Sunday Sermon

The Downside of Christmas Dave Shaner December 14, 2003

Introduction: Christmas is about giving, but is also about giving up. Paul writes to a church that is struggling. He encourages them by reminding them of the downside of Christmas.

Text: Philippians 2:1-11

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I. Christmas commemorates the greatest __________ in history.

A. The nature of man prefers an ascending over a descending.

B. Jesus took five demotions:

1. He came to ____________.

2. He became a ____________.

3. He became a ____________.

4. He became ____________ to ____________.

5. He died on a ____________.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. - II Corinthians 8:9

II. Christmas illuminates the __________ of the __________ of God.

A. Sin is when you put yourself in God's place.

B. Salvation is God putting himself in your place.

C. John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

D. I John 4:9-10

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

III. Christmas motivates ...

A. ... me to throw down the ____________ that ruins relationships.

1. Philippians 1:1-2

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. I Peter 5:5

Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

B. ... me to put down my tendency to ____________.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. - Philippians 2:3-4

C. ... me to ___________ ____________.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:9-11

	Home Page		Prayer Requests
	About Us		Services & Classes
	Church Bulletin		Sunday Sermon
	Missions & Outreach		Youth Group

Comments and suggestions:
webmaster@dgchurch.org