Survivable Christmas - How to Celebrate Christmas without Going Bankrupt

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We Wish You a Merry Christmas – Celebrating Christmas without Going Bankrupt

Message Outline – 3 December 2006

 

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.”

Isaiah 7.14

 

Gifts and Christmas GO TOGETHER.

 

 

Ahaz and God’s promise of a gift.

      Isaiah 7.1-14

 

 

 

      God’s gift is Jesus, not Christmas.

 

 

 

 

WHAT GOD’S GIFT TEACHES US.

 

1. The joy of gifts is in the GIVING,

not the GETTING.

 

'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'           Jesus, quoted in Acts 20.35

 

 

 

2. God gives gifts to MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

 

“…the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” 

      Mary, Jesus’ mother.  Luke 1.49

 

 

 

Christmas isn’t primarily a celebration for ourselves, but a chance to make other people’s lives better.

     

 

‘Making a difference’ isn’t the same as ‘impressing.’

 

 

 

 

 

3. Give YOURSELF, not a THING.

 

“…and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, "God is with us."  Matthew 1.23

 

 

 

 

PROBLEMS WITH GIVING GIFTS OUR WAY.

 

If you are spending too much money on Christmas, then STOP IT!

 

 

Three MYTHS about gift giving –

 

1.      A good gift costs MONEY.

 

2.      Spending money on someone counts as GIVING YOURSELF.

 

3.      The people CLOSEST to me are the ones I should give the most to.

 

A question to ask yourself:

“Am I giving from my heart to make a difference in the lives of others?”

 

God’s ideas about gifts only work where God’s ideas are PRACTICED.

 

      Culture changes slowly.  Be patient.

 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds...   Romans 12.2