Christmas Like It Used To Be

Christmas doesn’t always feel like it used to.

Somewhere between the shopping lists, the travel schedules, the endless group texts about who’s bringing what to the party, and the late-night scrolling for that “perfect” gift… a lot of us feel a little empty inside.

We keep chasing a feeling we can’t quite name.

We remember bits and pieces — childhood moments, family traditions, the sound of a certain song on the radio, the glow of lights on a cold night. We can still see it in our minds. We can still feel it in our bones. But the reality we live in now… it’s just not the same.

And maybe, if we’re being really honest, we’re homesick.

Not just for a place. Not just for a time in life. Not even just for people we miss.

We’re homesick for something deeper — a belonging, a peace, a wonder, a meaning, a stability — that can’t be wrapped in paper or poured into a mug.

I want to tell you something: if you’re homesick, you should come home.

That’s not just a sweet Christmas card sentiment. That’s the invitation of Jesus. And this December, that’s what our church family is leaning into with a series called Christmas Like It Used to Be.

We can't roll the clock back to the “good old days.” We candiscover the longings behind those days — the belonging, the peace, the wonder, the meaning, the stability — are all found in Him.

We start where the ache is sharpest: belonging.

Luke 2:1–7 tells the story we think we know well — Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem, looking for a place to stay, only to find there’s no room for them.

It’s easy to rush past that detail, but think about it. They were exhausted. Far from home. Mary was in labor. And the world had no place for them.

Ever felt like that? Like there’s no place for you? Not in that friend group, not in that family dynamic, not in that workplace, not in that relationship. You’re “around” but you’re not “in.” You’re nearby but not home.

Here’s the thing: Christmas is God’s announcement that there’s room for you in His family.

He doesn’t wait until you have it all together. He doesn’t check your résumé, your reputation, or your religious record. He just says, “Come in. You belong here.”

When you follow Jesus, you’re not just part of a club. You’re adopted into a family that will never kick you out.

If you’re homesick for a place where you’re known and loved, come home.

The longing for peace is just as real.

Luke 2:8–14 tells us about shepherds — ordinary guys just doing their jobs — suddenly interrupted by an angel announcing “peace on earth.”

That sounds great until you remember the world they were living in. Rome was ruling with an iron fist. Herod was paranoid and violent. People lived under heavy taxes and constant fear.

Sound familiar? Different century, same anxiety.

And yet, the angels weren’t announcing peace as a future possibility. They were saying peace had arrived — in the form of a person.

Peace isn’t the absence of noise or problems or conflict. It’s the presence of Jesus in the middle of them.

I can tell you from experience — I’ve had moments where life was anything but calm, and yet I knew a steady, quiet center in my soul because He was there.

If you’re homesick for a peace that circumstances can’t shake, come home.

Then there’s wonder.

Matthew 2:1–12 tells the story of the Magi — travelers from far away who saw a strange star and went looking for a king. They probably expected pomp, power, and palaces. What they found instead was a baby in a humble house.

And yet, they were overjoyed.

Why?

Because wonder isn’t about getting what you expected. It’s about discovering something better than you imagined.

I think we’ve all had a little of our wonder beaten out of us. Life does that. Responsibilities pile up. Disappointments stack higher. Before you know it, “magic” becomes “meh.”

But Jesus has a way of restoring wonder. Not just making you feel warm and fuzzy for a moment, but actually awakening something deep in you — the kind of awe that makes you want to bow and worship.

If you’re homesick for the wonder you’ve lost, come home.

Christmas Eve is for meaning.

John 1:1–14 tells us, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” That’s not just poetic language. It’s history-shaping reality.

God didn’t shout His love from heaven. He moved into the neighborhood.

Christmas isn’t just a nice tradition or a feel-good story. It’s the turning point of history. It’s the proof that you matter so much to God He refused to stay distant.

When you know that, it changes everything. You stop living like your life is random or meaningless. You start seeing that your story is part of something bigger.

If you’re homesick for a life that matters, come home.

Finally, stability.

Matthew 2:13–23 reminds us that even after Jesus was born, the world was still dangerous. Herod raged. Rome ruled. Joseph had to take his family and flee to Egypt.

From the beginning, Jesus was surrounded by instability. And yet — He was never shaken.

We’re living in shaky times. The headlines keep coming. The economy swings. Relationships get complicated. Health feels fragile.

But if your life is built on Jesus, you’re standing on solid ground. Not because life stops shaking, but because He doesn’t.

If you’re homesick for a foundation you can trust, come home.

The Heart of the Series

Whatever you’ve been chasing, whatever you’ve been missing, whatever you’ve been longing for — Jesus is the home your soul has been searching for.

And here’s the best part: you don’t have to earn your way back.

You just have to say yes to the invitation.

This Christmas could be different. Not because the world will magically get better. Not because every relationship will suddenly heal. Not because you’ll find the perfect gift or take the perfect photo.

But because you could come home.

I’ve had Christmases where I was surrounded by people and still felt alone. I’ve had years where the gifts were great but the emptiness was greater.

The turning point is realizing there is no need to pretending you are fine. You can admit you are homesick.

And when you do, You find a Father who runs to meet you, a Savior who loved you at your worst, and a Spirit who fills you with peace. It is possible.

I want that for you.

Your Invitation

Here’s the simple truth: if you’re homesick, you should come home.

Not just to church. Not just to a Christmas service. But to Jesus.

He’s the one who offers belonging without conditions.

Peace that holds in chaos.

Wonder that never fades.

Meaning that lasts beyond the season.

Stability that stands when everything else falls.

This is the Christmas where you can stop searching and start living.

We’ll save you a seat. Join us on Sunday, December 7th at 9:15 or 10:45AM

Come home.

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