The Greatest Gift
John 3:16-18
This is the time of the year that people start talking about gifts and giving gifts. Most people when they think of Christmas their first thought is on giving gifts. What should I get for so and so or do you think this person would like this. It seems like everyone goes out of their way to make sure everyone has the perfect gift sometimes spending too much, I remember one year we put most of our Christmas gifts on credit cards. Not a good idea I would not recommend trying this yourselves. You know with all this talk about credit cards and gifts this made me think: for Emily A binky $1, some paper to tear up 10 cents, gift box and bow 50 cents; Sarah markers and paper $1.50, candy 50 cents, gift box and box 50 cents; Veronica box of rocks free, antique porcelain doll pric.. (Actually an old mud pie I made when I was ten) free, gift box and bow 50 cents; Total cost of gifts for the family $4.60; Eternal life found only in Jesus Christ – Priceless. For everything else there is the hope in salvation. Christmas used to confuse me when I was younger it never made much sense to me. There were three things that I didn’t really understand and tonight I am going to talk about them briefly. The first thing about Christmas that confused me is the saying it is better to give than receive. God gave His Son so that we might receive eternal life. Jesus gave His life on the cross so that we can receive forgiveness for our sins. The second thing about Christmas that confused me is its Jesus birthday but we would get gifts. Whenever I had a birthday I would get gifts and whenever Jesus had a birthday I would get gifts this always seemed to perplex me. When I was really young I just thought people got confused when they were wrapping presents because my name started with a “J” and Jesus also starts with a “J”. As I got older I started to read the Bible then I read about the three wise men bringing Jesus gifts and I felt like we were even since they brought Him gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Since I didn’t know what frankincense or myrrh was at the time I thought it must have been really special. Once I became a Christian I finally realized how this whole birthday / Christmas thing worked. God gave his Son Jesus (that would be Christmas) and in turn Jesus gave His life for ours (that would be Easter but we will save that for another sermon). When we become Christians (our second birthday) we give our lives to Christ and in turn He gives us life eternal. (If you want to know more about second birthdays read all of John chapter 3.) The third thing about Christmas that confused me was recycling gifts. What is the first thing you think of when I say recycled gifts; your answer is probably fruit cake. It is the most passed around and almost never kept gift that seems to have a shelf life in the hundreds of years. You know I actually like fruitcake I have Veronica get me a small one every year to go along with my egg nog. I always thought it was insincere when someone would get a gift and then turn around and give it to someone else. My mom used to do it ever once in a while when she would get something she would never use, and I would get after her about it. Then when I got married Veronica would do it and I would get after her too. This went on for a few years until one day I was given a gift card for a gas station. It was a really nice gift who couldn’t use some gas for their car every now and then. It was great except the closest gas station that I could use it at was in Columbus. I did it yep me Recycled Gift and from now on I keep my mouth shut. We are given a gift from God and this gift He tells us to pass along to others. We are given the gospel message and are instructed to pass it on to others. What is the gospel message some might ask? You can find it right here in John 3:16 and if you are like me you can add in 17-18. God gave His Son so that we may not perish and have eternal life. The Son did not come to condemn but that the world might be saved. If we believe then we are not condemned but if we refuse to believe then we are condemned. I hope this message has cleared up some of your Christmas confusion. During the rest of the month when you are out shopping for gifts I want you to take a minute and think of those who are on your Christmas who have never received the Greatest Gift of all and pray for them. God has given us a gift that He wants us to share with others so my question is are you going to be selfish and keep it to yourself or are you going to share what has been given to you
This is the time of the year that people start talking about gifts and giving gifts. Most people when they think of Christmas their first thought is on giving gifts. What should I get for so and so or do you think this person would like this. It seems like everyone goes out of their way to make sure everyone has the perfect gift sometimes spending too much, I remember one year we put most of our Christmas gifts on credit cards. Not a good idea I would not recommend trying this yourselves. You know with all this talk about credit cards and gifts this made me think: for Emily A binky $1, some paper to tear up 10 cents, gift box and bow 50 cents; Sarah markers and paper $1.50, candy 50 cents, gift box and box 50 cents; Veronica box of rocks free, antique porcelain doll pric.. (Actually an old mud pie I made when I was ten) free, gift box and bow 50 cents; Total cost of gifts for the family $4.60; Eternal life found only in Jesus Christ – Priceless. For everything else there is the hope in salvation. Christmas used to confuse me when I was younger it never made much sense to me. There were three things that I didn’t really understand and tonight I am going to talk about them briefly. The first thing about Christmas that confused me is the saying it is better to give than receive. God gave His Son so that we might receive eternal life. Jesus gave His life on the cross so that we can receive forgiveness for our sins. The second thing about Christmas that confused me is its Jesus birthday but we would get gifts. Whenever I had a birthday I would get gifts and whenever Jesus had a birthday I would get gifts this always seemed to perplex me. When I was really young I just thought people got confused when they were wrapping presents because my name started with a “J” and Jesus also starts with a “J”. As I got older I started to read the Bible then I read about the three wise men bringing Jesus gifts and I felt like we were even since they brought Him gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Since I didn’t know what frankincense or myrrh was at the time I thought it must have been really special. Once I became a Christian I finally realized how this whole birthday / Christmas thing worked. God gave his Son Jesus (that would be Christmas) and in turn Jesus gave His life for ours (that would be Easter but we will save that for another sermon). When we become Christians (our second birthday) we give our lives to Christ and in turn He gives us life eternal. (If you want to know more about second birthdays read all of John chapter 3.) The third thing about Christmas that confused me was recycling gifts. What is the first thing you think of when I say recycled gifts; your answer is probably fruit cake. It is the most passed around and almost never kept gift that seems to have a shelf life in the hundreds of years. You know I actually like fruitcake I have Veronica get me a small one every year to go along with my egg nog. I always thought it was insincere when someone would get a gift and then turn around and give it to someone else. My mom used to do it ever once in a while when she would get something she would never use, and I would get after her about it. Then when I got married Veronica would do it and I would get after her too. This went on for a few years until one day I was given a gift card for a gas station. It was a really nice gift who couldn’t use some gas for their car every now and then. It was great except the closest gas station that I could use it at was in Columbus. I did it yep me Recycled Gift and from now on I keep my mouth shut. We are given a gift from God and this gift He tells us to pass along to others. We are given the gospel message and are instructed to pass it on to others. What is the gospel message some might ask? You can find it right here in John 3:16 and if you are like me you can add in 17-18. God gave His Son so that we may not perish and have eternal life. The Son did not come to condemn but that the world might be saved. If we believe then we are not condemned but if we refuse to believe then we are condemned. I hope this message has cleared up some of your Christmas confusion. During the rest of the month when you are out shopping for gifts I want you to take a minute and think of those who are on your Christmas who have never received the Greatest Gift of all and pray for them. God has given us a gift that He wants us to share with others so my question is are you going to be selfish and keep it to yourself or are you going to share what has been given to you
posted by Jason at 1:44 AM
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