Gifts

Why Gifts? (Magi)Scripture (NIV):“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”— Matthew 2:11 (NIV)Gold – fit for a KingFrankincense – used in worship (Jesus is God)Myrrh – used in burial (points to the cross)“The Magi gave gifts to Jesus… but Christmas is really about the gifts God gives to us.” Why We Give Gifts at ChristmasAt Christmas, we talk a lot about the gifts we give, but Christmas begins with the gift God gave to us.The Bible says:“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…”John 3:16 (NIV)Jesus is God’s greatest gift.Scripture reminds us:“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)We give because God gave first.I have asked ….. to come up to help me“I want to show what God gives us when we receive Jesus.”  The Gifts God Gives UsGift 1: Jesus Himself(have a person represent Jesus)Scripture (NIV):“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”— 2 Corinthians 9:15 Gift 2: Adoption — We Become God’s Children(have them walk to other side of pulpit)Scripture (NIV):“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”— John 1:12“We are all created by God and deeply loved but we are not all children of God—becoming God’s child is a gift we receive through Jesus.”(have them walk to other side of pulpit) Gift 3: Grafted Into the Tree of Life(branch)Scripture (NIV):“You, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root.”— Romans 11:17“We’re not just forgiven—we’re connected.” Gift 4: Friendship With Jesus(friendship bracelet)Scripture (NIV):“I no longer call you servants… Instead, I have called you friends.”— John 15:15 Gift 5: Royal Priesthood( robe )Scripture (NIV):“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…”— 1 Peter 2:9“We don’t need to earn God’s attention—we already have it.” Gift 6: The Holy Spirit (Our Guarantee)(Water ? have them take a sip so it’s inside them – also a sticker for the forehead)Scripture (NIV):“When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance…”— Ephesians 1:13–14“God puts His Spirit in us so we’re never alone.” Gift 7: Hope and a Future(two wrapped presents that say hope and future)Scripture (NIV):“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord… ‘plans to give you hope and a future.’”— Jeremiah 29:11 Gift 8: God Finishes What He Starts(card stamped “Completed)“God doesn’t give up halfway—what He starts, He finishes.”Scripture (NIV):“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”— Philippians 1:6 Gift 9: God Gives us Peace(dove)“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”— John 14:27Gift 10: God Gives us A New Identity(New Creation Tag)“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) “This is what God sees when He looks at someone who belongs to Jesus.” Closing InvitationAt Christmas, God doesn’t just give us a baby in a manger.He gives us a family.A future.A new identity.And a hope that will never fail.Christmas is the celebration of gifts — and Jesus is the greatest gift of all.“Christmas is about receiving a gift. You don’t earn it. You just open your hands.”Scripture (NIV):“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.”— Revelation 3:20If anybody here has not received these gifts yet. If you would like to go from being a creation of God to becoming a Child of God – you need to accept that you need Jesus – that you accept his sacrifice for you. It’s a decision to receive these Gifts. Pray