GIFT EXCHANGE
Discovering God’s Gifts at Christmas
Pastor Gary Moritz
pastor@cityunited.church
INTRODUCTION
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year! But let’s face it, it is one of the most stressful times as well. Many will wait with expectation to exchange tangible gifts from under the Christmas tree, but many will also miss the intangible gift that was given to us on THE TREE (the cross).
God is the exchanging God. He desires to exchange your imperfect feelings for His perfect “gift.” He takes those who have nothing and gives them everything. He takes your negative feelings and exchanges them for something far better. He takes your fears and exchanges them for His peace.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” —James 1:17
In this teaching series you will discover:
Dec. 1 Exchanging Grief for Joy
Dec. 8 Exchanging Greed for Generosity
Dec. 17 Exchanging Hurts for Healing
Dec. 22 Exchanging Worry for Peace (Christmas Sunday)
Dec. 24 Exchanging Hopelessness for Hope (Christmas Eve)
Dec. 29 Exchanging Discouragement for Encouragement
TEXT: Philippians 4:14-23 (CSB, New Testament)
TODAY’S TAKEAWAY:
God designed us to be generous helpers, not greedy hoarders.
GIFT EXCHANGE WEEK 2:
EXCHANGING GREED FOR GENEROSITY
I. GOD
US GENEROSITY, NOT GREED (4:19)
A. God
“For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba’, Father!” 16The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17and if children, also heirs — heirs of God and coheirs with Christ — if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” —Romans 8:15-17
B. God
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” —Romans 8:31-32
C. God continually
“I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging for bread. 26He is always generous, always lending, and his children are a blessing.” —Psalm 37:25-26
D. God lets us
“The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord; 2for he laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers.” —Psalm 24:1
APPLICATION #1:
II. GOD
A SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY IN US, NOT GREED (4:15-18)
God promises to meet our financial needs, BUT …
A. We must be
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out.” —1 Timothy 6:6-7
B. We must ask for His
“Yet you do not have because you do not ask.” —James 4:2b
C. We must be
“Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.” —Ephesians 4:28
D. We must
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” —Matthew 6:33
E. We must
“Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.” —Proverbs 3:9-10
APPLICATION #2:
III. GOD
AND
GENEROSITY FROM US, NOT GREED (4:19-20)
“The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. 9As it is written: He distributed freely; He gave to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” —2 Corinthians 9:6-9 (Psalm 112:9; 1 John 2:17)
Obedient giving means to give at least the first 10% or more of your total gross income to God through the local church in a cheerful manner.
APPLICATION #3:
IV. OUR GENEROSITY SHOULD BENEFIT
KINGDOM, NOT
(4:21-23)
“Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. 11So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with what is genuine.” —Luke 16:10-11
APPLICATION #4: WE GIVE TO THE LOCAL
CONCLUSION: Are you going to exchange greed for giving in a cheerful way?
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