Sermon Central
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The Right Christmas Attitude Series
Contributed by Patrick O'loughlin on Dec 8, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: What should be our attitude at Christmas?
Text: Philippians 2:5-11
Title: The Right Christmas Attitude
Introduction:
Charles Swindoll had this to say about attitude.
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of ATTITUDE on life. ATTITUDE, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company…a church…a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the ATTITUDE we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the string we have, and that is our ATTITUDE. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our ATTITUDES.”
Circumstances don’t determine my emotions this Christmas; my attitude does.
WHAT IS THE RIGHT CHRISTMAS ATTITUDE TO HAVE?
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:” (V5)
1. AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE (V5-8)
“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 the cross!”
A. GRATITUDE FOR - WHAT GOD DID FOR US THROUGH CHRIST
1.THROUGH CHRIST GOD DEMONSTRATED HIS LOVE FOR US
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son… (John 3:16)
A.HOW DID CHRIST DEMONSTRATE GOD’S LOVE TO US?
1. CHRIST DEMONSTRATES GOD’S LOVE FOR US BY SERVING US (V5-7)
“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.” (V5-7)
“The Son of man did not come to be served but to serve.” (Matt. 20:28)
POINT OUT: YOU CAN ALWAYS SERVE SOMEONE WITHOUT LOVING THEM BUT YOU CAN’T LOVE SOMEONE WITHOUT SERVING THEM.
EXAMPLE: JESUS WASHES HIS DISCIPLES’ FEET (John 13)
“Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love…So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet? Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand. “No,“ said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” (v1,4-8)
A.PEOPLE HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME ACCEPTING GOD’S LOVE FOR US
B. WE FEEL UNWORTHY OF SUCH LOVE
2. CHRIST DEMONSTRATES GOD’S LOVE FOR US BY SAVING US (V8)
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on the cross!”
POINT OUT: BY HIS LIFE HE SERVED US
BY HIS DEATH HE SAVED US
“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6)
“But God demonstrates his love for us in this; while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)
THE RIGHT CHRISTMAS ATTITUDE IS FIRST OF ALL ONE OF GRATITUDE
2. THE RIGHT CHRISTMAS ATTITUDE IS SECONDLY AN ATTITUDE OF WORSHIP (V9-11)
“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.”
OUR GRATITUTE FOR WHAT CHRIST DID FOR US - BY SERVING US AND SAVING US SHOULD CAUSE US TO WORSHIP CHRIST FOR WHO HE IS
“Therefore I urge you brothers in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God for this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1)
