CHRISTMAS GIFTS
A Few of My Favorite Things #4
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
Sunday, December 24, 2023
1. GIVING IS CHRISTLIKE.
(Psalm 37:21, NLT) “The godly are generous givers.”
2. GIVING IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR SELF-CENTEREDNESS.
(Proverbs 18:1, CEV) “It’s selfish and stupid to think only of yourself…”
a. Our significance is in Christ.
b. Our security is in Christ.
c. Our graciousness is due to God’s grace in Christ.
3. GIVING ALWAYS INVOLVES A RELATIONSHIP.
(2 Corinthians 9:10–11, NLT) “God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.”
(John 3:16, KJV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
For God – The Greatest Lover
So loved – The Greatest Degree
The world – The Greatest Company
That He gave – The Greatest Act
His only begotten Son – The Greatest Gift
That whoever – The Greatest Opportunity
Believes – The Greatest Simplicity
In Him – The Greatest Attraction
Should not perish – The Greatest Promise
But – The Greatest Difference
Have – The Greatest Certainty
Everlasting life – The Greatest Possession
4. GIVING IS THE CONSISTENT WAY OF THE ABUNDANT LIFE.
(Luke 6:38, Message) “Generosity begets generosity.”
5. GIVING BLESSES ME.
(Deuteronomy 15:10, NLT) “Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.”
(Psalm 112:5, NIV) “Good will come to those who are generous ….”
(Proverbs 11:24, NLT) “Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.”
(Proverbs 11:25, NLT) “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
6. GIVING IS AN ETERNAL INVESTMENT
(Luke 16:9, NLT) “Use your worldly resources to benefit others … In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven.”
(1 Timothy 6:18–19, LB) “Tell them to use their money to do good. … always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven—it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well.”
GROWTHWORK
1. Focus on attitude not how much you give.
(2 Corinthians 8:12, LB) “If you are really eager to give, then it isn’t important how much you have to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven’t.”
2. Be thoughtful.
(2 Corinthians 9:7, CEV) “Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give.”
3. Give freely
(2 Corinthians 9:7, CEV) “Don’t feel that you are forced to give.”
4. Give cheerfully.
(2 Corinthians 9:7, CEV) “God loves people who love to give.”