In this week's sermon, we reflected on the greatest exchange: giving sin to receive God's salvation. Under the cross, like under our living room Christmas tree, God gave His perfect gift.

We receive and give a wide variety of gifts. Jesus, that seemingly small, insignificant, handed-down gift from the Father, is the most precious gift we'll ever receive. As we enter a week of gift exchanges, may we never lose sight of the exchange that changed everything forever.

John 3:16: "For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."

1 John 4:8–9: "The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him."

James 1:17: "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

John 1:10–11: "He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him."

Isaiah 53:3: "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him."

Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

• Read John 3:16, Romans 6:23 & Isaiah 9:6.  How do these verses help you understand the significance of Jesus as a Christmas gift?

• List 3 ways that Jesus has proven to be the best gift you’ve ever received.

• How should remembering Jesus as a gift shape our experience of giving and receiving gifts at Christmas?

• Dear God, thank you for your incredible love for me and all of humanity. I am amazed by your gift of Jesus, your one and only Son. Help me truly grasp the magnitude of your love and sacrifice. Fill my heart with gratitude for your grace and mercy. Teach me to cherish your gift and to live a life worthy of your calling.

• Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I have devalued your sacrifice and taken your gift for granted. Open my eyes to see how I might be rejecting you, even subtly, in my thoughts, words, and actions. Help me to recognize and repent of any pride, selfishness, or apathy that hinders me from fully receiving your love.

• Lord, I confess that I have often treated your gift of salvation lightly. I have allowed the world's distractions to dull my awareness of your sacrifice. Break my heart for what breaks yours. Lead me to a place of genuine repentance, where I turn away from my self-sufficiency and fully embrace your grace.

• Lord, I want my life to reflect your love and generosity. Help me to love others with the same unconditional love that you have shown me. Empower me to be a source of hope and encouragement, sharing your goodness with everyone I encounter.