Misfit Christmas: Impact Of The Greatest Misfit Series

MISFIT CHRISTMAS:

Impact of the Greatest Misfit

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: Good Idea

1. Two Centerpoint natural Gas company men were checking gas meters in a suburban neighborhood. They parked their truck at the end of an alley worked their way to the other end.

2. At the last house, a woman looking out her window watched the men as they checked her gas. Finishing, one worker challenged the other to a foot-race back to the truck.

3. As they came running up to their truck, they realized the lady from the last house was huffing and puffing right behind them. They asked her if something was wrong.

4. Gasping for breath, she said, “When I saw two gas company men running for their lives I figured I’d better run too!”

B. DECEMBER THEME: “MISFIT CHRISTMAS”

1. We’re talking about misfits this month. A MISFIT is “a person who’s not like everyone else – they’re different.”

2. How many of you know that we Christians are supposed to be different from everyone else? We’re not supposed to ‘blend-in.’ Our being different is not a BAD difference, but a GOOD difference. You see, we’re supposed to be like Jesus!

3. He’s all-good, all-loving, sacrificial, kind, forgiving, generous, and sweet. He’s a wonderful person to be around.

4. ANYONE WHO GOT AROUND JESUS WAS PROFOUNDLY CHANGED!

a. The WOMAN AT THE WELL met Jesus. As she spoke to Him and looked into His eyes, she began to feel a Presence of God she’d never felt before. Touched to the heart, she left her waterpot and went back to tell her whole town about Jesus.

b. The 2 DISCIPLES who met Jesus on the Road to Emmaus said their hearts began to burn within them.

c. HARDENED SOLDIERS, sent to arrest Jesus, returned without Him. When asked why, they said, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”

d. PROFESSIONAL FISHERMEN who took Jesus on their boat said, “What kind of man is this? For even the winds and the waves obey him!” Mt. 8:27.

5. IT WASN’T UNCOMMON FOR PEOPLE WHO MET JESUS TO LEAVE THINGS BEHIND;

a. The Zebedee brothers left their boats & nets behind;

b. Matthew left his Tax Office;

c. Luke left his Dr.’s office;

d. Paul left his Sanhedrin post behind;

e. Healed CRIPPLES left their crutches behind; the BLIND left their tapping canes behind; the RESURRECTED left their empty coffins behind; the PARALYZED left their begging tins behind, and the formerly DEAF threw their hearing devices away!

6. I hope when YOU met Jesus, YOU LEFT SOME THINGS BEHIND! Maybe a wicked lifestyle, a person not good for you, that old habit or addiction, judgmental/ critical spirit.

7. You see, if you really meet Jesus, you’ll never be the same again!

B. BOOK: “HISTORY REWRITTEN.”

1. I asked a group of people last week, “What is your favorite thing about Christmas?” They said, “The lights, trees, gifts, food, family, traditions, music, cards, pageants, excitement, and hope.”

2. Several years ago a group of historians authored a book

called, “IF – OR HISTORY REWRITTEN.”

3. Some of the “IFS” those scholars considered were:

a. What if the Moors/Muslims in Spain had won, and Europe and then America had become Muslim?

b. What if Abraham Lincoln had not been assassinated?

c. What if Napoleon had escaped to America formed a French empire there?

d. What if Hitler had not attacked Russia and German scientists had developed the atom bomb?

4. A question I’d like to ask is, “What if Jesus had never been born? How would the world be different?”

I. NO CHRISTMAS! NO JOY! NO HOPE!

A. NO CHRISTMAS:

1. What if we got to the winter break and there was no Christmas in our calendar?

a. Gone - would be all the decorations in the yards, on houses, and stores – all would be dark!

b. Gone - would be all the children’s joy and excitement;

c. Gone – opening up gifts on Christmas morning;

d. Gone – the Christmas carols & hymns

e. Gone – the family get-togethers, the Christmas food/ feasts, the parties, & the generous spirit.

f. Gone - the Christmas shopping and planning all year long. No Black Friday sales or cyber-Monday. Think how the U.S. economy would crumble/ crater!

2. There’d be no joy, no hope – because Jesus would never have come into the world. It reminds me of the...

B. MOVIE: “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

1. Jimmy Stewart plays the part of George Bailey, a small town Savings & Loan officer. One disappointment after another happens.

2. George tells the angel (Clarence) that he wishes He’d never been born. And the angel makes it occur.

3. George goes back to a town that has been given over to gambling, drinking, and vice. The people he had formerly known as decent and kind were hard and vulgar.