On All Play Sunday, Mark Ordus invites the whole church family to consider what God wants for Christmas—and it’s more than quick fixes. Drawing from Matthew 1:21 (“…he will save his people from their sins”) and the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:22–24), Mark contrasts our “make it work” prayers with God’s deeper desire to restore us to relationship. A lighthearted Nintendo Wii mishap sets the stage: we often ask Jesus to repair what’s broken, but the gospel offers something richer—sonship, a seat at the table, a robe and a ring. In a season of lists and urgent needs, we’re challenged to name what’s truly separated us from the Father and to come home—not just for relief, but renewal. Learn how confession opens the door to communion, why grace addresses the heart (not only the symptoms), and what it looks like to live as restored daughters and sons in everyday rhythms—at the party, around the tree, and in the tensions we’d rather avoid. God can fix circumstances; in Christ, He restores people. This Christmas, don’t settle for “working again.” Ask for “alive again.” Let the Father’s welcome redefine your story—and let that restoration spill into every relationship you carry. If it’s not good yet, God’s not done yet.
