Highlights of my sermon; "Greatest Christmas gift ever."
(This post is the highlights of the message this past Sunday; "The greatest Christmas gift ever.")
This week lots of Christmas gifts will be opened. And, there are a few gifts that are considered real "hot" items. For instance, a big screen tv would be nice. An ipad would be nice. A wii would be nice. But there is one item that would REALLY be nice & that's Mr. Potato head football player (seen below). I mean, it is THE gift this holiday season. 
Well let's imagine that you get one of those gifts or, you get a nice gift card. You are going to be happy. At some point Christmas day you are going to talk with a relative or a close friend and they will ask "How has Christmas been?" You will respond with something like "It's been the best Christmas ever" and, you may have had a wonderful Christmas but, the best Christmas ever was 2,000 years ago when God gave the world the gift of His son, Jesus. Luke 2:1-14 tells the story of the first Christmas.
The angels told the shepherds, "unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ, the Lord." Why did God send us a Savior?
I. To help us with a messed up past.
One of Elvis hit songs was "My way." Part of the lyrics to the song are:
"Regrets, I've had a few, but then again to few too mention."
Most of us have some regrets. There are things we would do different if we could
Recently I took a nostalgic trip through Southeastern Louisiana University. The campus has changed a lot since I was a student there in the early 80's but as I drove through campus, my mind went back to 1980 & 1981; when I attended S.L.U. During that time, I was majoring in "campusology." I was just having fun and enjoying college. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I had a special meeting with one of the Dean's.
I made some mistakes. My guess is that you have some as well.
At times, we can think God can't love us because we've made mistakes but that's not true. Jesus forgives us. God sent a Savior to help man with his messed up past.
There is nothing we have ever done that Jesus won't forgive.
Have you had pre-marital sex? Jesus will forgive.
Have you had an affair? Jesus will forgive.
Have you broken the law? Jesus will forgive.
Do you struggle with your thought life? Jesus will forgive.
Do you have an addiction to porn, drugs or alcohol? Jesus will forgive.
There is a quote I love that says "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start; anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."
II. To help us with a meaningless present.
Jesus said "I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly." Jesus wants us to ENJOY life. But let's be honest... so often we major on the "don'ts" of the Christian life as opposed to the "do's." I've struggled with this for years.
Transparency here: Before I became a minister, I loved to dance. I mean, I LOVED to dance. When I became minister, I was told I couldn't dance. That was a problem for me because I LOVED to dance. I mean, God didn't reach in and turn off "the boogies shoes" switch in me. So, I would hear a good song and I would pat my feet real fast... but I wouldn't dance.
For years I've thought a preacher had to act a certain way. And again, transparency: sometimes I would rather be "Gregg the Christian than 'Bro. Gregg'" the Pastor. So recently, I've decided that I'm going to focus on "Gregg the Christian" and if I take care of that, it will take care of "Bro. Gregg the Pastor." I love the Lord but I also want to enjoy life.
I think you do as well. Jesus wants us to enjoy life.
III. He came to save us from a miserable future.
Jesus gives us hope. Christmas can be a difficult time for some. If you have lost a loved one or gone through other trials, Christmas can be tough. Jesus came to give us hope. I'm not saying that all your pain is going to go away but, Jesus will help you deal with it this Christmas.
Someone
has written, “If our greatest need had been information, God would
have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been
money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had
been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our
greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.”
Imagine that it's Christmas day. You open all the gifts. But, there is one more gift under the tree. No one remembers wrapping that gift. You pick it up and the gift reads "To: You; From: God."
You carefully take the top off the gift and inside is a card. You pick the card up and it reads "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. That whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
God's gift to us is His Son, Jesus. Jesus loves us. Jesus accepts us. Jesus forgives us. He's the greatest Christmas gift ever.
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