Genesis Church: Sermon Audio

Do you have an early memory of watching the original cartoon version of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas? Based on the Dr. Suess book, and now having two full-length movies, this character is … “A mean one.” In the two movie versions, the Grinch is mean because he was a lonely, bullied orphan who felt ostracized by the Whos of Whoville, leading to emotional pain, anger, and bitterness. His meanness is a defense mechanism stemming from feelings of sadness and rejection, particularly his aversion to the sounds and joys of Christmas, which remind him of his painful past. But, something in the story of Christmas filled the longing to belong and gave the Grinch a family. Like the Grinch, the desire to belong is a central human longing, yet, we can feel the weight of our own failures and rejection. We live in a time where people are more connected than ever, yet feel more and more lonely. As Luke shares the great story of Christmas, he tells us about the angel Gabriel’s announcement to a