Gateway Church - MO

We tend to make Christmas about impressing others. We want to have the best decorations, the best parties, put on the best show, give the best gifts. For many of us, Christmas is a chance to look good. And we'll spend ourselves into debt to pull it off. But Jesus didn’t come to impress. Jesus came to humbly serve. His birth went unnoticed except by the Angels and a few poor shepherds.

We tend to make Christmas about spending. We want to buy the biggest most extravagant gifts. And we will put ourselves into debt to do so. If you could sum up the modern day, American Christmas with one word, it could be “Spend.” However, while we tend to spend, God chose to invest. That first Christmas, Jesus came to invest. He came to invest in us and in the world he created. And if we want to grasp the truth of Christmas, we must begin to invest in others.

We all give and receive gifts. Some gifts are ordinary. Others are special to us. And some gifts are actually too valuable to keep for ourselves. As counter intuitive as it seems, the only right thing to do is give them away. And no gift is more valuable than the life we have in Jesus. He gave his life for us and calls us to give our lives away so that others can experience His amazing gift as well.

Often, it’s easier to just blend in and go with the flow. There is less stress, less drama, and less chance of being noticed. But as followers of Jesus, we are called to stand out from our world. When we stand out, we may get singled out for ridicule and harsh treatment and when that happens, it’s easy to want to change to fit in. But if we are people of conviction, we stay true to who we are in Jesus, regardless of the cost.

Join us as pastor Steve finishes a few remaining questions while wrapping up the series.

GRACE IS NOT ABOUT WHAT WE DO, IT’S ALL ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS DONE

Rules, a part of every religion, are often the main reason people are turned off to religion. Even people who consider themselves religious are constantly looking for ways around the rules of their own faith traditions, which breeds the well-earned reputation for hypocrisy. Rules always assume a relationship. Two relational models built on rules are the family model and the club model. God desires a relationship first and foremost. His rules are for the protection and provision of those in his family.