BIG IDEA

You are the gift that God wants.

MESSAGE NOTES:

WHAT:

Have you ever been out-gifted? You and your friend exchange gifts, and what she got you is better than what you got her? 

You’re gonna get out-gifted by God.

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

God with us. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us. Matthew 1:23 NLT

God in us. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:5

SO WHAT:

You cannot out-give God but you can give God exactly what he wants.

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. Mark 12:30 NLT

Depending on how you feel about yourself: to see yourself as present to someone may be really easy for you or it may be really difficult to you.

NOW WHAT:

Gifting yourself to God is trading in self-esteem for God-esteem.

Gifting yourself to God is unwrapping your heart.

You give God the current version of you, not the wish-list version.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Q1: Do you feel like God would be happy with you as His gift?

Q2: What could happen to you (your feelings, your life) when you give God your heart?

Q3: How does this make you feel “I’m not good enough for God but God still wants me”?

Q4: Share one reason God loves and values you. ***Leaders - step in as needed***

***LEADERS - if time allows share one reason you love and value each of your students (if they are new you can value their presence, what they could add to your group, etc.)