How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Today I want to launch us into this message with a reading from one of the great minds of theology

Dr. Seuss . . . I have here copy "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"

A favorite Dr. Seuss book . . . I want to read a portion of it to you (Read pages 1-2 of the story)

Every Who Down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, was singing! Without any presents at all!

He hadn’t stopped Christmas from coming at all!

It came without ribbons! It came without tags!

It came without packages, boxes or bags!

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!

Maybe Christmas, He thought, doesn’t come from a store.

Maybe Christmas...Perhaps...means a little bit more!

What is Christmas about? For many people Christmas is a depressing time of year

Tis the season to be morose, the season to divorce, the season of suicide

Christmas is marked by greater emotional stress

For others Christmas is frenzied, frazzled shopping

Buying more, spending more, getting more and having less . . .

So we run around trying to buy happiness, peace, joy and good will towards all men

Christmas has become ultimate holiday for committed hedonists

Christmas has become an excuse to . . .

The meaning of Christmas is slipping away from us

Have you notice HOW and WHAT the stores advertise at this time of year?

Stop by your local Hallmark store . . . what do the cards say?

Season greetings – Happy Holidays – genetic winter celebration good wishes

Imagine you are someone who never heard about Christ

What message would you get from what you see?

San Jose Mercury News told the story of a christening that was to be held many years ago by a very wealthy European family. Many guests were invited to the home for the occasion and came in the very latest fashionable garb. Their wraps and coats were carried to a bedroom and laid upon the beds. After the usual lot of conversation and commotion, they were ready for the christening ceremony and someone asked, "Where is the baby?" The nurse was sent upstairs to look and returned in alarmed distress. The baby was nowhere to be found! After several minutes search someone remembered that the child had last been seen lying on one of the beds, and after a frantic search the little child was found smothered under the wraps of the guests.

This pathetic story demonstrates what we have done to Christmas

We need Christ to put the real meaning into Christmas

But we have lost the realization of what Christmas is really about

We have become like the wife who said to her husband:

This year let’s give each other more practical gifts like socks and fur coats

What is the MORE behind Christmas?

Luke 2:7 Christmas is the CELEBRATION of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ dropped right into the middle of human history

He came at a time when everybody was busy . . . just like now

Where there is no place for Jesus to fit into our busy schedules

Luke 2:10-11 I bring you good news of great joy for everyone!

A Savior has been born to you!

That’s the MORE behind Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In the hopes the St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads;

Clement Moore continues in his famous Christmas poem "The night before Christmas"

To immortalize the Christmas elf who we know as Santa Claus

Santa Claus has become the central figure of Christmas . . .

It almost wasn’t Christmas - Santa doesn’t believe people care about each other so he won’t come

The night they saved Christmas - Santa’s workshop is being destroyed by explosions by men who are looking for riches in oil deposits they believe reside near the North Pole, if destroyed no Christmas

Is this what Christmas is about?

Maybe Christmas, I thought, doesn’t come from Santa Claus

Maybe Christmas...Perhaps...has a deeper cause!

Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Christmas?

I don’t mean why we do, but why people who have no knowledge of Christ

Who have no Christian up bringing – celebrate Christmas?

What do people think is the cause of Christmas . . . like to walk the streets and ask

What is the CAUSE of Christmas? Luke 2:11 Answers that question!

For today a Savior is born for you – A Savior is born . . . FOR YOU

Dative of advantage - Indicates the person for whose benefit something is done