How Should We Celebrate Christmas?
Rex Yancey
Luke 2:1-18
Christmas was first celebrated around 98 AD. It was adopted 40 years later as a Christian festival. Not until the fifth century was the date permanently fixed to December 25. Up until that time it had been observed at various times of the year.
Not everyone looked favorably on Christmas celebrations. The Pilgrims Fathers condemned all church festivals.
Christmas is celebrated around the world; but in different ways.
France: Children put their shoes in front of the fireplace so that Father Christmas can fill them.
Spain: People dance and sing in the streets after midnight mass on Christmas Eve.
Italy: The family prays while the mother places a figure of the Christ-child in a manger.
Denmark, Norway, Sweden: Christmas dinner includes rice pudding that has a single almond in it. Tradition says that whoever gets the almond will have good luck throughout the year.
Australia, New Zealand: December comes during the summer. So many people celebrate Christmas by going to the beach.
How should we celebrate Christmas? I think we need to look at those involved in the Christmas story and see how they celebrated the birth of Christ.
1. HOW THE SHEPHERDS CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS.
1. The message they received.
These were not ordinary shepherds and these were not ordinary sheep. These shepherds cared for the sheep that would be offered for sacrifice. V. 10-11
They celebrated Christmas with good tidings and great joy. The deliverer had been born.
-John 1:11 indicates that He was one of us. He was the fulfillment of OT prophecy.
2. The message they reported. V. 15-17
We see their vision, hear their voices, and see their visit. They celebrated Christmas by telling others about the birth of the Savior.
-Can you imagine how Mary and Joseph felt to have been confirmed in the revelation God had given them through the shepherds.
-In 1809 Napoleon was sweeping through Austria. Bloo ...
Rex Yancey
Luke 2:1-18
Christmas was first celebrated around 98 AD. It was adopted 40 years later as a Christian festival. Not until the fifth century was the date permanently fixed to December 25. Up until that time it had been observed at various times of the year.
Not everyone looked favorably on Christmas celebrations. The Pilgrims Fathers condemned all church festivals.
Christmas is celebrated around the world; but in different ways.
France: Children put their shoes in front of the fireplace so that Father Christmas can fill them.
Spain: People dance and sing in the streets after midnight mass on Christmas Eve.
Italy: The family prays while the mother places a figure of the Christ-child in a manger.
Denmark, Norway, Sweden: Christmas dinner includes rice pudding that has a single almond in it. Tradition says that whoever gets the almond will have good luck throughout the year.
Australia, New Zealand: December comes during the summer. So many people celebrate Christmas by going to the beach.
How should we celebrate Christmas? I think we need to look at those involved in the Christmas story and see how they celebrated the birth of Christ.
1. HOW THE SHEPHERDS CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS.
1. The message they received.
These were not ordinary shepherds and these were not ordinary sheep. These shepherds cared for the sheep that would be offered for sacrifice. V. 10-11
They celebrated Christmas with good tidings and great joy. The deliverer had been born.
-John 1:11 indicates that He was one of us. He was the fulfillment of OT prophecy.
2. The message they reported. V. 15-17
We see their vision, hear their voices, and see their visit. They celebrated Christmas by telling others about the birth of the Savior.
-Can you imagine how Mary and Joseph felt to have been confirmed in the revelation God had given them through the shepherds.
-In 1809 Napoleon was sweeping through Austria. Bloo ...
There are 5256 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
