“What If Christmas Never Came?”
Intro: (play DVD “It’s A Wonderful Life”- where the angel shows George Bailey what it would be like if he had never been born.)
“It’s A Wonderful Life” has stirred hearts since it’s debut in 1946. Year after year people watch as George Bailey is allowed to witness the world, as it would be, without his influence in Bedford Falls.
This year, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” has begun what will surly be a holiday tradition for many. Entering the mysterious land of Narnia through the magical wardrobe, Lucy finds a fawn named Tumnus. He tells her Narnia is a sad world where, “it is always winter, never Christmas.” Narnia was a hard world until Aslan returned to save his creation.
Transition: What would our world be like if it was always winter and never Christmas? What would our world be like if Jesus had not returned to save His creation?
1. No Christmas means no peace.
A. Jesus said, “I have come to give life, and life to the full” (John 10:10).
B. Paul said, “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding,...in Christ Jesus.”
C. In movie, Aslan’s sacrifice did not end all struggle in Narnia. He did however provide: confidence, comfort, hope, joy...
D. Luke 2:1-11 “Good News of Great Joy.”
Luke 2:14 “Peace to men.”
2. No Christmas means no cross.
A. Aslan and the stone table. (Play audio clip from Focus on the Family radio drama series, the sacrifice of Aslan.)
B. I Corinthians 15:1-3
C. Matthew 1:21
3. No Christmas means no resurrection.
A. Aslan lives.
B. Mark 16:1-6
4. No Christmas means no eternity in a perfect world.
A. I Corinthians 15:54-57
B. C. S. Lewis describes it this way in the final book of the Chronicles of Narnia series. The story is called "The Last Battle." The children, along with a great gathering of animals, people, and all sorts of creatures journey deeper and deeper, higher and higher into Aslan’s country, Narnia. In the beginning of the story, the children were riding on a train and hear a great and violent noise, suddenly they return to Narnia.
(Read from "The Last Battle," P.164-165) An incredible journey into Narnia. Conclude the reading with, “now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever and ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”
Conclusion
Genesis 3:15 tells the story. The Lion of Judah comes. His heal is bruised on the cross. But before the story is finished he crushes the head of the enemy and leads all who will follow on an eternal journey.
It is winter, but Christmas has come!
