Redeem the Holiday

 

This is the first Sunday of Advent.  This is the first in the sermon series "Christmas at the Movies."

The harried and hurried lives we live is illustrated by a clip from the movie, "Christmas with the Kranks."

A lot of what we do at Christmas time leaves Jesus out of the picture.

REDEEM THE HOLIDAYS.

     The real reason for celebrating Advent is lost in the wrappings all the wrong things.

Boycott the spirit of Christmas and exchange it for the Spirit of Christ.

     The Spirit of Christ says ":Less is more."  Less stuff, less hurry, more joy!

The simplest things bring the most joy, the most peace, the most satisfaction.

What it means to cultivate the Spirit of Christ

     Less spending, more giving.  In Acts 29 we read "It is more blessed to give than to receive."  

Buying is often more about how it makes us feel.  True giving is not about the amount of money but about the thought behind the gift.

  

The spirit of Christmas is about spending; the Spirit of Christ is about giving.

LESS HURRY, MORE PEACE

     " See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."  --Ephesians 5:15,16

REDEEM THE TIME
   The temptation to hurry is one of the greatest evils of our time.

     MEMORIES ARE NEVER MADE IN A HURRY.
     SLOW DOWN.
 Hurry robs us of time with those in need; hurry robs us of time for prayer.

GOD CAN GIVE YOU PEACE
     Hurry is the spirit of Christmas; Peace is the Spirit of Christ.
What would it look like for you to redeem the time?

THERE NEEDS TO BE LESS ME AND MORE JESUS.
    Let Christ be the center of your life all year-round.  Let your life revolve around Him.

John the Baptist said, He must increase; I must decrease.
     And so it must be with us.

FOCUS ON THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST WHO WRAPPED HIMSELF IN HUMAN FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US FOR OUR SAKE.
     In His heart of giving He gave everything He had.

>Advent is not just about looking back on His coming as a baby, it is about looking forward to His coming again!<

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE ARE NOT WRAPPED UP IN THE WRONG THINGS WHEN HE DOES.

     

Notes on the message by

Pastor Johnnie Blair

Sunday morning