Christmas 2022 – Part 1 (The Good Gift)

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Christmas 2022

(Part 1 – The Good Gift)

Welcome to Jesus Church here and online

We are glad to have you – officially in Christmas mode

• I tell my family no Christmas music until after Thanksgiving
  • And my wife just laughs at me
  • So its 2 months of Mariah Carey Christmas over & over & over
• But we are just coming out of a series on a life of Thanksgiving
  • Talking about being more grateful for the giver than the gift
  • Because when we focus on the gift.. quickly lose our gratefulness
  • And become entitled to a “what else do you have” mentality

So this week we are kicking off part 1 of our Christmas series

• This will go all the way through to Christmas Eve service
  • Family service with candlelight
  • Don’t forget about our Family Christmas Party on the Dec. 3^rd
  • And baptisms are happening Dec. 4^th

1 Jn 4:9-10

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one & only Son into the world that we might live thru him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

[PRAY]

Story – Reading an article the other day

Was talking about “Free Gift” promos

• You know the ones where you get free Netflix for a week
  • But you have to go in and cancel or they automatically charge you
  • And at the time you are 100% certain you will cancel that sub
  • Then 12 months later you actually cancel that sub
• Why does it take you so long… because you totally forgot
  • That “Free Gift” ended up not being so free after all
  • And that’s the whole point right?
  • I give this to you in hopes that you will forget you signed up
• Did you know: ON AVERAGE… people pay $720 on forgotten subs
  • And with inflation that’s like 3 cups of coffee
  • Or one tank of gas
  • But on average everyone in here… $720 a year

So when we say words like “GIFT” in the world today

• It sorta comes with skepticism… it comes with baggage
  • So if I say “God wants to give you a gift”
  • You’re gonna say “Whats the catch”
• Because Amazon Prime says free trial… but on average we will forget
  • Because I was just gonna watch LOTR in a week and cancel
  • But then life happens… I didn’t get to it
  • And 12 months later I still have Prime and hoping to watch LOTR
• So whenever we say “GIFT” must know there will be skepticism
  • Because the assumption is that there are strings attached

Even if you’ve been given a gift… they want you to open it right there

• It can be such an awkward thing right?
  • What if you don’t like the sweatshirt your grandma got you
  • And now every time I see her and don’t have it on
  • She’s gonna wonder why I don’t have her sweatshirt on
• Ever done that… give someone something and watch if they wear it
  • Here’s a gift now open it AND wear it… and love it the most
  • All you can think is “Did they leave a gift receipt”
  • See even giving someone a gift feels like there’s a catch

My job this morning (like every) is tell you about Jesus

Not to give you 4 steps or 3 principles or 7 secrets

• I mean its in our name… every week its going to be the same thing
  • I get to use the same material every single week
  • Ask me before service what I’m gonna speak on… Jesus
  • Ask me next week what I’m gonna speak on… Jesus
• So we are here today to talk about God and the Gift that he gave us
  • Gift of God wasn’t just a good feeling… secure job… warm clothes
  • Gift of God wasn’t just sunsets, oceans and stars in the sky
  • Gift of God not just principles on good ways to live/succeed in life
• No the GIFT OF GOD is GOD HIMSELF
  • So in this season of Giving/Thankfulness…
  • I want to talk about the God standard when it comes to gifts
  • Because we have lost the true meaning of what “GIFT” means

In our world 2022: Even Christmas parties you have your white elephant

• So whereever/whoever you are when we talk about gifts is..
  • The question that comes to mind is “What is this gonna cost me”
  • What is the catch
• And when it comes the Church and Christianity
  • What we think: Get in for free… but then it costs you everything
  • So I say free gift of God son in your life
  • Many think sure but it also means
    • Losing my freedom
    • Not enjoying life as much
    • Not living life to its fullest
• So I say free… you say but there’s a catch
  • But I am here to tell you that Gods standard for a gift he gives
  • Literally has none of these catches
    • In fact it will make you MORE free
    • You will enjoy life… marriage… work… family much more
    • You will live life more full than you could ever imagine

TAG: B/C way GOD GIVES GIFTS… not the way you experience other gifts

3 standards God gives when it comes to gifts

1 – The giver (God) is the initiator of the gift

Most of the time we receive gifts because we deserve them

• Berenice just had a birthday… she gets gifts because she was born
  • If you get a Christmas bonus from your job… you earned that
  • My friends as a kid got gifts for good grades (I never did)
• So we expect to get gifts because of who we are
  • Good news… no matter your record/background/deservingness
  • A gift is prepared for you – If you wanted it or not its prepared

1 Jn 4:10

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Its funny how we think its our job (preachers) to get people to love God

• I don’t think that’s the right way to look at it
  • Its not my main goal to get you to love God
  • Its my main goal to help you realize that God loves you
• And all of life becomes what are you gonna do with this amazing love
  • ‘I HATE GOD’… well guess what He loves you
  • ‘I DON’T THINK HE EXISTS’… Good news He loves you
  • ‘I THINK HE’S A BIG MORON IN THE SKY’… Well He still loves you
• THIS IS LOVE: NOT THAT WE LOVED GOD
  • God didn’t make any decision based on your love
    • It wasn’t your love and God said “Check these guys out!”
    • They are begging me for love down there
  • It seems like we are in this constant negotiation with God
    • Have you ever made a deal with God… go to a retreat
    • Its almost like we are negotiating a contract with God
  • Tell God… I’m 32 years old and have a lot to offer
    • I’m not gonna offer it to Satan – Offering it to you
    • I considered the other team… but no – I’m team Jesus
    • And I know you’re in heaven blown away by my offer
    • All I ask in return is you get me that house I want
      • Just make sure it has a pool/solar/3 bed 2.5 bath
  • We think Gods like… WOW – Where do I sign up for this deal
• Not how it works… the giver decided on the gift before u were born
  • The giver just initiates because that’s Gods standard for His gift
  • And this is love not that we loved God but that He loved us

2 – The giver (God) intends only to give

Jn 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in hi should not perish but have eternal life.

Now if you asked me for something precious – Like my kids

• I can guarantee if I give something like that… its with strings attached
  • That you are going to take care of and return them to me
  • Some day when some boy wants to take my daughter on a date
  • Not just strings… whole ball of yarn attached to that question
    • There better be respect, honor and appropriateness
• But God gave his son… to the world (Sinful broken system & people)
  • God gave his son to contaminated people
  • With guarantee of “WHOEVER”
  • Why – Because God is love… and he loves because of Himself
• His love doesn’t necessitate reciprocation… its just who He is
  • Therefore its what He does
  • And He does it regardless of you

Some of us have this idea that we are gonna change God

• “God… I know I’ve had some rough patches in my past”
  • But that’s all behind me now and I’m ready to commit to you
  • God’s like – Ya I didn’t know if you were gonna turn that around
  • I really changed my mind about you
• That’s just not what Gods like – Its what we are like… but not God
  • His ways are higher than ours // Thoughts are higher than ours
  • God loves because of God
  • So He sent His son with the contingency of “WHOEVER”
• Because the giver has prepared the gift regardless of the response
  • Does that mean everyone is saved… no but everyone gets the gift
  • But its up to you to receive it
• You think God will stop loving you if you don’t love back… NOPE
  • David: Get a feeling even if I make my bed in hell, you’ll be there.
  • Gods like ya I totally would do that

3 – The giver (God) gives Himself

Jn 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Notice that Gods Word says this is the GREATEST love.

• And people love to identify with this verse and friendship
  • “Wanna know how good a friend I am… Jn 15:13 is my life verse”
  • “I’m so loyal I’d lay down my life for you”
  • “That’s my level of friendship – I don’t mess around”
• Great if you wanna borrow Jn 15… but put it back where you found it
  • This verse isn’t about you – Its God pointing arrow at His son
  • Greatest expression of love: When Jesus laid life down for friends
    • ITS WHAT GOD DID
• So I guess what we need 2 know is… who does Jesus consider friends
  • And I think you’l find its not who you would think
  • Not just 12 buddies although even they aren’t what you picture

Lets look at the people in just the birth story of Jesus (It is Christmas)

• When you are born – People around you are close friends/family
  • Guess who those people were for Jesus – Shepherds
    • Now today everyone wants to be a shepherd… not back then
    • Back then they weren’t a sweet grandchild in clean costume
  • Shepherds were people no one wanted to be or be around
    • Shepherds were shepherds because they had no options
    • Usually their background (record) couldn’t get anything else
    • Get them away from society… away from people
  • These are people who greet and welcome Jesus into the world
    • It wasn’t the kings… priests… religious
    • It was the rejects – So unclean couldn’t even enter temple
    • Why were they there… They were chosen by God to be there
• Lets talk about the wise men (we call them) – Pagan astrologers
  • Why do you think they went to the King (Herod) about the star
    • They are looking to get paid… job was to read the stars
      • Find conspiracy
      • Create a narrative
      • Get commissioned to pursue it
    • And again guess who made them come – God chose them
      • You see God stuck this giant start in the sky
      • Knowing they would show up
      • Like the coolest birthday party invite of all time
  • And they weren’t even there when he was a baby
    • Don’t actually show up until Jesus is probably a 3 year old
    • Can you imagine worshiping a 3 year old
      • I get the shepherds worshiping a baby (don’t say mine)
      • Yes… I’ve had a 3 year old!
• So we’ve got two sets of people right from the beginning
  • These set the stage for who would be around Jesus in his life
  • These are the type of people Jesus calls his friends

What is his name: IMMANUEL… God is with us – who is us: You are!

• And maybe you would think that’s just because he was a baby
  • First off – This was all planned… it was intentional to speak to us
  • Because he wants us to know who his friends are
• But as he grows up – no longer a baby… making his own decisions
  • He surrounds himself with more of the “US”
    • We see him recruiting men that smell like fish
    • We see him eating with the rejected and hated
    • We see him laughing with sinners
• Do you see the message (intentional) God is giving through all this
  • He values us not because of who we are or what we’ve done
  • He values us because we are his and created in his likeness
  • So he wanted to be with us and in the midst of us

Even look at the end of his life… which cross was he on? MIDDLE CROSS

• And while he was dying… not murdered… for he gave his own life
  • Even as sinful humans were spitting on him and mocking him
  • He looked at a convicted criminal and spoke to him as a friend
  • Says today you are coming home with me to my house
• Today… Will you acknowledge the love Jesus already has for you
  • Will you take the gift God gives you and accept it for what it is
    • No strings attached
    • No bait and switch
    • Just pure… genuine love > the greatest love for you.

[PRAY]