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: Matthew 5:4 (New Testament)

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY:

God promises a way to joy in difficult situations.

GIFT EXCHANGE WEEK 1:

EXCHANGING GRIEF FOR JOY

I. JESUS

Reveal Answer

OUR EMOTIONS.

“’ … he has sent me to heal the broken hearted … ’” —Luke 4:18b
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…” —Isaiah 53:3a

Defining the emotions:
• “

is a feeling of deep distress cause by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered by oneself or others.” (Oxford Dictionary)
• “

Reveal Answer

is deep sorrow, especially that caused by someone’s death.” (Oxford Dictionary)

II. GOD THE FATHER IS

Reveal Answer

OF OUR EMOTIONS.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” —Psalm 34:18 (NLT)

A. God intimately

you.

“But he knows the way that I take: when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” —Job 23:10

B. God deeply

for you.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you..” —1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

III. GOD WANTS TO HELP YOU

Reveal Answer

WITH YOUR GRIEF.

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” —Psalm 55:22 (CSB)

A. Do …

1. Reveal Answer
   it go
2. Reveal Answer
   it to God

“’Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’” —Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB)

Stages of Grief:

1. Reveal Answer
   – Refusing to believe what has happened, feeling shocked. “This can’t be happening.”

2. Reveal Answer
   – Accusing others, such as God or your friends, for what has occurred. “How dare you let this happen!”

3. Reveal Answer
   – Asking God to “cut a deal” with you. “Just let me live to see my daughter get married.”

4. Reveal Answer
   – Experiencing listlessness or exhaustion combined with feelings of helplessness, guilt and lack of interest in life. “I might as well give up.”

5. Reveal Answer
   – Facing the loss and moving on to victory, returning to setting goals in your life and focusing your energy more positively. “I’m ready to deal with this now.”

Tweet and Share: “The situation may not get better; but you can get better in the situation.” @cityunitedchurch #bestdecemberevah

B. Don’t …

1. Reveal Answer
   it.

   “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish for his mercies never end. 23They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!” —Lamentations 3:22-23 (CSB)

2. Reveal Answer
   it

“Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.;” —Hebrews 12:15 (NLT)

IV. GOD’S POWER CAN

Reveal Answer

OUR GRIEF

“He heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds.” —Psalm 147:3

A. Through God’s

“Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.” —2 Corinthians 4:16 (CSB)

Discipline #1: Daily

from God

B. Through God’s

Reveal Answer

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.” —1 Thessalonians 5:11 (CSB)

Discipline #2: Daily

God with others

C. Through God’s

Reveal Answer

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you;” —John 14:16-17 (CSB)

Discipline #3: Daily

with God

CONCLUSION:

Are you ready to exchange your grief for joy?

“ … happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.” —Psalm 144:15b

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