Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

ATTITUDES TOWARD CHRISTMAS

INTRODUCTION

Years ago, Dr. Seuss wrote a book called "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." It's also been made into a video and now is even in the movie theaters.

Many of you know the story which happens in the town of Who-ville. The Grinch hated seeing and hearing all the people celebrating Christmas - so he tries to figure out a way to stop Christmas from coming to Who-ville.

He decides that if he steals all the presents, decorations and special Christmas food then he will stop Christmas from coming. He spends the whole night before Christmas sneaking around and stealing everything Christmassy from all the houses in Who-ville. When Christmas morning comes the Grinch is shocked that his plan didn't work - Christmas still comes to Who-ville. The people are still happy and they gather hand in hand to sing Christmas songs.

He learns that Christmas is more than just presents and decorations.

TODAY THE WORLD TRIES TO STEAL THE REAL CHRISTMAS AWAY FROM US BETTER THAN THE GRINCH TRIED TO STEAL IT FROM WHO-VILLE.

The Grinch tried to steal Christmas by taking away some of the things related to Christmas - but that only helped the people of Who-ville to focus on what was left - which was actually more important.

The world steals Christmas better than the Grinch because it doesn't take things away, it just replaces what is most important about Christmas with things that draw our focus away from the real meaning of Christmas.

Everyone who lived down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot…But the Grinch, who lived just north of Who-ville did not! The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!

Now, please don’t ask why. No one inquired the reason. It could be his head wasn’t screwed on just right. It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.

Christmas brings out the best in people and it brings out the worse. We have probably all been around people from both persuasions. (Newspaper Story--”Parking Lot Rage”)

This morning I want to look at different people’s attitudes toward Christmas.

   I.       SOME PEOPLE HATE CHRISTMAS. (Just like Herod--who was the first Grinch)

            Hate is a strong word, and some people feel strongly about Christmas.

            The ACLU continues to bring lawsuit after lawsuit to remove Christ from Christmas.

            In the public arena it must be “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings” now instead of  Merry Christmas.

            It is OK to sing of Frosty and of Santa but not of Jesus, the Christ of Christmas, all because of a small minority

            of people who hate the true meaning of Christmas.

            This attitude is nothing new because we see in Matthew 2, perhaps no human hated Christmas more than

            King Herod.

            He tried to get the wise men who were following the star to let him know when they found the Christ of

            Christmas--Because he wanted to destroy the Christ of Christmas.

The wise men were truly wise because instead of listening to the request of Herod the king, they instead listened to God who came to them in a dream and told them to return home another way.

            Hatred can bear bitter roots. It can prevent people from attaining their true God given potential because they

            become consumed with the hate which has taken root.

Herod was such a consumed person. To prevent others from becoming king, he sent out a decree to kill all the children in the vicinity of Bethlehem who were two years old and under.

            When he heard about the birth of Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, he became consumed hatred toward someone

            he had never met.

            Hatred, if left unattended, will affect everything around it. Matthew 2:16 shows how that one stream of hatred

            runs through, ravages, and destroys that which is precious.

            Verse 18 shows the aftermath of that hatred.

            What is your attitude toward Christmas? Are you one who hates Christmas?

You may hate it for a variety of reasons--a difficult childhood, an untimely death in the family, or other memories of Christmases past. Or you could hate it simply because others find enjoyment in something you’ve never found.

            Herod’s hatred was because of a challenge to his authority and rule. What He did not realize was that he

            was allowed to rule by the very one who he hated! His hatred was at the very King of kings and Lord of lords!

            Psalm 75:6-7--”For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is

            the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

            Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, it could turn to hatred and hatred leading to devastating results.

   I.       SOME PEOPLE HATE CHRISTMAS.    

  II.      SOME PEOPLE TRY TO STEAL CHRISTMAS.

            (Just like Herod and the Grinch did)

Stealing Christmas is more than just filling our pockets, or taking gifts from someone else.

            A.        Attentions Get Diverted.

                        That is, some people steal Christmas when they get caught up in things other than Christ, the true

                        meaning of Christmas.

                        Their focus is rather on the worldly aspects of Christmas and those things become the central focus of

                        their celebration.

                        In doing so they rob Jesus us his rightful place of preeminence. Colossians 1:17

                        Christmas is primarily about the Emmanuel--The God with Us, Who came to seek and to save that

                        which was lost.

                        The atmosphere of the Christmas season can point people to the Christ of Christmas or it can steal

                        the preeminence away.

                        What does your celebration of Christmas do? Does it glorify the Christ of Christmas or is someone

                        or something else given the place of preeminence?

In Jesus day, on the day of His birth, a census stole away the purpose of that day, and so it continues to happen in ours as well--the trivial taking the place of what is most important.

            B.        Ambitions Get Exalted.

                        Instead of asking what does Jesus want, people are more concerned with what they want.

                        Instead of asking what they can give, they are more concerned with what they will get.

   I.       SOME PEOPLE HATE CHRISTMAS. 

  II.       SOME PEOPLE TRY TO STEAL CHRISTMAS.

 III.      SOME PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND CHRISTMAS.

            The Grinch misunderstood. In fact, he decided to steal away all their presents including the food.

            Herod misunderstood. He tried to kill the one who came to provide Salvation for all men.

            When you look around you begin to sense, the malls and stores have misunderstood Christmas.

            They have gotten so busy with their collection of money that absolutely nothing else matters. The only reason

            that the manger scene and all that goes with it has not been removed from their Christmas displays is not

            because Jesus saves, but rather because Jesus sells.

            In fact, now you can even get your “Politically Correct” nativity set in some places in the world. (See news story)

            Jesus, for the most part, has been replaced with Santa, shepherds and sheep with reindeer and elf’s , but you can

            still get Jesus if you want Him, that is if you are willing to pay for Him.

            The star lights the way to the store but now it is a place to spend, certainly not a place where we can come an

            adore the Christ of Christmas.

            Not much has changed since the birth of Jesus. In Luke 2:7, there was no room for Jesus in the inn, but they did

            find room for Him in a manger, quite possibly in a stable.

            Illustration: A pastor of a church had a member named George who was a farmer and had been a farmer and

            a member longer than anyone could remember. He was 72 years old.

            Once, in the middle of winter, on a visit, the pastor, found George doing his early morning chores. He was invited to wait in the kitchen, where it was warm but, being a pastor, he insisted on following along with him to the barn.

            Inside George dumped a bucket of grain into a rough wooden feeding trough, two calves quickly slobbered all

            over it. A second bucket of grain was thrown on the floor where chickens and ducks and geese and turkeys

            began the process of cleaning it up, grain by grain. While the fowl were busy, George collected their eggs.

            Distracted by the sounds of slurping and pecking the pastor backed away from the noise and noticed for the

            first time he was gagging on the stench. It was then he back-stepped into a fresh pile of manure.

            Evidently the pastor’s face showed his displeasure with his surroundings, because George, as he passed with

            his bucket of fresh eggs, stopped dead in his tracks, turned and smiled a wry smile at the pastor, and said

            quietly, "Brother, Jesus was born in a place like this!" [Paraphrased from Illustration Digest, No. 4 1995, 1-2]

            The world today may reluctantly give Jesus a place, but just as it was that first Christmas, it ain’t much of a place.

            Who would give up a bed if they knew it was the place the Messiah was to be born?

            The inn keeper did not, nor did any of the guests who had filled his house and his bank account with their arrival

            for the census.

            They were busy with other things--with business and busyness.

Out of ignorance, they misunderstood the significance what was taking place around them.

            It still happens today. The significance gets lost in the business and the busyness.

            When is the last time you took time to think through the meaning of Christmas? (I’m talking about other than

            at church!)

            Has time in gift buying, meal preparation and the getting ready for the big day overshadowed the true meaning

            of Christmas?

    I.      SOME PEOPLE HATE CHRISTMAS. 

   II.      SOME PEOPLE TRY TO STEAL CHRISTMAS.

  III.      SOME PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND CHRISTMAS.

  IV.     SOME PEOPLE EMBRACE CHRISTMAS.

            A.        Joseph And Mary Embraced Christmas Even Though They Risked Being Misunderstood.  

1.    Matthew 1:24-- “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden

       him and took unto him his wife: And knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn son:

       and he called his name JESUS.

2.    Luke 1:38-- “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

        Luke 1:46-47-- “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in

        God my Saviour.”

            B.        The Shepherds Embraced Christmas. (Luke 2:9-18)

                        Luke 2:11-- “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

                        1.         They heard the message.

                        2.         They responded to the message. (They came with haste!)

                        3.         They shared the message.

            C.        The Wise Men Embraced Christmas. (Matthew 2:1-12)

                        1.         They sought Him. (He came seeking for them first!)

                        2.         They found Him.

                        3.         They rejoiced in Him.

                        4.         They worshiped Him.

                        5.         They gave to Him.

            D.        Many Others Through The Ages Have Embraced Christmas--Though It May Have

                        Meant Suffering Hardship, Persecution, Or Being Misunderstood.

                        1.         Christ Has Been Embraced As Saviour.

                        2.         Christ Has Been Embraced As Lord.

                        3.         Christmas Has Taken On A New Significance.

Conclusion

What is your attitude toward Christmas?

   I.       SOME PEOPLE HATE CHRISTMAS.

  II.      SOME PEOPLE TRY TO STEAL CHRISTMAS.

 III.      SOME PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND CHRISTMAS.

  IV.     SOME PEOPLE EMBRACE CHRISTMAS.

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!