A Christmas Sermon For Pastors
The Gift That Changed Everything
Key
Text
John 3:16
Acts 20:35
Opening
Scripture Reading
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Acts 20:35
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Introduction
Christmas is the most celebrated
season in the world, yet it is often the most misunderstood. We speak of gifts,
we exchange gifts, we look forward to receiving gifts, but at its very core,
Christmas is not about receiving. It is about giving.
The very first Christmas was not
marked by what humanity offered to God, but by what God offered to humanity. He
gave. He gave not out of excess, but out of love. He gave not something He
could replace, but someone He cherished. God gave His Son.
If we want to understand Christmas
rightly, we must slow down and focus on the word given. Everything about our
faith flows from it. Everything about love is revealed through it. Everything
about how we are called to live is shaped by it.
Today, we will look at three simple
but life-changing truths. God is a giver. Love is proven through giving. And we
are most blessed when we give as Christ gave.
Point
One
God Is a Giver by Nature
James 1:17
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the
heavenly lights.”
From the very beginning of
Scripture, God is revealed as a giver. He gives life, breath, provision,
purpose, and hope. Creation itself is an act of generosity. Salvation is the
greatest expression of that generosity.
Romans 8:32 tells us that God did
not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all. This tells us something
profound about God. He does not hold back. He does not ration grace. He does
not calculate worthiness before giving.
Christmas reminds us that God did
not wait for the world to clean itself up. He gave while we were still broken.
He gave while we were still lost. He gave while we were still undeserving.
The manger teaches us that love
always moves toward others. God gave first. He always does.
Point
Two
Love Is Proven Through Action, Not
Words
1 John 3:16 to 18
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And
we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters… let us not love
with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
Christmas love is not sentimental.
It is sacrificial. Jesus did not simply speak love from heaven. He stepped into
humanity. He entered our suffering. He shared our weakness.
That same love now calls us to
action. Proverbs 19:17 says that whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.
When we give to others, God receives it as though it were given directly to
Him.
Jesus reinforced this truth when He
said, “Give, and it will be given to you.” Not because giving earns blessing,
but because giving aligns our hearts with God’s heart.
At Christmas, love looks like seeing
the lonely, feeding the hungry, welcoming the forgotten, and serving without
applause. Love shows up. Love gives.
Point
Three
It Is More Blessed to Give Than to
Receive
Acts 20:35
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
These words of Jesus cut against
everything our culture teaches. The world tells us happiness comes from getting
more. Jesus tells us joy comes from giving more.
2 Corinthians 9:6 to 7 reminds us
that God loves a cheerful giver. God is not impressed by the size of the gift.
He delights in the posture of the heart.
Matthew 6 teaches us to give
quietly, without seeking recognition. Why? Because the greatest reward of
giving is not applause, but transformation. Giving changes us. It loosens our
grip on material things and strengthens our trust in God.
Hebrews 13:16 tells us that sharing
with others is a sacrifice that pleases God. Giving becomes worship. It becomes
a reflection of Christ Himself.
At Christmas, when we give freely,
we experience something deeper than excitement. We experience alignment with
heaven.
Illustration
The Manager and the Cross
The manger points forward to the
cross. Both are acts of giving. At the manger, God gave His Son to the world.
At the cross, Jesus gave His life for the world.
Neither gift was wrapped in comfort.
Both were wrapped in love.
Christmas reminds us that true
giving is costly, but it is always worth it. The greatest gifts often come
quietly, humbly, and sacrificially.
Application
How Do We Live This Out
We give our time by being present.
We give our compassion by listening.
We give our resources by meeting needs.
We give our forgiveness by extending grace.
We do not give to earn God’s love.
We give because we have already received it.
Conclusion
Christmas returns every year to
remind us of one unchanging truth. God so loved the world that He gave.
He gave His Son so that we might
live. He gave His Son so that we might know love. He gave His Son so that we
might learn how to give.
The world may celebrate Christmas by
measuring what is received, but the church celebrates Christmas by remembering
what was given.
As we leave today, may we carry the
heart of Christmas with us. May we love our neighbors. May we serve quietly.
May we give generously. And may we never forget that the greatest blessing we
can experience is found not in receiving, but in giving.
Because it truly is more blessed to
give than to receive.
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