A Living Room Christmas part 1 - Grinch
YOU ARE A LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER!
Christmas is full of LIGHTS - it is not about being pretty… the LIGHTS had a purpose:
Matthew 5:14 - 16 NLT
14 You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
THE HOUSE = THE CHURCH
Be encouraged to take up the honor that comes with being a lighthouse keeper.
Jesus has invited you in to carry the light!
You get to be a lighthouse keeper for people who have only ever known the waves and the storm.
Luke 1:37
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
John 1:9 - 12 NLT
9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world did not recognize him.
11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.
12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
Why would someone HATE Christmas?
Things that “steal Christmas” during this season:
1.
2 Corinthians 10:12
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
Comparison is the death of
ONE OF THE BEST GIFTS WE CAN GIVE IS TEACHING THE JOY IN CONTENTMENT!
CONTENTMENT = “FINDING JOY IN EVERY MOMENT BECAUSE CHRIST IS YOUR WHY”
Discontentment is
- Our discontentment makes a mockery of Jesus sacrifice.
- Our lack of contentment communicates to God and to the watching world that Jesus is not enough…
2. THE
OUT OF CONTROL SCHEDULES ARE NO GOOD.
Isaiah 30:15 NLT
15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.”
For many Americans - shopping is spirituality.
We attempt to find meaning and purpose in products we buy.
We confuse our real, built-in desire for God our Creator, with a desire for created things. Things that can never possibly satisfy our souls.
3.
This is the very definition of idolatry.
Jesus tells the church at Laodicea:
Revelation 3:17 NIV
17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Not only has materialism stolen Christmas, but materialism has replaced Christmas with something terrible….
Christmas has been replaced with – SHOPPING!
CHRISTMAS IS HERE IF YOU WILL HEAR!
PRESENT #1 - TAKE THE TIME TO
YOU NEED TO DEVELOP SELECTIVE HEARING.
LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF GOD and
- BEGIN TO PRAISE!
- BEGIN TO SING!
Psalm 22:3
3 says that God inhabits the praises of his people!
John 10:27
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
If God says that we hear His voice… that means we are not waiting for Him to speak.
He is always speaking, we just are not always listening.
Mary had to be quiet to hear the angel say:
Luke 1:30 - 31
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.
Too often we trade the
Mark 1:3
3 Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
PRESENT #2 - “CELEBRATE IN
Philippians 4:4
4 “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.”
WE REJOICE IN THE LORD!
CHRISTMAS has always been meant to be CELEBRATED in COMMUNITY!
1 Corinthians 14:26
26 “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”
We are called to be in community with each other.
The message we are called to sing is “Jesus Christ is born!”
JESUS CAME to change our HEARTS.
PRESENT #3 -
John 1:14 NLT
14 “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
The story of Christmas = God going to his people!
Luke 19:1 - 10 Jesus Comes to Zacchaeus’ House
Zacchaeus was a real person–He was a tax collector (an occupation that made him one of the most hated men in Palestine) who literally stole from people.
Ezekiel 36:26
26 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”
The true meaning of Christmas expands our capacity for JOY!
THE GRINCH CHOOSES to RECEIVE CHRISTMAS…
- HE CHOOSES TO SEE PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY
- HE CHOOSES TO BE GENEROUS…
- HE CHOOSES TO LET IT CHANGE HIS HEART.
The choices we make based on faith are not always easy choices.
- Joseph faced that choice when the angel told him that his fiancé was pregnant.
- Mary faced that choice when the angel told her she was going to be the carrier of God.
- The shepherds and magi faced this choice when they were presented with this CRAZY NEWS!
WE ARE PRESENTED WITH THE CHOICE TO FOCUS ON OURSELVES OR OUR PURPOSE!
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE CHRISTMAS CAN NEVER BE STOLEN FROM US?
- TAKE THE TIME TO LISTEN - listen to the voice of God.
- CELEBRATE IN COMMUNITY - celebrate together each week here in church.
- INVITE EVERYONE TO THE PARTY - tell others about the good news of Jesus.
This is why we give gifts.
- First, we remember that Jesus is the best gift we have ever been given…
- We remember that we give gifts to others to sow our thankfulness (our HOPE and our JOY into them.
ONE OF THE GREATEST WAYS TO KILL THE GRINCH IN US AND GROW OUR HEART IS TO GIVE - our love and our kindness to each other and others.