The High Cost of Christmas

Philippians 2:1–11 (ESV)

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (5)Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (9)Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Today were going to continue our “Christ has come”Series where we are talking about the christmas story

and i want to talk to you about what I think is a relavant topic this morning..

that being the high cost of christmas.

Inflation

Those of you who have already started to shop have you noticed how everything has gone up..

things we could have gotten for a few dollars just a couple years ago are now craxy expensive..

and things that were cheap even in my childhood are now outrageous..

Champion. ..

when I was a kid you could go to k mart and buy champion sweatshirts for 5 bucks..

and now eveyone wants them and they are $50..

Its crazy how expensive things have gotten..

and it means that things like christmas can get expensive quick..

and this is just general christmas stuff..

Illustation

but have you ever given a gift that that one gift cost you greatly but was more than worth it?

Maybe you paid a lot of money for it..

or you spent weeks searching for it in every store or website..

or maybe you waited in line from midnight to 9am until the store opened?

and got trampled by the black friday masses..

but you didnt care because when you the person receving that gift opened it up..

their reaction made all of it worth it..

it was a gift that now you look back on it.. and you cvant remeber how much it cost.. but you remember that moment you gave it..

Point

What made that gift worth giving or doing anything you had to do to get it?

The outcome..

The outcome made the cost worth the sacrifice…

The cost of Christmas

Mary

Her youth

Her Reputation

Bethleham

all of the baby boys under 2

The Cost of Jesus

You know many of us have heard the christmas story so much that its become second nature..

we can quote.. and tell it..

we know the ins and outs of the story..

Hollywood has even told it over and over again..

numb

but I think that sometimes we get so familair with the story of christmas..

that we forget the signifigance and cost of christmas..

ex

just like when your shopping for family..

and you’re finding so many great presents that you come to a point where you look at the bank account and realize youve spent every dollar!

You were so close to the action of gift buying.. you became numb to the cost of what you were buying!

Christmas.

and I think if were not careful..

we can all get that way through this season..

We can get so caught up in the action of christmas, that we forget the true Cost of christmas..

Jesus came to earth..

Philippians 2:6 ESV

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Jesus vacated the throne of heaven to come for you and I..

Jesus became flesh...

Philippians 2:7 ESV

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Jesus took on the form of mankind…

Jesus humbled himself..

Philippians 2:8a (ESV)

And being found in human form, he humbled himself ....by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

he was born in a manger..

Jesus came knowing he was going to give his life..

Philippians 2:8b (ESV)

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

You see the reason Jesus was born.. was so he could later give it.. his life..

What made the cost worth it?

You...

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Luke 15:7 ESV

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.