Our December series is entitled Christmas Classics and is developed around several well-known Christmas movies.

Last week we used the movie Elf. Buddy demonstrated sincerity and enthusiasm in telling others the meaning of Christmas (Santa). Then we looked at the real Christmas story in Luke 2:1-18 concerning the birth of Jesus. Like Buddy's attitude and actions in the movie, we see the sincerity and enthusiasm of the shepherds as they told others about the meaning of Christ's birth - He is the Lord and Savior!

The goals for this series:
First- As Christians, we need to be cautious of all media and not just settle for mindless entertainment. The makers and marketers of today’s media have an agenda and message they want to convey, and it’s not always harmless or squeaky clean.

Second – As Christians, we should look to discover themes and truths in the media we consume that can provide common ground for us to talk about Biblical truth.

Third – As Christians, we should seek to honor Jesus this Christmas season more than what we do. I suggested you evaluate and compare how much time, energy, and resources you spend on secular traditions and myths as opposed to celebrating the truth.

Today we are going to use the movie, The Polar Express, to provide some insights into the message of Christmas.
The movie, released in 2004, is based upon the 1985 children's book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg.
Here are some interesting things about the movie:
First- It uses “motion capture technology” in which the actual movements of humans are recorded but then the characters are animated in afterwards thus providing a nearly real experience --- this was the first full ever made entirely with this technology.
Second – Tom Hanks is the lead actor in this film and he played six (6) different characters, including the 1.Conductor, 2.Hobo, 3.Ebenezer Scrooge puppet, 4.Santa Claus, 5.Father in the family, and even the 6.Little boy – who is the focus of the film.
Third – The film was heavily marketed to churches and faith-based organizations. Some wrote that this movie might be “the most effective witnessing tool in modern times.”
Fourth – The film takes place in a suburban neighborhood of Grand Rapids, Michigan, on the night of Christmas Eve in the late 1950's.

The movie, The Polar Express, is an allegory or parable defined as a symbolic fictional story that conveys a deeper meaning that isn't explicitly set forth in the narrative. In the Bible, Jesus taught continually in parables.

Here's the plot of the story:
On Christmas Eve a family has retired for the evening. The son (a pre-teen) has increasingly grown skeptical about the existence of Santa Claus and has lost nearly all sense of the mystique of the holiday.
As they sleep, the boy is awakened by a clatter, which turns out to be a magical train called “The Polar Express.” Its destination is the North Pole and a visit with – none other than Santa himself.
The conductor challenges the boy to board; giving him a choice. But it’s a choice that needs to be made quickly because time for the stop at his house is ticking away quickly. The boy weighs his decision and decides to accept the invitation and in doing so he receives a ticket which gives him the right to ride the train to its destination.
The boy encounters a number of other characters and together they experience many adventures on their journey. These events [some scary and others fun] test their personal character and their commitment to stay on the train to the end.
Several key elements are woven throughout the story; they are –
1) The TICKETS that give people access to the ride, meeting Santa, and the experience of the North Pole, and
2) The BELLS on Santa’s reindeer could only be heard by those who truly BELIEVED.

We have 4 trees on the stage. Each represents the movies we are covering in this series. Today's tree (the second tree from the left) is decorated with numerous bells and a sign that says "Believe."
In The Polar Express, we see the core message of Belief or Faith alluded to over and over.
The same is true of the Bible.
BELIEF in God is what pleases the Lord (Hebrews 11:6)
BELIEF is what saves a person from our separation from God and brings a person into eternal life (John 3:16)
BELIEF is how Christians are to live each day of their lives (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Luke 1:26-38 is one of the key passages regarding the Christmas story. It helps us to understand what the Bible means to Believe or have Faith in God.

1. BELIEF is really only as good as the object in which it is placed.
Psalm 34:8

2. BELIEF, in the Bible, is radically different than that of the world.
Ephesians 2:8-9

3. BELIEF requires a decision and leads to a confident hope today and tomorrow.

The Bible records the historical event of the birth of Jesus, God’s Son in flesh. He came into this world to show us how to have a relationship with His Father and how we could live a life that honors Him and is in harmony with others.
Lots of people are too busy to consider this; many others have heard the story of Christ but willfully chose to reject Him; there are some who understand their sin and the shortness of life. They need the ticket of repentance, to board the train of salvation, and to trust Jesus as the conductor of their life. It's the only way to get to the final destination.
The words of the conductor cry out... “Well, are you coming?”