Sermon Reflections from Remember When... God Came Near | Alex Hardt | December 14, 2025
Christmas has a way of slowing us down—if we let it. Amid the lights, the lists, the noise, and the rush, there’s a sacred invitation tucked into the story we tell every year. It’s the reminder that God is not distant or unreachable. In Jesus, God came near.
When Jesus was born, the world was ruled by power, pride, and prestige. Rome flexed its muscle through force and fear. Caesar ruled from a throne. Herod protected his power with brutality. Authority was distant, unapproachable, and intimidating. People were expected to obey, not belong.
And then God did something no one expected.
He didn’t enter the world with armies or announcements to kings. He didn’t arrive in a palace surrounded by wealth and influence. Instead, He came quietly—as a baby. Wrapped in cloth. Laid in a manger. Born to ordinary parents in an overcrowded town.
The birth of Jesus flipped the world’s understanding of power upside down. God revealed His glory through humility. He showed us that real power isn’t found in control, but in love. Not in dominance, but in nearness.
Luke tells us that Caesar Augustus issued a decree that sent people traveling to their hometowns for a census. Rome thought it was counting citizens and strengthening its grip on the empire. But God was accomplishing something far greater. That decree brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem—exactly where the Messiah had been promised to be born hundreds of years earlier. Even when earthly rulers think they’re in charge, God is still writing the story.
And when heaven finally announced the arrival of the Savior, it didn’t start with royalty or religious leaders. God chose shepherds.
Shepherds were overlooked, misunderstood, and considered unimportant by society. They worked long, lonely nights. They lived on the margins. And yet, God trusted them with the greatest news the world has ever heard: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.”
That message wasn’t just for shepherds—it was for everyone.
The angels proclaimed peace, not fear. Joy, not condemnation. Hope, not distance. And when the shepherds encountered Jesus, they didn’t keep it to themselves. They shared what they had seen and heard, and everyone who listened was amazed.
That’s what happens when Jesus enters a life.
His presence transforms every place He enters. A stable becomes holy ground. Ordinary people become messengers of hope. Fear gives way to joy. Silence turns into praise.
And this is where the Christmas story becomes personal.
Jesus didn’t just come near then. He comes near now. He steps into our ordinary moments, our messy lives, our unanswered questions, and our quiet longing. He doesn’t wait for us to have it all together. He meets us exactly where we are.
So this Christmas, remember this:
God is not far away.
God is not unreachable.
God has come near.
And because He came near, we can know Him.
Because He came near, we can experience His peace.
Because He came near, we can live for Him—right where we are.
May we, like the shepherds, respond with wonder, worship, and a willingness to share the good news that Emmanuel—God with us—has come.
Pastor Alex
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Discovering God is a fresh look at how God is moving in our lives. Rooted in the Crossroads Church community, we reflect on sermons, share stories, and explore everyday moments where God invites us to grow. Join us as we take steps toward Him together. Learn more at www.wearecrossroads.church.