The Attitude of Christmas

What is your favorite part about Christmas?

Gifts-

Christ is our example when it comes to giving gifts and doing so willingly. He is our example

2 Cor

2 Corinthians 8:9 KJV 1900

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Jesus gave willingly, sacrificially, lovingly. And of course what Paul is talking about is the incarnation- He is talking about Christmas. The idea of Jesus being rich, and then becoming poor for our sakes is the incarnation. It is Jesus who existed as God taking on Himself a human nature. This is an amazing gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV 1900

15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

There is much for us to learn from this gift.

This morning I want us to focus on the attitude of Christmas, or the mindset of Christ. What was the attitude of Christ when He became poor for our sake?

The best place to see the attitude of Christmas is in

I want to look at three attitudes or mindsets that made Christmas possible.

The first attitude that made Christmas possible is:

I. The attitude of unity

Philippians 2:5 KJV 1900

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Let this mind, mindset, attitude that Christ had be the same mindset or attitude that you have. So the attitude that Christ had that made Christmas possible, is the same attitude that you and I also should have this Christmas season.

The first attitude of Christ is unity.

Philippians 2:6 KJV 1900

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Who (Christ Jesus), even though He was in the form of God (Equal in every way), did not count equality with God as something to hold on to

Who (Christ Jesus), even though He was in the form of God (Equal in every way), did not count equality with God something to be held on to

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Philippians 2:1 KJV 1900

1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Philippians 2:2 KJV 1900

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

That ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

John 6:38 KJV 1900

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

John 5:30 KJV 1900

30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 17:20–23 KJV 1900

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

John 17.20

Jesus had an attitude of unity in the act of Christmas. He was perfectly one with the Father. His purpose was to do the will of the Father. And nothing was more important that the Father’s will. The will of the Son and the will of the Father were one, they were unified. So much so, that Christ was willing to give up, to let go of the splendor and glory of heaven in order to accomplish the Father’s will.

So believer:

be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

This Christmas season will you purpose to have the mindset, the attitude of unity? What is keeping you from have a unified mindset with the will of God? What are you unwilling to give up in order to do the will of God? What are you holding on to? What is more important to you than doing God’s will?

The second attitude that made Christmas possible is:

II. The attitude of service

Philippians 2:7 KJV 1900

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Made Himself of no reputation- to make empty

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. κενόω

of divestiture of position or prestige: of Christ, who gave up the appearance of his divinity and took on the form of a slave

How? by giving up His position or prestige: Christ gave up the appearance of his divinity and took on the form of a slave

He did not give up his divinity, he did not stop being God, He veiled His glory and took on Himself another nature- the form of a slave- He was made in the likeness of men. This is the incarnation. Jesus is the God-man. He has two natures- fully God and fully man.

William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 539.

But what I want us to focus on is that Christ went from the form of God to the form of what? A servant…lit a slave.

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This mindset this attitude must be in you!

Philippians 2:4 KJV 1900

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Phil 2.

Look not every man on his own things (interests), but every man also on the things (interests) of others.

How was it possible that Christ was willing to go from the form of God to the form of a slave? It was possible because of his mindset, his attitude. Christ had the attitude of service.

Kids how many of you get into fights (arguments) with you brothers or sisters? Why do we do that? Why do we get into so many fights?

Proverbs 3:10 KJV 1900

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Proverbs 13:10 KJV 1900

10 Only by pride cometh contention: But with the well advised is wisdom.

We are thinking about our own interests, our own wants, and needs. We are thinking about what makes us happy. Is this an attitude of Christmas?

Look not every man on his own things (interests), but every man also on the things (interests) of others.

We can never fully understand what it was like for Christ to empty Himself by talking upon Himself the form of a servant. What an awesome example for us! To have that kind of mindset or attitude towards others.

How about you? Do you have the attitude of service? Or are you focused on your own interests?

I heard this statement recently: “The more you worship something the more your become like the object of your worship.” What better way to bring glory to God than to become like Him. This Christmas the best gift you can give to the Lord is too become like Him. Why not start with the attitude of service?

III. The attitude of humility

Philippians 2:8 KJV 1900

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Humble- to cause someone to lose prestige or status, humiliate, abase

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Even the death of a cross

William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 990.

How did Jesus do this? With an attitude of humility

And we must have this same attitude

Philippians 2:3 KJV 1900

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Phil 2.

Let nothing be done through strife (selfish ambition) or vainglory (conceit); but in lowliness of mind (humility) let each esteem other better than themselves.

This is the mindset of Christmas! Aren’t you glad that Jesus didn’t act out of selfishness or conceit, but instead He humbled Himself. We too must have this same attitude of humility. And that means that we treat other people and their interests as more important than our own. Kids how many of you put the interests of your brothers and sisters ahead of your own? When you go to choose the brownie for dessert what piece do you always choose? The biggest one! Why, because we are by our very nature selfish. We want want is best for ourselves. Jesus died on the cross to set you free from your sinful nature, to set you free from selfishness and conceit. Now Jesus wants you to act with an attitude of humility. He wants you to treat others as more important than yourselves.

Do you have an attitude of humility? Do you treat others as more important than yourselves? Husbands do you treat the interests of your wife as more important than your own? Wives? As a church?

Do we display the attitude of Christmas? The incarnation would not have been possible if Jesus did not have this kind of mindset- this kind of attitude.

Do we have an attitude of unity, service, humility?

Let’s worship God this Christmas season by becoming like Him more and more. Let’s start with our mindset, our attitude. Let’s truly display the attitude of Christmas.