John 3:16–17 KJV 1900

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Love

During the Christmas season each year people seem to be just a little bit more loving. They are more patient toward one another. They are generous toward one another. They are more caring toward one another. The reason this time of year brings this out in us is, underneath it all, Christmas is about love. It is about true agape love that is displayed in the sacrifice God made by sending his only son to earth to rescue us from our fallen state. This Christmas could be the best Christmas ever if we could just recognize the greatest gift ever given is love in the coming of Jesus Christ.

Begin the service by recounting a time in the past when family got together for Christmas dinner. Focus on all the quirky experiences and mention how everyone has that "one uncle" or "one aunt" that is a little weird. Play up the wonderful experience of spending the holidays with your family. Then mention that no matter how odd we think our family is, they can't be as odd as these guys. Pull some pictures from the internet of "awkward Christmas photos" and display them for the congregation. Choose funny and appropriate pictures to show and finish your opener by saying that even though some of our family may be weird, we still love them because that is what Christmas is really about.

Point 1: God is love

1 John 4:7–10 KJV 1900

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

At His core, God is love. Every action that God takes part in is motivated and sustained by love. 1 John tells us that the very reason that God came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ is because of His great love for us. God loves of all creation because love is a part of his very nature. The reason that we, as humans, can even define love is because it has been displayed for us by God himself. This means that when God is at work in our lives is because he wants what is best for us. When God is directing us it is because he is for us.

At His core, God is love. Every action that God takes part in is motivated and sustained by love. 1 John tells us that the very reason that God came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ is because of His great love for us. God loves of all creation because love is a part of his very nature. The reason that we, as humans, can even define love is because it has been displayed for us by God himself. This means that when God is at work in our lives is because he wants what is best for us. When God is directing us it is because he is for us.

Point 2: You don't fall into love. You choose love.

John 3:16 KJV 1900

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

that the very reason that God came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ is because of His great love for us. God

God loved the world to such an extreme that he sacrificed his son on the cross. This was motivated by love. After this initial offering to us, while we were still sinners, God gave us the opportunity to respond in belief that we might find life. Falling in love is a cute thing to say about being in a relationship, but the truth is you don't fall in love, you choose love. Just as God chose us when he made himself available to us through Jesus, so we must choose to respond to the gift given to us in love. We respond through repentance and faith. We turn from our wicked ways and give ourselves to the leading and guiding of our loving God.

loves of all creation because love is a part of his very nature. The reason that we, as humans, can even define

Point 3: Love comes to the rescue

John 3:17 KJV 1900

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

We have a tendency to think that God came to earth because he was anger because our sin and was ready to finally punish the world. That is not how love acts though. John states that Jesus did not come into the world and condemn it. Jesus came into the world to rescue it. To restore it. To bring it back to life. Love comes to the rescue. Love doesn't look out for its own interest, but in the interests of others. Reassure your listeners that Christmas should not be a time to feel guilty because all the wrong they have done. Christmas is a time we should feel joy because we have been rescued by the great love of God.

Wehave a tendency to think that God came to earth because he wasanger because our sin and was ready to finally punish the world. That is not how love acts though. John states that Jesus did not come into the world andcondemn it. Jesus came into the world to rescue it. Torestore it. Tobring it back tolife. Love comes to the rescue. Love doesn't look out for its own interest, but in theinterests of others. Reassure your listeners that Christmas should not be a time to feel guilty because all the wrong they have done.

Point 4: The wrapping should reveal what is inside

love is because it has been displayed for us by God himself. This means that when God is at work in our lives it

Christmas is a time we should feel joy because we have been rescued by the great love of God.

Our outward treatment of people should match our inner commitment to Christ. During Christmas, and year round, we ought to love one another as proof that we belong to God. Challenge the congregation to live out the love that has been given to them toward people around them. The way the world around us changes is that we choose to love people well.

Our outward treatment of people should match our inner commitment to Christ. During Christmas, and year round, we ought to love one another asproof that webelong to God. Challenge the congregation to live out the love that has been given to them toward people around them. The way the world around us changes is that we choose to love people well.

Our outward treatment of people should match our inner commitment to Christ. During Christmas, and year round, we ought to love one another asproof that webelong to God. Challenge the congregation to live out the love that has been given to them toward people around them. The way the world around us changes is that we choose to love people well.

John 13:34–35 KJV 1900

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

is because he wants what is best for us. When God is directing us it is because he is for us.

Our outward treatment of people should match our inner commitment to Christ. During Christmas, and year round, we ought to love one another as proof that we belong to God. Challenge the congregation to live out the love that has been given to them toward people around them. The way the world around us changes is that we choose to love people well.

Point 5: The best Christmas ever is a result of love

The first Christmas was so special because of God's love that was put into action. This Christmas will be the best Christmas ever as well when we choose to love people around us well. Love is the most powerful force in the universe and it can set the tone for the next year of your life and those around you too.

THINK:

I should love others because of the love demonstrated toward me in the incarnation of Jesus. Love should be the mark of every Christian throughout the year and especially at Christmas. Love is not something that we just say with our mouth, but demonstrate with our actions.

FEEL:

Christmas should be a reminder that I am deeply loved by God. No matter how I feel about myself or how others feel about me, God loved me so much that he sent his son to die in my place. If God loved me so sacrificially that means I can love others sacrificially as well.

No matter how I feel about myself or how others feel about me, God loved me so much that he sent his son to die in my place. If God loved me so sacrificially that means I can love others sacrificially as well.

DO:

Receive the love that is offered to you in Christ. Allow that love to give you a new approach to life. Let yourself love other more freely because God loved you first. Make a decision to put your love into action in practical ways.

PRAYER:

God, thank you for loving me in spite of my failures and mistakes. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for us all. Help me to live each day of my life out of the clear understanding that I am accepted and loved by you God. May the words of my mouth and the actions of my life demonstrate the kind of love that I have for you and your people. May this Christmas be the best Christmas ever as I embrace hope, peace, joy and love.

mistakes. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for us all. Help me to live each day of my life out of the clear understanding that I am accepted andloved by you God. May the words of my mouth and the actions of my life demonstrate the kind of love that I have for you and your people. May this Christmas be the best Christmas ever as I embrace hope, peace, joy and love.

Illustration 1

Locate an old love letter you wrote or received. Be vulnerable and let people have a good laugh at the awkwardness of a hand written love letter. Focus on some of the themes that are within the letter and focus on how the writer feels toward the one receiving the letter. What makes it funny. What makes it sincere. Transition by making the case that the Bible is God's love letter written to us and that Jesus is the clearest representation of this letter from God.

Illustration 2

If you have an ornament on for your tree that is special to you because of a loved one in some way, introduce it on stage. Share with the congregation how your love for someone can bring deep meaning to anything, even an ornament. Introduce how God's love in our life can bring deep meaning to all that we do in our lives.

Illustration 3

in our lives.

Begin the service with all the pieces of a finished and wrapped Christmas box. As you speak the message, build the box and wrap it with wrapping paper, tape, ribbons and bows. Talk about the preparation that goes into giving a gift. From buying to delivering. The same is true when it comes to demonstrating love, it takes intentionality and preparation. Do the necessary steps and you could have a wonderful gift of love ready to deliver.

We applaud men for doing good things.

We enshrine God for doing great things.

But what about a man who does God things?

One thing is certain. We can't ignore him. If these moments are factual, if the claim of Christ is actual, then he was, at once, man and God.

The single most significant person who ever lived. Forget MVP. He is the entire league. The head of the parade? Hardly. No one else shares the street. Who comes close? Humanity's best and brightest fade like dime-store rubies next to him.

Dismiss him? We can't. Resist him? Equally difficult. Why would we want to?

Don't we need a God-man Savior? A just-God Jesus could make us, but not understand us. A just-man Jesus could love us, but never save us. But a God-man Jesus?

Near enough to touch. Strong enough to trust. A next door Savior.