• Doing Christmas Differently

  Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011 (message contributor)

    (rate this sermon illustration)

   | 1,414 views

  Scripture:  None

  Tags:  Giving General

  Denomination: Methodist

DOING CHRISTMAS DIFFERENTLY

Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz, tells of his pastor in Portland Oregon at Imago Dei Community. He and some his friend decided they wanted to do Christmas differently. So he stood up in front of his congregation and challenged them not to go into debt that Christmas. Second, he said nobody remembers what you got for Christmas last year so if you are going to give a gift, it has to be something meaningful and that you created yourself. Third, with the money you save, we’ll give it to build fresh water wells in third world countries.

The first year, Imago Dei gave over $100K. With the ten other churches they joined with, they gave a million the first year. The next year other churches signed up and they gave over 20 million dollars. Within a few years by doing Christmas differently, the church could solve the water crisis in the world, all by making a sacrifice.