Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro:

Have yourself a MERRY little Christmas

Oh what FUN it is to ride

You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear Voices singing, let's be jolly

Have a holly, JOLLY

Every good christmas movies gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside

Christmas on its surface is a time of pure joy, celebrations, gifts, family and friends.

But the reality for many students is that with more free time in December there is more self evaluation, more loneliness, more sadness and anxiety.

Because the reality of an American Christmas can be summed up in the word selfishness.

We get sad because we have no one to cuddle with and are reminded of your singleness

We spend most of our time thinking about what WE WANT and our then discontent until we get it

You didn’t realize that you needed a weighted blanket but now you can’t sleep with out it

You have plenty of shoes but unless you get air force ones you can’t walk

Don’t make me tell my ihome story again

We no longer can waltz into the holiday season expecting bounds of holly and cups of jolly or whatever.

The world uses the holiday season to attack the joy of teens.

Christmas morning leaves you discontent and bored.

We need to go to Gods word to prepare for this season, and ultimately to use our Christmas the way Jesus did.

By putting of Selfishness and putting on Humility.

Thats really what Jesus did on Christmas, not that he has sinful selfishness to put off but He did put on the most extreme humility he could by leaving his royal, heavenly home to be born as a baby.

If you want to use your Christmas like Jesus did, then put off selfishness and put on humility.

Turn to Phil 2 where we will find the 3 truths you need to have a Christlike Christmas

The community of Christianity v.2

Phil 2.2 “make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”

Explain

Unity must describes the community of Christians

Paul appeals to his friends at this church to complete His joy.

This church is a result of a lot of time and hard work from Paul and he tells them if you do these 4 things my job is finished my joy is fulfilled.

And in a sense he says to be unified.

Because unity amongst believers glorifies God.

Substantiate - support from text

Romans 14:19 “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”

1 Cor 12:12 “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.”

When we are called by Christ we are called into 1 family, even 1 BODY.

Just like a father is ashamed of siblings fighting in public God is displeased with disunity in His family.

Now most people don’t describe their high school life as one of unity and harmony.

But of turmoil and strife.

We talk about the drama, the fights, the break-ups.

Maybe you find yourself always in the middle of an issue, friendships constantly ending, you smell like meat because of the beef you’ve always got.

Let me tell you, if your life is not one of unity with the family of God you need to ask yourself if you’re in the family.

Because God’s children have one goal, GOD’s GLORY - not their own.

Unity is impossible when you are seeking to fulfill your ego rather than God’s will.

Illustrate

There is nothing worst than a ball hog.

You know what I am talking about.

The kid on the team whose reputation and ego gets in the way of winning.

Sadly, I once was this kid when I played soccer but I learned my lesson at 11 years old.

I often would not pass the ball because I wanted everyone to see how good i was by myself, I would play dirty because I thought I can get away with it, I talked trash - I was an 11 year old average soccer player who thought that I was Ronaldo.

I put my ego before the teams goal.

And this built up to the one moment that a really tall kid challenged my pride by punching me in the stomach when the ref wasn’t looking.

I was shocked, overwhelmed and enraged my cheek didn’t turn.

And you could say we got in a fight but that wouldn’t be very accurate.

I went crazy and started swinging my fists everywhere kicking, spitting.

I was out for blood and then I was kicked out of the game, my team had to play with 10 guys instead of 11 and we totally lost.

All because I cared more about myself than my team MY FAULT.

If you find yourself constantly in drama, fights, tension, with your friends or your family it may be time to stop pointing the finger and confess that you are the source.

Disunity follows the “ball hogs” of life.

Application

Let this Christmas act as a reminder that YOU ARE SELFISH.

And seek unity this holiday season by being INTENTIONALLY Selfless.

The first step in unity is humbly seeking reconciliation.

Admit that you are wrong, initiate the uncomfortable conversation with that person before you leave.

Apologize to you parents or siblings tonight for the sake of God glorifying unity.

But the way to unity is POINT #2 and ATTITUDE of Humility.

The attitude of Christianity v.3-5 READ

Phil 2.3-5 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,”

Explain

Paul gives 2 negatives and 1 positive command that help us use our Christmas the way Jesus did BY GOING RIGHT TO the heart of what Christ did at Christmas He put on Humility but in order for sinful people like us, we first need to PUT OFF selfishness before we can put on Humility.

(—)Put off selfishness - do nothing that is motivated by your own profit or pleasure.

(—) Put off empty conceit - do nothing that promotes your position, prestige, popularity

Isn’t that tough in a season when you’re being asked what do YOU want?

When your mind is dwelling on what YOU don’t have.

To escape the infectious selfishness.

I displayed my selfishness growing up every Christmas by getting my Dad a video game that I really wanted.

So that I could play it when he wasn’t.

Even my gift giving was selfish!

BUT How many of you are daily consumed with fulfilling your desires and promoting your own glory this holiday season by doing things like...

Bragging your latests achievements to family that comes to town

By expecting and almost feeling entitled to being catered to by your parents

That past year may have been filled w/ you rebelling, disobeying and being problematic in the house but ITS CHRISTMAS, I am your kid and I DEMAND A PONY - not how it works

Or with your friends you feel entitled to be invited to every hangout, included in every groupchat, part of every inside joke.

Your selfishness may manifest by not inviting certain people because, “we have issues” “they kill the vibe”

Listen we cannot put on humility until we COMPLETLEY PUT OFF selfishness and if you have a faint hint of the“I am deserving” attitude than any form of humility you put on is a self righteous facade.

Ask God to replace your selfish heart with a selfless one AND THEN

(—) Put ON Humility - how? READ

Regard others as more important (greater in value) than yourselves

Don’t look out for your own interests but the interests of others

Think of all the ways your relationships would change if you considered others more important than you.

Some people you would admit are more important than you; like the president (maybe), Justin Bieber, Santa.

Lets go with your favorite music artist - you’d say they are more important than you.

If you were with them and they said “can you grb me a water” I garauntee you’d jump up and grab them a water

When they spoke to you, you’d listen to their words intently

If you were going to get food, you’d ask them what they want

When we value others higher than ourselves we show it with the way we conduct ourselves

I challenge you to apply Gods word to your life specifically with your parents.

If you consider them more important than yourself and look out for their interests you will seek to serve them.

You will not hesitate to obey them

You will be honest with them

You will spend time with them