Embracing the Giver: A God-Centered Christmas

Devotional

Day 1: Cherishing the Giver Over the Gifts

In the midst of holiday preparations, it's easy to become consumed by the excitement of gift-giving and receiving. However, the true essence of Christmas calls us to focus on our relationship with God, the ultimate Giver. Just as an engagement ring is meant to deepen a relationship rather than distract with its beauty, God's gifts are intended to draw us closer to Him. We must learn to distinguish between enjoying the gifts and cherishing the Giver, ensuring that our hearts remain centered on God rather than the material blessings He provides. [01:19]

Psalm 73:25-26 (ESV): "Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Reflection: Consider a gift you have recently received or given. How can you use this gift to deepen your relationship with God rather than letting it distract you from Him?

Day 2: The Purpose of Christ's Sacrifice

Scripture teaches us that Christ's sacrifice was not merely an act of redemption but a means to bring us into a closer relationship with God. The ultimate goal of God's actions is to foster a relationship where He is our all-satisfying treasure. This understanding is crucial for experiencing God through His gifts, as it shifts our focus from the gifts themselves to the One who gives them. Our satisfaction should be found in God, who is our true treasure, rather than in the temporary pleasures of this world. [03:45]

Colossians 1:21-22 (ESV): "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How can you use the understanding of Christ's sacrifice to draw closer to Him today?

Day 3: Gifts as Tokens of God's Kindness

Every gift we receive is a token of God's everlasting kindness, made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus. This perspective transforms our understanding of gift-giving, especially during Christmas. Romans 8:32 reminds us that all good things come to us because God did not spare His own Son. By viewing gifts as reflections of Christ's death and God's love, we can transform our holiday celebrations into opportunities to remember and share God's kindness with others. [06:12]

James 1:17 (ESV): "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

Reflection: Think of a gift you plan to give this Christmas. How can you use this gift to reflect God's kindness and love to the recipient?

Day 4: God's Love as His Essence

God's love is not separate from who He is; it is His very essence. When we embrace this truth, we realize that every good gift is an overflow of God's love, drawing us closer to Him. This understanding helps us to see beyond the material aspects of gifts and recognize the deeper spiritual significance they hold. By focusing on God's love, we can cultivate a heart of gratitude and deepen our relationship with Him. [08:54]

1 John 4:16 (ESV): "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."

Reflection: Identify a moment when you felt God's love through a gift or experience. How can you carry that sense of love and gratitude into your daily life?

Day 5: A God-Centered Christmas

The key to a God-centered Christmas is understanding that every gift points us back to the ultimate Giver, God Himself. This realization transforms our holiday celebrations into a reflection of God's love and sacrifice. By keeping our focus on God, we can ensure that our celebrations are not just about the material aspects but are deeply rooted in the spiritual significance of the season. This approach allows us to experience the true joy and peace that come from a relationship with God. [09:12]

Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV): "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."

Reflection: As you plan your Christmas celebrations, what specific steps can you take to ensure that God remains at the center of your festivities?

Sermon Summary

As we approach the Christmas season, many of us are caught up in the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations. It's a time filled with gift-giving, family gatherings, and festive celebrations. However, amidst the holiday cheer, it's crucial to reflect on the true essence of Christmas and our relationship with God. The question arises: Are we loving God for who He is, or are we more focused on the gifts He provides?

To truly love God, we must distinguish between enjoying the gifts and cherishing the Giver. This concept can be illustrated through the analogy of an engagement ring. When a person gives a ring, the intent is not just for the recipient to admire the ring but to deepen the relationship. Similarly, God's gifts are meant to draw us closer to Him, not to distract us from His presence.

Scripture reinforces this idea. For instance, 1 Peter 3:18 emphasizes that Christ's sacrifice was to bring us to God. The ultimate goal of God's actions is to foster a relationship with us, where He is our all-satisfying treasure. This understanding is key to experiencing God through His gifts.

During the Christmas season, every gift we receive or give should remind us of God's everlasting kindness, made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus. Romans 8:32 highlights that all good things come to us because God did not spare His own Son. This perspective transforms our gift-giving into a reflection of Christ's death and God's love.

Ultimately, the greatest gift is God Himself. His love is not separate from who He is; it is His very essence. When we embrace this truth, we realize that every good gift is an overflow of God's love, drawing us closer to Him. This understanding is the key to a God-centered Christmas, where every gift points us back to the ultimate Giver.

Key Takeaways

1. Distinguishing between the gifts and the Giver is crucial. Just as an engagement ring is meant to deepen a relationship, God's gifts are intended to draw us closer to Him, not distract us from His presence. [01:19]
2. Scripture teaches that Christ's sacrifice was to bring us to God, emphasizing the importance of a relationship with Him. Our ultimate satisfaction should be found in God, who is our treasure. [03:45]
3. Every gift we receive is a token of God's everlasting kindness, made possible through Jesus' sacrifice. This perspective transforms our understanding of gift-giving, especially during Christmas. [06:12]
4. God's love is inseparable from who He is. When we embrace this truth, we realize that every good gift is an overflow of God's love, drawing us closer to Him. [08:54]
5. The key to a God-centered Christmas is understanding that every gift points us back to the ultimate Giver, God Himself. This realization transforms our holiday celebrations into a reflection of God's love and sacrifice. [09:12]
** [09:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Holiday Preparations
[00:49] - Loving the Giver More Than the Gifts
[01:19] - Distinguishing Gifts from the Giver
[02:10] - Engagement Ring Analogy
[03:25] - Biblical Insights on God's Gifts
[04:55] - The Story of the Ten Lepers
[05:33] - Experiencing God Through His Gifts
[06:12] - Gifts as Tokens of God's Kindness
[07:32] - The Gift is the Giver
[08:18] - God's Love and Christ's Sacrifice
[09:12] - Key to a God-Centered Christmas
[10:04] - Conclusion and Reflections

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1 Peter 3:18 - "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God."
Romans 8:32 - "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"
Psalm 73:25-26 - "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

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Observation Questions:

According to 1 Peter 3:18, what was the purpose of Christ's suffering and sacrifice? How does this relate to our relationship with God? [03:45]
In Romans 8:32, what is the logic presented about God's willingness to give us all things? How does this verse connect to the idea of gift-giving during Christmas? [06:12]
Reflecting on Psalm 73:25-26, what does the psalmist express about his desires and reliance on God? How does this passage illustrate the concept of God being our ultimate treasure? [04:34]
How does the analogy of the engagement ring in the sermon illustrate the difference between valuing the gift and valuing the giver? [02:10]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does understanding Christ's sacrifice as a means to bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18) change the way we view our relationship with Him, especially during the Christmas season? [03:45]
Romans 8:32 suggests that all good things come to us because God did not spare His own Son. How does this perspective transform our understanding of the gifts we receive and give? [06:12]
In what ways does Psalm 73:25-26 challenge us to evaluate our desires and priorities? How can this passage guide us in distinguishing between the gifts and the Giver? [04:34]
The sermon emphasizes that God's love is inseparable from who He is. How does this understanding affect our perception of God's gifts and His presence in our lives? [08:54]

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Application Questions:

During this Christmas season, how can you ensure that your focus remains on God as the ultimate Giver, rather than being distracted by the gifts themselves? What practical steps can you take? [09:12]
Reflect on a time when you valued a gift more than the person who gave it. How can you apply the engagement ring analogy to deepen your relationship with God this season? [02:10]
Romans 8:32 speaks of God's generosity through Christ. How can you mirror this generosity in your interactions with others during the holiday season? [06:12]
Consider the psalmist's declaration in Psalm 73:25-26. What specific desires or distractions might be hindering your reliance on God as your portion? How can you address these in your daily life? [04:34]
The sermon suggests that every gift is an overflow of God's love. How can you use the gifts you give and receive as opportunities to reflect on and share God's love with others? [08:54]
How can you incorporate the understanding of Christ's sacrifice into your family's Christmas traditions to ensure a God-centered celebration? [09:12]
Identify one way you can remind yourself daily of God's presence and love, especially when you feel overwhelmed by holiday preparations. What specific action will you take this week? [00:11]

Sermon Clips

Well first I think it is absolutely crucial in pursuing that interaction with God in that way to get really clear in our mind and in our heart that there is is a huge and important difference between enjoying a person who gives gifts and enjoying the gifts instead of the person or more than the person. [00:01:19]

What if you give an engagement ring so you've been in love for 2 years maybe and and now you're going to move this thing decisively forward you you give a ring I'm assuming you're a man but gals you you apply it in the appropriate way you you you give a your fiance a a a beautiful diamond ring and she spends the rest of the night and then the following weeks bragging about this gift taking it showing it to everybody. [00:02:10]

We understand from our own experience what it means when gifts are loved more than the giver we get that there's no excuse for not getting that we get it in our experience then we get it from the Bible when it comes to God because it's all over the place so 1 Peter 3:18 Christ also suffered once for sins the righteous for the unrighteous that he might bring us to God that's why he died bring us to God. [00:03:25]

We know from experience we know from the scriptures that there's a difference between enjoying a giver through his gifts and enjoying gifts instead of The Giver we know that we get that we know that the goal of all God does for us is designed to make it possible for us to be with him and him to be with us. [00:05:33]

We should realize that every gift every good thing that comes into our lives of any kind as a token of God's Everlasting kindness all of it all of it was bought by the sacrifice of Jesus the blood of Jesus here's the logic of Romans 8:32 he who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all how will he not with him graciously give us all things. [00:06:12]

All things are com to us as Believers because he didn't spare his son here's the effect this has all giving and getting especially at Christmas time becomes a reminder of the death of Jesus now what effect does that have what effect does God intend for his son's death to have on us when we think this way. [00:07:32]

On the one hand Christ is the Father's IND describ able gift Romans 8:32 and 2 Corinthians 9:15 and Christ is his own gift over and over the New Testament says Christ gave himself Christ gave himself Matthew 10:45 Galatians 1:4 Galatians 2:20 Ephesians 5:2 Ephesians 5:25 1 Timothy 2:6 Titus 2:4 Christ gave gave gave himself. [00:08:18]

If God gives his son and the son gives himself for you and to you it doesn't even make sense to say we love the gift more than the giver the gift is the giver The Giver is the gift so since every gift shared at Christmas time is Possible only because of the death of Christ for us and thus directs our attention to the death of Christ. [00:08:54]

Behind every gift that we get or give at Christmas time is the death of Christ and that means that every gift is the Overflow of the gift of God's love because that's what he shows when Christ dies when you think of God's love it is inseparable from himself when John paper talks about enjoying God I don't mean oh but you can't enjoy his love. [00:09:12]

Romans 8:32 is the key to Christmas God centeredness in giving and getting gifts every good in our life as Christians is owing to the death of Jesus according to the logic of Romans 8:32 and that death is the gift gift of God himself for our Everlasting joy and the gift of God's love which is also the giving of himself to us. [00:09:45]

Every good gift that we get from others or get directly from God is given to us through Christ and for Christ so key for the Christmas season to understand this and such a radical way of thinking for the Apostle Paul that we often miss it uh like did you know that this was the theme of Pastor John's Famous seashells message. [00:10:04]

Every good gift we get is given to us through Christ and his death for us you can see apj 1200 for that story and for those connections thank you Pastor John and thanks for joining us today have a question to ask Pastor John find a link to email us and find our complete episode archive at Ask Pastor john.com. [00:10:40]

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Embracing the Giver: A God-Centered Christmas

Devotional

Day 1: Cherishing the Giver Over the Gifts

Day 2: The Purpose of Christ's Sacrifice

Day 3: Gifts as Tokens of God's Kindness

Day 4: God's Love as His Essence

Day 5: A God-Centered Christmas

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing the Giver: A God-Centered Christmas

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