What do you expect from your family during this Christmas season? What do they expect of you?
If you're familiar with the 1966 version of the movie, "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" AND the 2000 version with Jim Carrey, you might notice that there is a subtle difference in how they portray the Grinch.
In the 1966 version, the Grinch is just mean and grumpy and very much the villain without a reason. Not so, the 2000 version. In the Jim Carrey version they make the Grinch out to be a victim in how the Who's of Whoville treated him, which is what leads him to become the villain.
Do you sometimes fall into a victim mentality that leads you to be the villain with your family, when expectations aren't met?
This week at CrossWalk Church in Phoenix, we are launching a brand new message series: "Grinchmas to Christmas: Finding Joy in a Season of Stress", which will help us navigate our expectations of Christmas as we look at the family to whom Jesus was born.
We're not the only ones who were born into an imperfect family. Jesus was too!
What we learn is that we don't have to give into a victim mentality and give way to villain moments. No, because Jesus came to save us from our own failed expectations, we are not a victim or villain. We are victors by faith in Him!
We hope to connect with you at one of our worship services as we prepare our hearts this Christmas season, to go from Grinch-like to Christ-like as we love and serve our families.
Enhance your worship by listening to CrossWalk’s Spotify playlist. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6oh96lgtXm0f46YtuJHdkL?si=346186c7139f484f
Follow along with your Bible: Matthew, chapter 1, verses 18-25 Song highlight of the week: "Glory (Let There be Peace)" by Chris Stevens, Matt Maher, and Rachel Popadic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW4c6DcxgGc
A line in this song says "Let there be peace, let it start in me". As we navigate family expectations and the season of expectations, as Christians we have peace that we get from Emmanuel, God with us, which allows us to have peace in our own hearts even when there is not peace around us.
“Navigating Family Expectations” sermon was done by Pastor Christ Johnson at CrossWalk Church, in part of the “Grinchmas to Christmas” message series.
CrossWalk Church - Sunday Worship:
Online: cwlk.online.church - 9am /11am
Laveen Campus: Cesar Chavez High School - 9am/11am
Midtown Campus: Camelback High School - 10am
