"The Gift-Giver!" (1st Sunday of Advent)

"The Gift-Giver!"

First Sunday of Advent 2010

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Pastor Jerry Ingalls

November 28, 2010

God's word to His children for this first Sunday of Advent. From 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written: 'They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.' ¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. ¹² This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ¹³ Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. ¹⁴ And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"

Why do we give gifts at Christmas?

Why do you think? [Pull out your sermon notes and write down 3 reasons why you give gifts at Christmas and then turn to your neighbor and discuss; Play Christmas music.]

1.

2.

3.

So, why do we do it? I am going to be coming around and asking you what your cluster came up with. I want honest answers here…I know everyone has their church face on, but I want to know your motivation. At the end of the day why do you give gifts?

1. tradition (family, cultural)
2. it makes others happy
3. it makes me feel good
4. it’s fun (happiness and satisfaction)
5. I like to shop and this is a great excuse!

[Interview throughout the Worship Center]

In the church community and in our culture as a whole, so often we find ourselves doing things because that’s what we do; that’s what we always have done. We need to think critically about why we do and know why we do it.

Let's look at what the Bible teaches about giving good gifts...We give gifts because God first gave to us!

God is the greatest Gift-Giver ever, who gave us life! We have nothing without God! He gave each of us the most amazing gift of all—not only this physical body and all that we need to survive, but most importantly reconciliation through His Son Jesus Christ! God is our protector from all evil, our provider of all that we need, and the one who pardons us from sin for eternal life, our pardoner.

Our LORD Jesus Christ in the Gospel of John 3:16-17 proclaims, “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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Jesus is without hesitation stating that He is The Gift of God to the world…to all of humanity…that is you and me! That is the exclamation at the end of our Scripture lesson today, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Paul is shouting at the top of his lungs for the world to know that Jesus Christ is the Indescribable Gift! We love and give gifts because God is the great Gift-Giver. He is the one who has taught us about love. As the Bible teaches in 1 John 4:19, "We love because he first loved us."

The Gift that is beyond all human words to describe is Himself! The great I AM gave Himself so that we may know Him and be in a relationship for eternity with Him! The Bible teaches in Colossians 1:15: “He is the image of the invisible God.” And again in 1:19: “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.”

This is the Christmas Miracle--the gift of the Incarnation—God who is spirit took on flesh--God humbled Himself to become a human through natural child birth…a helpless little baby born in a barn with animals and all that comes with them. He was completely dependent on Mary and Joseph…the God who all life is dependent on chose to become dependent on His creation in the frail form of a baby!

We give gifts because God first gave to us and second, because we are called to be like God!

We should give gifts because we are called and empowered to be like our Heavenly Father who only gives good gifts. Jesus Christ states in the Gospel of Matthew 7:9-12, “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Friends, as children of God, we should not only give gifts, but we should give good gifts! As children of God we are striving in our lives to be more and more like our Heavenly Father and whenever we give good gifts to other it not only honors God, but it serves as a witness of God’s glory as the one true Gift-Giver!

James stated in James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” When we choose to make decisions that lead us to be more and more like God, then each decision we make leads to a fuller life in Jesus Christ. God calls us to be like Jesus Christ and to live an Incarnational life!

Do you know what that means...to live an Incarnational Life? I talked about the Incarnation earlier…that was when God, who is Spirit, took on flesh and became a human being—that is the Christmas miracle. We partake in the Christmas miracle when we become the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to this world! When we go to our friends, coworkers, and family with the same kind of love that God showed us in Jesus Christ! This is how God works through us…it is called “incarnational ministry!”

Are you a gift to your family, friends, coworkers? No matter how young or old you are, it’s never too late to start being a gift and giving gifts!

Are you having trouble selecting that perfect gift for someone? Last year, my wife forwarded me an email with some suggestions…maybe she was trying to give me a hint:

• The gift of listening. No interrupting, no planning your response. Just listening.

• The gift of affection. Being generous with affirming feelings, thoughts, and as appropriate with a hug.

• The gift of laughter. Sharing funny stories and jokes. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”

• The gift of a written note. Expressing in a brief, handwritten note your appreciation or affection. An email isn’t always enough…break out the old paper and pen and blow of the dust.

• The gift of a compliment. Sincerely saying, “You look great today” or “You are special” can bring a smile.

We are called and empowered to be like God and one life-giving choice you can make today is to give good gifts with the same kind of love and generosity; with a cheerful heart, with a smile on your face! Don’t give sparingly…give generously!

In our Scripture lesson, verses 6-7, the Apostle Paul challenges us to be this kind of gift. He states,

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Friends, life is the greatest gift God has given us and He gave us eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ! Freely received, freely given! Become a witness of God’s Gift by giving it away in word and deed!

Are you living a life that reflects the love of God?

We give gifts because…God first gave to us; …we are called to be like God; and…lastly because we are giving thanks to God!

What are we giving thanks for? Listen to Paul’s proclamation in Romans 6:23, “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Shouldn’t our lives be overflowing with thanksgiving when we experience the love of the Gift-Giver, our heavenly Father?

We have been given the grace of God! When we live in thanksgiving to God for everything we have then we live lives of gratitude and generosity. And truly that is the context of Paul’s great exclamation in 2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

Prior to this great exclamation, Paul states in versus 11-13, “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.”

Here is the bottom line: We are a generous and joyful people! We are gift-givers ourselves because our daddy in Heaven is the greatest gift-giver of all. And we are to be like Him! This is who we are as the children of God. That means our conduct must catch up to who we are! We are called to live generous lives and to give cheerfully! Our lives bring glory to God because we are giving thanks to Him for who He is!

And the greatest compliment you can give anyone is imitation! Not just one day a year, but every day of our lives! It is my prayer that Christmas will not be the only time you give good gifts, but that we each will decide today that we will be generous and cheerful givers in every aspect of our lives--in our time, treasures, and talents.

Because that is the power of The Gift! Because this is who we are when we know the Gift-Giver as our loving heavenly Father who has made us His children through the indescribable gift of His Son Jesus Christ!

Our lives are forever changed by the love of God and the extravagance of His Indescribable Gift!

The gift of LIFE! The gift of LOVE! The gift of FORGIVENESS! The gift of SALVATION! The gift of GRACE! These are all gifts from the Gift-Giver!

Never forget: YOU CANNOT OUTGIVE GOD! You will be amazed at what God will do in your life when you live a generous lifestyle and learn to give cheerfully!

The Christmas miracle is all year long! If you receive this great gift today, then the Christmas miracle is yours for eternity!

"The Life of Grace!" Philippians 4:21-23

"The Life of Grace!"

Captivated by Christ: An expository sermon series on Paul's Letter to the Church in Philippi (message #31)

Pastor Jerry Ingalls

November 21, 2010

The Word of God from Philippians 4:21-23 (NIV), "Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen." [Prayer]

Paul concludes his letter to the Philippians with not only a traditional greetings to those he is writing, he is reminding them of the source and inspiration of their very lives—the grace of God through the final atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ! His final word to them is to live their lives in and through the grace of God! And if there is anything that should mark our lives, our attitudes and actions toward ourselves and others, it is the grace of God.

From these closing verses, let’s learn what Paul would have us remember in his final words. First, THE LIFE OF GRACE UNITES US AS THE ONE PEOPLE OF GOD!

As we study this letter we learn very quickly there is one determinant for our unity! We are the people of God called together by the grace of God! May we learn today, and live out every day, that what God says is set apart as one for one mission should not be torn apart. We are chosen to be one! We must know who and why we are!

Paul’s closing greeting starts in Philippians 4:21-22, “Greet all God’s people [hagios] in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.”

Paul is using a literary technique called a bookend. When we look at the opening greetings of this letter in Philippians 4:1-3 we see that Paul is closing his letter as he started it. “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people [hagios] in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul is not simply sending greetings to and from, he is reminding the Philippians of the source and purpose for their fellowship in Jesus Christ--the grace of God through the Lord Jesus Christ which is for all people. Paul is taking an ordinary greeting opportunity and transforming it into a reminder of the extraordinary purposes of God!

Christians need to understand that God’s grace did not begin with the Cross, though that is where we experienced the ultimate expression and culmination of grace! There are not two different gods in the Bible (the god of the Old Testament and the god of the New Testament); there is only one true God and He is the God of grace. We see God’s grace thousands of years before the coming of the Savior of all humanity, the Lord Jesus Christ, with the choosing of a people who would be the holy ones of God; a people set apart for an extraordinary purpose.

The mission of God is heard in the words of Moses from Deuteronomy 7:6-8, “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

In the first five books of the Old Testament, from Genesis to Deuteronomy, from the Patriarchs starting in Genesis 12 to the nation of Israel at the end of Deuteronomy, we see God choosing the unlikely and placing them in unlikely circumstances so that the grace of God could be made known to all people. God’s power is put on display through His chosen people, even when the holy ones are less than deserving of God’s choosing—that’s why it is grace, it is undeserved favor!

This grace of God continues throughthe nation of Israel as we see Joshua succeed Moses and bring the chosen people of God into the Promised Land; as we see the Judges, called and empowered by God, saving the people time after time during a time where God’s peculiar people were acting like rebellious children; as we listen to the people beg for a king so that they wouldn’t be so peculiar and God relents and appoints the great prophet and last Judge Samuel to anoint Saul and then David as the first and second kings of Israel. We watch God’s grace pour over the nation even as the kingdom divides after Solomon. God sends prophet after prophet to the 12 tribes even as the northern 10 tribes are utterly decimated by the Assyrian Empire in 722 BC and then again as the southern 2 tribes called Judah are taken into exile and Jerusalem is destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. But God’s grace does not relent even in these, the most unlikely of circumstances. With 10 tribes destroyed 140 years earlier and now the final 2 tribes in Babylon with a small remnant in Jerusalem, God speaks these words of grace through the Prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 proclaims, "'This is the [new] covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares the LORD. ‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’”

And this new covenant promised by God through the prophet Jeremiah in the 6^th century BC is fulfilled through Jesus Christ in the 1^st century AD. Through the chosen people of God, the nation of Israel, God sends His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to call forth a peculiar people who would proclaim the grace of God through the forgiveness of their sins and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Just at the time when all looked lost, God fulfilled His ancient promise to set apart a people for His extraordinary purposes—the Mission of God!

In Romans 10:11-13, Paul quotes two prophets in exclaiming the glory of God’s revelation in the New Covenant, established through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. Paul states, “As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ [this is from Isaiah 28:6 and is a prophecy of the Messiah, the one who would come and is Jesus Christ] For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved [this is the promise of God from the Prophet Joel 2:32 that there would be no barriers to grace; it is available to all!].’”

The grace of God that has been made known through Abraham to Moses, from Samuel to Jeremiah is the same grace triumphantly made accessible to all people through the gospel of Jesus Christ. And Paul’s life proclaims that this grace cannot be chained! Paul may be in chains for defending the gospel, but the grace, the peace that transcends all human understanding, the indestructible joy, the power of the gospel cannot be chained! God’s mission will not be deterred! The grace of God testifies that God will use any person in any circumstance to declare His love and power to save!

Paul’s testimony proclaims that God uses unlikely people and their unlikely circumstances to proclaim the glory of God’s name to the world. God chooses us and uses us in our every day circumstances to bring the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to the people we encounter.

All of that to say this: Paul was an unlikely man who once was the enemy and persecutor of the followers of Jesus Christ! He ends up in jail in Rome after being shipwrecked, after being betrayed and beaten by his own people. All so that the power of God’s salvation may be offered to the slaves and free servants of Caesar’s household (not his family, but the Roman civil service to include the elite guard of Caesar).

If God will take the unlikeliest of people like Paul and the unlikeliest of circumstances, God is also using you and your life circumstances. This is not performance; this is grace! God will use you…YOU are the mission of God!

The grace of God is the power of God to save through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ! The grace of God is God’s gift of unmerited love and acceptance; this is not a righteousness you can earn through good works or religious conduct; rather, this is the imputed righteousness through the shed blood of the Son of God on the Cross of Calvary! God’s gift!

When we respond to this grace, we are forever called the holy ones—the people of God—and regardless of human divide we are united by grace for the Mission of God! God declares of us in 1 Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

We are now the people of God! And now you see to what great length God went for you to be one of his chosen people—a holy one, a saint, one set apart for the same extraordinary mission He called Abraham, Israel, Moses, David, Isaiah or Jeremiah. How dare we allow anything of this world (including our own ideas and preferences) to divide us! AT WHAT COST!?! We are united because God has called us together through over 4000 years of grace. It is only in our ignorance and pride that we dare to separate that which God has brought together! [Reference Discussion Question #2]

We owe our very lives to the grace of God and that is our final point of not only this message, but in this 31 week expository sermon series on Paul’s letter to the holy people in Christ Jesus in Philippi. THE LIFE OF GRACE IS THE GRACE OF LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST!

Paul’s letter is a rich teaching which is a call for the followers of Jesus Christ to unite against external attacks and internal controversies. Paul’s letter is a call to the people of God to anchor their lives on the only true source of life—the grace of God triumphantly demonstrated and manifested in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This is the power of God to save all humanity! Paul’s concluding prayer of blessing (benediction) in Philippians 4:23, “The grace [charis] of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” To understand the grace of God, you must understand the life that is only available through faith in Jesus Christ.

The grace of God is the uniting power of our lives; we are first united to God and then to one another! And this unity is available to anyone no matter their national or ethnic origin, no matter their former way of life or current situation. We were once not a people, but we are now the people of God through the grace of life in Jesus Christ!

Let’s let God’s word teach us about the power of grace to give life! From Ephesians 2:1-10, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

You are called holy because of grace and for the very mission of grace! Do you have the grace of eternal life in Jesus Christ? Do you live the life of grace?

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What is grace? Discuss what it means to live the life of grace. How does grace change the way you view yourself, others, and the dynamics of human relationships?

2. What, if any, barriers are you aware of in your heart and mind that prevents you from having healthy spiritual relationships with your brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ? Within our family at FBC? Within the diversity of churches in our community? Across the political and social spectrums of Christians in the USA? Across the cultural, nationality, and ideological differences of Christ-followers throughout the world?

3. For further study on the covenant relationship between all of God’s chosen people, please read and discuss Romans 11.