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By Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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A Gift Too Wonderful for Words

“If you’re looking for a gift too wonderful for words, I got great news this morning. You already have it. He’s already yours, and it didn’t cost you a thing, and it should come as no surprise, and He isn’t limited to any season of the year. He is so magnificent that He is beyond telling in human vocabulary.”

The One Who is Truly Indescribable

“There is immensity in the Word. It is larger than life. There is transcendence in the Word. It goes beyond and above what we could even imagine. Indescribable. Creation was phenomenal, but it wasn’t indescribable. The crossing of the Red Sea was magnificent, but it wasn’t indescribable. The building of the tabernacle in the wilderness was amazing, but it wasn’t indescribable. The construction of the temple under Solomon’s rule, very impressive, not indescribable. David’s killing Goliath, amazing, but it’s not indescribable. The prophecies of Daniel, mind-boggling, but they’re not indescribable. Even the preservation of Holy Scripture, astonishing, but not indescribable. But when you come to the gift, you don’t have the words. Not even this mind, like Paul, had the word. Only the gift from God is indescribable.”

Why God Gave Us His Son

“It’s an ugly picture. It’s a vivid picture, painted with realistic colors. The words sort of emerge from the page. Dead, lost, disobedient, depraved is what we would call it all. As bad off as we could possibly be. What a pathetic situation. What we needed was an indescribable answer and God gave it. See the words that begin verse 4, ‘But God.’ That’s Bethlehem. That’s the gift. Isn’t it wonderful how he says it? ‘Rich in mercy.’ God’s ministry to the miserable. We, in our miserable estate, unable to help ourselves. Not even the best among humanity would have even caused God to turn his head. But God took it from there.”

Fully God, Fully Man

“He was existing as God in eternity past. He was God, John tells us, but He emptied himself, voluntarily releasing the independent use of His divine attributes, theologians teach us. He lived on this earth still as deity, but under the control of the will of the Father. If you will, today’s terms, taking His cues from the one who sent Him. God-man—two natures, one person, independent of themselves, and yet unified in one and only one human being with a divine nature forever. Magnificent truth.”

Receive the Priceless Gift

“All the fullness of deity dwelling in bodily form. Amazing. The baby in Bethlehem’s manger who cries when afraid, who soils His diaper, who needs to be taught how to eat and how to talk, and yet all the way through, God in flesh. Priceless. What’s the gift worth? Everything. How can I know Him? Verse 6. By receiving Christ Jesus, the Lord, you begin your walk with Him. By receiving Him. You mean there’s no gift I’m supposed to bring to Him? Well, on the contrary. The gift is yourself. What a great gift to give the Savior, the God who made you this Christmas season.’”

Additional Resources

First, sign up for our Chuck’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you his best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-page checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.

Second, check out our new Preach The Word articles and video series on YouTube where we’re teaching Chuck’s best insights on this important calling.

Third, listen to Chuck’s messages to those in ministry through our Seminary Chapels page. For decades, he offered students at Dallas Theological Seminary his best thoughts on church leadership and ministry. Now, we have put them at your fingertips. Also, you can find them through this YouTube playlist we created for you.

Fourth, if you don’t own a copy of Chuck’s book on preaching, Saying It Well, we highly recommend you add it to your library. It’s his preaching memoir that is also like a practical preaching manual. You won’t be able to put it down.

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