12-26-21 Sermon Notes “The Gifts We Forgot To Unwrap”

One of our favorite Christmas traditions is giving and receiving gifts. I don’t know about you, but I really enjoy both giving and receiving! It doesn’t have to be big, or fancy…just to know that someone thought of you – or to pick out just the right thing for someone you love – is a blessing, and reflects the best gift of all. (See John 3:16)

In addition to a Savior, Christ the Lord, God has bestowed other gifts. In the book of Romans and then again in Ephesians we read how each believer has gifts bestowed by God. I’m talking about spiritual gifts – gifts that come through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. What is the purpose of these gifts? The purpose is that the local Body (the church) can function and grow and serve in a balanced way for the glory of God. Not every person has every gift; however, we all have some gift. Each gift is important. For instance, the gift of “exhortation” (encouragement) is just as much a spiritual ministry as preaching or teaching. The gifts of “giving” or “compassion” are just as important as the gift of “leader.” Here are a couple of places in the Bible that describe spiritual gifts:

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6 We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7 ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8 the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. (Rom. 12: 3-8)

11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. (Eph. 4: 11-12)

Think about this with me: Wouldn’t it be tragic if this time next year, you visited a family member and found that a special gift that you had gotten just for them this year had yet to be unwrapped and used?! How much more tragic it is when any gift that God has given goes unrecognized and unused!

See you Sunday at 10:00 for one combined Celebration Service!

Pastor Sam