Bring the Broken Pieces

“…a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:11 (CEV)

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

props: a broken heart wrapped in a gift box or bag

If you could give anything to Jesus for Christmas, what would it be? (Allow for response). One year, a children’s pastor asked the kids to write the answer to that question on a piece of paper and put it under the tree for Jesus. When she read the answers later, she was surprised that one girl wrote, “I would give Jesus my problems.” (Hold up gift box or bag). Some people may think that’s a silly answer, but the Bible says that Jesus wants your problems. He wants you to go to God in prayer and ask Him to help you with the things that hurt you and break your heart. (Begin unwrapping the present). When you pray to God, you show that you trust Him, you know that He is God and you know that He can do anything. (Put the pieces of the heart together). He wants you to talk to Him in prayer and tell Him what you need His help with so that He can fix it. If your heart has been broken, he wants to put it back together again.
This year, spend time with Jesus on His birthday. Bring your problems to Him and let Him take care of them.

Bow to the Christ of Christmas

“…a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:11 (CEV)

props: a large complete manger scene, one Santa doll or figure, presents

Place the manger scene in center stage, with the Santa doll and presents on either side.

Most of you have probably seen a manger scene similar to this. This is an idea of what things might have looked like when Jesus was born. You’ve learned about Mary and Joseph, Jesus’ parents. We have also talked about the shepherds who came to worship Jesus as soon as He was born. Maybe you’ve also heard about the Wise men who came to worship Him some time later. Of all that is a part of this manger scene right now, what doesn’t belong? (Allow for response).
Santa wasn’t there when Jesus was born. There were no presents there either, except what the Wise men later brought to Jesus. There’s nothing wrong with telling fun stories about Santa or buying gifts for one another. Sometimes, though, that’s all people think about and spend their time on. So some people bow down to Santa instead of Jesus. They worship the man who brings the presents instead of the One who gave us the best gift of all, the gift of life forever. Others worship the gifts they get. All they think about is how many gifts they might get or how big their gifts will be.
Who is the One that Christmas is really all about? (Allow for response). Jesus is the reason for the season. Remember to spend time with Jesus as we celebrate His birth and give all of your love and worship to Him. He is the only one who deserves it.

Accomplish Something for God

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. James 3:13-17 (NIV)

As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. John 9:4 (NIV)

Props: pictures of a puzzle in progress, from beginning to end

We’re getting ready to start a new year, and the challenge is to live for God today! Part of living for God is accomplishing, or doing, great things for God. Most people never even try to do great things for God because they think they can’t.
There was a man who decided to do something great one year. So he bought a puzzle of 1,000 pieces. Each piece was smaller than a dime. He told others about his goal of completing the puzzle. Some laughed at him. Others said he’d never make it. But he was determined. So he emptied the box onto the puzzle table and got started. It was tough! Every day he put a few pieces together. Although he worked hard each day, it seemed like he was getting nothing accomplished.
Doing great things for God is not waiting for one big thing to come along that you can do; it’s continuing to do what God asks you to do every single day. Often that means continuing to do the little things for Him. You may pray for someone one day, and tell someone about God the next day. Maybe it seems like your prayers aren’t getting answered and no one is listening to you. You may feel like the man putting the puzzle together: Nothing big is happening.
The man kept working day after day. The picture was coming together so slowly. Sometimes he stepped back to look at all the pieces and they didn’t even make sense. It didn’t seem possible that so many pieces could ever come together to make something great.
You may feel that way, too, when you are accomplishing something for God. But remember, everything you do for God is important. Each time you pray for someone, help someone, give to God, and obey Him, it’s all part of the big picture. God will use what you give Him to make something great.
One day the puzzle was about a quarter of the way done. The man seriously thought about taking some time off. But he remembered that every day is important if he wanted to reach his goal. So he kept going.
There will be times when you want to quit doing what God wants you to do. You may want to take it easy for awhile or stop praying so much. But each day is important. You must choose to live for God today and not wait until later. If you wait, it might be too late.
Finally, when the year was almost over, the man completed the puzzle. He could hardly believe it! It was so amazing. All those days of working so hard, sorting out the pieces and slowly putting them together! At last there was something great to show for it.
You must choose to accomplish something great for God; it doesn’t just happen. Great things come after many days, months and sometimes even years of doing the little things that God asks you to. So every day matters and you must decide to live for God today! Today is the day to accomplish something for God. Accomplish something great for Him by doing the little things that matter.

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