St. Timothy's Church

December 24, 2010

The Rev. W. Terry Sweeney

Luke 2.1-20

The Gift

6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Lord Jesus, bless us with your Holy Spirit and changes us with your word this very night. Amen.

Merry Christmas! Welcome to St. Timothy's Church.

[Ask the children to come forward]

There's a table sitting behind me. What do you see? (gifts – presents)

What do you notice about them? (different sizes, one is wrapped in paper)

I wonder what could be in them? (variety of answers)

Will you be getting any presents? Have you already got some?

Are you excited?

When I was younger I remember that on Christmas Eve I could hardly sleep I was so excited. I kept wondering what gifts might be waiting for me under our Christmas tree in the morning. I would wake up early and run to the living room and there they were!

I could hardly catch my breath!

What do I have in my hand? (A Woody)

This belongs to one of our sons. . . . he's had it a long time. See one hand is missing.

At one time Woody could have been a favorite toy. Played with often – maybe everyday. But actually we just ran across him the other day. He's been stored away for years.

That's what happens with most toys – they wear out or go out of date or we out grow them and then they're put away or sold in garage sales.

What if I told you that God has a gift for you that never wears out or gets old or you out grow it? What if God could give you a gift that would last forever?

What if this gift from God came to you because he loves you very much?

What if this gift was meant for you to take with you every day, every where you went?

I suspect you'd really like this gift.

In fact I suspect this gift would become your very best gift for the rest of your life!

You see, if God were to give you that gift, I wonder if you'd take it?

The gift he has for you has been sometimes thrown away.

But if you keep God's gift to you real close and take it every where you go you'll start to look and act like God's gift; you'll love God's gift more and more. And God's gift will love you back.

The gift God has for you is His Son: Jesus.

Jesus is a gift that only God can give.

And He gives Jesus to us if we ask Him for Jesus.

It's like asking your mom or dad for a skateboard or an XBOX or ipod.

The difference is that mom or dad may not give us what we asked for.

When we ask for the gift of Jesus God always gives us Jesus.

My hope for you is that either sometime tonight or tomorrow morning you have the joy of opening up some really neat gifts.

But I also hope your parents remember to tell you about a gift that only God can give you and that's the gift of His Son Jesus.

One gift will wear out or be outgrown and stored away as a memory;

The gift of Jesus is for ever, a gift that gets better as you get older. A gift that's with you when your happy or sad, afraid or carefree, sick or well.

Jesus is the gift that we grow to love more and more if we keep Him close to us.

Born in a stable, laid in a manger, wrapped in strips of cloth – angels and shepherds and kings came to worship Him because God sent His only begotten to save the world – to bring peace and justice.

Jesus is a priceless gift.

I hope you ask God to give Him to you. God bless you – Merry Christmas.

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