WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:19.000 If I was to ask the children, what are you most looking forward to at Christmas? I suspect, unless you've changed remarkably since I was a little boy, you would say that the thing you're looking forward to most at Christmas is the presents. 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:34.700 The gifts, isn't it? Changes slightly as you get older. Food takes on a greater prominence. But still, everybody loves gifts, don't they? Everybody loves a thoughtful, well-chosen gift. 00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:47.120 And what I want to do in the time that I have with you this evening is I want us to think about God's gift this Christmas. You'll see behind me, it's the most famous verse in the Bible. Some of you will know it, some of you won't. 00:00:47.120 --> 00:01:02.579 And for God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. That is God's great gift this Christmas. 00:01:02.579 --> 00:01:13.319 And there's presents probably under your tree. On Christmas morning you'll come down. You might open the pile of presents that you have and then somebody will say, let's open the presents under the tree. 00:01:13.679 --> 00:01:26.719 You grab the present and what's the question that you ask first? Who's it for? Who's it for? A gift comes through the post. You get it as a family and you say, well, who's it for? 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:35.719 Who is God's gift for? Can you see it? For God so loved the world. The word world here means humanity. 00:01:36.780 --> 00:01:47.019 This gift is given to humanity in all its variety. Men and women, boys and girls, different races, different nationalities, different ages. 00:01:47.019 --> 00:01:56.140 All kinds of people are included in this world. In this world, the world. 00:01:57.479 --> 00:02:10.639 What is the world like? Human beings are a problem, aren't they? Human beings do some remarkable things. Some of you do remarkable things. 00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:15.599 There's amazing technology, isn't there, where people solve problems. 00:02:16.779 --> 00:02:22.959 This week, I was on the Elizabeth line. The Elizabeth line is an amazing thing, isn't it? Have you been on the central line? 00:02:24.959 --> 00:02:31.759 The central line, it's like a quantum leap forward. It's like a step into a different century. People do amazing things. 00:02:32.279 --> 00:02:36.879 You can get to East London if you want to do that in about half an hour. It's unbelievable, isn't it? 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:46.219 Think of what our world is like. Think of Kevin Sinfield. He seems to run marathon after marathon after marathon with about a week's break in between, isn't it? 00:02:46.379 --> 00:02:56.960 All because of the sake of his friend, Rob Burrow. He does amazing things. Human beings have enormous potential. 00:02:57.939 --> 00:03:03.519 Heroic achievements. And there's something of that in you, isn't there? You feel it. 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:10.580 There's something of that in you. You would feel that you have the potential if the circumstances were right. 00:03:12.260 --> 00:03:14.700 But there's also a flip side to humanity, isn't there? 00:03:17.200 --> 00:03:22.240 Every day, you can go onto the news and you'll see the same thing, won't you? 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:27.920 You will see killing, murder, rape, endless horrible things. 00:03:27.920 --> 00:03:31.980 Things that sicken us to the pit of our stomach that happen in West London. 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:37.120 And every single one of us, we, I have terrible thoughts. 00:03:38.320 --> 00:03:45.160 There are times I lose my temper. We can get very angry. We can even hate people. We can lie. That's what we're like. 00:03:46.540 --> 00:03:48.379 And there's this contradiction, isn't there? 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:53.920 The Bible's explanation, I want to say to you, is the best explanation of that. 00:03:53.919 --> 00:04:00.479 Our greatness is because you and I have been made in the image of God. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:03.019 We've been made to know God and to govern this world. 00:04:04.659 --> 00:04:08.859 But the flip side of that is because we have fallen, we're not what we should be. 00:04:08.939 --> 00:04:13.139 We've fallen to sin. We've rebelled against God and his standards. 00:04:13.279 --> 00:04:14.699 And we do what we want to do. 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:16.500 We are a fallen humanity. 00:04:16.500 --> 00:04:19.620 Somebody's described it this way. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:21.199 We are glorious ruins. 00:04:23.860 --> 00:04:30.420 But you come here tonight and you are told that there is a gift for this world, for you and for me. 00:04:32.420 --> 00:04:33.800 Let's go to the next question. 00:04:34.980 --> 00:04:37.779 You pick up the gift from under the tree and you ask, 00:04:38.579 --> 00:04:41.480 it's for who? Who is it addressed to? 00:04:41.480 --> 00:04:44.400 And then you ask, what's the next question? 00:04:45.060 --> 00:04:47.240 You ask, who's it from? 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:49.360 Who sends the gift? 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:52.640 Can you look at the verse again? 00:04:52.780 --> 00:04:53.700 Who sends the gift? 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:57.360 It says, for God so loved the world that he gave. 00:04:57.520 --> 00:04:59.439 God is the sender of this gift. 00:04:59.860 --> 00:05:01.600 And so what is God like? 00:05:04.060 --> 00:05:07.700 The Bible says that he is the God who created all things in the beginning. 00:05:07.699 --> 00:05:11.620 He's the God who sustains creation. 00:05:12.060 --> 00:05:13.579 He's a God who's mighty and powerful. 00:05:14.379 --> 00:05:15.659 He's the one who sends the gift. 00:05:17.479 --> 00:05:19.019 He's a God who's different to us. 00:05:20.379 --> 00:05:22.319 The word the Bible uses is holy. 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:26.800 His eyes are too pure even to look on evil. 00:05:28.620 --> 00:05:31.740 The Bible says that this God one day will sit on his throne for judgment 00:05:31.740 --> 00:05:35.199 and every single human being will have to give an account for our lives. 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:37.339 This is the God of whom we speak. 00:05:38.459 --> 00:05:41.719 He's the almighty and sovereign, powerful God. 00:05:43.079 --> 00:05:46.759 The postmark on this gift is heaven. 00:05:49.240 --> 00:05:51.099 I don't know if you've ever had this experience. 00:05:51.259 --> 00:05:53.759 If you get a card or a present from someone 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:58.519 and you're really surprised and you think to yourself, 00:05:58.620 --> 00:06:00.159 I didn't even know they were still alive. 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:03.079 I've not heard from them for years. 00:06:03.079 --> 00:06:04.360 And here they are sending me a gift. 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:11.240 Or somebody gives you a parcel and you're a bit embarrassed because you say, 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:13.160 I say to my wife, did we even send him a card? 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:18.060 We react in different ways, don't we, to finding out who the sender is. 00:06:18.060 --> 00:06:25.560 And so how do you react tonight to the fact that God is sending you a gift? 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:29.740 You might be sitting there, you think, well, I'm surprised. 00:06:29.860 --> 00:06:30.980 I've not actually even thought about him. 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:32.680 I didn't even know he was alive. 00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:35.620 I've lived my life my own way. 00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:39.660 It's a massive surprise that God has given me a gift. 00:06:39.900 --> 00:06:41.840 You say, because I've never even sent him a card. 00:06:43.220 --> 00:06:44.740 I've never even prayed to him. 00:06:47.379 --> 00:06:48.280 Or there's an embarrassment. 00:06:48.420 --> 00:06:50.259 You think, well, there's loads of wrong things in my life 00:06:50.259 --> 00:06:51.939 and yet God sends me a gift. 00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:54.660 And you might be a bit embarrassed or surprised. 00:06:54.660 --> 00:06:58.620 And some of us might be sitting here thinking, 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:00.860 I don't understand it and I don't deserve it. 00:07:03.280 --> 00:07:04.880 And so let's ask our next question. 00:07:05.080 --> 00:07:07.200 Why does God give the gift? 00:07:09.180 --> 00:07:11.840 Why does God give to human beings a gift? 00:07:13.660 --> 00:07:14.520 Can you see what it says? 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:18.500 It says, for God so loved the world. 00:07:18.500 --> 00:07:26.920 Everyone, everyone, everyone wants someone to love them. 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:30.360 You might be sitting here tonight and you're lonely 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:32.019 and you'd love someone to love you. 00:07:33.699 --> 00:07:35.939 And we come to a verse, a sentence in the Bible 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:38.279 that tells you that God loves humanity. 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:43.000 With our lying and losing our temper 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:45.680 and the cracks in our personality, he loves us. 00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:48.079 And he gives a gift. 00:07:48.500 --> 00:07:52.660 I think those of us who are parents, 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:53.740 we understand this. 00:07:53.819 --> 00:07:57.439 On Christmas Day, you do not give your children gifts 00:07:57.439 --> 00:07:59.459 because they deserve them. 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:02.160 You know that threat, children? 00:08:02.860 --> 00:08:03.899 You've had that threat of new? 00:08:04.779 --> 00:08:05.819 If you don't behave, 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:07.740 you're not going to get any Christmas presents. 00:08:07.779 --> 00:08:09.040 I've never known a parent do that. 00:08:09.480 --> 00:08:12.399 Never, ever have I known of a parent who's done that. 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:15.959 You give your children gifts because you love them. 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:20.219 And God gives this gift 00:08:20.219 --> 00:08:23.699 because he loves men and women, boys and girls like us. 00:08:25.019 --> 00:08:28.019 With our mixed up emotions and our mixed up feelings 00:08:28.019 --> 00:08:29.959 and all our confusions and our burdens 00:08:29.959 --> 00:08:31.759 and our anxieties and our cares. 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:33.199 And he loves us. 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:36.720 What's the next question? 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:40.700 The next question is what's in the parcel? 00:08:41.640 --> 00:08:42.240 Open it up. 00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:45.860 We've seen who it's to and who it's from and why it was sent. 00:08:45.860 --> 00:08:48.659 And then let's open it up. 00:08:49.680 --> 00:08:51.580 And it's really peculiar, isn't it? 00:08:51.659 --> 00:08:52.659 Have you ever had a gift like this? 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:57.960 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son. 00:09:00.740 --> 00:09:03.580 And my neighbor knocks the door tomorrow morning. 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:05.680 He says, happy Christmas. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:06.440 Here's the card. 00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:07.960 He says, I'd like to give you a gift too. 00:09:08.419 --> 00:09:09.080 I said, that's different. 00:09:09.940 --> 00:09:10.580 It's unusual. 00:09:11.420 --> 00:09:13.540 But the neighbor says, I'd love to give you this gift. 00:09:13.660 --> 00:09:14.480 I said, well, what is it? 00:09:14.500 --> 00:09:15.940 And he says, it's my son. 00:09:19.300 --> 00:09:21.259 You'd say, no, no, no, no, no. 00:09:21.520 --> 00:09:22.860 There's something wrong there. 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:24.100 He's about 24 actually, this guy. 00:09:26.340 --> 00:09:27.740 We wouldn't want that, would we? 00:09:27.740 --> 00:09:33.759 What is going on that the gift is his son? 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:37.019 Who is his son? 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:38.340 It's Jesus Christ, isn't it? 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:40.659 Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem. 00:09:40.700 --> 00:09:41.460 He lived in Nazareth. 00:09:41.580 --> 00:09:43.240 He was baptized in the River Jordan. 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:45.740 He spent three years teaching, doing the most amazing things. 00:09:47.460 --> 00:09:48.860 This Jesus, he was crucified. 00:09:49.159 --> 00:09:49.720 He died. 00:09:49.820 --> 00:09:50.360 He was buried. 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:53.039 He rose from the dead three days later. 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:55.399 He lived 40 more days on earth. 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:56.840 And he ascended to heaven. 00:09:57.720 --> 00:09:59.100 What do we make of this? 00:10:02.699 --> 00:10:03.980 My dad is 89. 00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:06.279 About three years ago, we gave him an iPad. 00:10:08.579 --> 00:10:12.480 I've never known a man looked so confused when he opened it up. 00:10:13.059 --> 00:10:14.100 Didn't know what it was. 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:15.600 He didn't know whether the present was a box. 00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:17.579 He couldn't understand it. 00:10:17.620 --> 00:10:18.240 He looked at it. 00:10:19.059 --> 00:10:20.559 He couldn't work out how to turn it on. 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:23.439 He was totally and utterly bewildered. 00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:27.600 If anybody wants to buy a second-hand iPad, we've got one. 00:10:27.800 --> 00:10:28.920 He's totally befuddled. 00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:35.440 And I suspect you're sitting here, maybe here tonight, some of you, and you feel a sin. 00:10:35.520 --> 00:10:37.780 This sounds so odd, doesn't it? 00:10:37.779 --> 00:10:41.139 So let me ask you another question. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:45.240 How do you react to God's other good gifts? 00:10:47.699 --> 00:10:49.879 Because we do react to gifts, don't we? 00:10:54.459 --> 00:10:58.179 You might say, if you're a little bit rude when somebody gives you a gift, I've got this already. 00:10:58.179 --> 00:11:02.859 You might say, it's just what I want. 00:11:05.459 --> 00:11:07.259 You might say, I love it. 00:11:07.739 --> 00:11:08.899 It's just what I was looking for. 00:11:10.479 --> 00:11:11.579 How do you react to this? 00:11:11.739 --> 00:11:13.279 God gave his only son. 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:17.819 How do you react to God's other gifts? 00:11:18.319 --> 00:11:18.939 Think about that. 00:11:18.940 --> 00:11:24.000 How do you react to the fact that you woke up this morning? 00:11:25.300 --> 00:11:28.300 Not everyone else does, but you did this morning. 00:11:30.140 --> 00:11:33.320 How do you react to the fact that there was food on your table this lunchtime? 00:11:33.460 --> 00:11:34.800 And that you've got clothes to wear? 00:11:36.260 --> 00:11:38.220 And the fact that you've got your safely tonight? 00:11:38.380 --> 00:11:40.340 And that you've got family around you and friends? 00:11:40.460 --> 00:11:43.220 How do you react to those gifts from God? 00:11:43.220 --> 00:11:46.420 Because everything that you have comes from him. 00:11:48.139 --> 00:11:51.460 Well, you say, when you put it like that, well, I'm thankful I'm alive. 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:53.800 I'm thankful that I've got food and shelter. 00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:55.000 I'm thankful I've got clothes. 00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:56.240 Why are you thankful? 00:11:57.040 --> 00:12:01.080 You're thankful because those gifts meet needs, don't they? 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:04.759 You need food. 00:12:05.740 --> 00:12:06.980 And you need clothing. 00:12:07.220 --> 00:12:08.040 And you need family. 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:09.040 And you need friends. 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:11.580 And God gives you those gifts to meet needs. 00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:14.620 And all God's gifts have a purpose. 00:12:15.060 --> 00:12:16.000 They meet a need. 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:22.000 So if the son is a gift, what need does that meet? 00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:31.480 What need do you have and I have that the only gift that can meet that need is the gift of his one and only son? 00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:32.320 Can you see what it says? 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:37.660 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish. 00:12:38.660 --> 00:12:40.540 But have eternal life. 00:12:41.580 --> 00:12:44.500 I don't know lots of you tonight. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:46.980 We all have needs. 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:49.620 And some of you will have really poignant needs. 00:12:49.920 --> 00:12:51.800 And some of your needs you can talk about. 00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:54.080 Many of your needs you can't talk about. 00:12:54.080 --> 00:13:01.460 But your greatest need and my greatest need according to the Bible is to be saved from perishing. 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:05.700 I mentioned earlier that God is different. 00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:06.759 That God is holy. 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:12.399 And we are people who have lived disregarding him. 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:15.079 And we have said I don't want you in my life. 00:13:15.079 --> 00:13:17.379 And so we have lied and lost our temper. 00:13:17.659 --> 00:13:19.699 And we have done that repeatedly through our lives. 00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:26.120 And if God is just, we deserve to be punished. 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:31.759 The Bible tells us that that is a place called hell. 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:36.120 And I know that the idea of hell is not very popular at any time. 00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:38.059 It's certainly not popular at a carol service. 00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:39.179 And it's mocked isn't it? 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:40.019 It's laughed at. 00:13:40.019 --> 00:13:44.779 But Jesus spoke of it lots as much as he spoke about heaven. 00:13:45.819 --> 00:13:50.059 Because Jesus recognised that our greatest need is to be saved from perishing. 00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:53.179 And what does this verse tell us? 00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:58.740 It tells us that if food meets our need for food. 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:01.379 And if clothing meets our need for it to be covered. 00:14:01.539 --> 00:14:03.579 And if homes meet our need to have shelter. 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:05.939 And family meets our need to have others. 00:14:06.220 --> 00:14:09.720 Then his only son is the one who meets the need for our perishing. 00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:16.199 And so how can this man who lived 2,000 years ago save you from perishing? 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:17.120 Let him tell you. 00:14:18.199 --> 00:14:20.899 Jesus said I've come to seek and to save the lost. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:24.019 I've come to save people who are perishing. 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:25.379 And how does he do that? 00:14:25.460 --> 00:14:26.779 He lays down his life. 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:29.679 He has to perish instead of them. 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:32.720 He prays in his death. 00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:35.439 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:38.939 And he prays that so that we might not need be forsaken. 00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:41.579 He takes our punishment. 00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:44.120 There's an exchange that needs to take place. 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:51.139 He suffers our hell so that we will not perish but have eternal life. 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:54.600 All of God's gifts meet needs. 00:14:56.220 --> 00:15:03.019 But the greatest gift meets the greatest need to be saved from perishing. 00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:05.740 How do you react to this? 00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:08.360 Let's go back to our parcel. 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:10.340 We've seen who it is for. 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:12.059 And we've seen who it's from. 00:15:12.179 --> 00:15:13.179 And we've seen what it is. 00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:15.480 But you respond to gifts in different ways. 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:18.600 Think about this Christmas. 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:20.139 Maybe you've helped someone this year. 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:23.000 And they have given you a gift to thank you. 00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:24.980 And you open it and you say, 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:26.420 No, no, no. 00:15:27.340 --> 00:15:28.659 It's way over the top. 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:29.360 It's too much. 00:15:30.560 --> 00:15:31.279 It's too much. 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:32.240 I don't deserve it. 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:36.779 Maybe you feel really embarrassed at the greatness of the gift. 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:40.820 Or maybe you've been given a really expensive gift. 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:41.799 And you say to your friend, 00:15:41.899 --> 00:15:43.200 You know they can't really afford it. 00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:44.360 And you think it's way too much. 00:15:44.440 --> 00:15:44.659 And you say, 00:15:44.740 --> 00:15:46.860 Can I give you something for it? 00:15:46.940 --> 00:15:48.740 Can I contribute to it? 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:52.620 And there are different ways to react, aren't there? 00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:54.019 Or maybe you react and you just say, 00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:55.440 Wow, this is what I need. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:16:03.280 Well, God has given his one and only son who will die on the cross so that we will not perish but have eternal life. 00:16:04.900 --> 00:16:10.960 And the word in our verse that best describes how we are to react is the word to believe. 00:16:14.400 --> 00:16:15.360 To believe in him. 00:16:17.140 --> 00:16:17.780 What does that mean? 00:16:17.800 --> 00:16:18.620 It means to take it up. 00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:21.700 It means accepting that it is truth. 00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:24.520 That when God says, 00:16:24.700 --> 00:16:27.200 You're all sinners and you all deserve judgment. 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:29.080 But I've given my son in your place. 00:16:29.180 --> 00:16:31.060 Take him up and believe in him. 00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:33.240 It's just what I need. 00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:37.340 God gives his son 00:16:37.340 --> 00:16:41.180 the most expensive thing that you could imagine. 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:42.940 Who would die for us 00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:45.040 to deal with our greatest problem. 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:48.400 And all we have to do is believe in him to take him up. 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:52.199 It leaves one more step, doesn't it? 00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:56.199 Children, do you know, after Christmas Day, 00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:58.720 probably about three or four days after Christmas Day, 00:16:59.220 --> 00:17:02.720 your mum will come to you with a pen and paper. 00:17:03.439 --> 00:17:04.779 And the thank you letters. 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:05.480 Do you remember them? 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:06.940 Thank you letters. 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:11.460 We thank the giver for gifts, don't we? 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:15.900 What is a Christian? 00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:20.259 It is somebody who has been on his knees 00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:21.240 thanking God 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:24.080 for sending Jesus Christ 00:17:24.080 --> 00:17:25.420 to die for him or her. 00:17:27.900 --> 00:17:29.100 It says it all. 00:17:29.180 --> 00:17:29.759 It's so simple. 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:33.460 Thank you, God, 00:17:33.620 --> 00:17:35.100 for sending Jesus 00:17:35.100 --> 00:17:37.220 to die in my place. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:41.580 Let's imagine a young family. 00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:44.399 They're poor. 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.659 Cost of living crisis. 00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:48.179 And as Christmas Day approaches, 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:48.980 they've saved up. 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:51.019 They've given one great gift 00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:52.039 for their little son, Johnny. 00:17:53.639 --> 00:17:54.559 But on Christmas Eve, 00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:55.759 they realise that 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:57.319 if there's only one gift, 00:17:57.379 --> 00:17:58.119 it won't look very good. 00:17:58.159 --> 00:17:59.139 We need to get him some little gifts. 00:17:59.220 --> 00:17:59.819 So they go out 00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:01.619 and they buy him old school presents 00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:02.599 like a Satsuma 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:03.759 and 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:06.539 a walnut. 00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:09.240 and they get crackers 00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:10.000 and the presents 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:10.859 from a cracker. 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:13.159 Christmas morning, 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:13.619 he comes down, 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:14.440 he pulls the cracker, 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:15.180 he kind of 00:18:15.180 --> 00:18:16.859 looks at all his presents. 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:17.720 He enwraps the big, 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:18.339 great presents. 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:20.180 But what would the parents feel 00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:20.579 if 00:18:20.579 --> 00:18:21.659 little Johnny 00:18:21.659 --> 00:18:22.819 spent all his day 00:18:22.819 --> 00:18:24.259 playing with the tangerine 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:25.039 and the walnut 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:27.019 and the little box of Smarties? 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:31.039 And the main present 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:32.220 was totally ignored. 00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:34.960 And is that what you're doing 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:35.799 with God this evening? 00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:38.440 You've got family and food, 00:18:38.600 --> 00:18:39.480 job and health, 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:41.460 but the one and only son 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:43.860 that God gave you reject, 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.019 you ignore. 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:47.140 To leave God's greatest gift 00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:47.799 to one side 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:48.620 and it doesn't have to be 00:18:48.620 --> 00:18:49.180 like that tonight. 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:50.819 You can say in your heart, 00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:51.960 thank you God. 00:18:53.100 --> 00:18:54.539 You can go down on your knees, 00:18:54.660 --> 00:18:56.059 you can thank God 00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:57.720 for sending this great gift 00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.440 into the world 00:18:58.440 --> 00:19:00.259 so that you do not need to perish 00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:01.420 but have eternal life. 00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:02.640 And you can do that now 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:03.240 or you can do that 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:03.900 when you get home. 00:19:06.340 --> 00:19:07.039 One of the things 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:08.019 we'd love you to do 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:09.120 is to sign up for 00:19:09.120 --> 00:19:10.300 Hope Explored. 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:11.660 It's a three-week course. 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.740 It's a brilliant course 00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:16.759 on really exploring Christianity. 00:19:17.560 --> 00:19:18.900 Loads of us are going to do it 00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:19.759 on Wednesday nights 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:20.420 during January. 00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:23.160 Surely, if God has given this gift, 00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:24.360 it's too important to ignore you. 00:19:24.840 --> 00:19:26.779 There's a QR code somewhere. 00:19:27.300 --> 00:19:28.120 I'm sure there is. 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.580 Or you can sign up. 00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:31.639 Talk to the person 00:19:31.639 --> 00:19:32.199 who's brought you. 00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:33.319 Loads of us are going to be there. 00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:35.319 You can ask any question you want. 00:19:35.419 --> 00:19:37.480 No question or off-limit. 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:40.319 We'd love you to join us. 00:19:41.439 --> 00:19:42.619 And then there's this little booklet 00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:43.519 that's been written by 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:45.059 one of the guys in our church. 00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:47.199 It's a really brilliant introduction 00:19:47.199 --> 00:19:48.259 to the Christian message. 00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:51.559 We'd love you to take one to read it. 00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:54.079 We're really glad 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:55.799 that you've come tonight. 00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:58.359 But we'd really encourage you 00:19:58.359 --> 00:20:00.819 to think not only about the gifts 00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:01.500 that you will get 00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:02.559 and the gifts that you will give, 00:20:02.679 --> 00:20:04.819 but think on God's greatest gift. 00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:06.179 For God so loved the world 00:20:06.179 --> 00:20:07.700 that he gave his one and only son 00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:09.720 that whoever believes in him 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:11.899 should not perish, 00:20:12.159 --> 00:20:13.960 but have eternal life. 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.299 Let's pray together. 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:15.740 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:45.720 Thank you.