December 24, 2015 • Chris Edmondson • Luke 2:1–7, John 1:11, Acts 4:13
Tonight—on Christmas Eve—we’re finishing our series called Netflixmas talking about Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
The story of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer was written in 1939 by Bob May, a writer for Montgomery Ward department stores. Montgomery Ward had bought and distributed coloring books every Christmas for children, and decided to write an original story. Montgomery Ward distributed 2.4 million copies of the Rudolph coloring book in 1939, with a total of 6 million copies given out by December of 1946, even though wartime paper shortages restricted printing.
Elf
December 20, 2015 • Chris Edmondson • Matthew 7:7–11, Luke 15:1–20, Philippians 2:5–8
In the movie Elf, Buddy is a 6 foot, 3 inch elf who lives up in the North Pole. All is good, until Buddy finally figures out what everyone else knows—he isn’t an elf, but he’s a human. So Buddy goes on a magical journey through New York City to find and meet his Dad. Today, we will learn that all of us have a Father who loves us just as we are. That you and I don’t have to search high and low to find him—He came to us.
The Polar Express
December 13, 2015 • Patrick Fowler • Matthew 3:5, John 1:29–34, Matthew 11:2–3
In the movie, the Polar Express, a magical train takes several children to the North Pole to rebuild their faith in Santa. Faith in Santa and faith in God are a lot alike. They deteriorate for many of the same reasons. Through the themes of this movie and the story of John the Baptist, we will learn some key things about faith and doubt.
It’s a Wonderful Life
December 6, 2015 • Chris Edmondson • Mark 12:30, Colossians 3:11, Revelation 17:14, 1 Corinthians 15:13–19, Luke 2:10–11
In the movie It’s A Wonderful Life, George Bailey has given up on his dreams. He’s just about ready to end it all until his guardian angel named Clarence the Angel shows up and tries to instill hope into George by showing him all the lives that he has touched along the way. Clarence shows George just how different the community would be if George had not been born.
What if Jesus had never been born? How different would our world. Our culture. Our history if Jesus had never existed? Today, we’re going to look at the fact that Jesus’ impact on human history has been without parallel. His presence is unavoidable. His influence inescapable. His appeal is inexhaustible. His endurance is inextinguishable.
Christmas Vacation
November 29, 2015 • Chris Edmondson • Matthew 1:1–17
In the movie Christmas Vacation, Clark Griswold is determined to have a perfect Christmas. After faulty lights, neighbor conflicts, a house full of wacky relatives, he is on the verge of a break down. During the holiday season, it is easy for our family to drive us to the edge of a break down. We all have some Cousin Eddie’s in our family. Jesus had some knots/nuts on His family tree as well. Liars. Adulterers. Criminals. Prostitutes. Polygamists. Murderers. You’ll find all these dysfunctional types in Jesus’ ancestry. Could the Savior of the world actually be descended from a lowly prostitute, a chronic liar, a corrupt king, and incest? Absolutely. And that’s what makes God’s promise of grace all the more amazing.
