Redeemer Church Mauritius
Christmas is About Giving & Receiving - Phil Kendon
Christmas is a season when we remind ourselves of the gift that God has given us in Jesus. There is something radical and extravagant about the incarnation - God made flesh in the person of Jesus. And there is also something radical and extravagant about the response that gift generates in our hearts back towards God. We can offer our bodies to God. And our obedience. And our example. But the ultimate response to the ultimate gift is to offer up our lives in worship to God.
Locations & Times
Redeemer Church Mauritius
Mauritius
Sunday 9:30 AM
1. God gave his most treasured possession
John 3:16 (NIV)
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.
There is no more valuable gift God could have given.
John 3:16 (NIV)
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.
There is no more valuable gift God could have given.
2. God gave us every spiritual blessing
Romans 8:32 (NIV)
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Through Christ we have all the spiritual blessings, like forgiveness, adoption…
Romans 8:32 (NIV)
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Through Christ we have all the spiritual blessings, like forgiveness, adoption…
3. God paid the ransom
1 Timothy 2:5–6 (NIV)
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
God made a hostage exchange – his Son for us.
1 Timothy 2:5–6 (NIV)
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
God made a hostage exchange – his Son for us.
4. The Magi set the example
Matthew 2:1–12 (NIV)
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” … On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
They offered gifts in worship of Jesus and we can offer gifts too.
Matthew 2:1–12 (NIV)
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” … On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
They offered gifts in worship of Jesus and we can offer gifts too.
5. Offer up your body
Romans 6:13 (NIV)
Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.
Offer every part of your body in worship to God.
Romans 6:13 (NIV)
Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.
Offer every part of your body in worship to God.
6. Offer up your obedience
Romans 6:16 (NIV)
Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Make a free will decision to treat everything God requires of you as something to do without any other option.
Romans 6:16 (NIV)
Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Make a free will decision to treat everything God requires of you as something to do without any other option.
7. Offer up your example
2 Thessalonians 3:9 (NIV)
We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.
Even if you have only been a Christian for a very short time, you have been a Christian longer than someone else.
2 Thessalonians 3:9 (NIV)
We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.
Even if you have only been a Christian for a very short time, you have been a Christian longer than someone else.
8. Offer up your life
Matthew 10:39 (NIV)
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Let your work and your everyday life be an offering to God.
Matthew 10:39 (NIV)
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Let your work and your everyday life be an offering to God.
Remember:
Let your whole life be an act of worship in honour of God’s indescribable gift.
Let your whole life be an act of worship in honour of God’s indescribable gift.
