My father was a pastor.  So I guess I'm in the family business.  Yet he and I are very different in so many ways.

He was a preacher from the traditional mold. Every message had a very tight outline - typically three points. They were usually alliterated. He often liked to end his messages with a poem or a song - which he would actually sing. (Don't wait for it.)

For years he published books of his sermon outlines through Kregel Publications. You can still buy them today.

He also loved a good sermon illustration. When he found one he liked, he would use it often. The following is an example that I heard him share many Christmases - but it does make a good point. Here it is:

Imagine yourself as a child again.  It's your birthday - and your parents have planned a party.  All of your friends have been invited and you can't wait.  Finally, the guests start to arrive, each of them bringing a gift.  They enter the house, set their gifts on the table and the party begins.  Games are played, the cake is served - all while the presents sit on a table just waiting to be opened.  At last the gift time comes.  All the presents are taken off the table ... and distributed to the other children at the party.  Each child gets a gift - but you don't.  As you sit there bewildered, each guest unwraps the gift given to him or her and expresses appreciation to the child who brought it.  You, however, just sit there watching, increasingly disappointed.  The party ends and you receive no gifts even though it is your birthday.  How would you feel?

The point is likely pretty obvious. We celebrate Christmas by giving gifts to the friends and family that we love while giving nothing to the person whose birthday we are supposedly celebrating.

My dad would share this illustration and then ask, "So what gift will you be giving Jesus this year?"

It's a good question for all of us. What will we give Jesus?

What are some of the things he might want? Maybe he would like the first few minutes of your day for Bible reading and prayer? Maybe he'd love to have you be more regular at church? Maybe he would like to be more of a priority in your family? Maybe he'd love for you to share more of your resources - time, talents, finances, experience, etc. - for the good of the Kingdom? Maybe he would like you to give up that unhealthy relationship? Maybe he'd appreciate more gratitude and less complaining? Maybe he would love for you to reach out to a person less fortunate? Maybe he'd like for you to share your faith with a neighbor?

So let me repeat my father's question, "What gift will you give Jesus this Christmas?" Why not come up with a real answer? Decide right now before you read any further.

(BTW - There was another pastor whose sermon outlines were published by Kregel Publications at the same time as my dad's, a guy by the name of Roger Campbell.  He was the pastor at WCC.)