How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Intro: Movies and Culture

Movies are a window into culture. The movies that we watch help to show the things that we value in culture, and Christmas movies are just the same.

The Grinch is a cynical creature who hates Christmas because of what’s been done to him and the memories of what people have done to him at Christmas.

And maybe you’re the same way!

Parents are split, so Christmas is going to be really hard.

Families are fighting at Christmas.

Maybe you’ve realized how difficult Christmas can be for your families financially, and you’re starting to not like the stress of Christmas.

Christmas can be hard, and it can be easy to be a Grinch

The Grinch, like us, is broken

We know from the get go that the Grinch is the bad guy. It’s super clear throughout the movie that he’s the problem.

But we all like him!

He’s the best character in the movie, except for maybe his dog. Why do we all like him?

The Grinch is a reflection of us.

You might love or hate Christmas, but you can’t get away from the fact that we are all broken

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

1 John 1:8 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

Romans 3:10 “as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;”

You are in a point of spiritual brokenness without God.

The Grinch is a mean creature who doesn’t care about anybody but himself, and we do the same thing.

The Grinch Needed Redemption

By the end of the movie, we know that the Grinch has changed a bit, he’s started to care about people.

But, he is still the same broken guy, he needed ot be redeemed.

That’s where we get this scene where his heart grows three sizes and he yells “I’m Feeling!”

You need redemption too.

We know that we are all broken and in need of a Savior. We need someone to change our hearts

That’s where Christ comes in.

Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Christ dies for you even though you’re the equivalent of a Grinch!

That’s what Christmas is about.

It’s not gifts, it’s not being the holiday cheermeister, it’s reflecting on the birth of Christ and the love God has for you!