Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
#1. Bible Fresh – FREE Download of the MANGA BIBLE (KJV)
A series of 7 PDF files are available to download, for free, from the Bible Fresh
website – a great resource that you can pass on to young people, I have been
reading them on my IPhone – download them and pass them on!
Download >> http://www.biblefresh.com/2011/11/21/the‐manga‐bible‐christmas‐
offer‐freedownload/
#2. A Social Network Christmas
Produced a few years ago, but still quite fun – the nativity told through facebook
updates . . .
Click Here >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sghwe4TYY18&feature=g‐crec
#3. The Paradox of Christmas
This is fantastically animated, beautiful artwork and a simple message . . .
Click Here >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH7VLXOryCk&feature=g‐crec
#4. Re‐tooning The Nativity
The real story . . . a great animated re‐telling of the story – removing all the bits that
are not mentioned in the Bible, funny and thought provoking – I used it myself last
year to great effect.
Click Here >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7‐4y5mK_o9E&feature=relmfu
#5. Christmas in a Nutshell
Yep, another short animated video – again, very good!
Click Here >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXgH8ZIz9jQ&feature=related
#6. Hallelujah
The Shepherds and the Wisemen head to the stable, nicely rendered animation with
the haunting trumpet of Chris Botti (you could also check out his album, “December”
on Itunes!)
Click Here >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5ji1uZYZIQ
#7. For Gifts you can’t wait to Give
OK, this is number 7 on my list of Christmas resources . . . but I would download this
video (Type the URL into www.keepvid.com and select the format you want, then
save it to your computer) . . . a clever advert – making a great point about what
Christmas is about. We have received an incredible GIFT – we should be so excited
about it that we cannot wait to share that gift with others! More
blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35) The word used in this verse for “to help”
the weak is used ONCE in scripture – here! And literally means the help needs to be
“in proportion to the need”, this is not about a little bit of giving to ease our
conscience – this is serious giving! We have received from God that which was in
proportion to our need – our need of a Saviour!
Click Here >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSLOnR1s74o
#8.“Faith Tutorials”, ideas for engaging young people with faith, the link below is for
their Christmas resources:
www.faithtutorials.co.uk/faithtutorials.co.uk/Tutorials/Entries/2011/5/27_Christmas
.html
#9. “12 Words of Christmas”, by Louie Giglio. Louie is one of the best
communicators of the Gospel message to young people and adults. Get this and use
with your youth group, let these words impact them with a fresh telling of the
Christmas message! This DVD will be reviewed in the next edition of the Chichester
Magazine, but if you cannot wait until then, here is a preview:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbErS‐_sk8E
#10. “Injustice, The Poor, Taking Action”, from Tearfund. The following link takes
you to a page on the Tearfund youth site where they list a whole bunch of resources
(films and books) which can be explored with older youth and young adults . . . note
the classifications of the films – some great stuff here to get young people thinking
and acting to make a difference in their world:
www.youth.tearfund.org/campaigning/top+tips/resources.htm
#11. “Youth Leaders Resources”, from Cafod. Cafod is the Catholic Aid Agency for
England and Wales, they have some quality resources on global issues for youth
leaders to use with their young people: www.cafod.org.uk/resources/youth‐
leaders/ggyl‐youth‐group
#12. “Machine Gun Preacher”, a film due out in the UK from 4th November. Yes,
that is the right title. The key question for me, and how I might use this film with
older young people and young adults is “do the ends justify the means?” Can doing
good become our God, that we forget for whom we are doing the good in the first
place? The subject of the film is a drug dealer with a love for guns and violence who,
once converted, goes on a mission to rescue the child soldiers of Sudan
. . . Check out the review from Christianity Today here:
www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/reviews/2011/machinegun.html?start=3 in
addition, Wingclips has some free clips from the film that you could use to explore
various themes that the film addresses, check these out here:
www.wingclips.com/movie‐clips/machine‐gun‐preacher
#13. “Top Toys for Christmas 2011”, here is a list of 50 top toys for Christmas
(arghh!) a couple of things you will notice – 1. They are not cheap (despite the
economic crisis there seems to be an expectancy that we will suspend “normal”
living when it comes to Christmas presents etc). 2. The familiar names that continue
to sell well (Bob The Builder, Lego, Barbie, Transformers, Thomas the
Tank Engine . . . ), but also, “My First Tablet”, arrives . . . yes, for your children, their
own version of an Ipad! Top of the list on a bunch of prediction charts are the new
“Fijit Friends” . . .
www.toyspages.co.uk/top‐christmas‐toys‐2011
#14. “SGM Christmas Resources”, SGM Lifewords never disappoint! I can always
count on them to have some downloadable resources to recommend . . . get
yourself super organised for Christmas services, children’s activities etc and visit
their page where you can download stuff for free:
www.sgmlifewords.com/christmas/downloads
#15. “Re:Jesus Christmas Resources”, a load of thought provoking material from
Re:Jesus aimed at seekers . . . stuff to watch, stuff to download, images that you
could use in presentations etc. Check all of it out: www.rejesus.co.uk/christmas TOP
TIP, why not download one of the gospels (each is available for free as a PDF) and
email out to your friends . . . ? Or send them the links so that, if they are interested,
they can read Jesus’ story for themselves over the Christmas period.
My own crude suggestions for which would be best (and who for):
∙ Matthew (General, focused on Jesus’ teachings)
∙ Mark (Quick digest, it is short and action packed . . .)
∙ Luke (General, focusing on parables and Jesus helping those in need)
∙ John (For a deeper look at why Jesus came, thinkers)
Get them here: www.rejesus.co.uk/site/module/the_four_gospels_free_pdfs
#16. “A Social Network Christmas”, from IgniterMeda. You can buy this, or simply
watch it on Youtube . . . a contemporary retelling of the gospel story – great to use
with youth groups. If you want to “capture” the video from youtube, you can simply
type the URL into www.keepvid.com and download, you can then use it offline – the
youtube clip has an IgniterMedia logo along the bottom, but it still looks good, watch
it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sghwe4TYY18&NR=1
#17. “Ten Ages of Christmas”, What is the same today, what has changed . . . check
out these stories through the ages of how we have celebrated Christmas:
www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/ten_ages_gallery.shtml
#18. “Two Cracking books for Christmas”, from Geraldine McCaughrean –
“The Jesse Tree” www.amazon.co.uk/The‐Jesse‐Tree‐
ebook/dp/B005OIQDT0/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3
– a brilliant book to be read through Advent, so get hold of it now . . . can be read to
children, or 8‐11 year olds could read it themselves.
“Father and Son” www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0340882093/ref=rdr_ext_tmb – this is a
beautiful book and needs to be read OUT LOUD!
#19. “R U Smarter than a Fly? Christmas Pudding”, Children will love this short video
– it is disgusting (it has flies and dung heaps) but it also gently tells the Christmas
story . . . go on, check it out: www.max7.org/resource.aspx?id=0ae2bbb9‐a4ba‐
473d‐bef5‐476928b6cf3a
#20. The Digital Story of the Nativity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHNNPM7pJA&feature=player_embedded
Imagine the story of the nativity simply told through 21st Century social media tools
. . . very clever, worth a watch – and, if you have the facilities to download and play
in church . . . a quick “thought” on how you might use it . .
Play the video then say . . . the strap line at the end, “Times change . . . but feelings
stay the same”. Does not quite do it, clever though this video is. It should read
“times change . . . the miracle stays the same.” And, the miracle of the incarnation is
not some virtual story (cleverly narrated into a timeless classic) the miracle is God
made man – not virtually, not digitally, not mythically, but literally – born as a baby,
born as one of us . . . not to set a trend and get some followers on Twitter . . . his call
to each one of us echoes down the years, His “follow me” if obeyed, has the power to
transform our lives – and while times do change, our God does not and the gift of the
Incarnation does not – we will share in the wonder of the first worshippers at the
cradle? We might not be shepherds or magi, but we are invited not just to be part of
greatest story ever told (using whatever media you fancy!) but we are invited to be
part ofGods family, now, today . . . well, you get the point.
#21. Zondervan Story Book Bible
http://www.youtube.com/user/Zondervancom#p/c/78CF6B8174D9BF64/1/v__QaCs
dvQk
This is one to share with families at home, narrated by David Suchet, why not sit
down and watch this together – the story of the nativity from the people at
Zondervan publishing. The artwork is taken from the Zondervan “Jesus Story Book
Bible” . . . for more on that, including free downloads and more video episodes from
the life of Jesus, visit:
http://www.jesusstorybookbible.com/index.php
#22. Christmas Unwrapped
http://www.christmasunwrapped.org.uk
From the Bible Society, another video telling the Christmas story – in about three
minutes, this might be an ideal one to show on Christmas Day in church . .
#23. Christmas on ReJesus
http://www.rejesus.co.uk
One of the best websites for those exploring Christianity, or new to faith is ReJesus –
if you visit the website over Christmas, you will find a host of Christmas related stuff
to do (a nativity puzzle / a Christmas pub quiz / karaoke carols) . . .
#24. Last Minute Christmas Session with your Youth Group!
http://youthministry.com/freebies/small‐groups/vantage‐point‐christmas‐lesson
YM360 is a great place for freebies – click the link above and you can download a zip
file (when you have done that, right click and “extract all”) you get a PowerPoint
presentation and some teaching notes for a Christmas session . . . never just use
something “as is”, always adapt / edit for your group
. . . but if the last couple of weeks has been crazy and some stuff has gone out of the
window cause of the weather or whatever . . . this might lighten the load.