From Secular to Sacred

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From Secular to Sacred

• From Santa to Savior
• From Holiday to Holy Day
• From Decoration to Devotion
• From Getting to Giving

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From Getting to Giving
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• CHRISTMAS CAN BE A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT FOR PEOPLE
  WHO FOCUS ON GETTING, BUT IT CAN BE A GREAT
  BLESSING FOR THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THE PRIVILEGE
  OF GIVING.

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I Want (Getting)

• Self-Centeredness
• The Me Generation
• Whats in it for me?

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• A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small
  bundle. Benjamin Franklin

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Love Yourself
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• The Bible never tells us to love ourselves!

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? Matthew 2237-40

• Jesus replied "'Love the Lord your God with all
  your heart and with all your soul and with all
  your mind.' This is the first and greatest
  commandment. And the second is like it 'Love
  your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and
  the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

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? Ephesians 528-29

• In this same way, husbands ought to love their
  wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife
  loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his
  own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as
  Christ does the church-

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? Luke 923

• Then he said to them all "If anyone would come
  after me, he must deny himself and take up his
  cross daily and follow me.

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What You Are In Christ
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I Want (Getting)

• Self-Centeredness
• Materialism
• Want Lists Letters to Santa
• The more we get, the more we want.

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I Want (Getting)

• Self-Centeredness
• Materialism
• Christmas Satire
• Mr. Scrooge
• The Grinch
• Green Christmas

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• There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of
  every man which cannot be filled by any created
  thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known
  through Jesus Blaise Pascal

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I Want (Getting)

• Self-Centeredness
• Materialism
• Christmas Satire
• The Best Gift -2 Corinthians 915

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? 2 Corinthians 915

• Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

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I Want to Share (Giving)

• The Lord Jesus himself said, It is more blessed
  to give than to receive. -Acts 2035

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I Want to Share (Giving)

• Christmas Customs
• St. Nicholas
• Little Drummer Boy

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I Want to Share (Giving)

• Christmas Customs
• Biblical Images
• The Wise Men
• The Macedonians

Macedonians??
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? 2 Corinthians 8 and 9

• Please turn in your Biblesto 2 Corinthians,
  chapter 8.

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I Want to Share (Giving)

• Christmas Customs
• Biblical Images
• Biblical Teaching
• The Desire to Give Comes From God 2
  Corinthians 81, 5-9

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The Desire To Give Comes From God2 Corinthians
81, 5-9

• - A special kind of grace

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The Desire To Give Comes From God2 Corinthians
81, 5-9

• - A special kind of Grace
• ? From devotion to the Lord
• Gave themselves first to the Lord
• Excel in the grace of giving

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The Desire To Give Comes From God2 Corinthians
81, 5-9

• A special kind of Grace
• From devotion to The Lord
• From the example of The Lord
• Though He was rich, for your sakes He became poor
• So that you might become rich

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I Want to Share (Giving)

• Christmas Customs
• Biblical Images
• Biblical Teaching
• The Desire to Give Comes From God
• The Ability to Give Is Universal 2 Corinthians
  82-3

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The Ability To Give Is Universal2 Corinthians
82-3

• Extreme poverty
• Gave beyond their ability

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I Want to Share (Giving)

• Christmas Customs
• Biblical Images
• Biblical Teaching
• The Desire to Give Comes From God
• The Ability to Give Is Universal
• The Act of Giving Is A Privilege 2 Corinthians
  84 912-15

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? Matthew 2534-40

• Please turn in your Biblesto this passage.

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What Can We Give?Certainly not just money

• Give our hearts to The Lord
• Give Love for everyone Family, church family,
  friends, coworkers, strangers, enemies
• Give a godly example (like the Macedonians)
• Give our service Time and talent
• Give our prayers

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