Christmas Time
Christmas 2023 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Announcements
Announcements
Miracle Meal Set up (Jenna Dufresne)
Christmas Party
Scene 75
Game
Game
Intro
Intro
I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving and ate way too much food last week. We missed you all and am so glad you are back.
How many of you love Christmas?
How many of you are already listening to Christmas Music?
How many of you started listening before Thanksgiving?
Lenna started asking for christmas music in the middle of the summer if I remember correctly so yall arent alone.
Some of us absolutely love Christmas, other people tend to really dislike Christmas.
Does anybody have a birthday around Christmas?
Many times people who have birthdays around Christmas they feel like Christmas isnt quite as enjoyable for others, because they feel like Christmas overshadows the day that is supposed to be all about them, but I think if they are honest they will admit Christmas isnt all bad things right, you get the decorations, the lights, the presents, hot chocolate around a fire.
Christmas is time for family
Christmas is time for family
However one of the things that Christmas is about, is family. So make sure that you take time to spend with your family. I know what some of you are saying, but Todd you dont know MY family, they are dorks, nerds, lame and I just dont enjoy hanging out with them. You know what, they very well be all of those things, however the Bible actually has something to say about that.
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
Here is the thing you are all getting older and you are beginning separate yourself from them, and that is a natural and healthy thing to do, however there has to be a balance to this as well, because you dont want to just wake up one day and say peace out mom ill see ya when I see ya. We are still responsible to make sure that we honor our parents, even when they make mistakes and arent perfect.
Because whether you realize it or not you are in the middle of a cycle of life.
Start off the cycle as a Baby, totally dependant on others to survive.
Then you grow up and want to do everything on your own. Some of you hit this stage earlier than others, however you may not realize it, but you still need wisdom from you parents and those responsible for you. Because I dont know if you realize that but when your young you tend to make unwise decisions, and we are here to help you navigate those.
Next you leave your family and create a family of your own and have children.
And finally you get older and your children reach the leaving stage and you wish they would stay small forever.
But realistically no parent wants you to stay at home forever with no responsibility eating cheetos and watching youtube all day long. We want you to grow and make wise decisions.
So this year enjoy Christmas with your family because you never truly know when the last Christmas with your family will be. Some of you are almost 18 years old and will move off to college and get married, and wont come back very often. Others you may think you have more time but we never truly know how much longer we have on this earth. So this Christmas time make sure to enjoy your time together with the people you love, and people that love you.
Christmas is a time for forgiveness
Christmas is a time for forgiveness
Not only is Christmas a time for Family its also a time for forgiveness. We are relational people, even if you are an introvert, and hate being around a lot of people, God created you to be relational. And in every relationship at some point forgiveness will be required, because we arent perfect people. We all mess up and when we mess up we have to ask for forgiveness, likewise when others mess up we need to offer forgiveness.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
I love the part in there where it says bear with each other. Its talking about dont just give up on people. People are valuable and they should not just be thrown by the wayside because of a disagreement, but it doesnt just stop there it continues with forgive as the Lord forgave you, and what better time than Christmas to forgive and help mend broken relationships. The time when Jesus came to earth so that He could mend the broken relationship between all of humanity and God.
Christmas is a time for reflection
Christmas is a time for reflection
Not only is Christmas a time for Family, and forgiveness, but its also a time to reflect. Christmas is a time where we tend to all slow down at least for a little bit. You get a couple of weeks off of school, you are finishing up the first half of your classes, and the year is coming to an end. Now many of you will be tempted to just fill this time with video games, hanging out with friends or sleep, not that those things are inherently bad, but I want to encourage you to actually take a little time to just stop for a bit, and reflect on the year. Think about what you have accomplished, what you were wanting to accomplish, where you succeeded, where you came up short.
This time is not just a good time to reflect on your own thoughts, but also what better time than to focus a little more on God’s word
Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
What would it look like if you decided to just take an hour and sit in your living room, maybe with your Christmas lights on, and just write about how your year has been and reflect on what God has taught you this year.
Christmas is a time for Hope
Christmas is a time for Hope
So we have discussed Christmas is a time for Family, Forgiveness, and reflection, this brings us to the last point. Christmas is a time for Hope. Christmas is a great time to remember why we have hope, and I referenced it earlier. Christmas is a time for hope because its the time that we set aside to celebrate the fact that Jesus entered our world, being born in Bethelehem fully human, and yet fully God, and lived a perfect life. Then died on the cross for our sins which is why we celebrate Easter.
So this Christmas I want to encourage you to take some time to slow down with all the celebrations, and time with friends and family, but really enjoy spending time with your family. Really think about who you may need to forgive, or ask forgiveness from, reflect on what God is saying to you, and finally rest in the Hope that we have through Christ.