Advent – What does Elf teach us about Christmas?

Powerpoint Pictures: Various scenes from Elf.

You can’t beat a good Christmas movie!

Every year there are plenty of good and plenty of not so good Christmas films to watch.

And some of these movies remind us about what Christmas is all about.  Why it is that Christmas is about good news of great joy that is for all people to hear.

Over this period of advent, we are thinking about 4 Christmas movies and what they teach us about Christmas.

So far we’ve seen that…

Unlike The Snowman, the Christmas story is a story with a happy ending, because it ends not with Jesus’ death but with His resurrection.

Unlike The Muppet’s Christmas Carol, the Christmas story has a happy ending for us – sins forgiven and eternal life in heaven – not by us trying harder to be a better person, but instead trusting in Jesus, the Saviour God gave to the the world.

Like Home Alone, the Christmas story has a happy ending of reconciliation, as those who trust in Jesus can be reconciled to God.

The final film is Elf.

You know the story.  Buddy the elf, is a human who grew up at the North Pole with Santa’s elves, returns to New York to find his father and from there hilarity ensues.  He also falls in love and helps Santa after his sleigh crash lands in Central Park.  But that’s all the spoilers you are going to get!

In Elf we learn some important things, such as that the four food groups are “Candy, Candy Cane, Candy Corns, and Syrup” or the Elf code, “Treat everyday like Christmas; There’s room for everyone on the nice list; and The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

It’s that last rule on the Elf code which reminds us of the real Christmas story.

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

Because that’s what angels did the very first Christmas.

After an angel announced to the shepherds good news of great joy for all people because a Saviour had been born in Bethlehem.

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.” (Luke 2:13-14)