Christmas Questions
I. II. PE: What is Christmas? Callie: It’s God’s birthday. Lexi: It’s Jesus’ birthday. Lauren: And it’s when Santa Claus comes to our house and brings us presents. Abby: It’s because Jesus was born. But He isn’t born every Christmas. He was just born once a long time ago. We just celebrate it at Christmas. PE: What is the Christmas spirit? Lindsay: It means you’re happy and joyful and very loving. And it means you’ve got Jesus in your heart if you’re a Christian. You’re not greedy, at least not on that day. When you get older, you have the Christmas spirit. PE: So you don’t think kids have the Christmas spirit? Lindsay: Not all kids. A lot of kids are greedy. Kianna: And they don’t like the presents that they get. They whine about it and say, “I didn’t want this for a present.” PE: Where do you think presents come from? Kevin and Callie: Santa! Abby: Santa makes the presents. He has elves to help him. Lexi: I think they come from a factory. Lindsay: Some presents are from God. Like the present of love and the present of joy and the present of babies. Lauren: My mom buys some presents, but she doesn’t get much. Santa brings more than a few and that’s why Santa is so special. He knows how to do it the best because that’s his job. Johnathon: Our presents come from our mom and dad and our whole family. Maybe sometimes from Santa, but sometimes I think it’s my mom and dad putting the presents in the stockings. Lindsay: It’s funny — my mom goes shopping a few weeks before. But she always says she has to go grocery shopping. PE: What’s the best Christmas present you’ve ever received? Lexi: A Sponge Bob skateboard. Callie: Man, there’s just so many. I can’t choose! Emily: A princess vacuum. I help my mom clean with it. Lauren: A Barbie boat. But I tried to see if it would float and it sank. Lindsay: A Gameboy. Kianna: I like the trampoline we got for an early present. Kevin: A remote-control car. PE: Did you know that we give each other presents because Jesus was given presents when He was born? Do you know what they were? Kianna: He probably got prayers. Johnathon: He got perfume and gold and … I forgot the last thing. I need to read the Bible some more. PE: What if you could give a present to Jesus today. What would you give Him? Callie: A birthday card. Lexi: A bowling ball. When it’s raining, He could use the bowling ball to make thunder. Austin: Boom! Lauren: A flashlight. Abby: Christmas lights. If He couldn’t figure out how they worked, then He could use them as a rope. Rhett: I would give Him love. Love and a magazine to read. Kianna: I would give Him my prayers. I think He would feel happy about that. Lindsay: I would give Him a new song for the angel choir. Johnathon: A hug, a kiss and perfume and gold. Or maybe just gold. Emily: I would give Him ornaments for His Christmas tree. PE: Why is it important to celebrate Christmas? Lauren: Jesus wants us to be happy because He saved us from being sad. Jesus heals us and He knows we’re really special. Lexi: We should celebrate His birthday because He’s done a lot of things for us. PE: We would like you to tell us the Christmas story now. Each of you take one piece of this nativity and tell about that piece. Lindsay: This is the stable, the most important thing about the story because Mary and Joseph probably went to 25 or 26 hotels and the rates were all too high, so they went to the last hotel and all they had left was a stable. And this is the star on top. Without that, the three kings wouldn’t have been able to find Jesus and bring their really cool gifts. Lauren: There would have been more room if Joseph would scoot over. In his brain he thinked and thinked about how to make more room. And then he scooted over. Because they also needed room for a donkey. Lauren: I have Baby Jesus. He was born and then the bad soldiers cut up His body. But now He’s alive. He died on a cross for our sins and now He loves us. Abby: This is a sheep. This sheep looked at Baby Jesus. It watched for two hours and then it went to sleep. PE: What do grown-ups need to know about kids at Christmas? Johnathon: What they want for presents and that they love their parents. Lexi: You should be kind to your kids. You should be responsible and not lose them. Lindsay: Grumpy grown-ups should know that kids want to have fun, but they also want to know about Jesus. Kids are caring and lovable, and if we didn’t have kids, we wouldn’t have people. III. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU a. What is better, one big gift or a bunch of little ones? b. What is the best gift that you have ever received? c. What is the best that you have ever given? IV. DID YOU CATCH SOME OF THE BLACK FRIDAY EVENTS? Wal-mart - Man died opening the doors - Pregnant woman was hurt at the same store -People got mad because they closed the store. In Glasgow one our ladies got a bruised up by a grown man snatching a gift out of her arms. I think all of that is a prime example of 2 Timothy 3:1-9 2 Timothy 3:1-9 (NIV) 1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth--men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone. Just think about this, this could be our last Christmas on this earth. I think we are in the very last days. V. WHAT ARE WE CELEBRATING? a. Trees b. Decorations c. Shopping Sprees d. Presents VI. WHAT DID THE ANGELS ANNOUNCE? a. To the shepherds - Luke 2:11 (NIV) 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Why? The world needed a Savior That Savior’s name was not Wal-mart Toy R Us Peeple’s Khol’s His name is Jesus b. He did not come to entertain or be played with c. Announcement to Joseph Matthew 1:21 (NIV) 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." d. Here is a beautiful part Romans 8:15-17 (NIV) 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. e. Jesus came to save us from our sin VII. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU WERE NOT INVITED TO YOUR OWN BIRTHDAY PARTY? a. All of your friends are gathered b. There’s all your favorite foods c. There’s presents d. But you did not get invited e. Sounds ridiculous f. How many Christmas parties have you been to that Jesus wasn’t welcome at? g. Billions will celebrate the season but the guest of honor will not even get a thought. h. How sad is that VIII. A FINAL THOUGHT a. We will all give and received gifts this season b. Nothing wrong with that - I’m going shopping this week c. Let’s consider a couple of things 1. Let’s make sure that guest of honor is at the party. a. Make Christ the center of attention b. It’s His birthday 2. What about a gift for Him? a. All He ask for is our life b. Some say that is too much c. He gave His life for us d. Mark 10:45 (NIV) 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." d. All He ask for is us to say from our heart 1. Yes, I believe 2. I accept You into my heart 3. Fill me with the Holy Spirit 4. Make me into Your image e. We give Him the gift He really wants f. We get eternal life in return
