Category: Christmas

10 Ways to Prepare for Christmas

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I found this article at Family Life: Good information in a hurried life…

It’s hard to believe that we are only a few days away from Christmas. The holidays can come and go before you know it. This year, slow down and truly experience this special season centered around family, joy, giving, and most importantly—Jesus. Here are a few ideas to help you prepare your heart for Christmas.

1. Reflect. Take note of the many reasons you have to be thankful this Christmas. Spend time thanking God specifically for ways He has provided for you—spiritually, relationally, financially, etc. Praise Him for His goodness, grace, and faithfulness in all seasons of life.

2. Gather. Spend uninterrupted time with the people you love. If necessary, limit the activities and parties you commit to so that you can focus on time with your family instead. We often rush through our busy Christmas schedules and miss time to really be present in the moments we are together with our loved ones. Make memories together as you celebrate Christmas.

3. Sing. This may seem a little silly at first, but spend time singing your favorite Christmas songs aloud. Pay close attention to the words, thanking God for His incredible gift of our Savior. Sing these traditional carols as worship songs to the Lord.

4. Celebrate. Jesus, the One who holds all things together, chose to enter the world in the humblest form—a small, helpless baby. Jesus’ birth is the greatest gift we will ever receive and that is definitely a reason to celebrate! Embrace the joy found in the birth of Immanuel—God with us.

5. Listen. Practice the art of truly listening to others as you gather with family and friends. Whether you’re having dinner, opening presents, or sitting around and catching up with those you haven’t seen in a while, pay attention to what is said instead of thinking about how you will respond. Truly listening is one of the best ways to show your loved ones that you care.

6. Remember. Reflect on the fact that our Savior was born specifically so that He would one day die for our sins. Thank Him for His willingness to enter this messy, broken, hopeless world. Rejoice in the Father’s love, reflecting on the reality that He sent His only Son to pay the price for sin—our sin. Remember what He went through on the cross to save us.

7. Enjoy. Christmas is a beautiful season—sparkling Christmas lights, decorations hung with care, memorable moments with family. Appreciate the little moments. Slow down long enough to delight in the beauty all around.

8. Read. Study the story of Christ’s birth. Instead of rushing through the reading of Matthew 1 or Luke 2, take time to meditate on the words. Read the passages slowly, taking note of the details you may have missed before. Ask the Lord to help you notice new things as you read the story with fresh eyes.

9. Pray. Lift up those who do not know Jesus in prayer. Pray for the lost and hurting. Ask God to open your eyes to opportunities to share the gospel with those around you—with family, friends, and even strangers. Pray for those who are all alone this Christmas; pray they will encounter Jesus and find hope in the One who loves them and will never leave them.

10. Worship. Christmas is the perfect opportunity for worship. Worshipping God encompasses so much more than simply singing. Worship is a way of life. This Christmas, seek to honor Him with the way you live. Speak words to others that breathe life, not discouragement. Love the people in your life selflessly. Humbly serve your family. Praise God with the little moments in your daily life.

[print_link] [email_link] [ Written by Tessa Morrell, Editorial Manager, Family Life, and Brentwood Baptist Church. Copyright © 2014 by Brentwood Baptist Church. ]

The Christmas Story in Order

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In last week’s sermon notes I (Rick Leineweber at Virginia Beach Missional Church) included a list of Scripture passages that put the events of the Christmas story in consecutive order. One of the traditions that we have established as a family is to read the Christmas story in chronological order every year. It’s lots of fun and it has helped us stay focused on the reason for the season. When our children were younger they would take the nativity figures and move them around to act out the wonderful story of Christ’s birth as we read. You can read it together as a family in one sitting or read a couple of sections each day in preparation for Christmas. If you own a Harmony of the Gospels the section numbers will be helpful but if you don’t you can just turn to the Bible passages. Enjoy!

  • Section 2: John’s prologue: from pre-incarnation to crucifixion (John 1:1-18)
  • Section 3: Jesus’s legal lineage through Joseph and natural lineage through Mary (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23b-38)
  • Section 4: John’s birth foretold to Zacharias (Luke 1:5-25)
  • Section 5: Jesus’s birth foretold to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
  • Section 6: Mary visits to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45)
  • Section 7: Mary’s song of joy (Luke 1:46-56)
  • Section 8: John’s Birth (Luke 1:57-66)
  • Section 9: Zacharias Prophetic Song (Luke 1:67-79)
  • Section 10: John’s Growth and Early Life (Luke 1:80)
  • Section 11: Circumstances of Jesus’s birth explained to Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25)
  • Section 12: Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-7)
  • Section 13: Witness of the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20)
  • Section 14: Circumcision of Jesus (Luke 2:21)
  • Section 15: Jesus presented at the temple (Luke 2:22-38)
  • Section 16: Return to Nazareth (Luke 2:39)
  • Section 17: Visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12)
  • Section 18: Flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-18)
  • Section 19: New Home in Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23)
  • Section 20: Growth and early life of Jesus (Luke 2:40)
  • Section 21: Jesus’s first Passover in Jerusalem (Luke 2:41-50)
  • Section 22: Jesus is adolescence and early manhood (Luke 2:51-52)

Source: A Harmony of the Gospel by: Robert L. Thomas & Stanley N. Gundry, Harper Collins Publisher, 1978

[print_link] [email_link] [Based on my classes with Richard D. Leineweber, Jr. c. 2000]

Here is a Christmas Quiz

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We’ve all seen and heard the Christmas story so many times that we know exactly what God’s Word says about it, right? Or do we sometimes let tradition overtake the truth? (Also check out Christmas Mythbusters).

Dates and Mates

  1. For the journey to Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph,
    1. Walked
    2. Joseph walked; Mary rode a donkey
    3. Rode a bus
    4. Who knows?
  2. When Mary became pregnant, Mary and Joseph were,
    1. Married
    2. Just friends
    3. Engaged
    4. None of the above
  3. When Mary became pregnant,
    1. Joseph married her
    2. Joseph wanted to dissolve their relationship
    3. Mary left Nazareth for a while
    4. An angel told them to go to Bethlehem
    5. Both 2 and 3
    6. Both 2 and 4
  4. Christmas has always been observed,
    1. On December 25
    2. On January 6
    3. At Grandma’s house
    4. None of the above

Kings and Wings

  1. Who directed Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem?
    1. Herod
    2. An angel
    3. Caesar
    4. The IRS
  2. Just what is a “heavenly host?”
    1. An angelic choir
    2. The welcoming angel in heaven
    3. An army of angels
    4. None of the above
  3. How many angels spoke to the shepherds?
    1. A multitude
    2. Two – Gabriel and Michael
    3. One
    4. Who knows?
  4. What song did the angels sing?
    1. “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
    2. “Joy to the World”
    3. “Glory to God in the Highest”
    4. None of the above

Barns and Yarns

  1. The baby Jesus was born in a,
    1. Cave
    2. Manger
    3. Hurry
    4. Barn
    5. Who knows?
  2. What animals were present at Jesus’ birth?
    1. Cows, sheep and camels
    2. Cows, sheep and donkeys
    3. Lions and tigers and bears
    4. None of the above
  3. What is a manger anyway?
    1. A barn
    2. A place for hay
    3. A feeding trough
    4. A Greek term for the church nursery
  4. When did baby Jesus cry?
    1. When He opened the wise men’s gifts
    2. Whenever babies usually cried
    3. When the cattle started lowing
    4. “No crying He makes”

Signs and Lines

  1. Joseph’s family was from,
    1. Jerusalem
    2. Nazareth
    3. Bethlehem
    4. None of the above
  2. Who saw the star over Bethlehem?
    1. Mary and Joseph
    2. Shepherds
    3. The three kings
    4. Both 2 and 3
    5. None of the above
  3. What sign were the shepherds to look for?
    1. A star over the stable
    2. A barn outlined with Christmas lights
    3. A baby in a manger
    4. Both 1 and 3
    5. None of the above
  4. What did the innkeeper say to Mary and Joseph?
    1. “I have a stable out back.”
    2. “Come back after the holidays.”
    3. “There’s no room in the inn.”
    4. Both 1 and 3
    5. None of the above

Wise Guys and Testing Lies

  1. How many wise men came to see Jesus? _______ (Write in correct number)
  2. What in the world are Magi?
    1. Eastern kings
    2. Magicians
    3. Astrologers
    4. Wise enough to follow the star
    5. None of the above
  3. When the wise men brought their gifts to Jesus, they found Him in,
    1. A manger
    2. A house
    3. Vacation Bible School
    4. None of the above
  4. In what books of the Bible will you find these fascinating facts?
    1. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
    2. Matthew and Luke
    3. Mark and Matthew
    4. Matthew, Mark and Luke

Answers:

Dates and Mates
1-1. The Bible gives no record of their means of travel.
2-3. Matthew 1:18
3-5. Matthew 1:19; Luke 1:39, 56
4-4. December 25 was selected late in the 4th century as the day to celebrate Christ’s birth

Kings and Wings
1-3. Luke 2:1
2-3. An army of angels
3-3. Luke 2:10 (“the angel said to them”)
4-4. Luke 2:13 (They didn’t sing; they “said.” OK, if you picked 3,  you get one point).

Barns and Yarns
1-5. Luke 2:7 (We aren’t told where Jesus was born, only that after His birth He was laid in a manger).
2-4. The Bible doesn’t say anything about animals being present.
3-3. A feeding trough
4-2. He was fully human as well as fully God.

Signs and Lines
1-3. Luke 2:4
2-5. None of the above (Three kings are not mentioned in the Bible. Only in songs).
3-3. Luke 2:12
4-5. An innkeeper is never mentioned in the Scriptures.

Wise Guys and Testing Lies
1. The Bible doesn’t say how many – only that Magi came bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh (see Matthew 2:12).
2-3. Astrologers who dabble in the natural sciences.
3-2. Matthew 2:11
4-2. Check it out!

Scoring:
19-20 correct: Congratulations! You can separate fact from fiction.
18-16 correct: Not Bad! Truth wins over tradition.
15 – 11 correct: Uh oh! You’ve been to too many Christmas plays.
10 or below correct: Ouch!

Top Ten Christmas Movie Quotes

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Christmas is a busy time of year, and sometimes busyness takes the joy out of it all, but the Christmas season is also a time for memories. The sights, sounds and smells of Christmas. for me, nothing brings out a few memories than the classic songs and movies.

This is from Cheryl Shireman who is the Small Group Network Director of Marketing, and  I wanted to pass on this top ten list, enjoy:

10. How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 1966:  “And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?”

9. Elf, 2003: “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

8. The Santa Clause, 1994: “Who gave you permission to tell Charlie there was no Santa Claus? I think if we’re going to destroy our son’s delusions, I should be a part of it.”

7. Miracle on 34th Street, 1947: “Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.”

6. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, 1964: “A toy is never truly happy until it is loved by a child.”

5. Home Alone, 1990: “Keep the change, you filthy animal!”

4. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, 1989: “I don’t know what to say, except it’s Christmas and we’re all in misery.”

3. A Christmas Story, 1983: “Next to me in the blackness lay my oiled blue steel beauty. The greatest Christmas gift I had ever received, or would ever receive. Gradually, I drifted off to sleep, pranging ducks on the wing and getting off spectacular hip shots.”

2. It’s A Wonderful Life, 1946: “What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That’s a pretty good idea. I’ll give you the moon, Mary.”

1. A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men. And that’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

What others might you add to this list?

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