The Real Spirit And Meaning Of Christmas Series

Tonight, we are going to think about the Real Spirit of Christmas.

There are many different ideas about what the Spirit of Christmas is.

Perhaps that phrase makes your mind immediately travel to the story of Ebernezzer Scrooge and the Spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future.

But they are not the Real Spirit of Christmas...

For some people, the Spirit of Christmas is embodied in the shopping, trawling the shops trying to find the right gift for the right person, fighting through the crowds of crazed shoppers, enthusiastic kids, determined mothers and fed-up dads, dashing from shop to shop, joining endless queues to pay for things that will probably be returned unwanted on Boxing Day, and probably ten times cheaper in the Post Christmas Sales.

But that is not the Real Spirit of Christmas...

For some people, the Spirit of Christmas is the need to spend money they don’t have on things they really don’t need.

Everything from the Life-size electric Santa Claus on the roof that waves as people go by to the Cinnamon Scented Yankee Candle that would smell sooooo good... if you actually lit it - but it cost so much, maybe you will save it till next year, or the year after.

But they are not the Real Spirit of Christmas...

For some people, the Spirit of Christmas is an excuse to go out with the people from the office, or with friends, to get drunk and do all the things that they would never dream of doing the rest of the year.

But that is not the Real Spirit of Christmas...

For some The Spirit of Christmas is tradition, the lights, decorations, tinsel, presents, Turkey, Brussel Sprouts, Christmas Crackers, Christmas Pudding, Christmas Cake, the Queen’s Christmas Speech, and an afternoon nap.

But none of them are the Real Spirit of Christmas...

At Christmas most of the the world is so busy with celebration that they ignore why we have Christmas at all.

So many are busy with the holiday they don’t even stop to consider the real meaning of what Christmas is actually for.

So many focus on the presents they will give and get and they ignore Jesus - the greatest gift of all.

Christmas, should be a celebration of the birth of of Jesus.

And there is the preparation, the decorating,the presents, the food, but somehow the world has chosen to forget whose birthday it really is.

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Imagine you decide to hold a birthday party for a friend.

You send out invitations, decorate the room, ask Alison to do the catering.

Everyone accepts the invitation.

And they are all there in the right place at the right time presents in hand.

But the person the part is for is not there - because no one invited them.

....

Or, what if they did turn up, and everyone shouts “Happy Birthday”

then ignores them and gives the presents they have brought to each other....

Christmas is when Christians are meant to celebrate the Birth of Christ!

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Jesus is not meant to be forgotten.

He is not meant to be ignored.

Friends, if I asked you what are your real priorities for Christmas this year - where would remembering and celebrating the birth of Jesus be on your list?

Do you go through all the decorating, present buying, wrapping, card writing, feasting, drinking, parties, visits, lights, trees, tinsel, turkeys and Brussel sprouts ...

Yet somehow, somehow forget the Real Reason for the Season.

Do you ignore the One whose birthday it is?

The one whose celebration it really is.

Where is Jesus on your list of Christmas Priorities?

How does celebrating Jesus and worshipping God fit into your Christmas Schedule...

Next Sunday Morning we have our Kids Christmas Service - do you plan to be in church for that or are you planning on doing last minute Christmas Shopping.

Where is Jesus on your list of Christmas Priorities?

Next Sunday Evening we have our Carols by Candle Light Service - do you plan to be here - Or is there somewhere you consider more important to be?

Where is Jesus on your list of Christmas Priorities?

On Christmas Eve will you be here for the Communion Service - or will you be too busy stuffing your turkey to give a stuff about your Saviour?

Where is Jesus on your list of Christmas Priorities?

On Christmas Day, what are you going to do to show that God is important in your life?

Will you be in church to celebrate the birth of the one who came to give you the greatest gift you could ever receive.

Will you be here to worship the one who paid the price for your Sin - Or will your actions speak louder than your words?