The Great Exchange

Christmas Breakfast

Wasn’t that great?

Beau:

Keep the change

Have you ever given a gift that was maybe way better or cooler than a gift that you received?

Have you ever received a gift that you were maybe embarrassed by because the one you gave wasn’t the magnitude of the gift you received

For me growing up giving gifts

usually something hand made

probably something that eventually ended up in a trash can

The question for parents is how long do you have to hold onto something before it ends up in the trash?

My gifts to grandparents or my to my grandparents growing up were often gifts that were paid for with my parents money

discounted or on clearance from a department store

Or a picture of me in a frame that i found at the dollar store

I want to start doing that as an adult

Just getting pictures of myself and giving it to people

Here is my gift to you

That the gift that gives back

Am I right?

For one Christmas my parents got me a shiny new go cart

It was so awesome

I rememer the house we were in

Coming down the stairs in our garage and seeing that yellow go cart sitting there in the garage

It was magical!

Then I proceeded to terrorize the neighborhood as I ripped about thinking I could possibly the coolest kid on the planet

Now I don’t remember what the gifts were that I got my parents but undoubtably those gifts paled in comparison to the one they got me

The Birth of Jesus was the greatest gift exchange that has ever taken place

When Jesus was born

God himself entered into the earthly realm that he created

John 1:1–4 NKJV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Jesus was in the beginning, he was with God and he was God

Philippians 2:6–8 NKJV

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

He re-clothed himself

And being found in the appearance as a man

KJV: Fashion of man

The Greek word Schema: the habitus, as comprising everything in a person which strikes the senses, the figure, bearing, discourse, actions, manner of life etc.

Matthew 1:23 NKJV

23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Jesus took on the likeness of man:

our emotions

our temptations

all of the same things you and I deal with

He lived a perfect life

He endured an incredible death on a cross

After knowing no sin, He became for us

2 Corinthians 5:17–18 NKJV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

I want you to think about this

God made man in His image

Adam falls into sin and we no longer have communion with God

Jesus comes in the image of Man

Put sin upon himself by giving up His life for ours

So that we could have the choice to have communion with God again

That we could be like christ on this earth, without sin, in full communion with God

This is the great gift exchange

It was His life for our

He took the end we deserved and gave us a brand new life in HIm

Ephesians 2:1–8 NKJV

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

The greatest gift exchange that ever took place, was God giving His Son’S for your life

When you think about it

His gift is better than anything we could ever get

He just wants to have a relationship with you in exchange

So that you don’t have to live in bondage

Or sin

Or in poverty

Or in sickness

Or be eternally seperated from Him

That you can live the God kind of life

Gospel:

You might be thinking this is too good to be true

That’s literally what the word Gospel means

The good news

This is a life for life exchange

If you haven’t done so give Him your life this morning

I want to close in a prayer

If your saying How do I do that

How do I give my life this morning

John 3:16 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

It starts with a simple Prayer

Sinners Prayer:

Father God, I give you my life

I give you my heart, I give you my all

I repent today for my past

I thank you my sins are forgiven

I believe in Jesus and that he died on the cross and rose again

I make you the Lord and Savior of my life

I love you God

In Jesus name amen