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CHRISTMAS RESOURCE ROUND-UP

December 28, 2020 by dan

I’ve done a number of Christmas sermons, short carol service talks, and plenty of kids talks.  For those looking for inspiration and ideas, here they are in one place including those from this year.

Carol Service Talks (5-10 mins)

Christmas is about giving a gift to the people you love
Christmas in 3 Words
How far would you go to show someone that you love them?
Get peace this Christmas
Are you ready for Christmas?
The Unwanted Gift
Spreading Christmas Cheer
Open the Gift
Hands, Face, Space

Christmas Sermons

2 Corinthians 8:9
Galatians 4:4-5
Luke 24:13-35
Ephesians 2:1-10
Four Things to do this Christmas
1 Timothy 1:15
Psalm 72
Psalm 98
Christmas Through New Eyes
John 18:4
Matthew 1:16
Genesis 37:2-18
Luke 2:15-20

Matthew 1-2 Series

Matthew 1:1-17
Matthew 1:18-25
Matthew 2:1-12
Matthew 2:13-23

Christmas According to Moses Series

Genesis 3:1-15
Exodus 2:1-10
Leviticus 1:1-9
Numbers 24:15-19
Deuteronomy 18:15-22

John 1:1-18 Series

John 1:1-5
John 1:6-9
John 1:10-13
John 1:14-18

Advent Kids Talks

Why Advent?

AD1 – Why celebrate Advent?
AD2 – Advent says ‘Be Ready!’
AD3 – Advent says ‘Be Patient!’
AD4 – Advent says ‘Be Excited!’

What should we do this Christmas?

AD1 – Recognise
AD2 – Repent
AD3 – Rejoice
AD4 – Receive

Responding to the Good News of Christmas

AD1 – The Wonder of Mary
AD2 – The Obedience of Joseph
AD3 – The Joy of the Angels
AD4 – The Eagerness of the Shepherds

Christmas at the Movies

AD1 – The Snowman
AD2 – The Muppet’s Christmas Carol
AD3 – Home Alone
AD4 – Elf

Fixated

AD1 – Fix your eyes on Jesus this Advent
AD2 – Fix your eyes on Jesus the Word
AD3 – Fix your eyes on Jesus who is Better
AD4 – Fix your eyes on Jesus who is our Pioneer

Other Christmas Kids Talk

Eye-witnesses (Luke 1:1-4)
I don’t believe it! (Luke 1:5-25)
Chosen (Luke 1:26-38)
The First Christmas Carol (Luke 1:39-56)
A Message from God (Luke 1:57-80)
Luke 2:1-12
Getting them to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-5)
Fit for a King (Luke 2:6-7)
Rescue NOT Reindeers (Luke 2:8-20)
1 Thing to Do Before You Die (Luke 2:21-40)

(Photo: Ben White)

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Filed Under: Pastor's Desk Tagged With: Advent, Carol Service, Christmas, Kids Talk, Sermons

KIDS TALK: FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS WHO IS OUR PIONEER

December 16, 2020 by dan

This year my series of Advent Kids Talk are going to be linked to the book Fixated by Tim Chester which we are going to be using as a church.  Here’s the fourth part.

Advent – Fix Your Eyes on Jesus who is our Pioneer

Powerpoint Pictures: Sir Edmund Hillary with Tenzing Norgay; Amelia Earhart; Johannes Gutenberg; Neil Armstrong.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A pioneer is someone who does something for the first time, showing to others that it is possible.

They show how it can be done and set a trail for others to follow in their footsteps.

There are lots of famous pioneers.

Sir Edmund Hillary with Tenzing Norgay were the first to climb Mount Everest.

Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly a plane solo across the Atlantic.

Johannes Gutenberg created the first printing press making possible mass production of books.

Neil Armstrong was the first to successfully land and walk on the moon.

Each of these people were the first to do something.

They were pioneers.  Showing others what was possible.

Now, when it comes to being a pioneer, Jesus is the most important one of all, and that is what I want to show you this morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Over the four Sundays in Advent, we’ve been looking at some of the reasons why fixing our eyes on Jesus is the most important thing we can do this Christmas.

We should fix our eyes on Jesus because He is the Word – the One who makes God known to us.

We should fix our eyes on Jesus because He is the GOAT – the greatest of all time.  Compared to the angels, those glorious and powerful beings, He is better. He is superior.  His name is more excellent.

There’s something else about Jesus that means we should fix our eyes on Him.

It is because He is our pioneer.

Look at another verse from the book of Hebrews. “For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist—should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2:10)

Jesus being our pioneer is great news for us if our faith is in Him.

Because first, it proves that it is possible for humans to be made new.  To be made perfect after death.  To be raised from the dead with new resurrection bodies, as that’s what happened to Jesus.

He came out of the tomb with a body that could not die, that was fit for life in heaven.

But also, because it proves that it is possible for us to be made new.  For us to one day be raised from the dead with new resurrection bodies, as Jesus is leading many sons and daughters to glory.

Jesus shows us the way to heaven and ensures that we make it there if we are trusting in Him.

So, why we should fix our eyes on Jesus this Christmas?

Because He is our pioneer.  He shows us the way to heaven and ensures us that we be with him there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More Advent/Christmas Kids Talks can be found HERE.

(Photo: Hans Kristian Pedersen)

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KIDS TALK: FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS WHO IS BETTER

December 8, 2020 by dan

This year my series of Advent Kids Talk are going to be linked to the book Fixated by Tim Chester which we are going to be using as a church.  Here’s the third part.

Advent – Fix Your Eyes on Jesus who is Better

Powerpoint Pictures: Lionel Messi; Maradona; George Best; Pele; Cristiano Ronaldo; Elvis; The Beatles; The Rolling Stones; Chuck Berry. Aretha Franklin; Archimedes; Isambard Kingdom Brunel; Leonardo da Vinci; George Stephenson; Robert Stephenson; Michelangelo; Rembrandt; Van Gogh; Monet; Picasso.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When we say that someone is the GOAT.  We don’t mean that they are one of these.  A four legged animals that bleats and sometimes has great beards!

No, we mean that they are the GREATEST OF ALL TIME at something.

In football we might say that of: Lionel Messi or Maradona or George Best or Pele or Cristiano Ronaldo.

In music we might say that of Elvis or The Beatles or The Rolling Stones or Chuck Berry or Aretha Franklin.

In engineering, we might say that of: Archimedes or Isambard Kingdom Brunel or Leonardo da Vinci or George Stephenson and his son Robert.

In art, we might say that of: Leonardo Da Vinci or Michelangelo or Rembrandt or Van Gogh or Monet or Picasso.

Each these people are considered to be GOATs.

As humans they are undoubtable incredibly gifted at what they were known for, but none of them compare to the one man who was truly perfect.

The Lord Jesus.

He is the ultimate GOAT and I want to take a couple of moments to show you this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During advent we are looking at some of the reasons why fixing our eyes on Him is the most important thing we can do this Christmas.

One reason was because Jesus is the Word.  He is the One who makes God known to us.

The next reason is because Jesus is the best.  He is the GOAT.

Look at these verses in Hebrews 1: “After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. So he became superior to the angels, just as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs.” (Hebrews 1:3-4)

To show how great Jesus is, what the writer of Hebrews does, is compare Jesus to the most magnificent beings in the universe.

Angels.

Because nothing is more powerful and glorious than an angel.

But compared to an angel, Jesus is more glorious.  He is better.  He is superior.  His name is more excellent.

And the reason why He is, is because He, the eternal Son of God, who is God, humbled Himself as He took on human flesh, was born as a man, lived a righteous life, and died to make purification for sins.

God the Father accepted His sacrifice, raising Him from the dead and welcoming Him into heaven where He now sits at His right hand with all authority, including over the angels.

Jesus is the GOAT, He is better than the angels, because He is the eternal Son of God, but because He done what the angels promised at Christmas.  He is good news of great joy for all people.  He is the Saviour who has saved His people from their sins.  And He is reigning as King, and His rule will never end.

So that’s the second reason why we should fix our eyes on Jesus this Christmas.  Because He is better than the angels.  He is the greatest of all time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More Advent/Christmas Kids Talks can be found HERE.

(Photo: Hans Kristian Pedersen)

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KIDS TALK: FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS THE WORD

December 5, 2020 by dan

This year my series of Advent Kids Talk are going to be linked to the book Fixated by Tim Chester which we are going to be using as a church.  Here’s the second part.

Advent – Fix Your Eyes on Jesus the Word

Powerpoint Pictures: Merry Christmas in different languages (if you can have people saying it, even better).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a moment we are going to hear lots of people say Merry Christmas, and I wonder if you can guess what language they are saying it in? [French; German; Spanish; Thai; Madarin; Klingon etc]

During advent we are going to look at some of the reasons why fixing our eyes on Jesus is the most important thing we can do this Christmas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And the first reason we’re going to see is because Jesus is the Word.

Jesus is the Word.

“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son.” (Hebrews 1:1-2a)

Jesus is the Word – the One through whom God speaks to us.

What does that mean?

It means that He is the one who makes God known to us.  If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus.  Everything we need to know about God is found in Him because He is God.

In the past God made Himself known to people through dreams, prophecies, visions, miracles, words and so on – what we find written down for us in the Old Testament.

But now that Jesus has come, God does not need to speak in these ways anymore, because Jesus tells us everything we need to know about God.

You see Jesus isn’t just a messenger, He is also the message.

God’s Word to us is Jesus.  He is the language God speaks.

We heard at the start people saying merry Christmas in different languages.   Well, God has said Merry Christmas too.  Not in English but in Jesus.

We say merry Christmas.  God says Jesus.

Because everything God wants to say to us is found in Him.

So that’s the first reason why we should fix our eyes on Jesus this Christmas.  Because He is the Word.  He makes God known to us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More Advent/Christmas Kids Talks can be found HERE.

(Photo: Hans Kristian Pedersen)

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KIDS TALK: FIXING YOUR EYES ON JESUS DURING ADVENT

November 28, 2020 by dan

This year my series of Advent Kids Talk are going to be linked to the book Fixated by Tim Chester which we are going to be using as a church.  Here’s the first part.

Advent – Fix Your Eyes on Jesus during Advent

Powerpoint Pictures: Picture with lots of things to do with Christmas including a baby hidden away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have a look with me at the following picture.  On this picture are lots of stuff to do with Christmas.  Things we get to enjoy around this time of year.

Have a good look and see how many of the items on the picture you can remember.

[Remove Picture]

Okay, what did you see?

Did you see the presents and the Christmas tree?  Did you see the carol singers and the advent calendar?  Did you spot Father Christmas and you couldn’t have missed the snowman?  What about the turkey, the mince pie, and the Christmas pudding?  Then there was the candles and the lights.

But there was something else in the picture that you might have missed.

It was hidden right down at the bottom.  A baby.

Because Christmas is all about the birth of a baby.

At Christmas we remember the birth of a Saviour.  The good news that Jesus Christ came into the world to save everyone who would trust in Him from their sins.

Now, this picture, I’ll put it up again, represent a danger we face.  And that is being distracted.  Getting wrapped up with all the other stuff to do with Christmas that we forget about Jesus.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, what are we to do?

“Let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

We are to get rid of anything that would distract us and stop us remembering Jesus so that we can fix our eyes on Him.

Because fixing our eyes on Jesus is the most important thing we can do this Christmas.

And during our morning services in advent we are going to look at some of the reasons why.

But I hope it won’t just be on Sunday that we will be fixing our eyes on Jesus.

It will be something we do each day.

And to help, you hopefully will have already received your copy of a book of daily advent readings (Families / Adults) to encourage you to turn your eyes towards Jesus.

To fix your eyes on Him.

Every day, not just on Sundays.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More Advent/Christmas Kids Talks can be found HERE.

(Photo: Hans Kristian Pedersen)

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KIDS TALK FOR ADVENT

November 17, 2020 by dan

With Advent soon upon us, here are some series of kids talks to use in church in the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.

Series #1: Why Advent?

Advent 1 – Why celebrate Advent?
Advent 2 – Advent says ‘Be Ready!’
Advent 3 – Advent says ‘Be Patient!’
Advent 4 – Advent says ‘Be Excited!’

Series #2: What should we do this Christmas?

Advent 1 – Recognise
Advent 2 – Repent
Advent 3 – Rejoice
Advent 4 – Receive

Series #3: Responding to the Good News of Christmas

Advent 1 – The Wonder of Mary
Advent 2 – The Obedience of Joseph
Advent 3 – The Joy of the Angels
Advent 4 – The Eagerness of the Shepherds

Series #4: Christmas at the Movies

Advent 1 – The Snowman
Advent 2 – The Muppet’s Christmas Carol
Advent 3 – Home Alone
Advent 4 – Elf

(Photo: Hans Kristian Pedersen)

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CHRISTMAS RESOURCES ROUND-UP

December 26, 2019 by dan

After 10+ years of being responsible for Christmas services at Banstead Community Church, I’ve done a number of Christmas sermons, short carol service talks, and plenty of kids talks.  For those looking for inspiration and ideas, here they are in one place.

Carol Service Talks (5-10 mins)

Christmas is about giving a gift to the people you love
Christmas in 3 Words
How far would you go to show someone that you love them?
Get peace this Christmas
Are you ready for Christmas?
The Unwanted Gift
Spreading Christmas Cheer
Open the Gift

Christmas Sermons

2 Corinthians 8:9
Galatians 4:4-5
Luke 24:13-35
Ephesians 2:1-10
Four Things to do this Christmas
1 Timothy 1:15
Psalm 72
Psalm 98
Christmas Through New Eyes
John 18:4
Matthew 1:16
Genesis 37:2-18

Matthew 1-2 Series

Matthew 1:1-17
Matthew 1:18-25
Matthew 2:1-12
Matthew 2:13-23

Christmas According to Moses Series

Genesis 3:1-15
Exodus 2:1-10
Leviticus 1:1-9
Numbers 24:15-19
Deuteronomy 18:15-22

Advent Kids Talks

Why Advent?

AD1 – Why celebrate Advent?
AD2 – Advent says ‘Be Ready!’
AD3 – Advent says ‘Be Patient!’
AD4 – Advent says ‘Be Excited!’

What should we do this Christmas?

AD1 – Recognise
AD2 – Repent
AD3 – Rejoice
AD4 – Receive

Responding to the Good News of Christmas

AD1 – The Wonder of Mary
AD2 – The Obedience of Joseph
AD3 – The Joy of the Angels
AD4 – The Eagerness of the Shepherds

Christmas at the Movies

AD1 – The Snowman
AD2 – The Muppet’s Christmas Carol
AD3 – Home Alone
AD4 – Elf

Other Christmas Kids Talk

Eye-witnesses (Luke 1:1-4)
I don’t believe it! (Luke 1:5-25)
Chosen (Luke 1:26-38)
The First Christmas Carol (Luke 1:39-56)
A Message from God (Luke 1:57-80)
Luke 2:1-12
Getting them to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-5)
Fit for a King (Luke 2:6-7)
Rescue NOT Reindeers (Luke 2:8-20)
1 Thing to Do Before You Die (Luke 2:21-40)

(Photo: Ben White)

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Filed Under: Pastor's Desk Tagged With: Advent, Carol Service, Christmas, Kids Talk, Sermons

KIDS TALK: WHAT DOES ELF TEACH US ABOUT CHRISTMAS?

December 24, 2019 by dan

Advent – What does Elf teach us about Christmas?

Powerpoint Pictures: Various scenes from Elf.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can’t beat a good Christmas movie!

Every year there are plenty of good and plenty of not so good Christmas films to watch.

And some of these movies remind us about what Christmas is all about.  Why it is that Christmas is about good news of great joy that is for all people to hear.

Over this period of advent, we are thinking about 4 Christmas movies and what they teach us about Christmas.

So far we’ve seen that…

Unlike The Snowman, the Christmas story is a story with a happy ending, because it ends not with Jesus’ death but with His resurrection.

Unlike The Muppet’s Christmas Carol, the Christmas story has a happy ending for us – sins forgiven and eternal life in heaven – not by us trying harder to be a better person, but instead trusting in Jesus, the Saviour God gave to the the world.

Like Home Alone, the Christmas story has a happy ending of reconciliation, as those who trust in Jesus can be reconciled to God.

The final film is Elf.

You know the story.  Buddy the elf, is a human who grew up at the North Pole with Santa’s elves, returns to New York to find his father and from there hilarity ensues.  He also falls in love and helps Santa after his sleigh crash lands in Central Park.  But that’s all the spoilers you are going to get!

In Elf we learn some important things, such as that the four food groups are “Candy, Candy Cane, Candy Corns, and Syrup” or the Elf code, “Treat everyday like Christmas; There’s room for everyone on the nice list; and The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

It’s that last rule on the Elf code which reminds us of the real Christmas story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

Because that’s what angels did the very first Christmas.

After an angel announced to the shepherds good news of great joy for all people because a Saviour had been born in Bethlehem.

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.” (Luke 2:13-14)

Christmas cheer was spread by the angels by singing loud for all to hear.

And that is what we should do with the Christmas story as well.

Because Christmas is a story with a happy ending, a happy ending of reconciliation with God for those who trust in Jesus as their Saviour, we should spread this by singing loud so that others can hear this good news and trust in Jesus too

So Elf reminds us that Christmas is a story with a happy ending to sing loudly about for all to hear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More Advent/Christmas Kids Talks can be found HERE.

(Photo: Hans Kristian Pedersen)

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KIDS TALK: WHAT DOES HOME ALONE TEACH US ABOUT CHRISTMAS?

December 17, 2019 by dan

Advent – What does Home Alone teach us about Christmas?

Powerpoint Pictures: Various scenes from Home Alone including the scene at the end with Kevin reunited with his mother.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can’t beat a good Christmas movie!

Every year there are plenty of good and plenty of not so good Christmas films to watch.

And some of these movies remind us about what Christmas is all about.  Why it is that Christmas is about good news of great joy that is for all people to hear.

Over this period of advent, we are going to think about 4 Christmas movies and what they teach us about Christmas.

Unlike The Snowman, the Christmas story is a story with a happy ending, because it ends not with Jesus’ death but with His resurrection.

Unlike The Muppet’s Christmas Carol, the Christmas story has a happy ending for us – sins forgiven and eternal life in heaven – not by us trying harder to be a better person, but instead trusting in Jesus, the Saviour God gave to the the world.

The next film is Home Alone.

Do you remember the story?

If you’ve never seen it, you’ve missed out.

It tells the story of 8 year old Kevin McAllister who wakes up and finds himself home alone with his family on the way to Paris.  He thinks it’s great initially until he has to defend his house from two hapless burglars, which he does by setting booby traps.

Now what does this film teach us?

Among other things, that when building a homemade security system don’t forget the industrial fan with a pile of feathers or that tarantulas do have a purpose in this world.

But in all seriousness, there is something we can learn about the Christmas from Home Alone which is a reminder about the lengths God goes to reconcile people to Himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In Home Alone, the mother, once she realises that Kevin is all alone goes to extraordinary lengths to get home to him.  Taking whatever flights she can, and when there is no longer any flight available, she gets a ride with a polka band she had never met before.  She was determined to get back to her son, and when she does we have that great reunion – the happy ending!

God’s love for us is so great that He goes to great lengths to get us back.  He sends His Son to earth to be born as a man so He can die as man in our place to bring us back to God, to reconcile us and restore to us the relationship that sin destroyed if we trust in Jesus.

“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” (1 Peter 3:18)

So Home Alone reminds us that Christmas is a story with a happy ending of reconciliation with God for those who trust in Jesus to be the Saviour.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More Advent/Christmas Kids Talks can be found HERE.

(Photo: Hans Kristian Pedersen)

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KIDS TALK: WHAT DOES THE MUPPET’S CHRISTMAS CAROL TEACH US ABOUT CHRISTMAS?

December 11, 2019 by dan

Advent – What does The Muppet’s Christmas Carol teach us about Christmas?

Powerpoint Pictures: Various scenes from The Muppet’s Christmas Carol including the scene at the end with Scrooge smiling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can’t beat a good Christmas movie!

Every year there are plenty of good and plenty of not so good Christmas films to watch.

And some of these movies remind us about what Christmas is all about.  Why it is that Christmas is about good news of great joy that is for all people to hear.

Over this period of advent, we are going to think about 4 Christmas movies and what they teach us about Christmas.

We saw that the Christmas story unlike The Snowman is a story with a happy ending.  It ends not with Jesus’ death, but with His resurrection.

The next film is The Muppet’s Christmas Carol.

Do you remember the story?

At the start of this film, it looks like we have another Christmas movie in need of a happy ending.  Scrooge is miserable and causes misery to those who work for him.  He doesn’t have the Christmas spirit!  Bah humbug!

But on the night before Christmas, he is visited by his old business partners who are being tormented in death because of their past actions, and warned that if he didn’t change his way, that is what will happen to him.  Then follows visits from three ghosts: Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future which explain why Scrooge is the way he is, show the suffering his behaviour is causing to others, and his future if he does not change.

Scrooge wakes up a changed man and we have a happy ending, with him having Christmas dinner with Kermit the Frog!

There is an important difference between The Muppet’s Christmas Carol and the Christmas Story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In The Muppet’s Christmas Carol, Scrooge is his own saviour who gets his happy ending by trying harder to be a better person.

Whereas the happy ending of the Christmas Story for us – sins forgiven and eternal life in heaven – comes not by saving ourselves by trying harder to be better people, but instead by trusting in the Saviour God gave to the world in the Christmas Story – the Lord Jesus.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

So yes, Christmas is a story with a happy ending, but only for those who trust in Jesus to be the Saviour.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More Advent/Christmas Kids Talks can be found HERE.

(Photo: Hans Kristian Pedersen)

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KIDS TALK: WHAT DOES THE SNOWMAN TEACH US ABOUT CHRISTMAS?

December 2, 2019 by dan

Advent – What does The Snowman teach us about Christmas?

Powerpoint Pictures: Various scenes from The Snowman including the final scene of the melted snowman.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can’t beat a good Christmas movie!

Every year there are plenty of good and plenty of not so good Christmas films to watch.

And some of these movies remind us about what Christmas is all about.  Why it is that Christmas is about good news of great joy that is for all people to hear.

Over this period of advent, we are going to think about 4 Christmas movies and what they teach us about Christmas.

The first film is The Snowman.

Do you remember the story?

One winter’s day, a young boy builds a snowman.  At the stroke of midnight, he discovers that the snowman has come to life, and a night of fun and adventure begins, including a flight to the snowman’s party.  At the end of the night, they return to the boy’s home and say goodnight.

The next morning, the boy wakes up after the best night ever.  He can’t wait to do it again.  But this dream is shattered.  The snowman has melted and the boy’s adventure is over.

The Snowman is a story that needs a happy ending.

And it seems that Christmas story in the Bible does too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jesus whose birth we celebrate, grew up to have exciting adventures with His followers, but ends up dead and lying in a tomb.

Like the little boy, those who followed Him, were devastated.

A couple of days after Jesus died, two of His followers were taking a journey to Emmaus when they were joined by a mysterious man.

They said to Him, “but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” (Luke 24:21)

They thought that Jesus was the King who had come to save His people from their sins.  But with Him dead, that hope was gone.

Christmas is story that appears to need a happy ending.

But soon these two followers of Jesus would soon discover that it does have a happy ending.

Because what happened next was that, for the two followers of Jesus, “their eyes were opened and they recognised him.” (Luke 24:31)

The mysterious man they were talking to was Jesus, risen from the dead.  He is the Saviour after all, which means we can be saved from our sins.

Unlike The Snowman, the Christmas story in the Bible is a story with a happy ending, and it can be for you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More Advent/Christmas Kids Talks can be found HERE.

(Photo: Hans Kristian Pedersen)

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Filed Under: Kids Tagged With: Advent, Christmas, Kids Talk, The Snowman

KIDS TALK: ADVENT SAYS BE EXCITED

December 21, 2016 by dan

Advent – Advent says ‘Be Exctied!’

Powerpoint Pictures: Birthday cake; Christmas Tree; School Bell; Pregnant Lady; Party Poppers

What things do you look forward to?  What events do you get excited about – where you count down the days until they take place?

Your birthday.  Christmas.  End of school term.  For your new baby brother or sister to arrive.  A party or special event like watching a football match or play at the theatre.

Now Advent is a special time of the year that helps us to celebrate Jesus saving us by reminding us of His first coming to save His people by dying on the cross and also that He will come again to get rid of all sin, suffering, death and Satan and bring His people into a new creation.

But we are still waiting for Jesus to come again, so how do we wait?

We are to wait by being ready for His coming by trusting Jesus to save us and by following Him each day.

We are to wait by being patient knowing that because Jesus hasn’t returned there is still time for people to repent and trust in Him and be saved.

And we are also to be excited.

Jesus’ return is far more exciting than our birthday or Christmas or a party.

In fact it is so exciting that all of creation is waiting for it to happen.  The apostle Paul writes, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.” (Romans 8:19)

Creation is waiting with excitement for all of God’s people to be changed to be like Jesus, which is going to happen when He returns, and like the rest of creation we should be looking forward to that moment too.

Be excited!

(Photo: Hans Kristian Pedersen)

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Filed Under: Kids Tagged With: Advent, Kids Talk

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