Sermons
The Christmas story is a powerful tale of God breaking into our world, to clear up the mess that we have got ourselves and bring us into relationship with him.
Who's looking forward to getting chocolate for Christmas? Anyone got a chocolate advent calendar?
Do you believe chocolate can talk? Have you really, really listened?
A long time ago, God created the heavens and the earth and even our GALAXY. He made it beautiful and everything was good. The Bible tells us that the first people Adam and Eve were told to lead creation and that they could eat anything, except for the FRUIT PASTILLE of one tree. Representing the human race Adam & Eve decided to take TIMEOUT from God's plan. They ate that forbidden fruit and suddenly realised they were NAK'D And that brought sin into the world and separation from us and God. Their heads were in a spin, even a TWIRL. And with it came suffering, pain, loneliness, bullying, violence and death. Things became pretty HARIBO (horrible). And life for many become pretty ROCKY
Because the world is broken, life is not a PICNIC. That's not what God wants. God had a plan to BOOST the world, to make a change. To send His own Son to deal with our mess.
Just over 2000 years ago, a young girl called Mary heard a WISPA from the angel of the Lord who appeared to tell her she would give birth to God's son. She was afraid, and KINDER SURPISEd because she wasn't yet married to Joseph and her pregnancy would be the gossip of conversation in the village. An angel came to her fiancé Joseph to reassure him. He was a good egg (some would say better than a Cadbury's Crème Egg) and because they were a couple of LOVE HEARTS they carried on with their engagement.
Just before Mary was due to give birth, political events overtook them, they needed to go back to their home town Bethlehem for a census. It was a long way, and Joseph was worried If she would FLAKE out on the way.. Of course in those days there was no AEROplanes, and no DOUBLE DECKER buses. They went over hill and dale and eventually they made it to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger.
That night the shepherds were looking after their sheep. Suddenly they saw angels in the sky. They protected the lambs from predators like LIONs. It was like a STARBURST, a glorious sight, The angels were singing “Glory to God in the highest” and told those shepherds who bred lambs for the daily sacrifices in the Temple, that the Lamb of God was born and wrapped in a manger, much like they did everyday and would soon no longer have too.
The singing was amazing, perhaps some MINSTRELS joined in. So the shepherd took a break, perhaps with a KIT KAT and went to go and see the newborn baby. It was getting late, AFTER EIGHT, but they turned up to see Jesus and went away praising God.
Meanwhile in a far country, wise men from perhaps Iran, Iraq or maybe they were TURKISH, DELIGHTing in looking at the stars. They were SMARTIES, looking up at the GALAXY. They saw a new STARBAR in the MILKY WAY, or was it MARS? But they knew from ancient prophecy it signalled the birth of a King. The STAR BARred any other way, they knew they had to follow it. So they set out began to follow the star. On the way they probable had the MUNCHIES.
They went to Herod's palace to meet with the King, Herod, to see what he knew about the royal birth. At first he couldn't conceal his surprise. When they convinced him it was true, he sent them to find the baby and said he wanted to worship the baby king too.
The wise men took their BOUNTY to Jesus giving GOLD to symbolise his Kingship, Myrrh to symbolise his Priesthood and Frankincense to show he had actually come to die for us.
God warned the wise men in a dream that Herod was up to his old TWIX again. Herod was a really HARIBO man – evil. So in a TWIRL the wise men went another route home.
The story of Christmas gives us all a BOOST at this time of year. But why did Jesus come? Here's the CRUNCHie.
The chocolate nativity is a bit of fun and every time I do it I worry that people thinks about the chocolates more than message. So to help us understand why Jesus really came. I have a chocolate related game.
I need to two very gracious forgiving volunteers for a chocolate truffle eating competition…
To understand that we need to play a quick game. I need two volunteers for a Truffle eating competition. How many can you eat in 30 secs? Is there a problem?
They look great on the outside, but inside, oh dear – they are chocolate coated Brussel Sprouts. Nice!
Lots of people walk around with masks, looking good to the outside when inside it‘s a different story. Jesus said that it's what inside our hearts that's a mess – out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultery, immorality, theft, false witness and slander.
Jesus came to cleanse us on the inside to make us brand new creations. He came as the wise men could see to die for us, forgive us and bring us into a personal relationship with God.
In the New Year we are going to be running the Alpha Course. I'd love you to take some TIMEOUT on a Sunday 6-7:30pm. We eat together, watch an episode of the Alpha Film Series and then discuss and answer any questions. A great fun way to find out about the Christian faith. Here's the taster video…
That's a cause for CELEBRATIONS.