Christmas at the Movies week 4 (2)

“A Mary Heart in a Scrooge World”

Overview of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Marley reveals that three spirits will visit Scrooge, who will show him the path to redemption.

The Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge on a journey through his history.

Seeing the hard times

Forgetting the good times

The Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge the warmth, generosity, and struggles of those around him.

“Come in and know me better.”

Choices of isolation.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come offers a grim vision of Scrooge’s future.

Consequences

Hope

Introduction:

Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem.

No room in the Inn.

Shelter in a stable.

The time for delivery.

It was a heavenly encounter.

[Luke 2:8-19 ESV] 8 “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

Prayer

Opening Observations:

Shepherds at work

The glory of the Lord

“Suddenly”- “Glory to God in the highest”

Response- “Let us go”

“They made known”

How can we have a Mary heart in a Scrooge world?

“And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

Wondered- “to admire or marvel”

Treasured- “to preserve a thing from being lost”

Pondered- “to encounter in a hostile sense”

“That’s nice” . . .

A good story

A heart impact

Hearing is not the same as receiving.

In order to have a Mary heart in a Scrooge world, we must receive beyond hearing.

“The Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them.”

Appeared- to captivate attention

What holds your attention?

What holds your attention will direct your steps.

Steering off the road

To have a Mary heart in a Scrooge world, I must allow Jesus to hold my attention.

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

The shepherds made a choice.

After receiving the “good news of great joy,” they decided to leave where they were and go see for themselves.

They had to leave the field.

Our “field” could be

bitterness from our past,

pain in our present, or

fear about our future.

Scrooge had to make a choice

Would he remain captive to his past?

Would he remain isolated in his present?

Would he remain subject to the consequences of his future?

In order to have a Mary heart in a Scrooge world, I must make the right choices.

“And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.”

The Shepherds carried with them the “good news of great joy,” and shared it with others.

What we have in our hearts we give to others.

An example from Jesus . . .

[Matthew 8:24-26 ESV] 24 “And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." 26 And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”

Jesus rested in the storm.

His rest was based on His peace.

What He had in his heart was released into his situation.

The presence of God’s peace within Jesus was released into the storm.

What am I releasing?

Once Scrooge became transformed in heart, he lived differently with others.

His circumstances didn’t change

His experienced reality changed

Why? Because of what he released into his circumstances.

[Luk 2:20 ESV] 20 “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”

God desires to make His presence known to us so that we can make Him known to others.

So how do we have a Mary heart in a Scrooge world? . . .

We look at what we are treasuring in our hearts.

We are willing to confront for the sake of transformation.

We make the choice to leave the field and go to Jesus.

We share Jesus with others.

Close: Candle lighting (Silent Night)

[Verse 1] Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child Holy Infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace

[Verse 3] Silent night, holy night Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus Lord, at Thy birth Jesus Lord, at Thy birth