A Gift for All People | Gray Strickland

Is Jesus really the best gift ever?

Jesus exchanged His trough for a cross, His cross for a tomb, and His tomb for a crown.

We don't have to

- live in fear of rejection

- live in shame

- live in denial

- live in discouragement

Who is able to receive it?

Luke 2:4-10 NIV

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Matthew 1:1-6 NIV

1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife...

5 Women in the Genealogy of Jesus:

- Tamar

- Rahab

- Ruth

- Bathsheba

- Mary

I. "All people" includes the culturally less-than.

Responsible for Their Actions:

- Abraham

- David

- Ahaz

- Mannasseh

II. "All people" includes the morally less-than.

Matthew 1:16 NIV

16 ...and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

III. "All people" includes the seemingly insignificant.

IV. "All people" includes you!

Luke 2:16-18 NIV

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.