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Christmas Lesson 2021

Celebrate Christ's Appearing

2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

I. His Appearing

  • Is the day of His appearing precious?
  1. Until His Appearing

1Ti 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Peter 1:7

  1. Having Appeared

2 Timothy 1:10 — But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Titus 2:11-13 — For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

  • As a Baby in a manger:

Possibly in September which would make his conception around December 25th.

Luke 2:7 — And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

  1. Day of Visitation

1 Peter 2:12; Luke 19:44

II. Our Celebration

  • Prodigal Has Returned! Luke 15:23-24

  • Praise God in His Sanctuary! (Not a silent occasion) (Psalm 150:1-6)

  • [Eat or drink?] Do to the Glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31)

  • Celebrate in Time, (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

  • My Joy Remain in You

John 15:11 — These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

(Let's celebrate!)

  • THIS is the day!

Psalm 118:24 — This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

  • a period distinguished by God's favor above all others.

Matthew 2:11 — And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

III. Keep the Feast

PRIORITY: "Keep the Feast" (Spiritual: Leading the Christian life of joy in Christ's finished work.)

1 Corinthians 5:7 — Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Proverbs 15:15 ¶ All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

The early church had times of food and fellowship much as we do today, and it seems that these times were called "love feasts."

IV. Memorialize with Scripture

  • Read, Mediate, Respond

  • Favorite passage?

  • Isaiah 7:14

  • Isaiah 9:6

  • Luke 1:35

  • Matthew 1:18-25

  • Luke 2:1-14

  • Luke 2:1-14 (visit of the shepherds)

  • Matthew 2:1-12 (visit of the wisemen)

  • PEACE ON EARTH Luke 2:14

  • THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE

    • 1 John 5:11

    • Romans 6:23

    • John 3:16

    • Titus 3:4-7

    • John 10:27-28

    • 1 Timothy 1:15-17

IV. How Do You Rejoice at His Birth?

Luke 2:8-14 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

I READ: << TRUTH: The scriptures do not tell us to celebrate the birth of Christ but to celebrate His death... and not once a year at "Easter" but every Sunday through the Lord's Supper. (Acts 20:7) >>

Luke 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

  1. Rejoice with the Word

1. Jesus will come from the line of Abraham. Prophecy: Genesis 12:3. Fulfilled: Matthew 1:1.

2. Jesus’ mother will be a virgin. Prophecy: Isaiah 7:14. Fulfilled: Matthew 1:18–23.

Mary & Joseph -- Mt 1:18 ¶ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

3. Jesus will be a descendent of Isaac and Jacob. Prophecy: Genesis 17:19 and Numbers 24:17. Fulfilled: Matthew 1:2.

4. Jesus will be born in the town Bethlehem. Prophecy: Micah 5:2. Fulfilled: Luke 2:1–7.

5. Jesus will be called out of Egypt. Prophecy: Hosea 11:1. Fulfilled: Matthew 2:13–15.

6. Jesus will be a member of the tribe of Judah. Prophecy: Genesis 49:10. Fulfilled: Luke 3:33.

7. Jesus will enter the temple. This is important because the temple was destroyed in A.D. 70 and was never rebuilt. Prophecy: Malachi 3:1. Fulfilled: Luke 2:25–27.

8. Jesus will be from the lineage of King David. Prophecy: Jeremiah 23:5. Fulfilled: Matthew 1:6.

9. Jesus’ birth will be accompanied with great suffering and sorrow. Prophecy: Jeremiah 31:15. Fulfilled: Matthew 2:16.

Mt 2:16 ¶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men._

10. Jesus will live a perfect life, die by crucifixion, **resurrect **from death, ascend into heaven, and sit at the right hand of God. Prophecies: Psalm 22:16; Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 53:10–11; Psalm 68:18; Psalm 110:1. Fulfilled: 1 Peter 2:21–22; Luke 23:33; Acts 2:25–32; Acts 1:9; Hebrews 1:3.

  • READ | SHARE (family expecially) | WITNESS TO THE TESTIMONY OF SCRIPTURE

  1. Rejoice with Traditions

  2. What the Bible says about Tradition

  3. Negative Side

Matthew 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? [‘when prioritized before the commands of God.’]

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. [‘when the only reason is everyone is doing it’]

ILLUSTRATION: Dangerous Traditions—

  1. New Year’s Eve Dive (Siberia Russia)
  2. Baby Dropping (Muslims in the India line up to drop their babies off a 15 meter tower in a shrine, catching them in a white sheet. The ritual, which has taken place for more than 500 years, is believed to make the children grow up healthy and strong. The Muslims claim there have never been any injuries during this ritual )
  3. **Fireworks Battle **(Greece two churches face firing fireworks at each other!)
  4. Christmas Trees (during 2003-2006, 240 homes fires per year took place, all of which started due to a Christmas tree, according to the National Fire Protection Association. On average 16 people died because of the fire, and 25 were injured each year. Christmas tree fires are rare, but when they do happen, they are usually catastrophic.)

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [when concerning matters of the soul tradition is merely temporal, limited, (carnal)]

  1. Positive Side

2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. [“A GODLY EXAMPLE”]

Jos 4:6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? () [“A Memorial to all generations of Grace and Glory of God!”]

  1. “Caroling”

[PEW RESEARCH] About 16% of Americans say they go caroling, (32% said they did as children).

  1. “Decorating”

Homes, clothes, tree

  1. Rejoice with Singing

    Isa 44:23 Sing, O ye heavens**; for the LORD hath done it**: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. <<HE’S DONE IT!!!>>

    Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

    Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

    Psalms -

    Literally a psalm is a poem written to be sung to the accompaniment of stringed instruments. Sing the words of Scripture and take them as our pattern.

    Hymns – (Carols) - Carol “dance in a ring” “song of joy” (around 1500) “Christmas Hymn of Joy”

    Hymn was a term that would have been especially familiar to the Gentiles. In the Greek and Roman empires leading up to the time of the New Testament, hymns were sung in praise of heroes and gods. People would celebrate the military victories of great generals and exalt the false gods of mythology in hymns. But as the gospel swept across the known world, the church transformed the hymn into a song in praise to the one true God. Its transformation astounded the Romans. In 112 when Pliny, a governor in Bythinia, wrote to Emperor Trajan, asking for advise on how to handle the rising number of Christians in the realm, he commented that the** Christians were observed singing “a hymn to Christ as to a god.” **In his mind hymns were songs for heroes and champions, not for one shamefully crucified on a cross! GLORY TO GOD!

    Spiritual Songs –

    Spiritual songs. The term song is a generic term in Greek meaning all kinds of songs. Paul added the descriptive adjective spiritual to narrow its meaning. Not all music is composed for worship or should be used for worship. (Personal, write one and sing it!)

    Psalm 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

VI. Common Misconsceptions Surrounding Christ's Birth

  1. “Wisemen at the Stable” (3 years later)

  2. Christmas on December 25th  (not until 250 AD in the Spring, 325 AD December 25th ) December 25th had importance to pagans, it has since been hijacked and used to celebrate Christ’s birth.

  3. Mary wanted to spend the night at an inn, but there were no "motel rooms" available because the inn was full. was no space (room) in the "upper room" of a private house because other family members had got there first, not a public inn, motel, hotel etc. but a ‘guest chamber’ (Mark 14:14)

  4. Mary remained a virgin until the day of her death. Mary and Joseph had many other children: (Matthew 13:55-56)

  5. They spent the night in a separate building like a barn where the animals were kept. There was no room on the upper floor of the house so they spent the night on the main floor of the house where the animals were kept inside the house. Most ancient Jewish houses had a common area on the main floor, including a manger where animals ate and slept at night, and an upper room where everyone slept. It is possible that there was a separate barn, but this would often be attached to the house directly.

  6. There were three wise men. There were three gifts, gold frankincense and myrrh. There may have been 10 wise men, we don’t know, but each of them likely brought some gold frankincense and myrrh. Since these were common currency items of value, each wise man, regardless of the actual number, brought a little of all three.

  7. The star of Bethlehem shone over the manger the night Jesus was born.

The narrative implies that Jesus was born sometime between the first appearance of the star and the appearance of the Magi at Herod's court. That the king is said to have ordered the execution of boys two years of age and

  1. The wise men arrived the night Jesus was born in a manger. The shepherds came to the manger (Luke 2:8-10), but not the wise men came to Joseph's house. (at least two years to 3 years later)

  2. Vocabulary

    • “Christmas” – Christ Mass
    • “Xmas”
    • “Yuletide”

Yule or Yuletide ("Yule time") (pre-christian) is a pagan religious festival observed by the historical Germanic peoples, later undergoing Christianised reformulation resulting in, the now better known, Christmastide.

Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar, Yule singing,

The Yule log was originally an entire tree, that was carefully chosen and brought into the house with great ceremony with the purpose being to provide maximum warmth and endurance. {celebration}

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