{"id":32386,"date":"2022-09-10T16:07:35","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:07:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/a-christmas-story-for-pastors\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:07:35","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:07:35","slug":"a-christmas-story-for-pastors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/a-christmas-story-for-pastors\/","title":{"rendered":"A Christmas Story for Pastors"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Jay Sanders<\/em><\/p>\n

There must have been a mistake. I had no business being included in this group or in front of all these people. But there I was. Scared to death.<\/p>\n

You see, the church I grew up in was pretty big, and they weren\u2019t afraid to put on a big production for Christmas. Somehow, even though I can\u2019t play an instrument or sing, I got caught up in one of those big productions.<\/p>\n

At every other Christmas production I was involved in as a kid, I never got to play the part of baby Jesus, Joseph, or the chief shepherd. I was playing the part of the disgruntled kid who didn\u2019t want to be there.<\/p>\n

Only I wasn\u2019t playing a part<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I can still remember one sweet lady at that church, Mrs. Hawkins. She noticed my frustrations during one Saturday evening practice that was running long.<\/p>\n

She walked up to me, seemingly out of nowhere, and said, \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Jay. This will all be over soon, and you\u2019ll be home in time to watch wrestling.\u201d<\/p>\n

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That lady knew<\/em> me.<\/p>\n

So considering I had no rhythm and no ability to sing, how did I end up on the main stage with a speaking part and<\/em> a solo? At the time, I wasn\u2019t sure.<\/p>\n

I just wanted to go home and watch wrestling<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I was one of the three emcees of the event. Two other kids and I played the part of angel grandkids asking their angel grandfather questions about Christmas.<\/p>\n

And just like in real life, a large choir would sing the answers to us. Yeah.<\/p>\n

The guy who played our grandfather was a professional<\/em>. He had a radio show on a major Atlanta station and he did a lot of voiceover work. I can\u2019t prove it, but I\u2019m pretty sure he taught Morgan Freeman everything he knows.<\/p>\n

The two other kids with me always looked like they just stepped out of a catalog for children\u2019s clothing.<\/p>\n

The boy had one of those haircuts that, in the 80s, meant you were somebody. It was straight up top, but in the back it was curly. I guess you could say it was the mullet\u2019s older, more respectable cousin.<\/p>\n

The girl was the type who never did anything wrong. I think the closest she ever got to getting into trouble was when she almost forgot to return Little House on the Prairie<\/em> to the library two days early.<\/p>\n

And then there was me<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The kid with no musical ability whatsoever who would rather be at home watching Ric Flair wrestle Dusty Rhodes. Can you blame me?<\/p>\n

Well, right before the play, my female colleague got really sick from being nervous. This didn\u2019t help me. \u201cIf the girl who never messes up is nervous, then I\u2019m in big trouble,\u201d I thought.<\/p>\n

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See also  How to Pass the Baton to the Next Pastor: A Q&A With Bryant Wright<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Nevertheless, I made it through my speaking parts without a problem. I was good at talking, I guess. But then came the time for me to sing my solo.<\/p>\n

I still remember the song, \u201cA Little is a Lot\u201d and the line I had to sing was, \u201cBelieving you can light up the sky.\u201d<\/p>\n

I nailed it with no vomiting or squeaky-voice debacle<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Of course, I\u2019ve never been asked to sing a solo since that night but I\u2019m sure<\/em> that\u2019s just a coincidence.<\/p>\n

I think about that play every Christmas as I prepare to preach a month\u2019s worth of sermons about the birth of Jesus.<\/p>\n

This can be an intimidating season for a lot of pastors, myself included. There\u2019s the temptation to make the story fresh<\/em> or to add a new, relevant<\/em> spin on it.<\/p>\n

In the end, just stick with the simple story of God sending His Son to save His people from their sins. Sure, most everyone has heard it before, but we could all use another listen.<\/p>\n

Pastor, don\u2019t beat yourself up this Christmas<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t wear yourself out trying to top what the hip new church across town is doing. You don\u2019t have to be the seasoned expert with the great voice or the perfect performer with the trendy haircut.<\/p>\n

Just show up and tell people about Jesus. It really is that simple.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, people don\u2019t need a production. But they could sure use some hope, and there\u2019s no better place to find it than in the true story of God\u2019s miraculous plan to undo the sting of sin and death.<\/p>\n

When I was a kid, I was at church every time the doors were open. I think that\u2019s why I got the singing and speaking part that year.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t because I had the best voice, that certain look, or the \u201cit\u201d factor. It\u2019s because they knew I\u2019d be there.<\/p>\n

Pastor, if all you do during your Christmas services this year is show up and point people to Jesus, you\u2019ve done your job well.<\/p>\n

Like the old song says, a little is a lot.<\/p>\n

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Jay Sanders<\/h2>\n

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Jay is the senior pastor of Towaliga Baptist Church in Jackson, Ga.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n