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Series Intro
Our December sermon series follows the December Sunday School lessons the children are learning this month.
The Big Give, is about celebrating and imitating God’s generosity.
Generosity is at the very core of God’s character – He gave us His own son, Jesus!
And because God gave us Jesus and Jesus gave His life, we can be generous towards others.
Our generosity towards others is one way we demonstrate that we truly love God.
I’ve mentioned before how I really was troubled the first time I read the giving tree by Shel Silverstein.
The idea that a boy who had such a good relationship with a tree - they would play, the kid would swing from the branches.
but as he grew so did his interests.
In one picture you see him with a girl friend and they carve there initials on the tree.
Ouch.
But as he grows into manhood his desires grow and grow.
He goes away for a long time, until he wants something.
He wants money, so the tree offers him his apples.
He wants a house, so the tree says cut off my branches.
And we read that the tree was happy.
He wants a boat, the tree says cut me down to a stump.
Without hesitation, the boy (now a man) cuts her down, and we read that the tree was NOT happy.
There are 2 ways to interpret the story: positively, the tree shows a continual desire to give.
Negatively, the boy sees a relationship only in terms of what he can get out of it.
We can do that with human relationships - what’s in it for me?
We can approach our relationship to God and the church the same way.
What’s in it for me?
We seek God for the blessings and benefits, but not the sacrifice.
My Pentecostal preacher described that mentality like this: “Bless my soul but don’t ask me to make a commitment.”
But that’s not what discipleship is about.
That’s not what Christianity is about.
That’s not what Christmas is about.
That’s not what Jesus is about.
Throughout this series I will be referring to instructions that Paul gave to Timothy:
The series is about generosity.
The series is about generosity.
Giving like Jesus.
Non-profits benefit from the generosity of people this time of year.
Our offerings go up this time of year.
Volunteerism (or discipleship) increases this time of year.
Sermon Intro
I can think of 2 things that inhibit our ability to give: lack of resources and lack of knowledge.
One of the many tragedies of poverty is that it inhibits or takes away our ability to give.
It’s hard to give when we lack resources.
It’s also hard to give when we have the wrong idea of what it means to give.
(Simpson’s)
In Christ we have both the resources that enable us to give, and the knowledge of how we are supposed to give.
This morning we are going to look at the story of Joseph, where God announced the gift of his son Jesus, and we’re also going to look at a couple of verses in one of John’s letters in the New Testament.
1 T
s
1 John 4:
Giving means giving up.
Whenever we give, we give something up.
If I give you my time, I’m giving you time that otherwise I could be spending with family, or binge watching all of my favorite holiday Christmas shows.
If I put my money in the offering plate, I’m giving money that otherwise purchase that man cave I’ve always wanted.
If I put my money in the offering plate, I’m giving money that otherwise purchase that man cave I’ve always wanted.
God gave us Jesus.
When the angel announced to Joseph that God was giving His son Jesus, he gave him specific instructions.
1) Don’t divorce your fiance, and 2) Name the child Immanuel.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
(Charles Wesley, "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing")
Why did you give your child their name?
(Eli - book of Eli) We name for all sorts of reason.
Scroll down a list of baby names until you find the one you like?
A family member?
Did you ever put any thought into the meaning of a name?
In the Bible they often did.
Not always: the name Mary means stubborn and rebellious.
We name because: like the name; family; check the meaning?
Often names in the Bible were given to tell the story of why or how they were born.
Jacob means he who grabs by the heel, because we read that he was clinging to his twin brother’s heel when he was coming out of the womb.
We weren’t thinking of that when we named our firstborn.
God gave names to describe someone’s purpose: the name Israel means to struggle with God and prevail.
The name Jesus means God saves.
God believes the name Immanuel is so important that he defines it for us: God with Us.
In Christ, God was with the world.
He dwelt among us.
But for God to give us the gift of his presence, he had to give up some things, and I”m going to focus on 3: His status, his money and his life.
In Christ, God was with the world.
He dwelt among us.
But for God to give us the gift of his presence, he had to give up some things:
God Gave Up His Status
Jesus’ decision to humble Himself and take on the form of a human took place in a specific context: while He was fully God.
Instead of holding on to His “rights and privileges,” He chose a different path: He gave up his rights to rule.
His rights to be served.
His rights to control and command.
Instead of holding on to His “rights and privileges,” He chose a different pathGave up his rights to rule.
His rights to be served.
His rights to control and command.
He gave this up so he could give us his presence.
He was not just an unseen God who dwelled in the heavens high above: he was a human, he took on human limitations.
The creator of the world felt pain, got tired and got hungry.
Gave up his rights to rule.
His rights to be served.
His rights to control and command.
But it wasn’t just a “giving up.”
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