December Memory Verse: Luke 10:27, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.”

Series Virtue: Love – responding with action to what God has done

Bible Story: The Magi Visit the Messiah | Matthew 2:1-12

Main Point: Love is generous.

In the second week of our Zack in Time series, Zack and Dr. Oldman hit the road again, still seeking to learn more about Christmas and why we celebrate it. Find out where along the space and time continuum they land this week!

During their groovy time in the 70’s, Oldman and Zack saw Zack’s grandparents exchanging gifts. The gifts didn’t look like much but it gave Oldman a chance to share that giving gifts at Christmas is less about what the gifts are and more about why we do it. We give gifts as a way to imitate God’s generosity. It’s a way to share love with others.

In the Bible, the Magi, or Wise Men, visited baby Jesus after he was born. They brought him gifts and set an example of exchanging gifts at Christmas time. Ultimately, we know that God gives good gifts to us, and He gave us the ultimate gift in the form of His son, Jesus. It’s these models that we follow when we exchange gifts.

As you and your family are making lists, shopping, buying, and exchanging gifts this season, don’t get as caught up in what the actual gifts are and focus instead on the heart behind the giving. Use this season to point your family back to God and His generosity toward us, and then share that love with those around you. We are most like God when we are generous!