Union Church of Manila's Youth Group, Disciples of Christ did a two week series called "Aall I Want for Christmas" to talk about greed. The first week Amy Allen talked about "Lies" we believe about God that make us greedy: 1. God doesn't have enough. 2. God withholds. 3. God isn't involved/doesn't care. Amy used the Word of God to show how those are wrong. Then she asked the students two questions: 1.Do things own you or do you own them? 2. Do you want Christ More than other things? She concluded her lesson with the word Christmas. She explained that "mas" means "more" in Spanish. So, the word "Christmas" means “Christ More"
I had the opportunity to give the second part of the series. Picking up where Amy had stopped, I talked about how to be content or having enough. I started with a Small Group discussion using two questions: 1. what is your favorite part of celebrating Christmas? 2. Do you have any Christmas traditions in your family? Then I shared two of my family's traditions that are examples of greed or always wanting more: 1. each child's gifts were all wrapped in a different paper. Matthew's were all in Santa paper, Justin's were all in Teddy Bear paper, and mine were all in Angel paper. I always got so excited when I saw more gifts in angel paper than Bears or Santa’s.
2. The adults in our family do a gift exchange. Everyone brings both a gift card and a silly gift. We pull numbers and starting with the person who got #1 we pick either a new card or gift or steal from someone else who already picked.
Like Amy, I went to God's Word and shared from John 6:15- the Feeding of the 5000.
That boy gave it all to God, and God took it and made sure no one had to worry because there was enough for everyone and no one was left in need of more.
I love Christmas time. The rule in our house is no Christmas music or decorations until after Thanksgiving. So when I arrived last September and the next day heard the song "This Christmas" playing in the store it took me by surprise. I asked my friend, "Am hearing right? Are they playing Christmas music? We're only 13 hours ahead not 2 month ahead right? "
Christmas time seems to bring the best out in every one even the scrooges of this world. But we would be nowhere in life if was not for the most important part of the Christmas season...Jesus is the coolest, best ever gift you could receive.
After an introduction about what has already happened, I showed a clip from "A Charlie Brown Christmas." The clip illustrated how greedy we tend to get during the Christmas season but we need to give back instead. God gave us everything we really need when He sent Jesus to be born of a virgin in a manger. This is the best gift anyone could ask for. All I want for Christmas is you JESUS. The gift of Jesus beats out any other gift you may receive this season or any other time this year. Think about it... all those items we want more of won't last but the gift of Jesus is eternal if you’re willing to take it. (Colossians 3:2, Hebrews 13:5-6)
So, remember to be content with what God has given you
Just like Amy said Christmas means Christ more!