven, it says, of the

greatness of his government and

378

peace, there will be no end.

379

His kingdom is eternal.

380

That means that citizens in God's kingdom,

we have eternal life with the king.

381

Eternal life with the king, and it goes

on in talking about El David's throne.

382

Uh, he will rule over, establish, and

hold it with justice and righteousness.

383

This kingdom is not of military might

but of righteousness and holiness,

384

meaning it will be a kingdom that is

filled with godliness and judgment

385

and godly and holiness and behavior.

386

And so that means that all of us as

citizens in God's kingdom, we need

387

to have godly and holy judgements.

388

We need to have godly and holy behavior

because that's the kingdom in which we.

389

Get a chance to be in, not

just for the now, but for all

390

of eternity, and I love this.

391

It says, the zeal of the

Lord will accomplish this.

392

God's passion for his creation.

393

It says the zeal of the Lord,

not the reluctance of God.

394

I guess I gotta do this for the people.

395

No, I want to do this and I'm gonna

get over any hurdle that evil throws

396

in my way, that prevents my people

from knowing how much I love them.

397

Yeah, the zeal of the Lord, the passion,

the fire, that's what's in within God,

398

made sure that Christmas happened so that

we can live in the reality of Christmas.

399

And so God zeal brought the birth of

Jesus and it brought the arrival of the

400

King, and because of King Jesus came.

401

In the flesh.

402

And because he still reigns

today, this is not past reigning.

403

This is a current reign.

404

That means his wisdom guides us.

405

His strength sustains us, his care

surrounds us, and his peace steadies us.

406

And so this Christmas is a time

and an opportunity in which we are

407

invited to stop, to look, to reflect.

408

And to wonder, and I wanna present

this to you, and here's the question.

409

I believe for today and for this

week, which name of Jesus do you

410

need to receive this Christmas

411

counselor?

412

If you are uncertain, mighty God.

413

If you're weary, everlasting.

414

Father, if you need comfort.

415

Or Prince of Be peace.

416

If you're anxious, reflect on it

this week and ask Jesus for it.

417

Lord, help me experience this, not

just to know it, not just to agree

418

with it, but to experience it today.

419

Christmas is not just a story we remember.

420

It's a reality we get a chance to live in.

421

The king has come and he is

exactly who we need right now.

422

We're gonna take communion.

423

Communion.

424

We have the emblems that represent Jesus'

sacrifice with his blood and his body that

425

was given so that again, we could have a

relationship for eternity with the father.

426

Isaiah tells us that a child

is born and a son is given.

427

Communion reminds us that

the son who was given.

428

Gave himself fully for us.

429

Hebrews chapter two, verse 17.

430

It says, for this reason, he talking about

Jesus had to be made like them fully human

431

in every way in order that he might become

a merciful and faithful high priest in

432

service to God, and that he might make

atonement for the sins of the people.

433

Jesus took on flesh so that he could

give us life through the cross, and

434

Christmas made the cross possible.

435

Let's pray.

436

Father, thank you again for Jesus and

the Christmas reality in which we get

437

a chance to live in Father without

the Christmas reality and experience.

438

Father, there is no life,

death and resurrection.

439

So we praise you for your zeal

to accomplish what you said.

440

You would father, that you would've,

a son that would be born and that

441

would be given so that your kingdom

would reign for all eternity.

442

And thank you that we have that

opportunity through your son Jesus.

443

Father, I pray that as we reflect today

in this week, that we will receive

444

you as either wonderful counselor,

mighty God, everlasting Father.

445

Or Prince of Peace, may we receive

that today, and thank you for the cross

446

that allows us to have that confidence

and assurance that it is not only

447

possible, but it is accessible when

we ask and receive in Jesus' name.

448

Amen.