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The Greatest Gifts The Greatest Gifts Busy. Shopping. Songs. Family. We have entered the Christmas season. This should be a positive time to reflect on God’s goodness to send mankind a Savior. That is the greatest gift we could receive in our condition. He sent us a Savior who started his visit by coming down as a man child that would grow to manhood and so be able to feel life as we know it on earth. In that way God can say He knows what we are going through and that He made a way for us to get through our trials and tests. Is that not something to be thankful for? The pressures of the World want to try our faith with distractions and stressful moments. Are we anchored in Christ Jesus enough that we will not forget the real reason for the season? It seems Christmas in our country has a lot to do with gift buying and celebrating. Here are a few verses to open our thoughts on the “Greatest Gifts.” CHRISTMAS GIFT STATS A. John 3:16 The average person will spend For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten $805 during the holidays. Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but $734.04 dollars will be spent on have everlasting life. gifts per person 1. How often do we think about the truths in this verse? $118.82 will be spent on food and 2. Do you have a special experience or impression you could candy per person share about this verse? $78.43 will be spent on B. Luke 4:18 decorations $47.07 will be spent on flowers Jesus: per person The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed $38.48 will be spent on cards me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal per person the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and 1.6bn Christmas cards are bought recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are (Average 5per U.S. resident) bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. http://www.starnewsonline.com/ 1. Jesus announced this mission to his local community. Is it news/20151125/2015-holiday- important for us to continue reliving this message in our own season-by-the-numbers---25- community? 2. How do we preach or witness to people in the Christmas stats-from-spending-to- season? Are there any benefits in exhibiting a manger celebrating scene to our community? By JonLuke Toews C. Matthew 6:1,3 Take heed that ye do not your alms (when you give to the needy) before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven…. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 1. Does this verse ever apply to our gift giving (or fundraising?) 2. Is the Christmas season a good time to think about giving alms? D. Luke 6:35; Proverbs 25: 21-22; Luke 6:33 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 1. Share an experience where you gave a gift and knew you would get nothing in return. 2. Is Christmas not an open door to do good to our “enemies”? E. 2 Cor.6-7 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 1. Can you ever give too much? 2. Is it okay to be an “uncheerful” giver? Questions 1. If the Christmas season stresses us-- are we missing something about the true meaning of Christmas? 2. What is too much Christmas decoration? What is our view on Christmas lights, decor,etc.? 3. What happens to the people in the congregation that do not have very much family— should they be invited to other family celebrations? 4. Has the Christmas gift giving and consumerism in our country gone too far? How do we deal with it? 5. Do we view our personal talents as gifts that should be shared for other’s benefit to enjoy? Or is it easier to hide our talents in false humility? 1 Cor. 12:28-31 By JonLuke Toews .
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