Christmas Program School 2025 – Hope has Come!
Survey: Top Ten Christmas Characters
The most popular Christmas characters:
1. Santa Claus: The quintessential symbol of Christmas, Santa Claus embodies the spirit of giving and joy. He is known for his red suit, white beard, and the tradition of delivering gifts to children around the world on Christmas Eve.
2. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Famous for his shiny red nose, Rudolph is celebrated for his story of overcoming adversity and leading Santa's sleigh through foggy weather. His tale teaches the importance of embracing differences.
3. The Grinch: Created by Dr. Seuss, the Grinch is known for his initial disdain for Christmas, but he ultimately learns the true meaning of the holiday through his interactions with the Whos of Whoville.
4. Frosty the Snowman: This beloved character comes to life with a magical hat and embodies the joy of winter and the holiday spirit. His adventures are a staple of Christmas lore.
5. Ebenezer Scrooge: From Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," Scrooge's transformation from a miser to a generous man serves as a powerful reminder of the holiday's true meaning.
6. Buddy the Elf: From the movie "Elf," Buddy is a human raised by elves at the North Pole. His innocent and joyful nature brings laughter and warmth to the holiday season.
7. Kevin McCallister: The young protagonist of "Home Alone," Kevin's adventures while defending his home from burglars have made him a relatable and beloved character during the holidays.
8. George Bailey: The lead character in "It's A Wonderful Life," George's journey highlights the importance of community and the impact one person can have on the lives of others.
9. Jack Skellington: The Pumpkin King’s Christmas Caper
10. Clark Griswold: From "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," Clark Griswold is known for his over-the-top Christmas decorations and family antics, embodying the humorous side of holiday celebrations.
11. The Nutcracker: A Magical Toy Soldier
These characters, according to all the pollsters not only entertain but also convey important messages about love, generosity, and the joy of the holiday season, making them timeless favorites during Christmas celebrations!
I thought really Jesus is the personification of Love in the flesh, Jesus was so generous he gave up his life so we could be set free from sin, Jesus is the dispenser of joy through the Holy Spirit – I researched more and discovered that Jesus does not make the top ten of the list of the most famous Christmas Characters – He does not even make the top 100 most notable Christmas characters of all time!
Can I hear a “sigh” from all of you who believe?
I say, “This is rigged – this so-called poll is fixed against Jesus – to say that the bulk of the people in the USA do not acknowledge that Jesus is the reason for the season!” I say, “Bah Humbug!”
I think something evil is at play hear to deny what Jesus – did – what Jeus brought to this world when He was born! Remember the Bible declares that He fulfilled 300 prophecies of the Messiah! The Messiah is the Savior of the world – His 1st return to deliver this world from sin and bondage set the captives free – when He came, he shone as the eternal light of the world! He came to lead people out of darkness! That is why He is called “The Living Hope!”
Thesis: Christmas always reminds me of Jesus – Especially how He fulfilled so many prophecies and promises from God’s Word (He fulfilled 300 of them in accordance with the Bible)
Introduction:
The story we have heard tonight of Jesus 1st coming should birth - Hope into the people of God – Yes Christmas is a time to celebrate and be reminded that Hope has Come to a hopeless world! This Hope is called a Living Hope by an old wise fisherman named Peter!
Listen to what an old wise fisherman said about Living Hope:
Scripture verse: I Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), 1 Pe 1:3–6.
Wow - Peter nails it on the head – It’s not just hope that’s come to this dysfunctional world – But it’s a living hope – a hope that will literally touch your heart and your life – it’s alive – The key to experience this “Living Hope” is you must believe and embrace it! When you do you will feel His presence, His touch, You will Hear His Words and See Him! Here is a reality check tonight – Embracing the Living Hope is not just a feeling or a fantasy idea it’s real!
The following thoughts from: Swindoll, Charles R.. Hope Again: When Life Hurts and Dreams Fade . Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
Swindoll stated, “HOPE IS A wonderful gift from God, a source of strength and courage in the face of life’s harshest trials.”
• When we are trapped in a tunnel of misery, (Living) hope points to the light at the end of the tunnel.
• When we are overworked and exhausted, (Living) hope gives us fresh energy (to press on in the task.)
• When we are discouraged, (Living) hope lifts our spirits (and changes our focus).
• When we are tempted to quit, (Living) hope keeps us going.
• When we lose our way and confusion blurs the destination, (Living) hope dulls the edge of panic (and clarifies the destination).
• When we struggle with a crippling disease or a lingering illness, (Living) hope helps us persevere beyond the pain (and I add the fear – I know the fear of a thing called Cancer -because I journeyed through a battle with it and I came out at the end of the journey healed).
• When we fear the worst, (Living) hope brings reminders that God is still in control of this out-of-control world.
• When we must endure the consequences of bad decisions, (Living) hope fuels our recovery and our life.
• When we find ourselves unemployed, (Living) hope tells us we still have a future (and a divine provider).
• When we are forced to sit back and wait, (Living) hope gives us the patience to trust it will all work out.
• When we feel rejected and abandoned, (Living) hope reminds us we’re not alone . . . we’ll make it (Because he is with us Psalm 23).
• When we say our final farewell to someone we love, (Living) hope in the life beyond gets us through our grief.
Put simply, when life hurts and dreams fade, nothing helps like (Living) hope.
We heard the message and the story of this “Living Hope” tonight and yes, it is found in the story of Jesus birth. The reason for the Christmas season is all about this “Living Hope.”. Hope has come to a hopeless world! That is what we celebrate tonight and what should be our focus this Christmas season!
We need to embrace this eternal Hope: maybe we need to understand what Hope really is?
Webster defines hope: “A desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment (of what I am believing in) . . . (It’s) to desire with expectation of obtainment (of what I believe in) . . . to expect with confidence. It says, “I will experience this Living Hope and it is not wishful thinking or me living in a fantasy world!” It’s real! - Hope is a belief that says, “I believe” It’s also known and connected with “Faith.”
Hebrews 11:1, states, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". This verse serves as a foundational definition, and in its broader context, it explains that faith is a confident trust in God and His promises, even when things cannot be physically perceived.
How vital is that expectation to the journey of life and death. To believe in Jesus and become “Born Again” should infuse in us “The Living Hope!”
• What happens without (Living) hope in a hopeless world?
o Without it, prisoners of war languish and die.
o Without it, joy disappears in a life along with laughter.
o Without it, dreams get extinguished and life stops.
o Without it, students get discouraged and drop out of school.
o Without it, athletic teams fall into a slump and continue to lose.
o Without it, fledgling writers, longing to be published, run out of determination and quit.
o Without it, addicts return to their habits.
o Without it, marriage partners decide to divorce.
o Without it, inventors, artists, entertainers, entrepreneurs, even preachers, lose their creativity.
o Without it, pastors leave their call.
o Without it, depression engulfs a life.
o Without it, churches close.
o Without it, life is not worth living!
Hope isn’t merely a nice option that helps us temporarily clear a hurdle. It’s essential to our survival (in this hopeless world filled with pain and suffering.)” There is nothing like Hope to fuel our passion for life.
Hope is as essential as water is to fish, as grass is to cattle, as vital as electricity is to the light bulb, as important as gas is to heat, as important as you fill in the blank. Hope (A living hope) is that basic to life and hope is alive today to those looking for it in their heart and lives – it’s not dead but alive and it wants to infuse you with its power.
Peter in this letter is encouraging God’s people who are scattered throughout the middle east from the persecution for being believers in Jesus. He is there Living Hope – not a dead lifeless hope but a living hope!
He says in 1 Peter 1:1-2: Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance… The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984).
Peter reminds them and us today that Hope has come and Hope has established itself in this world for all who believe!
This Hope is not dead, but it is a Living Hope – it’s not a kind of hope spoken of by one secularist bitter writer.
Swindoll highlighted this person, “One cynical writer, H. L. Mencken, an American newspaperman during the early half of this century, referred to hope as “a pathological belief in the occurrence of the impossible.” Wow- it sounds like he needs a dose of “Living Hope!”
To the unsaved, hope is nothing more than a mental fantasy, like wishing upon a star. It’s the kind of Disneyland hope of a fantasy world. Or it’s like the one who says, “I sure hope I win the lottery.” (You have a better chance of getting struck by lightning or bitten by a shark by the way) or it says, “I hope my boy comes home someday.” . . . “I hope everything works out OK.” That’s not a living hope. That’s wishful thinking.” (Adapted from Swindoll page 15)
Jesus came about 2025 years ago to bring “Hope” not a fantasy hope, a wishful hope but a “Living Hope” It’s there waiting for people to believe. Christmas reminds us of the power of a belief in that “Living Hope!”
Our writing from Peter promises us that those who are “Born Again” are promised a relationship with this “Living Hope” – So if you want to smile this Christmas, if you want to have joy this Christmas, if you desire peace this Christmas Season, if you desire to see light at the end of the dark tunnel, then believe – and embrace the “Living Hope” Jesus!
Trust me I know of this “Living Hope” – It’s real – it’s not a fantasy - I have journeyed through the valley of death with Cancer taunting me off in the shadows saying (you will die). But with this “Living Hope beside me” – Yes with death being spoken of all around me and fear yelling at me I found “The Living Hope!” Hopelessness was always lurking off in the distance darkness begging me to focus on it - but I choose to believe and look at the One walking with me through the valley “The Living Hope”. I praise Jesus that today I am Cancer free and have experience Hope!
Hope has come – It’s real – So, I challenge you to give “Living Hope” a try – to give Him your heart and fears and hurt? He will not disappoint you or let you down because He is a “Living Hope!”
