Rev. David Holwick [not in original series]
American Christian School
Succasunna, New Jersey
December 7, 1994
2 Corinthians 9:6-9
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I. We enjoy getting gifts.
A. Long Christmas lists? (Calvin cartoon)
B. What is the best gift you ever got?
C. What was the worst?
1) (When I was a kid, we went outside Christmas day and
compared what we got with neighbors.)
II. More important to learn how to give gifts.
A. My wife does all shopping.
B. Your parents probably do most of yours.
1) Dad gets tie from you, you probably didn't realize it.
2) He likes it, but not same as something from YOU.
a) (Bill Cosby on whittling a stick for Mom)
C. Jesus - better to give than to receive.
ACT 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard
work we must help the weak, remembering the words the
Lord Jesus himself said:
'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
III. How to give God's way.
A. It should cost you something.
1) King David - 2 Samuel 24:24
But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying
you for it.
I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that
cost me nothing."
2) Not just borrowing from parents, but earning money or
making present from scratch.
2 Cor 8:12
For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable
according to what one has, not according to what he does
not have.
B. It should come from a cheerful and loving heart.
2 Cor 9:7
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give,
not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a
cheerful giver.
1) And a loving heart.
C. It should be given without expecting something in return.
1) Don't give, and look at it as if you wanted to keep it.
D. Best when you give something of yourself.
In December 1983, 11-year-old Trevor Ferrell saw a TV
news report on Philadelphia's inner-city homeless.
The young boy couldn't believe people actually lived on
the streets.
When he questioned his parents, Frank and Janet reluctantly
agreed to broaden their son's sheltered horizons -
- and their own.
They left their home in an exclusive suburb and drove
downtown.
One block past city hall, they spotted an emaciated figure
crumpled on a sidewalk grate.
While his parents watched a bit apprehensively, Trevor got
out of the car and approached the man.
"Sir," he said, "here's a blanket for you."
The man stared up at Trevor at first.
Then, he softly said, "Thank you, God bless you."
That encounter altered the Ferrells' lives forever.
Night after night they drove downtown, trying in small ways
to help the street people.
They emptied their home of extra blankets, clothing, and
dozens of peanut-butter sandwiches.
When others learned what they were doing, someone donated
a van and volunteers started helping.
Young Trevor found himself explaining what they were doing
to the local media, then to the nation.
Pat Robertson, Merv Griffin, Mother Teresa, Ronald Reagan
- all wanted to meet the small boy with the big mission.
He told them simply,
"It's Jesus inside of me that makes me want to do this."
#731
IV. We can't out-give God.
A. Best gift of all - Jesus.
2 Cor 9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
B. Salvation is a gift, not earned by being good.
1) Santa Claus song (naughty or nice) is bad theology.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and
this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
not by works, so that no one can boast.
2) God loves everybody, both good and bad, but only those who
receive Jesus' gift will go to heaven.
C. Those who know Jesus should be generous from the heart.
1) It is our way of saying "Thank You" to him.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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