WEBVTT 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:06.540 It is really, really good to be back with you. Me and my family have just had one of them last year. 00:00:06.660 --> 00:00:11.939 Thank goodness it's over. So it's really good to be back with you in the last couple of weeks anyway. 00:00:13.200 --> 00:00:21.420 So for those of you who don't know me, I'm Adam Wingrove and I'm married to Emma and we've got two angels, 00:00:21.420 --> 00:00:31.420 Alice and Levi and I'm an ordinate, so I'm training to be a vicar, so prayers for that would be much appreciated. 00:00:34.660 --> 00:00:39.320 Today's message is God's gift. 00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:51.539 And I hope this sermon really does bring across that message that it's God's gift that we're going to be talking about today. 00:00:52.399 --> 00:01:03.900 So to set the scene, we know from the Gospel of Luke that Mary and Joseph were on their way to Bethlehem to take part in the census there. 00:01:03.899 --> 00:01:09.340 And of course, it should be no surprise that they were there anyway. 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:23.819 Because in Mika 5 verse 2, Bethlehem was prophesied as a special place where the Messiah, who will bring liberation to all, will come from. 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:30.500 If we go on to slide 3, please. 00:01:30.500 --> 00:01:46.700 Bethlehem was in the region of Judea and Israel had four separate regions and this one of Judea was under the kingship of King Herod the Great. 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:53.439 Now he was a dangerous man, a really dangerous man to deal with. 00:01:53.439 --> 00:02:00.739 He was a man who was completely filled with anxiety and trusted no one. 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:06.280 For instance, he killed his first wife, his father-in-law and three of his sons. 00:02:06.280 --> 00:02:16.319 He wriggled his way into power and he was hated by the Jews because of the heavy taxation. 00:02:17.479 --> 00:02:24.379 And more importantly, he sat on the throne of David, which he had no rightful heir to. 00:02:26.780 --> 00:02:27.920 Next slide, please. 00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:34.659 The Magi, also known as the three wise men, were from Babylon. 00:02:36.019 --> 00:02:47.419 We're not quite sure about how they come to know of the star and which it presented the Messiah. 00:02:47.419 --> 00:02:57.739 The three possibilities are, one, they could have been Jews remained in Babylon from the exile. 00:02:59.199 --> 00:03:01.799 And so they knew of the Old Testament prophecy. 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:10.159 And two, they may have been Eastern astrologers whom studied ancient manuscripts. 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:15.359 And of course, had old copies of the Old Testament. 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:22.859 Or three, they could just be special messengers whom God has chosen and sent on their way. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:26.379 Which we know that's happened a few times in the Bible. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:31.819 Slide five, please. 00:03:31.819 --> 00:03:36.819 So Jesus, born. 00:03:38.359 --> 00:03:43.539 Three Magi turn up, proclaiming the King of the Jews has been born. 00:03:46.099 --> 00:03:51.519 Herod's kingship is threatened and tries to have the baby Jesus killed. 00:03:51.939 --> 00:03:53.039 Could you just imagine that? 00:03:53.079 --> 00:03:57.039 A king wanting to kill a baby because he is threatened. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:04.139 Herod gathers his top advisors and chief priests. 00:04:04.739 --> 00:04:07.299 Of which they read to him the prophecy from Micah. 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:09.680 And they believed in the prophecy. 00:04:10.099 --> 00:04:13.180 But they were the first ones to reject Jesus. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:16.560 The Magi are summoned. 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:19.500 And Herod tries to trick them. 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:25.899 By asking them to tell him where the King of the Jews is to be born. 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:29.600 And so he himself could worship them. 00:04:29.860 --> 00:04:33.080 But of course, we know that's not what he intended to do. 00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:39.480 The Magi found the baby Jesus. 00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:41.760 And they worshipped him. 00:04:43.020 --> 00:04:50.759 They gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, or in other translations, incense, and myrrh. 00:04:50.759 --> 00:05:00.439 Now these three gifts proclaimed a message of Jesus' purpose, of his destination. 00:05:01.060 --> 00:05:04.180 The whole meaning and ministry of his life. 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:07.800 Gold, representing royalty. 00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:15.459 Frankincense or incense, representing a deity worthy of being exalted high in worship. 00:05:15.459 --> 00:05:23.459 And myrrh being used traditionally to anoint a body before burial. 00:05:25.620 --> 00:05:27.419 Free men. 00:05:30.419 --> 00:05:32.679 Who were not known to this nation. 00:05:33.159 --> 00:05:34.419 Not known to these people. 00:05:34.799 --> 00:05:35.819 Complete foreigners. 00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:42.040 Were the first, as Gentiles, potentially. 00:05:43.639 --> 00:05:47.279 To worship this baby who is the King of Kings. 00:05:50.279 --> 00:05:51.379 Slide six, please. 00:05:54.060 --> 00:05:57.279 This is my late grandfather. 00:05:57.819 --> 00:05:59.779 He's a Geordie, so we called him Poppy. 00:05:59.779 --> 00:06:11.759 And traditionally, my whole family, so there would be probably about 40 of us, crammed into my grandparents' living room in Slough. 00:06:12.459 --> 00:06:18.539 And my granddad would dress up in this Father Christmas costume. 00:06:19.619 --> 00:06:22.419 And so, of course, my aunties and uncles and cousins were there. 00:06:22.420 --> 00:06:35.600 And then when Santa suddenly came out of one of the bedrooms, all of us grandchildren suddenly started to behave and were silent. 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:41.879 Because we were in awe of Santa physically in the same room as us. 00:06:42.020 --> 00:06:45.580 And was frightened of having any bad behaviour. 00:06:45.579 --> 00:06:55.199 And so, it wasn't until afterwards, my eldest cousin pointed out, 00:06:55.939 --> 00:06:58.000 Why have you got granddad's slippers on? 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:03.139 And I just remember receiving. 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:06.180 I mean, some of the presents were quite naff, to be honest. 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:06.939 I mean, a toothbrush. 00:07:07.259 --> 00:07:10.519 When you're little, it's not that exciting, is it? 00:07:10.579 --> 00:07:11.479 But anyway. 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:13.700 But the chocolate. 00:07:13.939 --> 00:07:15.819 And I just remember opening the sweets. 00:07:15.960 --> 00:07:19.220 And the joyous occasion of being there and receiving such a gift. 00:07:19.640 --> 00:07:24.240 Just to be in people's and in families' company. 00:07:24.400 --> 00:07:25.819 On which I really do miss. 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:29.480 Slide seven, please. 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:39.920 Now, as a dad of two, I found this year they finally got to understand what Santa is all about. 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:48.040 And every single day for a whole month leading up to Christmas, my eldest, Ellis, would be asking which day it is. 00:07:48.080 --> 00:07:50.180 And we introduced him to the advent calendar. 00:07:50.860 --> 00:07:53.460 And he would get so excited on the way to school. 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:55.780 And then on the way back from school, he would still ask, 00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:57.480 Is it Christmas Day yet? 00:07:57.480 --> 00:08:07.800 And seeing their faces when they walk downstairs and see a whole load of Christmas presents downstairs. 00:08:07.800 --> 00:08:09.140 And they open it. 00:08:09.420 --> 00:08:10.620 And they play with it. 00:08:11.080 --> 00:08:15.540 And the smiles beaming on their face is a picture that I will never forget. 00:08:15.540 --> 00:08:29.140 So just as the Magi gave three important proclaiming gifts that proclaim Jesus' life and death, 00:08:29.340 --> 00:08:35.080 how might we learn to be generous with our most precious gifts, just like the Magi? 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:39.280 Who and what could we give? 00:08:40.940 --> 00:08:47.980 Why don't you turn to the person next to you and think about a present that someone has given you, 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:54.740 completely out of the blue, that has really been, like you've been really joyous about. 00:08:54.800 --> 00:08:56.740 It's been a really special gift. 00:08:57.860 --> 00:08:59.379 Why don't you turn to the person next to you? 00:08:59.379 --> 00:09:05.939 It doesn't have to be a Christmas present. 00:09:07.620 --> 00:09:09.019 It doesn't have to be anything. 00:09:09.379 --> 00:09:10.279 Just a little gift. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:20.960 So a special gift. 00:09:21.539 --> 00:09:26.879 Isn't it so nice when someone just, out of the blue, just gives you a really nice gift? 00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:29.259 Really special gift. 00:09:29.379 --> 00:09:36.879 And sometimes seeing others with gifts can bring bad memories. 00:09:40.059 --> 00:09:46.100 But the gift that God has given us, each and every one of us, is the best gift of all. 00:09:48.500 --> 00:09:56.480 That before Jesus we were all completely dead to sin as such. 00:09:56.480 --> 00:10:01.039 And it was because of Jesus that we are able to be alive in him again. 00:10:03.980 --> 00:10:08.279 And that death has no effect on us, especially when sin is concerned. 00:10:08.279 --> 00:10:15.779 What a precious gift that we have. 00:10:15.779 --> 00:10:18.220 And that we know as Jesus. 00:10:18.220 --> 00:10:27.180 And how much of the opportunity we have on a daily basis of telling people that we walk past by. 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:29.960 That we stand in the queue next to. 00:10:31.340 --> 00:10:33.879 Our friends and neighbours that we talk to. 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:36.019 Our work colleagues. 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:36.960 Our family. 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:37.060 Our family. 00:10:37.400 --> 00:10:37.759 Our family. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:37.879 Our family. 00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:44.000 And yet sometimes we just don't even mention that most precious gift. 00:10:44.460 --> 00:10:45.519 Which is Jesus. 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:54.699 and so my challenge today for all of us including myself 00:10:57.699 --> 00:11:08.980 how can we be more authentic meaningful and thoughtful in the resources that god has given us 00:11:08.980 --> 00:11:20.180 so some ideas maybe letting a parent with a child go ahead in a queue or someone who is struggling 00:11:20.180 --> 00:11:25.000 help them out maybe calling on someone who is ill or down or lonely 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:30.639 maybe spending time with someone who might be on their own 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:41.259 maybe it could be a picture a letter money a poem or even a knitted sweater 00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:52.279 no matter what the gift is important it's important because it's our worship to god 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:59.360 our worship doesn't just contain here in this building but from when we wake up 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:04.659 and when we go back to sleep that is our worship 00:12:04.659 --> 00:12:15.580 and that's our worship to a baby jesus which is the best gift that we could ever have 00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:21.860 and so coming in to learn now um if we go to the last slide 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:31.560 just as the magi gave gifts god gave jesus the best gift for us how might we give 00:12:31.560 --> 00:12:44.159 amen so as a time of um response i i don't know about you but um christmas is always hectic 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:51.259 um and sometimes you're here there and everywhere seeing all of the family and even that is sometimes 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:58.360 exhausting um and then to think new year's eve is over and having to get back into the swing of things 00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:06.740 and so i think it might be a good idea if we have some still and some silence and just let our hearts 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:13.940 and ears be open to see what god might be saying to us right now maybe he might be challenging 00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:20.039 or bringing things up about how we manage our own resources how can we be more generous to others 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:24.340 and how can we worship god more in our everyday life 00:13:24.340 --> 00:13:34.460 heavenly father may you come and give us peace and comfort 00:13:34.460 --> 00:13:41.720 may you teach us to use the resources that you have given us wisely 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:46.540 may that not only give worship to you but be a blessing to others 00:13:46.540 --> 00:13:55.820 may we understand more of the gift of jesus to us your beloved creation 00:13:55.820 --> 00:13:59.820 thank you for saving us 00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:03.980 and thank you for giving us new life 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:08.120 may we 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:11.900 just hold all of those who are in our hearts 00:14:11.900 --> 00:14:15.500 and may we lift them up to you jesus 00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:18.780 in your name 00:14:18.780 --> 00:14:19.720 amen 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:26.960 we 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:27.660 we 00:14:27.660 --> 00:14:28.060 had a cup of coffee 00:14:28.060 --> 00:14:32.680 we 00:14:32.680 --> 00:14:34.960 had a cup 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:36.180 here 00:14:36.180 --> 00:14:39.779 we