The Third Week of Advent

Hope

Love

Joy

Christmas 1976

Christmas 1977

The Christmas Gift

The Best Time for the GiftThe Giver

The Receiver

For something to be a gift 3 things are needed:

• A giver• A gift• A receiver

Why hasn’t ____________ accepted the gift of Christ?

Answers from the potential receiver’s perspective.

Why hasn’t ____________ accepted the gift of Christ?

1. I have never heard about the gift.

Tell them about the Gift of Christ.

Romans 10:14-15

How, then, can they [potential receivers] call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?And how can they preach unless they are sent?

Why hasn’t ____________ accepted the gift of Christ?

2. I don’t (fully) understand the gift.• Explain the Gift of Christ (the best

you can).

• There is always a leap/step of faith.

• It’s a mystery.

Why hasn’t ____________ accepted the gift of Christ?

3. I don’t want the gift.

• Pray for them.

Why hasn’t ____________ accepted the gift of Christ?

4. I don’t need the gift. • I’m good enough. (because I’m not a bad person). –Explain God’s standards.

Luke 18:27-29

A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?“"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good-- except God alone.

4. I don’t need the gift.

• I’m good enough.• I’m not good enough. (“I’m not worthy.”)

To those who feel they are not good enough (unworthy) for the gift:

• No one is worthy. Christ makes us worthy. • God’s grace is infinitely bigger than our largest

mistake/sin.• John 3:16 “Whoever believes in him” means “whoever believes in him.”• Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Mark 2:15-17

That night Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to be his dinner guests, along with his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious sinners. (There were many people of this kind among the crowds that followed Jesus.)

Mark 2:15-17

But when some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with people like that, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with such scum?"

Mark 2:15-17

When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor-- sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough."

To those who feel they are not good enough (unworthy) for the gift:

• Moses• David• Paul

Why hasn’t ____________ accepted the gift of Christ?

1. I have never heard about the gift.2. I don’t (fully) understand the gift.3. I don’t want the gift.4. I don’t need the gift.• I’m good enough.• I’m not good enough.

Closing Question:

How many of you have ever re-gifted a gift?

The gift of Christ is the best re-gift that you can ever give!

This Christmas season is the perfect season for (potential) receivers.

We need to:• love them in the name of Christ• tell them about Christ• invite them to receive the gift of Christ