―Socks and Underwear – Best Gift Ever‖

Dave Stone

December 24, 2010

©2010 Southeast Christian Church of Jefferson County, Kentucky, Inc.

All Rights Reserved.

For a full transcript and audio recording of this sermon please visit

The Living Word at www.livingword.org.

Introduction: On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, many of you will give gifts and receive some as well.

What is a quality that makes a Christmas gift a great gift? I want to share with you some of the qualities

that I’ve come up with that seem to make up a great gift, some of which I’m sure will reflect what you

just shared with each other.

Qualities of a Great Gift

1. Time and Thought went into the Gift

The gift is not haphazard or random. The value is not necessarily even in the price that

was paid but the time and thought that went into the gift.

2. It Strikes a Personal Chord

The gift fits you, it is you, the giver understood your likes, dislikes, and your personality.

3. The Gift Enhances the Relationship

Maybe there is a deeper meaning behind the gift—handmade or heartfelt. It might be a

gift that directly affects the quality of your relationship, such as the husband that gives his

wife a blank calendar and says circle 20 nights, and those will be our date nights together.

4. The Gift requires a Sacrifice

There was a price to be paid for the gift—maybe it was financial, or in effort, or time. It

is a gift that comes with a labor of love.

5. The Name of the Gift is Powerful

Some gifts have impact because of their names, I mean G.I. Joe® is so much better than

―G.I. Ralph.‖ Could you image Rubik’s Cube® being named ―Bob’s Contraption‖?

Great Gifts of Christmas’ Past Maybe you gave or received one of these years back:

2000-Razor Scooter; 1995-Playstation®; 1986-Pictionary®; 1982-Rubik’s Cube®; 1973-Electric

Football; 1970-Nerf® Ball; 1965-Rockem’ Sockem’ Robots®; 1963- The Easy Bake Oven®; 1952-Mr.

Potato Head®. Eventually, even the best gifts run their course; over the years they are replaced by

another great gift.

The Best Gift Ever

You have to go back to the first Christmas in order to find a gift that meets all the criteria of a great gift,

and yet has never, and will never, become outdated or obsolete.

Luke 2:10-11… “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. So how does Jesus compare to our criteria of a great gift:

1. Time and Thought went into the gift

The Bible tells us that before the foundation of the world was laid; God had planned for

His Son, Jesus Christ, to come into this world as the needed Savior.

2. It Strikes a Personal Chord

Jesus came to enter into a relationship with us, not for us to become a part of a religion.

That is why the prophet Isaiah, some 700 years before Christ’s birth spoke of the coming

of Immanuel, which means: God with us.

3. The Gift Enhances the Relationship

The only way that we could truly know the love of God and how much he desires to be in

relationship with us, would be for God to become one of us. That is exactly what Jesus

did, and it is through Jesus that we can have an ongoing relationship with our God.

4. The Gift requires a Sacrifice

Listen to what is written in 1 John 4:9-10: ―This is how God showed his love among us:

He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love:

not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for

our sins.‖ Jesus Christ is the ultimate sacrifice.

5. The Name of the Gift is Powerful

Mary and Joseph were told by God what they were to name the child. In Matthew 1:21b,

―She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will

save his people from their sins.‖ Jesus, a powerful name, a name that means Savior.

One Additional Quality found in Jesus

Each year last years’ gifts are replaced by a new line of gifts that seems to go beyond what was available

before. That is what makes Jesus the best gift ever. Jesus is a timeless gift. Jesus is God’s eternal gift

and what He offers is eternal as well.

Conclusion: That is the invitation of Christmas – it’s to make room in your heart and accept the gift of

eternal life that Jesus Christ gives. This Christmas He offers to you the best gift that you could ever

receive.