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KIDS TALK: 2 CORINTHIANS

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The Big Read – 2 Corinthians

Powerpoint Pictures: Tree Trunk; Ant; Jelly; Bull; Baby; Chain; Hulk Hogan; Twig; Picture of Cup Cake that looks like an ice-cream

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Are the following things weak or strong? [Tree trunk; Ant; Jelly; Bull; Baby; Links in a Chain; Hulk Hogan; Twig; Jesus on the cross].

In 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul is writing to the church in Corinth to warn them about a group he calls the ‘super-apostles’.  The super-apostles were false teachers who seemed to be very impressive compared to Paul.

But Paul tells the church that they shouldn’t listen to these ‘super-apostles’ because unlike him, they are not genuine apostles.

Paul says that he is a genuine apostle because his preaching is about Jesus and his ministry is like Jesus’ too, and that is why he seems to be weak and unimpressive.

Jesus appeared to be weak.  Paul said he was meek and gentle, he became poor, and he suffered and died.  To the world those who follow Jesus will appear to be weak too.

But things aren’t always what they seem.

Look at the picture.  What do you see? [An ice cream].  However things aren’t always what they seem, because in fact the picture is of a cupcake.

That’s true of Jesus in 2 Corinthians.  He appears to be weak but in fact He is actually really strong.  He can reconcile us to God, He bears our sin and makes us righteous, He is powerful enough to turn us into new creations:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Does this sound to you like someone who is weak?

And Jesus does all this as men and women who are weak preach the good news about Him who is strong.

As Paul writes to warn the church about the ‘super-apostles’, we see a Jesus who is strong and powerful even when He appears to be weak.

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More talks from The Big Read for Kids can be found HERE

(Photo: Freely)

KIDS TALK: BIG QUESTION #26

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This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #26 – What do justification and sanctification mean? [NCC Q32]

Powerpoint Pictures: Baby; Adult; Dinner; Breakfast; Kick Off – Ball on centre circle; Full time – Whistle or Shaking Hands; Lightning; Windows on House

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Which comes first?  Which of these two things happens first?

Being a baby or being an adult?  Being a baby.  You have to be a baby before you become an adult.

Dinner or breakfast?  Breakfast.  We usually eat breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evening.

Kick off or full time in a football match?  Kick off.  A football match begin with kick off and ends with the full time whistle.

Thunder or lightning?  Actually they both happen at the same time, although we see the lightning first then hear the thunder.

The windows on a house or the walls of the house?  It is the walls. Without the walls there will be nowhere for the windows to be put.

One more.

Justification or sanctification?

You might not be sure. They are both long words and you don’t know what they mean.

Well, our next big question is all about what those two long words mean, and once we know what they mean, we’ll be able to work out which comes first.

Let’s look at this big question now.

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Q: What do justification and sanctification mean?

Justification and sanctification are two wonderful gifts that God gives to people.

In 1 Peter 1:1-2 we are reminded that those whom God the Father chooses He justifies by His Son Jesus, and He sanctifies by His Holy Spirit.  “To those chosen… according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ [which is justification].”

Justification is what happens when someone becomes a Christian.

When someone trusts in Jesus, God forgives their sins because He took on the cross the punishment they deserved and gave them His perfection, so that now, when God looks at them, He no longer sees someone who is guilty but who is righteous.  He no longer declares that they are guilty and deserve to be punished in hell but not guilty and welcome in heaven.

But even though God says they are not guilty, that doesn’t mean that the Christian is perfect like Jesus.

And this is why sanctification is important.

Sanctification is the process of becoming more like Jesus.

As well as forgiving sin, Jesus gives to those who believe in Him, the Holy Spirit, who changes people so they are more like Jesus.  So they become more righteous in how they live their lives.

Justification comes first, sanctification comes second.

Because if sanctification comes before justification then people would be trying to work their way into heaven by being good rather than relying on Jesus to make them righteous.

Back to our question then. What’s the answer.

What do justification and sanctification mean?

Justification means our declared righteousness before God. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness.

Why don’t we say the question and answer out loud together to help us remember this.

What do justification and sanctification mean? Justification means our declared righteousness before God. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

KIDS TALK: 1 CORINTHIANS

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The Big Read – 1 Corinthians

Powerpoint Pictures: Pictures of objects being reflected

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What can you see being reflected by the following things? [A mirror reflecting a bed; a river reflecting a hot air balloon; a glass reflecting some trees; a spoon reflecting a parasol/umbrella].

In the Bible we are told that the church is meant to reflect someone.  When people look at the church they are not meant to see a group of people but a person.

1 Corinthians was a letter the apostle Paul wrote to a local church in Corinth.  This local church had lots of problems such as divisions, immorality and a lack of love.  But more serious than these individual problems was that they weren’t doing what they were supposed to be, they weren’t reflecting the person they were supposed to.

So Paul writes to them, and he give them a command:

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)

The church in Corinth was meant to be reflecting Christ, but they weren’t doing a very good job of it.

They were divided – but Christ has one body not multiple ones.

They were worldly and immoral – but Christ is holy and pure.

They were unloving – but Christ is love and has shown His love in the most amazing of ways by dying for their sins.

As Paul writes to correct their behaviour, by telling them to be like Christ, Jesus is revealed to us as the one who is One, Holy, and Loving!

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More talks from The Big Read for Kids can be found HERE

(Photo: Freely)

KIDS TALK: BIG QUESTION #25

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This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #25 – What is faith in Jesus Christ? [NCC Q30]

Powerpoint Pictures: Parachute Jump; Bungee Jump; Zip Wire

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Would you like to do the following activities?

A Parachute Jump?

A Bungee Jump?

Fly a Zip Wire?

In each of these activities you need to have faith.  Faith that the parachute will open.  Faith that the bungee cord or the zip wire won’t snap.

Because if the parachute doesn’t open or cord or wire snaps, the results could be messy!

Those doing those activities need to have faith.

In our next big question we are going to be thinking about what faith is.  Not faith in a piece of equipment, but faith in a person.

In the last question we saw that we are saved from our sins and the punishment we deserve for them only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross.  But what does it mean to trust in Jesus?

That’s what our next Big Question asks.  Let’s look at it now.

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Q: What is faith in Jesus Christ?

What does it mean to trust in Him and in His substitutionary atoning death on the cross?

It is to believe that what God’s Word says in the gospel – the good news about Jesus is true.

That He is the promised Saviour.  The One who God has sent to save His people from their sins by dying on the cross.

That He will save you if you trust in Him.  And so, we rely on Him and show that we do by living for Him.

We do what the apostle Paul says he is doing in Galatians 2:20: “The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

So, what’s the answer to our Big Question.

What is faith in Jesus Christ?

A: Receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.

Why don’t we say the question and answer out loud together to help us remember this.

What is faith in Jesus Christ?  Receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

KIDS TALK: ROMANS

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The Big Read – Romans

Powerpoint Pictures: Bank Robber; Man in Handcuffs; Speeding Car; Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

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Imagine you were a judge in a courtroom and before you stood the following people [Someone who robbed a bank; a murderer; someone caught driving 150mph down the High Street; the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang].  What verdict would you give?

GUILTY!

In the book of Romans we find ourselves in a courtroom again, except we are not the judge.  This is God’s courtroom and He is about to give His verdict on our lives.

Romans 3:23 sums up our lives.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

What do you think the verdict on us should be?

GUILTY!

But astonishingly the verdict we are given if we have put our faith in Jesus is:

NOT GUILTY!

How can this be?  The answer is because Jesus is our righteousness.

We are unrighteous, we have sinned, but Jesus never sinned and is righteous.  When Jesus died on the cross, our unrighteousness went to Him and He was punished, He received the guilty verdict we deserve, and His righteousness went to us so we can get the not guilty verdict He deserves.

Romans tells us how Jesus is our righteousness and because of this we can be saved from the judgment we deserve for our sin.

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More talks from The Big Read for Kids can be found HERE

(Photo: Freely)

KIDS TALK: SUSANNA WESLEY

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Superheroes of the Faith – Susanna Wesley

Powerpoint Pictures: Lots of handprints; Single handprint

How many children are there in your home?

Are there lots?  Or is it just you?

I want to tell you about someone who lived in a house that was always full of children.  Her name was Susanna and she was number 25 in her family.  That’s right, she had 24 brothers and sisters.

Can you imagine having that many brothers and sisters?  Would you like to live in a house with that many people?

Do you think it would be fun to have lots of other children to play with?  Do you think it would be annoying not being able to find any peace and quiet?

Susanna parents loved Jesus and taught all their children about Him.  Susanna herself loved Jesus too and made sure that she found time to pray and learn about Him from the Bible each day.  She even liked hiding under her father’s desk in his study and listen to him teach his friends about Jesus.  Because he spoke for such a long time, she would often fall asleep.

When she got married to a man called Samuel Wesley she had lots of children of her own.  19 of them – although sadly some of them died when they were very young.

With lots of children, Susanna was very busy.  And it would get busier because she would be their school teacher too.  She taught her children to read and write and count.  But more importantly, she taught them that they needed to trust in Jesus to be saved, and that there were nothing in the world more important than this.

Even in a busy house with lots of children running around, Susanna did not neglect reading the Bible and praying herself.  She found a good way to do this.  She would take her Bible to her favourite chair and then throw her long apron over her head, forming a kind of tent, and in this tent spent time with her Saviour Jesus.

It reminds me of something that happened during Jesus’ life her on earth.

At the end of Luke chapter 10 we read: “While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”  The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

Mary made the right choice listening to Jesus, and Susanna Wesley followed her example.

She reminds us that what is most important in life is knowing Jesus and being saved by him.  It is why she made sure she spent time with him even when life was busy.  It is why she made sure she taught her children about him.

And we know that two of her children, John and Charles, learnt this lesson, because they would tell lots of people about him – but we’ll find out more about them some other time.

So, whether you are very young or very old, let’s learn from the example of Susanna Wesley, that what is most important in life is knowing Jesus and being saved by Him.

This talk was adapted from Everyone a Child Should Know by Clare Heath-Whyte.

More talks about Superheroes of the Faith can be found HERE.

KIDS TALK: JESUS PAID IT ALL

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Hymn of the Month – Jesus paid it all

Powerpoint Pictures: Washing Hands; Brushing Teeth; Washing Hair; Shower; Clothes in Washing Machine; Hoovering; Car Wash

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Some much of our lives involve cleaning.

Cleaning our hands.

Cleaning our teeth.

Cleaning our hair.

Cleaning our bodies.

Cleaning our clothes.

Cleaning our homes.

Cleaning our cars.

What does that tell us?  It tells us that we are dirty.  And that we get dirty even after we’ve cleaned ourselves and our stuff.

We are dirty on the outside.

But we’re not just dirty on the outside, we are dirty on the inside.

Our hearts are full of sin and wickedness.  We do not love God.  We do not obey His Word.  We are dirty on the inside.

But if our faith is in Jesus, we can be washed clean.

That is what God promises in Isaiah 1:18.  “Come, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool.”

Jesus has paid for all our sins.  He has taken the punishment we deserve.  We need to be reminded of this and there is a great hymn to sing to help us.

This hymn reminds us that we can be cleaned up on the inside, but only by the Lord Jesus and His death on the cross.  This hymn is going to be our hymn for this month.  It goes like this.

I hear the Saviour say,
“Thy strength indeed is small.
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

The hymn begins with an invitation to find all that we need in our wonderful Saviour.

All we need includes the power to live changed lives as the second verse tells us.

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

But He doesn’t just enable us to live a new life, in Him we find grace to save us from our sins.

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

And because of this, as the final verses says, we will one day stand before God’s throne, and praise the one who saved us.

And when, before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
My lips shall still repeat.

If Jesus has paid for all our sins.  If He has taken the punishment we deserve.  We can sing confidently and joyfully.

Jesus paid it all,
all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

So, Jesus paid it all is our hymn of the month.  Here are words that remind us that Jesus had done everything we need to be forgiven by God and accepted by Him.  Let’s remember that now.

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More talks from The Hymn of the Month series can be found HERE.

(Photo: Aaron Burden)

KIDS TALK: BIG QUESTION #24

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This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #24 – How can we be saved? [NCC Q29]

Powerpoint Pictures: Teacher; Doctor; Parents hugging scared child; Supermarket worker

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Can you think of a situation when you were helpless?  When you were stuck and needed help?

It could be a piece of schoolwork that was too hard and you couldn’t work out what the answer was, so who did you ask for help? [Your teacher].

It could be that you fall over and hurt your arm or leg and it might be broken, who can help you then? [A doctor].

It could be that you are scared of something, who would you go to for help? [Mum or Dad – put their arms around you, hold you tight].

Or what about if you were lost in a supermarket and couldn’t find your mum or dad. [You’d go and find someone who works in the shop and ask them to put out announcement].

Now there is another situation where you need help.

Not just children who need help.

Grown ups do too.

Everyone does.

In an earlier big question, we saw that we all need help, because we have sinned against God and God rightly will punish us because of this.

However, the good news is that there is a Redeemer who can help us by saving us from our sin.

Jesus is this redeemer and He has died on the cross to make it possible for our sins to be forgiven.  He can help us in the situation we are in and can do nothing about.

But how can we be saved by Jesus?

That’s what our next Big Question asked.  Let’s look at it now.

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Q: How can we be saved?

That’s a the question we find asked in the Bible.

In Acts 16, we read that a jailer, in place called Philippi, asked that question, and what was the answer he was given?

Paul and Silas said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)

The only way for our sins to be taken away and the punishment we deserve removed is by believing in Jesus.

By putting our faith in Him to do for us what we can do for ourselves.

To trust that His death has taken the punishment we deserve so we can be forgiven.

So, what’s the answer to our Big Question.

A: Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross.

Why don’t we say the question and answer out loud together to help us remember this.

How can we be saved? Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

KIDS TALK: ACTS

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The Big Read – Acts

Powerpoint Pictures: Tsunami; Tornado; Volcano; Heatwave; Avalanche; Earthquake

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Look at the following pictures? [Tsunami, Tornado, Volcano, Heatwave, Avalanche, Earthquake].  What do each of these things have in common?

They are unstoppable.  They can’t be stopped – you have to wait for each of them to run its course.

The book of Acts is also about something or rather someone who is unstoppable.

The book of Acts tells us that the Risen Lord Jesus is building His church from all the nations of the world and nobody and nothing cannot stop Him from doing this.

At the start of Acts, Jesus gives His followers the mission of being witnesses for Him, by telling people the good news about Him in the power of the Spirit, and they were to do this in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, to the ends of the earth.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

And that’s what happens in the book of Acts.

In the first part of Acts, Jesus’ followers are in Jerusalem, preaching the good news about Him, and people are saved – on one day 3000 were.

Then when a persecution breaks out, Jesus’ followers are scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, and there they preach the gospel and people are saved.

After the conversion of Saul, an enemy of Jesus, he becomes a missionary to the Gentiles, and Acts records how he preaches the message of salvation through Jesus in Asia and Europe, and how new churches appear all over these continents.

Along the way problems and difficulties arise (such as persecution, imprisonment, shipwrecks and so on), but none of these are able to stop Jesus from building His church as His followers preach the good news about Him in the power of the Spirit.

Luke in the book of Acts wants to excite and encourage us that Jesus is building His church and nothing can stop Him from doing so.

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More talks from The Big Read for Kids can be found HERE.

(Photo: Freely)

CHRISTMAS RESOURCE ROUND-UP

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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)

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

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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)

KIDS TALK: FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS WHO IS BETTER

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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)