CHRISTMAS MOVIES part 2

CHRISTMAS VACATION

DECEMBER 14, 2008

with Adam Waters

OPENING

· I love sunshine.
· False light v. sunlight.
· Today, we want to discuss relationships. Do you have a relationship with darkness? Or a relationship with light?
· A darkness relationship means a relationship with sin, with self, with the stuff of this world and not the next, living a life that carries no meaning to the world.
· A light relationship mean a friendship with purity, with loving others, with eternity, with a life steeped in purpose and meaning for today. A friendship w/light is a friendship w/Jesus.

D-THOUGHT: Jesus brings light to a dark world.
· When Jesus brings light to a dark world, it brings about a dynamic change in you and me. He radically alters our job descriptions…
· Dynamic Sprinters ~ John 3:16-21 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” COME TO THE LIGHT.
· Dynamic Maids ~ Ephesians 5:10-14 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” CLEAN OUT YOUR COBWEBS.
· Dynamic Electricians ~ Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” CHRIST EMPOWERES US TO BE HIS EMISSARIES. John calls Jesus the light of the world in John1, but Jesus turns the tables and expects us to reflect him!

Re-Evaluate your Jesus fixation…
Last week we discussed Jesus’ ability to bring faith to a cynical world. How a real relationship with the Savior brings that “Jesus! I know him!” kind of reaction.

As we Reevaluate our Jesus fixation this week, we need to look at how a fixation with Jesus is a fixation with light: 1)warmth, 2)sight, 3)exposure, 4)life, 5)clarity.

My favorite aspect of "Christmas Vacation" is that Clark is always trying to make Christmas perfect for his family. Making Christmas perfect can only be wrapped up in our Jesus fixation.
Knowing Jesus and believing in him causes us to walk transparent, to clean out the dusty corners and to shine… “make them wonder what you got, make them wish that they were not on the outside looking board.”