Podcast Summary: Times Square Church - "The Far and Near"

Date: December 21, 2025
Speaker: Pastor Tim Dilena

Episode Overview

In this special Christmas season sermon, Pastor Tim Dilena explores the heart of the gospel through the lens of the real Christmas story. He examines how Jesus’ birth impacted those both far and near—contrasting the distant magi’s devoted pursuit with the indifference of religious leaders who were close by. Pastor Tim invites listeners to reflect on their own spiritual distance and the true meaning of drawing near to Christ. The message concludes with a heartfelt invitation to begin a new relationship with God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Real Christmas Story (02:30 - 07:30)

• Pastor Tim emphasizes that Christmas is not about commercialism or Santa Claus, but about the giving nature of God:

  “Giving during this season was not started by retail. It was started by heaven." (02:20)

• C.S. Lewis is quoted to emphasize the miracle of the Incarnation:

  “Only once in our world's history did a stable have something in it that was bigger than our whole world. Jesus was born into a world he created. He was held by hands that he made exist...” (02:50)

• Pastor Tim reads from Matthew 2, focusing on the visit of the magi and the religious response.

Who Is Near, Who Is Far (07:35 - 25:10)

The Magi: Far But Close (09:00 - 18:30)

• The magi, though from distant lands (Babylon/Persia, ~1,000 miles away), recognized Jesus as King and pursued him with faith and reverence.
• Illustrates awe at their willingness to worship Jesus despite humble circumstances:

  "They saw beyond the manger. They saw beyond the present into the future." (14:45)

• Anecdote from his son’s first grade class—children try to recall the gifts of the magi—with humorous guesses like "french fries" and "Frank sent us" (10:45 - 12:00).
• J.C. Ryle, cited:

  “No greater faith in the Bible than a thief on the cross... [and] three men from the east saw a baby and called him king.” (16:30)

• Application: No matter how far you feel from God (“a thousand miles away”), Jesus’ birth demonstrates that faith brings us near.

Story of Redemption: The Power of Forgiveness (18:30 - 23:30)

• Shares a story of a church conflict over a prospective pastor’s fiancée who had a difficult past, concluding:

  “My fiance's past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. And today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So I have one question: Does it wash away sin or not?” (22:10)

• Pastor Tim reaffirms:

  “What gets you close to God is not your promises. It's not your goodness. It's still nothing but the blood of Jesus.” (23:20)

The Religious: Near But Far (24:00 - 31:15)

• The chief priests and scribes knew all the right answers, even the exact prophecy (Micah 5:2), yet didn’t seek out the newborn King just five miles away.
• Kierkegaard’s reflection:

  “It is so much easier to become a Christian when you are not one than to become a Christian when you assume you already are.” (25:10)

• Analogy: It’s like flying over the Grand Canyon and claiming you’ve experienced its majesty—you have knowledge, but not the authentic encounter.
• Pastor Tim warns:

  “Don’t be five miles away and do nothing. Don’t just come and listen to music and do nothing. God can change you today.” (31:00)

The Gift Exchange: Heaven’s Initiative (31:15 - 40:00)

• Illustrates with the story of Yo-Yo Ma losing a $2.5 million cello in a New York cab—and the urgency to retrieve what’s most valuable—paralleling how God pursued humanity:

  “God would not rest until he went on a rescue mission for you... Christmas began in the heart of God and is only complete when it reaches the heart of men and women.” (33:50)

• Christmas is a gift exchange:

  “God went first on the Christmas gift exchange. The gift of God to man would be his son, Jesus Christ... Man's gift to God is our hearts, our sinful hearts. And God loves receiving that gift.” (35:00)

• Clarifies: Jesus did not come to establish a holiday, but to set people free.

How to Draw Near: The ABCs of Being Born Again (40:00 - 50:00)

• Pastor Tim explains what it means to be “born again”—not simply religious, but having a spiritual rebirth as described by Jesus Himself (John 3).
• Quotes:

  “You don't get good and come to Jesus. You come to Jesus and he makes you good.” (47:50) “Perfect people don’t go to heaven... Forgiven people go to heaven.” (43:30)

• Outlines the ABCs:
  • A: Admit – We’re sinners and in need of help.
  • B: Believe – Jesus died as our substitute to offer forgiveness.
  • C: Confess – Make Jesus Lord of your life, turning faith into a relationship.
• Challenges assumptions about salvation:

  “It would be the worst case of child abuse in human history to say, be good, but the death of Jesus doesn’t matter. It does matter. He's my substitute, and I have to believe that.” (44:50)

The Call to Respond: A Time for Decision (50:00 - End)

• Asks the congregation: “Have you been born again?” Encourages everyone, no matter their past or proximity to religion, to make a real commitment.
• Over 50 people raise their hands to start the journey, both in-person and online:

  “Could we thank God for those hands that went up today?” (52:15)

• Leads all in a prayer for new life in Christ:

  “Dear Jesus, I believe you’re the son of God. I believe that on the cross you took my sin, my shame and my guilt and you died for it...” (53:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Christmas is in. God came down the stairs of heaven with a baby in his arms. That is the greatest gift that has been given.” (07:55)
• “It tells me that making Jesus king of your life doesn't need every question answered. It does need a step of faith.” (15:20)
• “The journey wasn’t a thousand miles. They were five miles away. And no one went there. No one even went.” (28:20)
• “God would not rest until he went on a rescue mission for you... you're worth way more than a cello. You belong to God.” (33:25)
• “He didn’t come 2,000 years ago to get you to church. He came 2,000 years ago to get you to heaven and to eternity.” (37:10)
• “You may be sitting here today, five, not five miles away, five rows away from an opportunity for your life to be changed and walk out of here realizing that I know the answers... but never experiencing who he is.” (29:15)
• “Forgiven people go to heaven.” (43:40)
• “Don’t be five miles away and do nothing.” (31:00)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00: Warm welcome to global audience; C.S. Lewis quote on the Incarnation
• 02:30: Introduction to the real Christmas story (Matthew 2)
• 07:35: Main theme: “The far are very close,” “the close are very far”
• 10:45: Humorous school story about the gifts of the magi
• 16:30: J.C. Ryle quote on faith of the Magi and the thief on the cross
• 18:30: Story: Redemption and church conflict over a fiancée’s past
• 25:10: Kierkegaard quote about assuming faith
• 28:20: The religious response—knowing, but not seeking
• 33:25: Yo-Yo Ma and urgency of God’s pursuit
• 40:00: Explanation of being born again—the ABCs
• 50:30: Invitation to respond; prayer for new life
• 53:15: Congregational prayer of commitment

Conclusion

Pastor Tim Dilena’s message artfully weaves gospel truth with humor, history, and memorable stories to challenge and encourage listeners—both those who feel far and those who feel near to God. The call is clear: Christmas is more than tradition; it’s God’s relentless pursuit of every heart, offering forgiveness and a new spiritual beginning through Jesus. The ultimate question isn't how much you know, but have you truly drawn near to receive the gift?

For more messages and information, visit tsc.nyc