Embracing Our Worth and Generosity in Christ
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound concept of worth and value, both in the eyes of God and in our own lives. We began by reflecting on the idea that the true worth of anything is determined by what someone is willing to pay for it. This notion is powerfully illustrated by the sacrifice God made, giving His only Son for humanity, demonstrating our immense worth to Him. This act of divine generosity sets the stage for our understanding of giving and generosity in our own lives.
We then delved into the story of the widow's offering, as recounted in the Gospels. This narrative challenges us to consider the nature of true generosity, which is not measured by the size of the gift but by the heart and sacrifice behind it. The widow, who gave all she had to live on, exemplifies a profound trust in God and a willingness to give beyond her means. This story invites us to reflect on our own giving, especially as we approach the end of the year, encouraging us to consider what we can offer from our "disposable income" to further God's mission.
As we transition into the Christmas season, we are reminded of the explosive and vibrant nature of the first Christmas. It was a moment that changed the world, fulfilling 4,000 years of divine promises and prophecies. This season is not just a time to remember the birth of Christ but to celebrate the culmination of God's plan for humanity. We are encouraged to embrace the fullness of this celebration, recognizing that Christmas is not limited to a single day or season but is a continuous reminder of God's love and the freedom we have in Christ.
Finally, we explored the theological implications of Christ's coming, as described in Galatians. Before Christ, humanity was under the guardianship of the law, but with His coming, we are set free to live as heirs of God's promises. This freedom is not just a release from the law but an invitation to live fully in the grace and abundance that God offers. As we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded of the limitless possibilities that come with being co-heirs with Christ, empowered by His Spirit to live out our faith boldly and generously.
Key Takeaways:
- The True Measure of Worth: Our worth is ultimately determined by what God was willing to pay for us—His only Son. This profound truth challenges us to see ourselves and others through the lens of divine love and sacrifice, recognizing the immense value God places on each of us. [23:10]
- Generosity Beyond Measure: The widow's offering teaches us that true generosity is not about the amount given but the heart behind it. Her willingness to give all she had to live on exemplifies a deep trust in God and challenges us to consider how we can give sacrificially from our own resources. [27:34]
- The Vibrancy of Christmas: Christmas is a dynamic and explosive celebration of God's fulfilled promises. It is a time to embrace the joy and wonder of Christ's birth, recognizing it as the culmination of 4,000 years of divine planning and prophecy. [40:42]
- Freedom in Christ: With Christ's coming, we are no longer under the guardianship of the law but are set free to live as heirs of God's promises. This freedom invites us to live fully in the grace and abundance that God offers, empowered by His Spirit. [50:25]
- Living as Co-Heirs with Christ: As co-heirs with Christ, we have access to the limitless possibilities of God's kingdom. This inheritance is not just for the future but is available to us now, empowering us to live out our faith boldly and generously. [01:05:50]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [23:10] - Understanding Worth
- [23:53] - Welcoming Guests
- [27:34] - The Widow's Offering
- [29:24] - Sacrificial Giving
- [30:22] - Year-End Reflection
- [31:15] - The Heart of Giving
- [32:12] - Christ's Ultimate Sacrifice
- [38:32] - The Vibrancy of Christmas
- [40:42] - The Fulfillment of Promises
- [45:03] - Freedom in Christ
- [49:01] - Life Before Christ
- [50:25] - Living as Heirs
- [54:02] - The Set Time of Christ's Coming
- [56:21] - Personal Reflection and Salvation
- [58:02] - Embracing Our Inheritance
- [01:05:50] - Co-Heirs with Christ
- [01:22:56] - Communion and Closing Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Galatians 4:4-7
2. Mark 12:41-44 (The Widow's Offering)
3. John 3:16
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, how does the widow's offering illustrate the concept of true generosity? [27:34]
2. What does the pastor mean when he says that Christmas is not just a single day or season but a continuous reminder of God's love? [38:32]
3. How does the sermon describe the transition from living under the law to living as heirs of God's promises? [50:25]
4. What is the significance of the phrase "when the time had fully come" in the context of Christ's coming? [54:02]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the pastor's explanation of the widow's offering challenge common perceptions of wealth and generosity? [31:15]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the first Christmas was a fulfillment of 4,000 years of divine promises? [40:42]
3. How does the pastor interpret the freedom that comes with being co-heirs with Christ, and what implications does this have for believers today? [50:25]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of the law before Christ's coming, and how does this change with His arrival? [45:03]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own giving habits. How can you emulate the widow's trust and generosity in your own life, especially as the year comes to a close? [29:24]
2. The sermon emphasizes the vibrancy and joy of Christmas. How can you incorporate this perspective into your holiday celebrations this year? [38:32]
3. Consider the idea of living as heirs of God's promises. What steps can you take to embrace this identity more fully in your daily life? [50:25]
4. The pastor speaks about the limitless possibilities available to us as co-heirs with Christ. What is one dream or goal you have that you can pursue with this mindset? [01:05:50]
5. How can you use your "disposable income" or resources to further God's mission in a way that reflects true generosity and sacrifice? [30:22]
6. The sermon discusses the freedom we have in Christ. What is one area of your life where you feel restricted, and how can you invite God's freedom into that space? [49:01]
7. Reflect on the significance of Christ's coming as a fulfillment of God's promises. How does this understanding impact your faith and relationship with God? [54:02]
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Worth Through Sacrifice
Our worth is not determined by worldly standards but by the immense price God was willing to pay for us—His only Son. This profound truth challenges us to see ourselves and others through the lens of divine love and sacrifice. In a world that often measures value by achievements, possessions, or status, God's perspective is radically different. He sees each person as infinitely valuable, worthy of the greatest sacrifice. This understanding invites us to embrace our identity as beloved children of God, cherished beyond measure. [23:10]
"For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:20, ESV)
Reflection: How does knowing your worth in God's eyes change the way you view yourself and others today?
Day 2: Heartfelt Generosity
The story of the widow's offering teaches us that true generosity is not about the amount given but the heart behind it. The widow, who gave all she had to live on, exemplifies a profound trust in God and a willingness to give beyond her means. Her act of giving challenges us to consider how we can give sacrificially from our own resources, not just from our abundance. As we approach the end of the year, this story invites us to reflect on our own giving and consider what we can offer to further God's mission. [27:34]
"And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny." (Mark 12:41-42, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can give sacrificially this week, trusting God to provide for your needs?
Day 3: The Joyful Fulfillment of Christmas
Christmas is a dynamic and explosive celebration of God's fulfilled promises. It is a time to embrace the joy and wonder of Christ's birth, recognizing it as the culmination of 4,000 years of divine planning and prophecy. This season is not just about remembering the birth of Christ but celebrating the culmination of God's plan for humanity. We are encouraged to embrace the fullness of this celebration, recognizing that Christmas is not limited to a single day or season but is a continuous reminder of God's love and the freedom we have in Christ. [40:42]
"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:4-5, ESV)
Reflection: How can you embrace the joy and wonder of Christmas in your daily life, beyond the holiday season?
Day 4: Living in the Freedom of Christ
With Christ's coming, we are no longer under the guardianship of the law but are set free to live as heirs of God's promises. This freedom is not just a release from the law but an invitation to live fully in the grace and abundance that God offers. As we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded of the limitless possibilities that come with being co-heirs with Christ, empowered by His Spirit to live out our faith boldly and generously. [50:25]
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to embrace the freedom Christ offers, and how can you take a step towards that freedom today?
Day 5: Embracing Our Inheritance as Co-Heirs
As co-heirs with Christ, we have access to the limitless possibilities of God's kingdom. This inheritance is not just for the future but is available to us now, empowering us to live out our faith boldly and generously. We are invited to live fully in the grace and abundance that God offers, recognizing that our inheritance in Christ is a present reality. This understanding encourages us to live with purpose and intentionality, knowing that we are empowered by His Spirit to make a difference in the world. [01:05:50]
"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." (Romans 8:16-17, ESV)
Reflection: How can you live out your inheritance as a co-heir with Christ in your daily life, and what steps can you take to make a difference in the world around you?
Quotes
"And everything, really, everything has worth or value. I mean, from a plant to a person, there's value ascribed. But the true worth of anything is only truly seen by what someone's willing to pay for it. In fact, I'm willing to pay more for a television than I am a plant." [00:22:25] (34 seconds)
"So what is man worth? Best revealed by what somebody was willing to pay for it. And you paid an extreme... You overpaid. You did not negotiate that very well, Father. Because it cost you the entire life of your son." [00:23:10] (27 seconds)
"And Luke writes that there was a woman in the court at that time, and she was getting ready to give a gift. But he starts out by telling, and a lot of people I really do believe misunderstand this, that he says that while Christ was in the court of the Gentiles in this big, glorious, area where all this busyness and traffic was going on, that the wealthy were giving of their wealth." [00:27:34] (23 seconds)
"And nobody else noticed but Jesus. He heard it hit the bottom. And he said, see, they have given out of their great wealth. Nothing wrong with that. But she's given what she had to live on." [00:28:36] (13 seconds)
"It's not the size of the gift. gift is the size of your heart. Let's keep giving like that. Father, we love you and thank you. It's powerful. The point is not to denigrate wealth and to elevate poverty. That's certainly not biblical. It's to elevate generosity." [00:31:15] (22 seconds)
"And in the fullness of time, boom, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that they might receive adoptions as sons and daughters of the living God, so that God could send the Spirit of His Son, that they might receive Him, that He might indwell them, all in the most Christmas book of the New Testament, Galatians." [00:44:26] (23 seconds)
"If you belong to Christ, then you're of Abraham's seed, the seed of faith. That's the only way to get right with God. And you're heirs according to the promise. And we're going to look at a couple of these because God for 4 ,000 years made unbelievable promises and not one of them have been checked off." [00:52:34] (15 seconds)
"You have access to a limitless Father. You cannot possibly dream a big, dream a dream bigger than his capacity to provide you what you need to make that a reality. Okay? Okay. It's not possible." [00:57:28] (14 seconds)
Chatbot
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