Coal in My Stocking

An alternate presentation for the Mother of All Diamonds effect from Barry Mitchell Products
By Barry Mitchell

Main Point: God never gives us coal unless he has a diamond in His plan for us. Makes a great gospel presentation for a Christmas show.

Props: The Mother of All Diamonds prop with lumps of coal and diamonds.

Presentation
I have some lumps of coal, a cup, and a chimney.  Actually this red tube is more like a flue pipe.  That’s before your time I’m sure.  Something else before your time is the expression, “All I got for Christmas was a lump of coal.”  (Remove coal from cup to show.)  It was believed that Santa would come down the chimney with his bag of gifts and, if you had been nice, you would be rewarded with gifts.  If you had been naughty you would only get lumps of coal in your stocking.  (Show tube empty to represent the chimney and place it over the cup.)  Unless you own a power plant or a wood stove, then coal is not a good Christmas gift.

Some people believe God is like Santa Claus.  If you’re good, you get gifts.  If you’re bad, you’re heading for the fireplace.  But God is much more than a judge of whether we are naughty or nice.  God loves us no matter how we act.  And God’s greatest blessing to us is given BECAUSE of the way we act.  God loves us so much that He is willing to forgive us if we only ask.  Not even Santa Claus can do that.

The definition of God’s love is that He wants to do anything and everything for our best.  He doesn’t want to give us coal.  (Drop coal in cup which is covered by tube.)  Unlike Santa who might deliver coal down the chimney, God wants the best for us.  (Lift tube from around the cup and sit aside.)  God wants to deliver us the best.  (Pour diamonds into smaller cup.)

The Bible tells us over and over how much God wants the best for us. God never gives us coal, unless He has a diamond in His plan for us.

Scripture suggestions

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.