PrimeTime GameChangers - Twas the pod before Christmas

We had some fun today—introducing my new little buddy, Packer, laughing about favorite Christmas movies, and remembering those simple, joy-filled moments that make this season special. But all that joy points to something deeper: when life loses sight of its foundation, we can also forget what Christmas is really about. It’s not just a holiday sentiment—it’s a Person. Saying “Merry Christmas” is more than nostalgia; it’s a confession that Christ is the center. Even the story of Saint Nicholas reminds us that generosity was never about getting attention; it was about meeting needs out of love.

I talked about how many people this year are picking up Bibles again, searching for what’s real. That longing makes sense. We’ve all chased what we wanted, only to find it didn’t fill us. Like gifts under a tree, there’s what we want and what we truly need. God knows the difference. Jesus is the gift we didn’t always know to ask for, but once received, we realize, “This is what I needed all along.” He brings peace especially to those feeling alone this season.

I shared how the best gifts aren’t always wrapped pretty. Sometimes they arrive in a “messy bag”—unexpected, unglamorous, yet life-changing. The Cross looked like that—bloody and broken—yet from it flows forgiveness, purpose, and favor. When we lay everything down at Jesus’ feet, God doesn’t just meet our needs; over time He shapes and even fulfills the desires of our hearts.

And don’t stop at the first layer. Some of us open the top of the spiritual gift and miss what’s under the tissue paper. Salvation is the beginning; the Holy Spirit is the ongoing strength, wisdom, comfort, and courage for everyday life. This Christmas, ask God to fill you afresh. Let His peace find you where you are—and be that peace for someone else. Put a cross at the top of your tree, say “Merry Christmas” boldly, invite Jesus fully in, and watch how the kiss of heaven shows up in your ordinary moments.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Put God back at the center. When God is no longer the reference point, even Christmas loses its meaning. Re-centering on Christ clarifies why we celebrate and recalibrates how we live. Joy and favor don’t flow from slogans but from alignment with Him. Say “Merry Christmas” because Christ is the reason we rejoice. [12:28]
• 2. God gives what we truly need. We often chase what we want and miss the gift we need—peace, salvation, and a new start in Jesus. Like a parent who knows the child better than the child knows themselves, God’s gift arrives right on time. Receive the needed gift first, and the wants find their proper place. [20:17]
• 3. Surrender unlocks real favor. The Cross didn’t come wrapped in pretty paper, but it delivered life. When we lay our pride, pain, and plans at Jesus’ feet, God meets us with mercy and direction. Over time, surrendered hearts discover that God shapes and grants the desires of their hearts. [23:52]
• 4. Open the whole gift—Holy Spirit. Don’t stop at the top of the box; there’s more inside. Salvation begins the journey, but the Holy Spirit teaches us how to walk it—bringing wisdom, courage, and steady peace. Ask God to fill you and guide your next steps. [26:46]
• 5. Carry Christ’s peace to the lonely. If you feel alone this season, you’re not forgotten—God sees, knows, and draws near. Invite His presence into your space and let His peace settle your heart. Then look for someone else to bless; sometimes the peace we need comes as we give it away. [20:17]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:30] - Meet Packer the puppy
• [02:33] - Parenting laughs and puppy cuddles
• [05:46] - Favorite Christmas movies and memories
• [08:06] - Sunday naps and Packer games
• [12:28] - Why “Merry Christmas” matters
• [14:42] - Bibles surging and spiritual hunger
• [16:30] - Saint Nick and true generosity
• [18:45] - Want vs need at Christmas
• [20:17] - Jesus as the needed gift
• [23:52] - Messy packages and the Cross
• [24:50] - Desires of your heart and favor
• [25:40] - More in the box: Holy Spirit
• [26:46] - Prayer for peace and purpose
• [30:17] - Merry Christmas and goodbye

1. Read Romans 10:13. What exactly does this verse promise about calling on the Lord, and how does that connect with the idea that Jesus is the gift people need most this season? [20:17]
2. Read Psalm 37:4. What does the psalm mean when it says God gives the desires of the heart, and how does that relate to the sermon’s picture of wants vs. needs at Christmas? [23:52]
3. Read Ephesians 5:18. What does it mean to be “filled with the Spirit” in a practical sense, and how does that match the claim that salvation is the start but the Spirit is the ongoing help? [26:46]
4. The sermon argued that saying “Merry Christmas” is more than nostalgia—it’s a confession that Christ is central. What observable difference would this kind of confession make in a family or workplace? [12:28]

1. How does the promise in Romans 10:13 shape the church’s understanding of who should be invited to receive Jesus during the holidays and why urgent invitations matter? [20:17]
2. If Psalm 37:4 links delight in the Lord with God shaping desires, how should surrendering personal plans change the direction of a person’s long-term dreams and day-to-day choices? [23:52]
3. What practical behaviors follow from being filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) when the season is busy and emotionally heavy—especially for those who feel alone? [26:46]
4. Placing a cross at the top of the tree or speaking “Merry Christmas” are simple acts of witness. What risks and benefits come from making that kind of public, visible confession in a mixed culture? [12:28]

1. Put God back at the center: this week, pick one visible, practical reminder you will add to your holiday routine (example: a cross on the tree, a family prayer time, Scripture before meals). What will you do and when will you do it? [14:42]
2. Want vs. need: name one thing you strongly want this season and one spiritual need you have (peace, forgiveness, direction, relationship with Jesus). What is one concrete step you will take to receive the needed gift first? [20:17]
3. Surrender unlocks favor: identify one pride, pain, or plan you can lay at Jesus’ feet this week. What is one small, specific action (write it down, confess to a friend, pray and stop controlling) that shows surrender? [23:52]
4. Open the whole gift—Holy Spirit: if you have not asked God to fill you afresh, describe a simple, scheduled moment this week to ask (time and place). If you have already asked, how will you expect the Spirit to guide you this week? [26:46]
5. Carry Christ’s peace to the lonely: who in your neighborhood, workplace, or circle seems alone this season? Name one tangible way you will reach out (call, invite to a meal, deliver a care package) and set a day this month to do it. [20:17]
6. Speak boldly: will you say “Merry Christmas” this week when greeting people? If hesitation keeps you from saying it, what honest step will you take to grow bolder (practice with a friend, pray about it, start with family)? [12:28]