Remember the reason for the season

2. From Secular to Sacred
• FFrroomm SSaannttaa ttoo SSaavviioorr
• FFrroomm HHoolliiddaayy ttoo HHoollyy DDaayy
• FFrroomm DDeeccoorraattiioonn ttoo DDeevvoottiioonn
• FFrroomm GGeettttiinngg ttoo GGiivviinngg

4. CHRISTMAS CAN BE A BIG
DISAPPOINTMENT FOR PEOPLE
WHO FOCUS ON GETTING, BUT IT
CAN BE A GREAT BLESSING FOR
THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THE
PRIVILEGE OF GIVING.

5. “I Want” (Getting)
 Self-Centeredness
The “Me Generation”
What’s in it for me?

6. “A man wrapped up
in himself makes a
very small bundle.”
– Benjamin Franklin

7. Love Yourself ???
The Bible never tells
us to love ourselves!

8.  Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind.' This is the first and
greatest commandment. And the second is
like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these
two commandments."

9.  Ephesians 5:28-29
In this same way, husbands ought to love
their wives as their own bodies. He who
loves his wife loves himself. After all, no
one ever hated his own body, but he feeds
and cares for it, just as Christ does the
church-

10.  Luke 9:23
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would
come after me, he must deny himself and
take up his cross daily and follow me.”

12. “I Want” (Getting)
 Self-Centeredness
 Materialism
 Want Lists – Letters
to Santa
The more we get, the
more we want.

13. “I Want” (Getting)
 Self-Centeredness
 Materialism
 Christmas Satire
 Mr. Scrooge
 The Grinch
 “Green Christmas”

14. “There is a God shaped vacuum in the
heart of every man which cannot be filled
by any created thing, but only by God,
the Creator, made known through Jesus”
– Blaise Pascal

15. “I Want” (Getting)
 Self-Centeredness
 Materialism
 Christmas Satire
 The Best Gift
-2 Corinthians 9:15

16.  2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be to God for his indescribable
gift!

17.  I Want to Share (Giving)
The Lord Jesus himself said,
“It is more blessed to give
than to receive.”
-Acts 20:35

18.  I Want to Share (Giving)
 Christmas Customs
 St. Nicholas
 “Little Drummer Boy”

19.  I Want to Share (Giving)
 Christmas Customs
 Biblical Images
 The Wise Men
 The Macedonians

20.  2 Corinthians 8 and 9
Please turn in your Bibles
to 2 Corinthians, chapter 8.

21.  I Want to Share (Giving)
 Christmas Customs
 Biblical Images
 Biblical Teaching
 The Desire to Give Comes From God
2 Corinthians 8:1, 5-9

22. The Desire To Give Comes From God
2 Corinthians 8:1, 5-9
- A special kind of grace

23. The Desire To Give Comes From God
2 Corinthians 8:1, 5-9
- A special kind of Grace
 From devotion to the Lord
- Gave themselves first to the Lord
- Excel in the grace of giving

24. The Desire To Give Comes From God
2 Corinthians 8:1, 5-9
- A special kind of Grace
From devotion to The Lord
From the example of The Lord
- Though He was rich, for your sakes He
became poor
- So that you might become rich

25.  I Want to Share (Giving)
 Christmas Customs
 Biblical Images
 Biblical Teaching
 The Desire to Give Comes From God
 The Ability to Give Is Universal
2 Corinthians 8:2-3

26. The Ability To Give Is Universal
2 Corinthians 8:2-3
- Extreme poverty
- Gave beyond their ability

27.  I Want to Share (Giving)
 Christmas Customs
 Biblical Images
 Biblical Teaching
 The Desire to Give Comes From God
 The Ability to Give Is Universal
 The Act of Giving Is A Privilege
2 Corinthians 8:4; 9:12-15

28.  Matthew 25:34-40
Please turn in your Bibles
to this passage.

29. What Can We Give?
Certainly not just money
• Give our hearts to The Lord
• Give Love for everyone – Family, church
family, friends, coworkers, strangers,
enemies
• Give a godly example (like the
Macedonians)
• Give our service – Time and talent
• Give our prayers