Talk about a time when you felt really happy after giving someone a present. What was that present and why did you feel so happy? 

Read the Christmas story found in Luke 2:1-20 together as a family.

Jesus birth was the greatest gift to us.  He came so we can have a Savior.   He came to give glory to God and to teach us how to do the same.  Here are three specific gifts for you to receive and live for Jesus.

1. You are already forgiven.
   • Have you ever tried to do something in your own strength and failed?   You probably immediately think about New Years resolutions. Many of us think about changes in the New Year because we have fallen into bad habits and want a way out. We want some new patterns of eating, giving, relating to our spouse, family devotions, sleep and exercise.  We feel like if we stop doing the wrong thing and start doing the right things, everything will be better, but often we are trying to fix external issues to internal problems.  What we are really longing for is to be acceptable, to be worthy.  Romans 5:8 tells us that “God shows his great love for us in that while were still sinners Christ died for us.”  What that means is that Christ did what we could not do for ourselves.  Receive God’s free gift of salvation and his forgiveness of sins. 
   • Here is the first gift: Here is the first gift: Christ came to save us by destroying the works of the devil, our sin, and to be our advocate.  The work is already done; you just have to receive it.
2. Your life has purpose.
   • “This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.” These two things are so closely connected for the apostle John that he calls them one commandment: believe Jesus and love others. That is your purpose. That is the sum of the Christian life.   Trust Jesus, love people.
   • Here is the second gift: a purpose to live.
3. You have a helper.
   • John 14:26 tells us that we are not in this alone.  “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”  “He who is in you is greater than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) God is for us, not against us. He will help you. His Spirit produces in us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.  Trust him.
   • Here is the third gift: He will always be with you.

At the beginning of Matthew, people wanted to “come” and “see” Jesus. By the end of Matthew, we are called to “go” and “tell” people about Jesus.  How has pursuing Jesus this Christmas changed you? How will you continue in your pursuit of the King and tell others about it?