What Child Is This? | Christmas Eve at Trace Church | Aaron Pennington - Lead Pastor

Christmas Eve is a time filled with beauty, tradition, and reflection, but it can also be a season where pain, loss, and unanswered questions feel heavier than ever. In this powerful Christmas Eve message, Pastor Aaron Pennington invites us to slow down and ask the question at the heart of the Christmas story: What Child Is This? As part of our Songs of Christmas series, this sermon explores the story and meaning behind the beloved carol What Child Is This? Pastor Aaron walks through the origins of the song, the pain that shaped it, and how its message still speaks hope into our lives today. This message reminds us that Jesus did not arrive in comfort and perfection, but stepped into a messy, broken world to bring light, life, and healing. Whether Christmas is joyful or heavy for you, this message is an invitation to experience Jesus not as a tradition, but as the Savior who meets us in our cold and dark moments. Through Scripture, personal story, and the truth of the Gospel, Pastor Aaron shares how Jesus is God with us, Emmanuel, and how His life, death, and resurrection offer forgiveness, restoration, and new life for anyone who believes. If you are new to church, returning after a long time, or simply searching for hope this Christmas season, we are honored you are here. Trace Church exists to help people encounter Jesus and discover the abundant life He offers. Thank you for celebrating Christmas Eve with us. If this message encouraged you, consider subscribing to our channel and sharing it with someone who may need hope this Christmas. We would also love to invite you to join us in person or online as we continue into the new year. We will be back in person on January 4 as we begin a new teaching series called Uprooted, focused on removing what holds us back from the life Jesus came to give. 📍 Trace Church 4330 Mark Dabling Blvd Colorado Springs, Colorado ⸻ STAY CONNECTED 📌 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TraceChurch?sub_confirmation=1 📍 Website: https://tracechurch.com 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TraceChurchCOS 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trace.church 🎧 Listen to the Trace Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/trace-church ⸻ TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP ✅ Get Connected: https://tracechurch.com/next-steps/ 🙏 Need Prayer? https://tracechurch.com/need-prayer/ 💸 Give to the Mission: https://pushpay.com/g/tracechurch?src=fp ⸻ ABOUT TRACE CHURCH Trace Church exists to help people find and follow Jesus. From in-person worship in Colorado Springs to digital messages across the world, we create space for people to experience life-giving, Gospel-centered teaching. Whether you are new to church or looking for a place to grow, we are here for you. ⸻ Chapters 0:00 Welcome to Trace Church and Christmas Eve Invitation 0:49 Songs of Christmas Series Overview 1:22 Introducing the Song What Child Is This 1:35 The Story Behind the Song and a Season of Pain 2:11 When Christmas Feels Heavy 3:49 Here We Are and Why That Matters 4:22 A Prayer for Healing and Hope 5:30 Childhood Christmas Memories 6:26 When Christmas Is Also Hard 7:07 What Does a Baby in a Manger Have to Do With My Life 7:32 Everything 8:00 Who Do You Say This Child Is 8:38 Emmanuel God With Us 9:00 The Big Story of the Bible 10:10 God With Us Past Present and Future 11:00 Who This Child Is According to Scripture 11:47 Why We Celebrate Christmas on December 25 12:33 Jesus Stepping Into Our Darkest Night 13:14 The Light Shines in the Darkness 13:39 Jesus the Word Made Flesh 14:00 More Than a Christmas Tradition 15:18 Even You Are Not Beyond Redemption 16:19 The Christmas Story Is Messy 18:59 If Your Christmas Feels Messy You Are Not Alone 19:38 Jesus Stepped Into Our Brokenness 20:11 What Child Is This Really 21:00 The Question That Demands an Answer 21:42 Invitation to Respond This Christmas Eve 22:32 Closing Prayer 23:53 Final Reflection and Call to Follow Jesus