Christmas at the Movies week 2

“White Christmas”

Review:

In search of assurance: “How can I be sure?”

God’s divine timing and provision

When we have become unsure for so long, it is a challenge to believe again.

Moving to belief: “Go check it out.” (“A Christmas Story)

Today:

“I’m dreaming of a White Christmas”

White Christmas (1954) is a heartwarming holiday musical that follows two former World War II soldiers, Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye), who become successful entertainers after the war.

While performing in Florida, they meet the Haynes sisters, Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy (Vera-Ellen), a talented singing duo.

The four travel to Vermont for a Christmas show, only to discover that the inn where they are staying is owned by their beloved former commanding officer, Major General Waverly. The general is struggling financially because the lack of snow has driven away tourists.

Bob and Phil devise a plan to help him by staging a spectacular Christmas Eve show at the inn, reuniting his former troops as a surprise.

White Christmas is a story of . . .

Sacrifice

Hope

Perseverance

Honor

Introduction:

It is a story that many of us have heard time and time again.

With each telling of the story, we are reminded of God’s sacrifice, our hope in Jesus, the perseverance of a couple, and the honor due to the King of kings.

Text:

[Luk 1:26-38 NIV] 26 “In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.

31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end."

34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail."

38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her.”

An unexpected announcement . . .

Some news we expect.

Other news catches us off guard.

How we handle the latter will determine our ability to move forward.

Favor with God . . .

“You have found favor with God.”

God’s favor enables us to accomplish more than we can on our own.

The weight of favor

Raising our “pain threshold”

Overshadowed . . .

“The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”

The Holy Spirit comes within us for our benefit.

The Holy Spirit comes upon us for the benefit of others.

“Your word to me” . . .

What is God saying to you?

With the calling comes the enabling.”

“No word from God will ever fail.”

The pivotal scene . . .

Betty becomes aware of Bob’s true plan to bless the general.

The final show to honor