Simpler Gifts

1. Simpler Gifts Pastor Nathan Weller December 23, 2018 Series: Christmas Pure & Simple

5. “Anyone who does not think the demonic is real wasn’t paying attention to the mobs of people who trampled each other and tore the doors off of stores when the new Nike Air Jordan basketball shoes went on sale a few days before Christmas. Something’s wrong when people are trampled in a rush to buy shoes. It’s demonic. But the devil has gotten smarter over the centuries. Instead of violent cases of possession, we’re now undone by the possession of our possessions and the constant need to accumulate more.” --Jeff Munroe--

7. The best gift to give someone is your time and attention

9. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God. --Luke 1.36-37 ESV

11. 39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” ... 56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home. --Luke 1.39-45, 56 ESV

13. The spiritual discipline of hospitality is a giftwe can sharewith others

15. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. --1 Peter 4.9 ESV

17. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. --Romans 12.13 ESV

19. “Hospitality shares what there is; that’s all. It’s not entertainment. It’s not supposed to be...When we are too functional, we forget that the Christian life is a calling, not a performance. Hospitality is necessary whether you have cat hair on the couch or not. People will die of chronic loneliness sooner than they will cat hair in the soup.” --Rosaria Butterfield, The Gospel Comes with a House Key--

21. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. --Galatians 6.2 ESV

23. “Our post-Christian neighbors need to hear and see and taste and feel authentic Christianity, hospitality spreading from every Christian home that includes neighbors in prayer, food, friendship, childcare, dog walking, and all the daily matters upon which friendships are built.” --Rosaria Butterfield, The Gospel Comes with a House Key--

25. 1 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. 2Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! --Hebrews 13.1-2

27. 28So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. --Luke 24.28-31 ESV

29. Do not forget the importance of the discipline of gratitude

31. 39A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” --Luke 1.39-45 NLT

33. “Gratitude is not only the greatest of the virtues, but the parent of all of the others.” --Cicero--

35. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. --1 Thessalonians 5.18

39. 46And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is his name. 50And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts 52he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” --Luke 1.46-55

42. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. --James 1.17 ESV

44. “Do you want to be a grateful person? Then remember to remember.” --Dr. Robert Emmons--

46. “I want to let you know what your note meant to me. I am an old lady in my eighties, living alone in a small room, like the last leaf on a tree. I taught fifty years, yet in all that time yours is the first letter of appreciation I have ever received. It came on a blue, cold morning and cheered my lonely heart as nothing has in many years.” --Letter to William L. Stidger--

48. Simpler Gifts Pastor Nathan Weller December 23, 2018 Series: Christmas Pure & Simple