The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

Story Review

Grinch did not like Christmas

could not stand the noise, the feasting, and singing during Christmas from the who’s of who-ville

wanted to stop Christmas from coming

stole all of the food, toys, presents, and decorations, lied to a little girl who saw him

after he had stolen everything, he paused to hear the sad crying sounds . . . I will let the book tell you the rest

watch video

he was so touched that he returned everything and celebrated Christmas with them

Who is the Grinch in our lives?

Satan - liar, thief, destroyer, killer

he certainly does not like Christmas . . . signals the beginning of our victory over him, sin, death

He wants to stop Christmas from coming . . . how far will he go? real far!

Matthew 2:16 NIV

16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

satan influenced this King to kill all the baby boys of Bethlehem

but Joseph was warned in a dream and they escaped

satan did not stop the first Christmas, but he will try to stop your Christmas, this Christmas

How will satan try to stop Christmas?

normally speaking, What things ruin Christmas for most people? (wait for answers)

pressure: gift buying, wanting everything turns out perfect

family not being able to come together: events (military service, work, weather, family strife, distance, death)

someone acting out of line (drunk, use gathering as a opportunity to vent)

not having a romantic person in your life - no one to post pics with

not given time off from job

not getting the gift you wanted or feel you deserved

satan or one of his demons does not have power to arbitrarily attack your life (Job), but they can

talk to you (Jesus after fasting)

try to convince you

sway you

try to bring you down

trick you

lie to you (Eve)

try to define Christmas for you

Commercial check:

man pulls out a ring, Ahhhh, he went to . . . Jared

Every kiss begins with . . . . Kay

nothing wrong with advertising, but satan will have some women think that a Christmas is good if I get expensive jewelry

The Who’s rejoiced no matter what, why should we also rejoice?

They still made merry sounds

The Grinch had this revelation, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store, Maybe Christmas means a little bit more”

yes, Christmas means more . . . much more than all the hooplah around it

so let’s simply read about it

Luke 2:1–20 NASB95

1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared 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 men with whom He is pleased.” 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Most people who say Merry Christmas, beg to get time off work, plan, cook, shop, decorate, travel, and even do good deeds, will not hear these words this Christmas season

but this is the more, the real Christmas

How should we celebrate Christmas?

some people will have: hot chocolate in special mugs, warm fire, stockings hanging, tree standing, matching PJ’s, presents overflowing, family pictures sent out, big meal, caroling, lights on the house . . .

others will declare that we everything is pagan and refuse to celebrate at all

The Bible gives no definite guidelines on how to celebrate Christmas. The only event Jesus told us to make sure we commemorate is His crucifixion through Holy Communion.

So Christmas is a great occasion, nothing wrong with celebrating (in my opinion), but it’s extra

if anything positive happens for Christmas, you’ve already won, it’s an extra celebration

if you don’t celebrate, you do you

what to include in the celebration . . . that’s another discussion

The point tonight is that nothing about Christmas means more than the verses we read tonight

The Savior is born: Christ is Christmas, Christmas is Christ . . .

Whatever stuff you use to celebrate, remember, Christmas means more than the stuff

"It's okay to have stuff, as long as your stuff doesn't have you."

don’t let stuff mean more than Christmas . . . which leads us to . . .

Honesty Check: All I need to have a “Merry Christmas” is _____________

or “I don’t need much, but I gotta have _________ for xmas to be xmas

now we know that the real answer is Jesus . . . but where are we, really? We are a work in progress . . . . Honesty check! . . . I have a strong feeling that most of us have something that the Grinch can take, that would ruin Christmas in our minds

Possible examples:

good health

my family around me

my spouse

my kids happy

clothes, food, and shelter

a little money in my pocket

I don’t need anything for me, but I really want presents for my loved ones

this is my personal list, lol!!!!! I’m trying to get better

how to use your answer, so that the Grinch can’t steal Christmas

be aware that these are some of the things that satan might try to attack, don’t allow yourself to be blindsided

example: argument betwen me and Sherry out of nowhere starts during Christmas

I am trying to watch a bowl game, she wants help in the kitchen, we’re both upset that we can’t buy more presents, and take it out on each other

know that you can have a merry Christmas without these things

There have been people in the hospital who’ve had merry Christmas, cheer you up

live up to what you just answered: if things not on your list go wrong, remember you said that you could still have a Merry Christmas without those things anyway

I didn’t put “getting a present” as important to me

don’t let the devil trick you into being sad about something that you really are not sad about . . . He’s tricky! “Hmph! You did not get one present! Nobody cares for you!”

Will Mr. Grinch steal your Christmas?

when something doesn’t go as plan, we love to say, “It just won’t be the same!” it might not, but you can still have a Merry Christmas

Be excited about the real meaning of Christmas and not just the commercial part of it!

I was thinking, why do we get so pumped up about our birthdays?

just celebrated my grandddaughter, Sunday

it boils down to. I made it! You made it! it’s a reminder that escaped death another year

if there was no death, b-days wouldn’t be as big

that’s why we clap, someone says . . . I am 90 years old . . . they made it

Jesus birthday celebration should excite us because it is a reminder that we made it!

because of him, we have escaped eternal death and gained eternal life

because of him we have a heavenly father, and not just a creator

we will die once, but it will have no sting, no victory!

Christmas is a reminder that I made it . . . when I remember that, you can’t take my joy, my peace

everything might go wrong, as what the world considers wrong, but I am still saved!

you can’t steal that!

Blessed Assurance Jesus is mine

Christmas means I made it

so don’t let the Grinch steal your Christmas!

Announcements

Christmas brunch is this Saturday at 11am

you should have been contacted as to what to bring, if not contact 1st Lady

Mentor Moment - watch these scammers

phone calls, emails, text messages, social media

if it looks suspicious . . . go with that

won a prize, lottery, from a contest that you did not enter

we are about to debit your account for a large amount, call us if you have any questions

fake charities

delivery confirmation

prices too good to be true on a website

investment opportunities

romance - catfish

threaten you by pretending to be government or law enforcement - irs

they will use popular business: att, amazon, walmart,

I’ve been told that my Netflix account is in trouble several times

during Holiday season they ramp it up