This installment in the Christmas at the Movies has to do with the movie "Elf." In it, Will Farrell plays a human who was raised on the North Pole only to find that he doesn't belong with the other elves because he is clearly not like them. So he goes on a search to find himself, and as is true for anyone on such a search, he starts first by finding his father. But our topic today puts a twist on this story. As we'll see, while Elf is a lovely Christmas film, in all reality is the exact opposite of what the true Christmas story really is.

3. But when the fullness of time had come, God
sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under
the law, to redeem those who were under the
law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit

4. of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a
son, then an heir through God.
- Galatians 4:4-7

5. God searched for me by sending Jesus:

6. God searched for me by sending Jesus:
1) At the “fullness” of time
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his
Son, born of woman, born under the law…”
- Galatians 4:4

7. God searched for me by sending Jesus:
2) So we could be adopted as sons and daughters
“…to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might
receive adoption as sons. ”
- Galatians 4:5

8. God searched for me by sending Jesus:
3) So the Holy Spirit could make us close with him
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son
into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
- Galatians 4:6

9. God searched for me by sending Jesus:
4) So we could become heirs of his inheritance
So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an
heir through God.
- Galatians 4:7