From Secular to Sacred From Santa to SaviorFrom Santa to Savior From Holiday to Holy DayFrom Holiday to Holy Day From Decoration to DevotionFrom Decoration to Devotion From Getting to GivingFrom Getting to Giving

CHRISTMAS CAN BE A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO FOCUS ON GETTING, BUT IT CAN BE A GREAT BLESSING FOR THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THE PRIVILEGE OF GIVING.

 “I Want” (Getting)  Self-Centeredness  The “Me Generation”  What’s in it for me?

“A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.” – Benjamin Franklin

The Bible never tells us to love ourselves! Love Yourself ???

 Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

 E phesians 5:28-29 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-

 Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

 “I Want” (Getting)  Self-Centeredness  Materialism  Want Lists – Letters to Santa  The more we get, the more we want.

 “I Want” (Getting)  Self-Centeredness  Materialism  Christmas Satire  Mr. Scrooge  The Grinch  “Green Christmas”

“There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus” – Blaise Pascal

 “I Want” (Getting)  Self-Centeredness  Materialism  Christmas Satire  The Best Gift -2 Corinthians 9:15

 2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

 I Want to Share (Giving) The Lord Jesus himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” -Acts 20:35

 I Want to Share (Giving)  Christmas Customs  St. Nicholas  “Little Drummer Boy”

 I Want to Share (Giving)  Christmas Customs  Biblical Images  The Wise Men  The Macedonians

 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 Please turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians, chapter 8.

 I Want to Share (Giving)  Christmas Customs  Biblical Images  Biblical Teaching  The Desire to Give Comes From God 2 Corinthians 8:1, 5-9

The Desire To Give Comes From God 2 Corinthians 8:1, A special kind of grace

The Desire To Give Comes From God 2 Corinthians 8:1, A special kind of Grace From devotion to the Lord -Gave themselves first to the Lord - Excel in the grace of giving

The Desire To Give Comes From God 2 Corinthians 8:1, 5-9 -A special kind of Grace From devotion to The Lord From the example of The Lord -Though He was rich, for your sakes He became poor - So that you might become rich

 I Want to Share (Giving)  Christmas Customs  Biblical Images  Biblical Teaching  The Desire to Give Comes From God  The Ability to Give Is Universal 2 Corinthians 8:2-3

The Ability To Give Is Universal 2 Corinthians 8:2-3 -Extreme poverty -Gave beyond their ability

 I Want to Share (Giving)  Christmas Customs  Biblical Images  Biblical Teaching  The Desire to Give Comes From God  The Ability to Give Is Universal  The Act of Giving Is A Privilege 2 Corinthians 8:4; 9:12-15

 Matthew 25:34-40 Please turn in your Bibles to this passage.

What Can We Give? Certainly not just money Give our hearts to The Lord Give Love for everyone – Family, church family, friends, coworkers, strangers, enemies Give a godly example (like the Macedonians) Give our service – Time and talent Give our prayers