Making This Christmas Count part 1Making This Christmas Count part 1

How Were the Gifts of the Wise Men Given?How Were the Gifts of the Wise Men Given?

Theywere given personally

Theywere given personally

Iran

JerusalemJerusalem

BethlehemBethlehem

“We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

“We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

Matthew

2:2 (NLT

)

When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!

When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!

Matthew

2:10 (NL

T)

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew

2:11 (NL

T)

How Were the Gifts of the Wise Men Given?How Were the Gifts of the Wise Men Given?

Theywere given with joy

Theywere given with joy

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew

2:11 (NL

T)

The “giftfor a gift” gift

The “giftfor a gift” gift

Kinds of gifts we give:Kinds of gifts we give:

The “now you owe me” gift

The “now you owe me” gift

Kinds of gifts we give:Kinds of gifts we give:

The “no strings attached” gift

The “no strings attached” gift

Kinds of gifts we give:Kinds of gifts we give:

For it is by grace For it is by grace you have been saved, you have been saved, through faith–and through faith–and this not from this not from yourselves, it is yourselves, it is the gift of God–not the gift of God–not by works, so that no by works, so that no one can boast.one can boast.

For it is by grace For it is by grace you have been saved, you have been saved, through faith–and through faith–and this not from this not from yourselves, it is yourselves, it is the gift of God–not the gift of God–not by works, so that no by works, so that no one can boast.one can boast.Ephe

sians 2:

8-9 (NIV

)

Give an unexpected gift

Give an unexpected gift

The Wise Men Teach Us to…The Wise Men Teach Us to…

Give with genuine delight

Give with genuine delight

What the wise men teach about giving:What the wise men teach about giving:

“Giving with a glad and generous heart has a way of routing out the tough old miser within us. Even the poor need to know that they can give. Just the very act of letting go of money, or some other treasure does something within us. It destroys the demon, greed.”

~ Richard Foster

“Giving with a glad and generous heart has a way of routing out the tough old miser within us. Even the poor need to know that they can give. Just the very act of letting go of money, or some other treasure does something within us. It destroys the demon, greed.”

~ Richard Foster

“For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

“For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

2 Corint

hians 9:

7 (NIV)

Give a gift that’s personal

Give a gift that’s personal

What the wise men teach about giving:What the wise men teach about giving:

Give gifts that will endure

Give gifts that will endure

What the wise men teach about giving:What the wise men teach about giving:

GIFTS THAT WILL ENDURE:GIFTS THAT WILL ENDURE:

GOOD MEMORIESGOOD MEMORIES

GODLY HERITAGEGODLY HERITAGE

“But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.”

“But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.”Exodu

s 20:6 (

NLT)

Give that gift nowGive that gift now

What the wise men teach about giving:What the wise men teach about giving:

Making This Christmas Count part 1Making This Christmas Count part 1