Audlem Baptist Church Online Service for the
14^th December 2025

Unwrapping the Names of Christmas
This week’s name is Immanuel

This is the third service in our Advent series.

Welcome and Introduction

This series of sermons comes from Twin Lakes Church in California and was their Advent series last year. The series title is Unwrapping the Names of Christmas. Using the first Gospel we will delve into the Names that Matthew tells us Jesus was given: Messiah, Jesus, Emmanuel, King and Shepherd. We are using the same series for our in-person services at ABC.

Hymn: O Come, O Come Immanuel

This was the first Advent Carol that came into my mind when I thought about our name for this week.

Click here to watch the video.

Reading: Psalm 46

It is good to have an Old Testament reading so that we understand why Jesus’ names were so important to those who lived with him for three years. Immanuel means “God With Us”. This Psalm is full of statements about God being with us as our refuge and strength.

Click here to open the passage in a new tab.

An Advent Video: The Christmas Story Animation

Here is a lovely short Advent Video for you to watch. It talks about The Chosen and The Un-chosen and reminds us that Jesus was Emmanuel.

Click here to watch the video.

Song: Emanuel, God With Us

This Chris Tomlin song was new to me, but the words are great and so appropriate for today’s theme.

Click here to watch the video.

The Second Name: Immanuel

This message is the second in our series. If you have a Bible or Bible app to hand, you might like to follow in Matthew chapter 1.

This week Rene Schlaepfer brings the message.

Click here to watch the message video.
If it starts with no sound, click the loudspeaker at the left of the Vimeo panel shown below.

You can adjust the video settings using the controls at the bottom right of the screen. The gear wheel on the left adjusts the quality (480 may be enough) and the icon on the right shows the video full screen. The loudspeaker on the left is a volume control (make sure it is not muted!) and the CC icon beside the loudspeaker toggles the subtitles on or off, which may help you (and works noticeably better than YouTube subtitles).

Our Own Prayers

I realise that I use these words every week to guide your thoughts and I still think they are a helpful summary.

As you watched the message today was there a moment when you sensed the Holy Spirit speaking directly to you? Then tell Jesus about it. Or maybe you simply had a ‘lightbulb’ moment which you would like to thank God for.

Spend a few moments to thank God for all his goodness to you in the last week.

Spend a few minutes in confession.

Take a few minutes to pray for others who you feel burdened for. If you have received the Church email, it will give you some suggestions.

Now spend a few moments praying for the fellowship of the church to which we belong and its witness to friends, family, neighbours, the young and the old, and to the wider world.

Song: God Will Make a Way

The words of this song were included in Rene’s closing prayer, so it seemed the right way to finish our time together. I hope it blesses you as you sing along with the words on screen.

Click here to watch the video.

A Closing Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus. You have come to us; you are God with us; you gave your life for us on the cross; please walk with us through every day this week; we want to follow you strengthen us through the Holy Spirit.

We ask this in Jesus name,

Amen.