[ song ends ] [ applause ] oh, my gosh! there's a sale! timothy, sweetie, you look exhausted. shopping... [ breathing heavily ] is exhausting. i'm out of breath, and i still don't have everything on my list. do you think we can ever get back to the true meaning of christmas? there is no stress in finding the prince of peace. wow, did you hear that, dr. bernard? it seems like timothy has found the real reason behind the season after all. well, amen to that. those were remarkable events.

in fact, hey, jacque, why don't you, timothy, and his mom jump into a cab and join us over here at christian cultural center? what do you think, mom, timothy? sound like a plan? mom? yes. sounds like a plan. let's go. let's go to c.c.c. [ indistinct conversations ] [ engine revs, whistle ] ♪

♪ the first noel ♪ the angels did say ♪ was to certain poor shepherds ♪ ♪ in fields as they lay ♪ in fields where they lay ♪ keeping their sheep ♪ on a cold winter night ♪ that was ♪ so deep

♪ so deep ♪ oh, so deep, so deep ♪ ♪ yes, it was ♪ they looked ♪ they looked up ♪ and saw a star ♪ shining bright in the east ♪ ♪ beyond them far, yeah ♪ and to the earth ♪ ohh ♪ it gave great light ♪ great light ♪ and so it continued ♪ both day and night

♪ both: noel, noel ♪ ♪ noel ♪ noel ♪ born is the king ♪ of israel ♪ noel ♪ noel ♪ noel ♪ noel ♪ born is the king ♪ of israel ♪ noel, noel ♪ ooh ♪ sweet

♪ noel ♪ noel ♪ noel ♪ noel ♪ born is the king of israel ♪ the king ♪ of israel ♪ yes he is, yes he is ♪ ♪ sing it, noel ♪ noel ♪ ohh, noel ♪ and i love him, i love him, i love him ♪ ♪ noel ♪ noel ♪ do you love him? ♪ born is the king ♪ my, my lord ♪ of israel ♪ my lord ♪ sing it again ♪ noel ♪ noel ♪ noel ♪ noel ♪ oh, you see ♪ born is the king

♪ of israel ♪ both: sing it again ♪ noel ♪ noel ♪ noel ♪ noel ♪ born is the king ♪ born is the king ♪ of israel ♪ said born ♪ born is the king ♪ yes ♪ of israel ♪ he is the king ♪ yeah, he is ♪ ooh both: ♪ born is the king ♪ of israel

[ applause ] before i begin my sermon, let me greet timothy, who has joined us in our service. [ applause ] good to see you, timothy. and welcome. m. scott peck wrote a book called "a different drum." and in that book, he recalls a story of a rabbi and an abbot. it is called "the rabbi's gift." the story concerns a monastery that had fallen on hard times. once it was a great order, but as a result of waves of anti-monastic persecution

in the 17th and 18th centuries and secularism in the 19th century, all its branch houses were lost, and it had become decimated to the extent that there were only five monks left in the order, the abbot and four others, all over 70 years old. in the deep woods surrounding the monastery, there was a little hut that a rabbi from a nearby town occasionally used for hermitage. well, through their many years of prayer and contemplation, the old monks had become a bit psychic, so they could always sense when the rabbi was in his hermitage. "the rabbi is in the woods. the rabbi is in the woods again," they would whisper to each other. as he agonized over the imminent death of his order,

it occurred to the abbot at one such time to visit the hermitage and ask the rabbi if, by some possible chance, he could offer any advice that might save the monastery. well, the rabbi welcomed the abbot at his hut. but when the abbot explained the purpose of his visit, the rabbi could only commiserate with him. "i know how it is," he exclaimed. "the spirit has gone out of the people. well, it's the same thing in my town. almost no one comes to the synagogue anymore." so the old abbot and the rabbi wept together. then, they read parts of the torah and quietly spoke of deep spiritual things. the time then came when the abbot had to leave. they embraced each other. "it has been a wonderful thing that we should meet after all these years," the abbot said. "but i still have failed in my purpose for coming here. is there nothing you can tell me,

no piece of advice you can give me that would help me save my dying order?" "no. i'm sorry," the rabbi responded. "i have no advice to give. the only thing i can tell you is this -- the messiah is one of you." when the abbot returned to the monastery, his fellow monks gathered around him to ask, "well, what did the rabbi say?" "he couldn't help us," the abbot answered. "we just wept and read the torah together. the only thing he did say was -- just as i was leaving -- it was something cryptic. it was this -- that the messiah is one of us. i don't know what he meant." in the days and weeks and months that followed, the old monks pondered this and wondered whether there was any possible significance to the rabbi's words.

"the messiah is one of us? could he possibly have meant one of us monks here at the monastery? if that's the case, which one? do you suppose he meant the abbot that visited him?" "yes, well, if he meant anyone, he probably meant father abbot. he has been our leader for more than a generation. "on the other hand, he might have meant brother thomas." "certainly, brother thomas. he's a holy man. everyone knows that thomas is a man of light." "certainly he couldn't have meant brother elred. elred gets crotchety at times -- cranky. but come to think of it, even though he's a thorn in everybody's side, when you look back on it, elred is virtually always right. often very right. maybe the rabbi did mean brother elred."

"but surely not brother phillip. you see, phillip is so passive, a real nobody. but then, almost mysteriously, he has a gift for somehow always being there when you need him. he just magically appears by your side. maybe phillip is the messiah." "of course, the rabbi didn't mean me. he couldn't possibly have meant me. i'm just an ordinary person. yet, suppose he did? suppose i am the messiah. oh, god, not me. [ laughter ] i couldn't be that much for you, could i, god?" as they contemplated in this manner, the old monks began to treat each other with a whole new level of extraordinary respect just on the chance that one them might be the messiah. because the forest which it was situated in was so beautiful,

it happened that people still occasionally came to visit the monastery to picnic in its tiny lawn and to wander along some of its paths even now and then to go into the dilapidated chapel just to meditate a bit. but as they did so, without even being conscious of it, they sensed this aura of extraordinary respect that now began to surround the five old monks. and it seemed to radiate out from them and permeate the atmosphere of the place. there was something strangely attractive, even compelling about it. hardly knowing why, well, they began to come back to the monastery more frequently to picnic, to play, and even to pray. they began to bring their friends to show them this very special place. and their friends brought their friends. then, it happened that some of the younger men who came to visit the monastery started to talk more and more

with the old monks. after a while, one asked if he could join them. then, another, and then another joined. so, within a few years, the monastery had once again become this thriving order -- and all thanks to the rabbi's gift -- a vibrant center of light and spirituality in the realm. well, of course, the question is what was the rabbi's gift? well, unbeknownst to the monks, he gave them the gift of community, the possibility that each one of them could be representing god. it changed the way they treated each other, the way they looked at each other, and this respect and joy of that possibility spread so widely that it changed the entire atmosphere.

gifts come in many forms. but a gift is something that's willingly given without payment -- no strings attached. it's an expression of one's favor towards the receiver. and the most important thing to the giver of the gift is the impact that the gift is going to have on the one who would receive it. christmas is the celebration of the greatest gift. to put it in the words of the prophet isaiah, "unto us, a child is born. but unto us, a son is given." centuries later, the gospel of john affirmed these words -- "for god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believed on him would not perish but have everlasting life."

for god didn't send his son into the world to condemn the world but that through him the world just might be saved. the greatest joy that god could experience in giving this gift is watching the impact the gift of christ would have on those who receive him. no matter what their condition, no matter how down-and-out, no matter how far out of reach they seem to be, when they receive this gift, their lives would be changed forever. they would become part of a new community of love, life, and light. merry christmas. [ applause ] ♪ what is a gift? .

♪ what is a gift? ♪ is it something you take ♪ from someone you feel you found? ♪ ♪ i need a love ♪ that goes beyond just the seasons ♪ ♪ it's always there to share ♪ ♪ i need a love ♪ that sheds your light on the reason ♪ ♪ why, in this time, we all care ♪ ♪ it's called the real thing ♪ ♪ and you are that thing to me ♪ ♪ it's more than a holiday ♪ ♪ you are the real thing

♪ what is a gift? ♪ is it something you dream of ♪ ♪ when what you earn goes away? ♪ ♪ what is a gift ♪ is it something you hope for ♪ ♪ when you couldn't possibly pay? ♪ ♪ do you need a gift ♪ that gives right when you need it? ♪ ♪ it's always there by your side ♪ ♪ do you need a gift ♪ that opens right when you ask it? ♪ ♪ if you seek it, you will find ♪ ♪ that he is the real thing ♪ ♪ and you are that thing to me ♪ ♪ it's more than a holiday ♪ ♪ you are the real thing

singletary: ♪ joy to the world ♪ every boy and girl ♪ have a wonderful day ♪ and when the day is done ♪ ♪ and out goes all the fun ♪ ♪ what can we do to make the love we feel stay? ♪ ♪ what is a gift? ♪ ooh ♪ is it something you give to those who mean the more? ♪ ♪ and how can you give ♪ when all that you have has been taken ♪ ♪ by those you've given to before? ♪ ♪ you need the real thing ♪ ♪ you need the real thing ♪ ♪ and not just a holiday ♪ ♪ not just a holiday ♪ a gift that gives always ♪ both: ♪ he is the real thi-i-i-i-ng ♪

♪ he is the real thing ♪ ♪ he is the real thing ♪ ♪ ohh ♪ mm-mm-mm, hm-mm ♪ he is the real both: ♪ the real thing [ applause ] reid: great sermon, pastor bernard. wasn't it great, timothy? it's great. it sure gave me a lot to think about. so, timothy, let me ask you this -- if your christmas list had to include the entire world, what would be your idea of the perfect gift?

uh... peace -- peace among us all. there's so many problems in the world. you know what, i'd say, next to god's gift of salvation through christ, peace is a perfect gift. [ sighing ] yeah. what's the matter now? do you think we'll ever have peace? i mean, if people aren't willing, then -- well, i know one thing for sure. if we really care, then it begins with us. and just as the wise men had enough faith to follow that star all the way to the manger in bethlehem, well, let's all have enough faith to know that one day all men are going to follow the example of our savior and love and peace. i'm a.r. bernard. and i'm jacque reid, signing off with timothy, wishing you and yours... all: a merry christmas! [ applause ] ♪ ooh, ooh

♪ my, my, my ♪ ah ♪ ♪ i've walked many a night ♪ without a place to rest ♪ not knowing where the north is ♪ ♪ or the east and west ♪ but give me one star ♪ just one simple light ♪ and i'll never walk alone again at night ♪ ♪ mm ♪ many times, it seemed like i would never find my way ♪ ♪ lose sight on being free, in bondage i would stay ♪ ♪ but give me one star ♪ just one simple light ♪ and i'll never walk alone again at night ♪ ♪ hey, give me a star ♪ give me one star ♪ to clear the mist and fog away ♪

♪ said give me a star ♪ give me one star to light the world in dark today ♪ ♪ just one simple light ♪ give me a star ♪ oh, lord ♪ just one simple light ♪ and i'll never ♪ i'll never walk alone again at night ♪ ♪ ohh ♪ i see a new star rising in the sky ♪ ♪ ooh ♪ a star of joy ♪ a star to purify ♪ a star of days old ♪ days of old ♪ a star of days ♪ days of old ♪ and a star that's filled with gold ♪ ♪ ooh ♪ a star to rain and storm on desert ♪ ♪ now, strong winds are beating me ♪ ♪ with stormy winds and rain ♪ my limbs are hurting ♪ from the weights of heavy chains ♪ ♪ now, now ♪ but give me one star ♪ just one simple light

♪ and i'll never walk alone again at night ♪ ♪ so give me a star ♪ give me one star ♪ to clear the mist and fog away ♪ ♪ clear the mist ♪ just give me one star ♪ give me one star to light the world in dark today ♪ ♪ yeah ♪ said just one simple light ♪ give me a star ♪ oh, lord ♪ just one simple light ♪ and i'll never ♪ i'll never walk alone ♪ alone again ♪ at night ♪ hey, said give me a star ♪ give me one star ♪ yeah ♪ to clear the mist and fog away ♪ ♪ all i want is a star ♪ give me one star to light the world in dark today ♪ ♪ just one simple star ♪ said the world needs a little more light, lord ♪ ♪ give me a star ♪ just one simple light ♪ and i'll never ♪ i'll never walk alone ♪ said i'll never ♪ i'll never walk alone ♪ yes, i'll never walk ♪ i'll never walk alone ♪ alone again ♪ again at night ♪ hey

♪ give me a star ♪ give me one star to clear the mist and fog away ♪ ♪ said all i want is a star ♪ give me one star to light the world in dark today ♪ ♪ yes, i do ♪ hey, one simple light ♪ give me a star ♪ one simple light ♪ just one simple light ♪ and i'll never ♪ i'll never walk alone again at night ♪ ♪ i'll never walk alone again ♪ hey, said give me a star ♪ give me one star to clear the mist and fog away ♪ ♪ all i want is a star ♪ give me one star to light the world in dark today ♪ ♪ said the world is in dark today ♪ ♪ give me a star, just one simple light ♪ ♪ come on and give it to me ♪ and i'll never ♪ i'll never walk alone again at night ♪ ♪ alone again ♪ say it again, said give me a star ♪ ♪ give me one star to clear the mist and fog away ♪ ♪ ooh, just give me a star ♪ give me one star to light the world in dark today ♪ ♪ let them light your world today ♪

♪ give me a star, just one simple light ♪ ♪ oh, lord ♪ and i'll never ♪ i'll never walk alone again at night ♪ ♪ you'll never walk alone again at night ♪ ♪ oh, he'll give you everything you need ♪ ♪ the world is dark today ♪ he'll give you joy and peace of mind ♪ ♪ and turn around today ♪ he's the gift you're looking for ♪ ♪ all you need is to open up your heart ♪ ♪ and you'll never walk alone again at night ♪ ♪ hey, you'll never walk alone again ♪ ♪ you'll never walk alone again ♪ ♪ you'll never walk, you'll never talk ♪ ♪ you'll never be alone again ♪ just give him your heart ♪ and he'll give you your light ♪ ♪ and you'll never walk alone again at night ♪ ♪ yeah ♪ said you'll never walk alone ♪

♪ said you'll never walk alone ♪ ♪ how many understand? ♪ with jesus, you'll never walk alone ♪ ♪ he'll be there in the good times ♪ ♪ the bad times ♪ and every time you call him, you'll never ♪ ♪ you'll realize ♪ he's the light of the world ♪ never walk alone ♪ yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ you're trying to make me ♪ but i love him, i love him ♪ do you love him? do you love him? ♪ ♪ do you love him? do you love him? ♪ ♪ i love him, i love him, i love him ♪ ♪ never walk alone again at ni-i-i-i-i-i-ght ♪ ♪ yeah ♪ hey [ applause ] ♪ never walk alone [ applause ] ♪

♪ mm-hmm ♪

>> there are some people in this world with the attitude, "hey, it's only money." you won't be seeing any of those people on our show today. it's time to play "who wants to be a millionaire." [dramatic music] ♪ thank you very much. hello, everybody. i'm chris harrison. welcome. are you guys ready to play "who wants to be a millionaire"? [cheers and applause] me, too. our first contestant is an educator who's been rewarded for her unique ways of motivating students by being named teacher of the year not once, but twice. from sparr, florida, please welcome jill stephens. [cheers and applause] hi, jill. >> hi. >> good to see you. >> nice to meet you. >> nice to meet you as well. welcome. >> thank you. [cheers and applause] >> what do you teach? >> i teach biology, marine science, and environmental management. >> failed, failed, and failed. [laughter] >> how about agriculture?

>> eh, failed. well, i'm from texas. we can grow stuff. so, you know, this motivation teacher of the year-- how do you get to these kids? how do you reach kids today? 'cause it's so hard. >> it is, and, you know, sometimes what i'll do is-- the kids are in class. they'll say a word, and it'll just trigger a song in my head, and so i'll just burst out in song, and the kids will go, "oh, really, miss stephens? come on. let's learn now." and, you know, sometimes, well, i'll come in, and i'll say, "you know, i'm just-- i just can't do biology. i'm not good in science." and so, at those times, then i have to go into televangelist-jill mode. >> what is that? >> so, basically, if you'd come in and you'd said, "i can't do science," i would say, "you know what, chris? i can take care of that for you. we can get rid of those biology demons! you will be great in science from here on! and then we will heal you! and, you know, i may have to heal myself today!" [cheers and applause] >> heal me, heal me. >> whoo! [cheers and applause] all right. are you--whoo!

are you feeling it, chris? are you feeling it? >> miss stephens, i believe. >> you--oh! it's a miracle! >> i believe you're gonna either drive me crazy or win a million dollars. >> all right. i'm ready. whoo! >> that is awesome. i love it: embarrassing kids to learn. let me tell you what you're up against today. not just this--televangelists-- but 14 questions with the money values growing from $500 all the way up to that $1 million. >> whoo! >> every question you answer correctly moves you one step closer to the top prize. remember, at any time, you can walk away with the money you've earned up to that point. an incorrect answer, you walk away with nothing until you get to those two thresholds: $5,000, then again at $50,000. when you reach those points, that's the least amount of money you'll walk away with today. >> great. >> and more good news. you got three lifelines. you have this audience to use and abuse. [cheers and applause] your "50/50" will take away two incorrect answers, and your "plus one." who is your plus one? >> my plus one is my sister holly.

>> hey, holly. [cheers and applause] has she always been this crazy? >> pretty much. >> yeah? i can't imagine growing up with a sister like you. that would have been fun. >> well, thank you. >> i can't imagine how crazy we'll go together if and when you win a million dollars. >> oh, i can't imagine either. i'm ready. >> well, i can't wait to find out, so let's get there. you ready to go? >> yes. >> let's play "who wants to be a millionaire." [dramatic musical flourish] ♪ the first step: your $500 question. here it is. bier, cerveza, birra, and bière are foreign words that all appear on bottles of what? >> i am going to have to say budweiser, c. final answer. >> no matter how you say it, yup, that's right. [cheers and applause] good start. $500.

this is your $1,000 question. >> okay. >> though in america it's associated with purity, in china and india, what color is often associated with mourning? >> well, i know that when we're thinking of purity, it is white in america, so b. final answer. >> that is also correct. >> whoo! >> $1,000. [cheers and applause] doing good. this is your $2,000 question. >> okay. >> what is the name of the species of crocodile whose diet is mainly fish, with the occasional zebra or small hippo? >> hmm. well, unless they started

importing zebras to the amazon, i'm gonna have to go with c, nile crocodile. final answer. >> you are not in denial. you are correct. >> whoo! >> that is right. that joke never gets old. it never gets old. $2,000. >> all right. >> i see why you make a good teacher. quick, concise, but you're fun to play with. >> oh, well, thank you. >> this is your $3,000 question. sentencing him for stalking in 2013, a california judge told peter robbins, "don't be a blockhead," as the defendant was the original voice of what character? >> okay. well, i wa--i've seen all of these cartoons, and the only blockhead is that blockhead charlie brown. b. final ansr.