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.

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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.

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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.

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More Advent/Christmas Kids Talks can be found HERE.

(Photo: Hans Kristian Pedersen)

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.

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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.

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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.

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More Advent/Christmas Kids Talks can be found HERE.

(Photo: Hans Kristian Pedersen)

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).

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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.

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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.

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More Advent/Christmas Kids Talks can be found HERE.

(Photo: Hans Kristian Pedersen)

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.

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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.

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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.

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More Advent/Christmas Kids Talks can be found HERE.

(Photo: Hans Kristian Pedersen)