Chill Christmas – 3 – Rediscover Simple Fun

Chill Christmas Bumper?

 

Welcome to Redemption Church of Plano TX. My name is Chris Fluitt!

 

Merry Christmas.

Chill Christmas Title

 

We are in the 3rd week of our message Series – Chill Christmas.

 

Last week we talked about…

 

How to Navigate Holiday Chaos – Peace

 

Rethink Peace
– NOT LACK OF WAR

-WHOLENESS

Jesus is either A PIECE of your life, or…
Jesus is THE PEACE of your life.

Focus on WHOLENESS

 

In this series we have lit the candles of HOPE & PEACE.

 

Now we light the candle of Joy.

 

Today – Rediscover Simple Fun

 

The world is awfully complicated.
Just this week –

The shooter was found! (Luigi Mangione)

Health Insurance CEO killed…

 

Shocking questions…

“Is murder ok if we don’t like the guy that was killed?”

 

What will happen this week in the news?
IDK, But I bet it is complicated.

 

Israel, Palestine – complicated.
Immigration changes – complicated.

Personal life is complicated…

Health is complicated…

Your career, hopes & dreams… 

 

With all this complication… Merry Christmas?

 

Can you imagine a world that is not complicated?

Can you imagine a world with joy?

 

(Me)

Fisher Price Crazy Combo Horn Set

Uncomplicated toy… Plastic, no battery, no app, no monthly subscription

 

Opened this on Christmas… AWESOME!

HOWEVER, I had received this toy months earlier… Not disappointed.

 

Like receiving the gift all over again.

(We)

I bet you have a Christmas memory like this…

 

-Simple
-Happy & Fun

I bet it also feels distant… long time ago.

 

Growing up, we’ve somehow transformed Christmas from a moment of pure wonder to a complex algorithm of expectation, performance, and exhaustion.

 

Statistics…

– 2/3 report major stress.

– Spending! Over 1k per person avg.

– Police – Domestic disputes spike 35%

– Divorce rates increase

 

We’ve traded joy for stress & celebration for complication.

 

If only there was a different way…

 

Let’s go back to the original Christmas story.

 

In Luke 2 – Shepherds working night shift
Boom – Angel! God’s Glory!

 

Luke 2:10-11 …the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

 

Notice something? Joy wasn’t complex.

 

Good news was announced.

It CAUSED GREAT JOY.

 

Joy here is simple.

 

Life is complex, but Joy is simple

 

Life for the shepherds was complex…
No respect…  oddball profession

All of Israel – Tyrannical Roman government

 

Religion was complex… Different groups believed different things… Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes…

 

Life is complex… but the good news that causes joy is simple.

 

…A savior has been born…
…And He is nearby…

 

Then more Angels show up… They sing… Wow

 

Luke 2:15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

What amazing news!
A savior in Bethlehem… not that far away…

“Let’s go…”

 

Simple… They hear the message and go to experience it…

 

Luke 2:16-18 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

 

Now they are sharing the message and spreading Joy.

 

3 lessons of Joy
#1 Joy is CAUSED

The Angels said the good news will CAUSE great joy to all people.

 

Joy does not just happen… something causes it.

 

What causes joy?
WHO causes your joy? (TELL THEM)

#2 Joy is PRESENCE, not Presents

 

The presence of a savior…

 

When the angel announced Jesus’s birth, it wasn’t about:

– Perfect decorations

– Expensive gifts

– Flawless family photos

– Instagram-worthy moments

 

We need to value PRESENCE.

-The presence of the Savior.
-The presence of our family and friends.

 

Gifts are good… people are better.

#3 Joy can be shared

It is difficult to share gifts…
The outfit for my wife… does not fit me.

 

JOY can be shared.
Angel -> Shepherds -> others amazed

Let someone share JOY with you.
Share that JOY with others.

 

I told you about my…

Fisher Price Crazy Combo Horn Set

 

I had already played with it.

Opening it on Christmas…
Like receiving the gift all over again.

 

What would it be like for us to receive the gift all over again?

 

I no longer have the Fisher Price Crazy Combo… But I can relive the simple joy of opening it on Christmas day.

 

You have already received the gift of Jesus… Receive the gift all over again.

 

Life is complex, but Joy is simple

 

-This is what worship and prayer does…
-Reading the story and letting it be NEW.

-Sharing the story.

 

 

Call to Action

1. Choose Presence:

-Prioritize being fully present over perfection.

-Give your presence to someone.

2. Simplify and Share:

-Drop one stressful holiday tradition that doesn’t bring you genuine joy.

-Share the message that causes JOY!

3. Receive the gift all over again.

 -Pray & Worship
 -Christmas Reading Plan