1. Making This Christmas Count part 1

2. How Were the Gifts of the Wise Men Given? They were given personally

3. Iran Jerusalem Bethlehem

4. “We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2 (NLT)

5. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! Matthew 2:10 (NLT)

6. They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 (NLT)

7. How Were the Gifts of the Wise Men Given? They were given with joy

8. They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 (NLT)

9. The “gift for a gift” gift Kinds of gifts we give:

10. The “now you owe me” gift Kinds of gifts we give:

11. The “no strings attached” gift Kinds of gifts we give:

12. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith– and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

13. Give an unexpected gift The Wise Men Teach Us to…

14. Give with genuine delight What the wise men teach about giving:

15. “Giving with a glad and generous heart has a way of routing out the tough old miser within us. Even the poor need to know that they can give. Just the very act of letting go of money, or some other treasure does something within us. It destroys the demon, greed.” ~ Richard Foster “Giving with a glad and generous heart has a way of routing out the tough old miser within us. Even the poor need to know that they can give. Just the very act of letting go of money, or some other treasure does something within us. It destroys the demon, greed.” ~ Richard Foster

16. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)

17. Give a gift that’s personal What the wise men teach about giving:

18. Give gifts that will endure What the wise men teach about giving:

19. GIFTS THAT WILL ENDURE: GOOD MEMORIES GODLY HERITAGE

20. “But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.” Exodus 20:6 (NLT)

21. Give that gift now What the wise men teach about giving:

22. Making This Christmas Count part 1