Hope Baptist - Childrens Christmas Play 2018

Greetings and welcome. You are about to embark on an incredible journey. I have been sent to select three new students. They are ordinary children like many of you, who don't know more of their destiny than Superman knows Batman. They are going to do incredible things. Amazing things. Stupendous things. They have no idea the incredible things they're going to do. These are not the first children I've selected, and I don't think they'll be the last. But I have a feeling they're going to be like all the rest. They're going to take one look at me and say, Who am I to be a hero? How can I ever do incredible things? It's fitting I was told to meet them this time of year. Christmas time. Christmas is a time where we remember that great things can be done through lowly people. Christmas is also the time where we remember the greatest hero who ever lived with an incredible origin story. Jesus Christ is the greatest hero who ever lived because he is the one who came to meet our greatest need. To Jesus' neighbors, he was just a carpenter. To Mary and Joseph, he was the son of God. To us, he is the savior of the world. I know that Ken, Sarah, and Luke can do incredible things because I know what God did for me. Mom, going to be late. Still studying at the library. Amy, did you write down the page numbers we were supposed to read tonight for history? Jenny, what time does the class Christmas party start? This texting is hard on the fingers. If only we had a device that would allow us to talk to the people we communicate with instead of texting. You know, talk to them? Where's the voice? I wonder if I could invent something like that. You mean like a telephone? A what? A tell something. Oh, I know! Teleport! No, that's where you go somewhere else instantaneously. Um, I think it's called a telephone. Whatever it is, I need one. Guys, what's that music playing? Do not be afraid. Ah, who are you? Why are you here? I am... I bring you good news that will change the course of history. You do? I do. Good news that will change history. Okay, then tell us. You have been chosen. You mean us three? Yes, all three of you have been chosen. Woohoo! We're in the play! What parts did we get? The baroness? Count Wells from Croke? Did I get Maria? Maria? Maria who? You know, from Spring Musical, the sound and music? I don't know of this Maria, or musical, or Spring Theater of which you speak. So you're not from a theater? No. Then what's with the crazy costume? This is no costume. This is my everyday wardrobe. Where do you shop? The city shop? Where I shop is a private matter. So, who are you? I am a messenger. Oh, you mean like Facebook Messenger? I am much more than a mobile application. Then who and or what are you? I am he who is known as the Looker Outer. The Looker Outer? Maybe, but I repeat, you have been chosen. You keep saying that, but you haven't said what we're in charge of. You have been chosen to be Earth's newest superheroes. Say what? I have come to grant you immense powers beyond your imagination. I don't know. This is quite a lot. You will have endurance, invincibility, and incredible, incredible courage. No, but you will be able to fly. Fly? I can't fly. I'm afraid of heights. You will fly, I tell you. You will soar above the clouds, fighting for truth and justice. Aw, you're crazy. I'm... But you will be. Look at those gorgeous kids. I can barely handle a long position. Much less than saving the world. If Earth needs a hero, we should find somebody else. Is it so hard to believe that you could be a hero too? Name one young girl who had a heavenly visitor show up and ask her to... How about Mary? Mary? Yes, it's almost Christmas time. Surely you have a nativity set with Mary and Joseph and a certain tiny baby at your home? I do, of course I do. Well, then you must know the story of Mary. The girl chosen to raise God's only son. Elizabeth, Elizabeth, you won't believe what just happened to me. Well, steady down there, son. Are you okay? I think so. The moment you walked in, the baby just did a flip. Elizabeth, an angel just appeared to me. He said I was going to have a son, actually born by the Holy Spirit. God wants me to give birth to the Messiah. Well, no wonder my little bundle is jumping for joy. This is a miracle. Praise be to God. I can't believe God would choose me of all people. It's what we've all been hoping for. But wait, Mary, you aren't married yet. I know. This could be a scandal for you. What will the neighbors say? What will Joseph say? Oh, Mary, you could be in a lot of trouble. Elizabeth, this is God's plan. I don't know why he has chosen me or how things will work out with Joseph. But I trust God. Mary was just a young girl when she was told she would be the mother of the Messiah. She was barely old enough to be married when an angel appeared to her and said she would be the mother of God's only son. I guess it ever sounds that way. How in the world does she do that? Trust. Mary trusted God. Mary trusted that even God, even when she knew, nobody else would believe her story. And because Mary trusted God, God was able to use her to begin his plan for saving the world from sin. She must have had a lot of faith. Who am I to think I could... Kim, if you have faith, you can do incredible things, too. I do have faith. I do have faith in God. Good. I'll sing all the virtues. Looking great, my super-friends. I feel kind of silly. Do you really think what it takes to be a superhero? I'm just the looker-outer. It's really not for me to say. Thanks. That's helpful. So what superpowers have we learned together? Good question. Hmm, let me see. I have my list. Ah, here we go. Milk, eggs, box of honeycomb, instant pudding, eggnog, holiday gumdrops... Hold on. Those aren't superpowers. Oh, silly me. That's my grocery list. Here we go. Oh, I got it. Superpowers list. Ready? Super speed. Nice. Super strength. Cool. Super long-range hearing. Huh? Power of flight. Still not sure about that one. And invincibility. Invisibility, yes. Ha, your boss didn't need to give me that one. I'm pretty invisible as is. No, you're not. I can just see you standing right next to me. You're not. Nobody notices. What do you mean? I'm a kid who isn't special. I don't play sports. I don't get straight A's. I don't get in trouble with the teacher either. That's good. I'm a nobody's birthday official list either. I'm surprised anyone even took notice of me. Listen, nobody's invisible like that, especially not to God. How do you know that? Well, let's go back to the nativity story we were talking about. Have you ever seen the dirty guys hanging out just outside the stable? You mean the guys with the staffs with the hooks on the end? The shepherds? Oh, is that why they have sheep around them? That's it exactly. I've always wondered why those guys were in the nativity scene. Who said that? I said that. Sometimes I feel dumb, like invisible. Really? Why? Here we are, night after night, just us, the sheep, and the optional creepy sneaky wolf. But nothing ever happens. This row of towns, these enders, nothing and nobody. Ah, I knew it. There's a wolf. Just one and far away. Do you ever wish something would happen? Something big and exciting? It's a wolf. Greetings. Boys, don't be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. News for the whole world. Today in the town of Bethlehem, a savior has been born. He is Christ the Lord. This will be his time for you. You will find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Glory to God in the highest on earth. What just happened? I think the shepherds were invited. But we're just shepherds. We're nobodies. And these nobodies headed to Bethlehem to see the newborn savior. God sent an angel to the shepherds to come see what he had done. But why invite shepherds? God was doing something great. Why didn't he invite the media? Well, back then they didn't have BBC or RTV. Besides, to God it was more important to invite those shepherds. Why? Because to God, nobody's invisible. Not poor shepherds, not a carpenter and his wife, not even a straight B student who can't shoot a football goal to save her life. Even me? Even you. Well, look at you little heroes. That's some great work you did. And you're quite the team. Saving the tramcars from being derailed? And saving the crowd of pedestrians from being crushed by the tramcars? How does it feel, saving so many lives? It feels great. The last one was such a close call. Don't you ever help? Oh, I'm just the looker-outer. I never get involved. Well, that's a shame, Mr. Logan. We need help. Nonsense. You're doing a great job. And you haven't let anybody down yet. I know, but saving the whole world? Come on! There's always a burning building, or a guy robbing a bank, or a cat stuck in a tree. How can I save the whole world if I can't even get a B plus... Calm down, Luke. It's okay. No, it's not okay. The world needs saving, and I'm the only one who can... Well, not exactly. What? Well, there's only one person who can save the world. And actually, he's already done it. Let me guess, it goes to Tom... That's right, and this time we're going to the heart of the nativity scene, to the baby in the manger. The baby? Why the baby? Who do you think saved the world? Whose birth was announced to Mary and the shepherds? Who attracted the attention of kings from far and wide? Wait, is it really possible? Did we really just see Messiah? We saw a star in the sky, we called it to Israel, and the prophecy of Micah pointed us right to him. But it doesn't make sense. If he is really the Messiah, the man who is going to save Israel, you would think that he would be born in the palace of the king. And I don't think he's really giving up his throne any time soon. No, definitely not. I didn't like the look in his eyes. If that angel hadn't already warned us about telling King Herod where the baby was, I would have said, let's go back another way. I'm with you. Maybe the Messiah wasn't just sent to save Israel. Maybe he's not a conquering king sent to drive away Israel's enemies. What do you mean? Maybe he's here to save the whole world from a greater foe. And who could that be? Not who, what. What's the greatest problem read about in the Hebrew texts? It's the problem of sin. Sin caused man to be separated from God. Sin led to the great flood. Sin required the Hebrews to make sacrifices and atone for their sins. Yes, I see what you're saying, but how is a baby going to solve the problem of sin? I don't know, but I expect there's a great deal more to what we just saw. That's no ordinary baby back there. That's a child with incredible power. That baby was the son of God. He held the power of the Almighty in his hands, but he laid it all aside so he could live as a common man. He was the only man who never sinned, and so he was the only man who could take our sin upon himself, all so he could save us. Wow, that's incredible. I heard a few of us dying to save the city, or eating a friend, but saving the whole world? Every man, woman, and child. Not everyone was happy when Jesus came. Remember King Herod? True. King Herod saw him as a threat. Some today still see him as a threat. But wise men, then and now, know that salvation can only be found through the baby in the manger. How I've missed you. It never gets old coming to Bethlehem to see where it all began. One of the side benefits of being the Looker Outer is I can time travel anywhere in history. I've been to Bethlehem many times, and it never gets old. It always fills me with such wonder to see how God transformed the course of history. We thought we might find you here. Well, hello there. How did you get here? One of the side benefits of super speed, we can time travel anywhere in history. And you chose to come here? Yeah. I wanted to see. Not in and out of the... It's freezing out here. It is chilly. It would be warmer in the inn, but... There's no room in there. Not a room in town tonight, I'm afraid. Here. Where did you get these? Some of the guests inside heard the baby cry. They offered some spare blankets. How nice of them. How's he doing? He's perfect. It just doesn't seem real for a baby being born without a human father and me being like his father. I saw you at Cape Birkeland, but he's the one who made us. And I saw you at Cape Birkeland, but he's the one who made us. And I hope I know what he's in for. It's the only thing why he was born. Maybe it's good they didn't know what he was in for. Can you imagine knowing that your child would one day be put to death like a common criminal? I know that baby has super power. I know he's the son of God. But what kind of super power do you need to let your enemies break you down and put you to death? That's not super power. That's grace. It's grace that kept God from starting all over from the world when sin entered the world. It's grace that caused God to promise the Messiah. Grace is what led Jesus to be born in the manger so he could live and die for us. All so he could save us. I'm starting to realize I need that grace. It's hard being a hero every day, you know? I saved the man's building from burning down. I wonder when he's going to heal me. Grace can give you the power to love others even when they aren't kind to you. Grace will enable you to do incredible things. But first, you must receive that grace for yourself. First of all, I would like to thank Brother Andrew. Andrew, thank you. You've done a great job. That was just phenomenal. To think that those children could learn all of those lines. The children could give such expression. I was amazed as I was back there. Wow. It all starts back in September. In September, the children will meet over in the side room. Andrew will have come up with a play. He, along with Joan and Duena and Christine will meet over there. They will help the children learn the lines. They do this actually for months. They did a phenomenal job. Really, really well. Joan, Duena and Christine, thank you very much for your help. We appreciate that.