The Gift of the Nutcracker
By Matt Rawle
()
About this ebook
The Nutcracker is a delightful and whimsical Christmas classic that children and adults look forward to every year. First performed in 1892, the music, dance, and story of this classic hold a special place in our cultural Christmas celebrations.
In The Gift of the Nutcracker, Matt Rawle, author of The Redemption of Scrooge, explores the story to help us understand God’s greatest gift of the Christ child, and the kingdom he came to establish.
Additional components for a four-week study include a comprehensive Leader Guide, a DVD featuring Matt Rawle, a Worship Resources Flash Drive, and youth and children resources.
Matt Rawle
Matt Rawle is Lead Pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana. Matt is an international speaker who loves to tell an old story in a new way, especially at the intersection of pop culture and the church. He is the author of Jesus Revealed: The I Am Statements in the Gospel of John as well as The Pop in Culture Series, which includes The Heart that Grew Three Sizes, The Faith of a Mockingbird, Hollywood Jesus, The Salvation of Doctor Who, The Redemption of Scrooge, What Makes a Hero?, and The Gift of the Nutcracker.
Read more from Matt Rawle
Almost Christmas: A Wesleyan Advent Experience Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Redemption of Scrooge Leader Guide: Connecting Christ and Culture Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Redemption of Scrooge: Connecting Christ and Culture Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Almost Christmas Devotions for the Season: A Wesleyan Advent Experience Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJesus Revealed Leader Guide: The I Am Statements in the Gospel of John Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Faith of a Mockingbird: A Small Group Study Connecting Christ and Culture Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Faith of a Mockingbird Leader Guide: A Small Group Study Connecting Christ and Culture Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Grace of Les Miserables Leader Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlmost Christmas Leader Guide: A Wesleyan Advent Experience Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlmost Christmas Youth Study Book: A Wesleyan Advent Experience Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHollywood Jesus: A Small Group Study Connecting Christ and Culture Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat Makes a Hero? Youth Study Book: The Death-Defying Ministry of Jesus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat Makes a Hero? Leader Guide: The Death-Defying Ministry of Jesus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Marks of Hope: Where the Spirit Is Moving in a Wounded Church Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat Makes a Hero?: The Death-Defying Ministry of Jesus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Redemption of Scrooge Youth Study Book: Connecting Christ and Culture Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsExperiencing Christmas Leader Guide: Christ in the Sights and Sounds of Advent Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Grace of Les Miserables Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Gift of the Nutcracker Leader Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHollywood Jesus Leader Guide: A Small Group Study Connecting Christ and Culture Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Grace of Les Miserables Youth Study Book Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to The Gift of the Nutcracker
Related ebooks
The Faith of a Mockingbird: A Small Group Study Connecting Christ and Culture Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShaky Ground: What to Do After the Bottom Drops Out Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat Makes a Hero?: The Death-Defying Ministry of Jesus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Only Thing That Matters Is Heaven: Rethinking Sin, Death, Hell, Redemption, and Salvation for All Creation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Gift of the Nutcracker Leader Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFirst Word. Last Word. God's Word.: The Bible Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPlease Don't Tell: What to Do with the Secrets People Share Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAdvent, Christmas, and Epiphany: Liturgies and Prayers for Public Worship Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHope Is Here!: Spiritual Practices for Pursuing Justice and Beloved Community Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVoices for Good Friday - eBook [ePub]: Worship Services with Dramatic Monologues Based on the Gospels - Year B Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTwirl: A Fresh Spin at Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wesley Prayer Challenge Participant Book: 21 Days to a Closer Walk with Christ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlmost Christmas Youth Study Book: A Wesleyan Advent Experience Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIncarnation Leader Guide: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlessed Youth Survival Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGod Is Here: Daily Readings for Advent Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRooted and Renewing: Imagining the Church's Future in Light of Its New Testament Origins Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFear of the Other Leader Guide: No Fear in Love Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSoundtrack: A Forty-Day Playlist through the Psalms Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsYour Neighbor's Hymnal: What Popular Music Teaches Us about Faith, Hope, and Love Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLasting Hope: Devotions for Lent 2019 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJoy Together: Spiritual Practices for Your Congregation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAdvent Conspiracy: Making Christmas Meaningful (Again) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Let the Whole Church Say Amen!: A Guide for Those Who Pray in Public Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Roots: Advent and the Family Story of Jesus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEvery Season Sacred: Reflections, Prayers, and Invitations to Nourish Your Soul and Nurture Your Family throughout the Year Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAging Faithfully: 28 Days of Prayer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMeeting God in Paul: Reflections for the Season of Lent Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Christian Life: Baptism and Life Passages Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRed Letter Revolution: If We Did Revolutions Jesus' Way Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Holidays For You
The Walk: Five Essential Practices of the Christian Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Jesus Calling Book Club Discussion Guide for Women Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God: The Practice of Centering Prayer Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/540 Days of Jesus Always: Joy in His Presence Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Jesus Lives: Seeing His Love in Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Advent Conspiracy: Making Christmas Meaningful (Again) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5For This We Left Egypt?: A Passover Haggadah for Jews and Those Who Love Them Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Wiccan Wheel of the Year: A Witch's Guide to Celebrating the Wiccan Sabbats Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChristmas Carols For Guitar: Graded arrangements of 12 favourite Christmas songs for acoustic, fingerstyle and classical guitar Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShadow and Light: A Journey into Advent Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The First Advent in Palestine: Reversals, Resistance, and the Ongoing Complexity of Hope Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Case for Christmas Bible Study Guide: Evidence for the Identity of Jesus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRise: An Authentic Lenten Devotional Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Good News of Great Joy: 25 Devotional Readings for Advent Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Preparing for Easter: Fifty Devotional Readings from C. S. Lewis Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Honest Advent: Awakening to the Wonder of God-with-Us Then, Here, and Now Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/510 Amazing Christmas Carols - Volume 1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fight Like Jesus: How Jesus Waged Peace Throughout Holy Week Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Living a Jewish Life, Revised and Updated: Jewish Traditions, Customs, and Values for Today's Families Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Celebrating Christmas with Jesus: An Advent Devotional Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Journey to the Cross: A 40-Day Lenten Devotional Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Because of Bethlehem (with Bonus Content): Love Is Born, Hope Is Here Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Advent for Everyone: A Journey with the Apostles: A Daily Devotional Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5In the manger: 25 Inspirational Selections for Advent Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Twelfth Night Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Case for Easter: A Journalist Investigates Evidence for the Resurrection Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Jewish Way: Living the Holidays Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for The Gift of the Nutcracker
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Gift of the Nutcracker - Matt Rawle
Chapter One
CLARA: WAITING FOR CHRISTMAS
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now.
Romans 8:22
Christmas seemed to be a magical time of the year when I was a child. Every year my parents invited me to compose a list of what I hoped would appear under the tree. The list detailed what you might expect: the latest toy, the best new video game, a new bike, and branded baseball equipment. The latest and greatest toys and gadgets were gifts I looked forward to with great anticipation, but not everything made it to my list.
Among the wishes for toys and things,
I never listed that I wanted the music on the radio to change to joyful melodies accompanied by sleigh bells. I never wrote down that I hoped the houses in our neighborhood would be glowing with lights. I failed to add my excitement about family coming into town to share a meal and gathering with my church family to sing Silent Night
by candlelight. Music, lights, family, and worship were left off my list, not because they were unimportant, but because I knew that they would happen. Getting the best baseball helmet on the market was a longshot, but singing with my sisters at the Christmas Eve candlelight service was a blessed given.
What do you hope will happen this Advent and Christmas season? What are you expecting to happen? Which of your traditions seem so certain that writing them down on a wish list seems irrelevant? Many churches welcome the Advent season by lighting candles to welcome Jesus into the world, anticipating the peace, hope, love, and joy Christ continues to offer to us. How might our worship change if we lit a candle giving thanks for peace that we enjoy, rather than what we anticipate in the fulfillment of Isaiah’s messianic prophecy—Nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more
(Isaiah 2:4)? Could it be that one day love will be so prevalent that writing love on a wish list seems irrelevant?
For now, we wait. Like Clara, the one who leads us through this fantastic Nutcracker story, we hope that the gifts under the tree will match the picture of the world in our imagination. We just might discover that the world that awaits is even more grand than what we could ever imagine!
1. THE STAGE IS SET
You’re sitting in the audience, and the lights begin to dim. The conductor walks to the podium accompanied with a polite but graceful applause. An oboe offers a steady and crisp A-440
from which a cacophony of sound slowly erupts, as if something magnificent is awakening. And then . . . a hint of silence before the baton is lifted and the curtain raised. That pivotal moment between the swell of orchestral chaos and the rising curtain is where the season of Advent lives. Advent, celebrated during the four Sundays prior to Christmas, is a curious season of anticipation for something we know has happened, but has not yet come to fruition. This silent anticipation is a here and yet not
experience. It’s like sitting in the audience for Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. Even if you’ve never seen the ballet, you most likely have some cultural knowledge of the story. The Sugar Plum Fairy, dancing candies, and toy soldiers have graced the stage since 1892, and yet in that moment before the curtain rises, the show has not