Sermon Central
-
Christmas Questions And Service At Home
Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 22, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: Is Christmas okay or in the Bible? Let’s learn why it’s a good Christian celebration. Let’s ask some questions and look at the story of Christ’s birth including an at-home service from Luke 2:1-40.
Prelude: Is Christmas okay or in the Bible? Purpose: Let’s learn why it’s a good Christian celebration. Plan: Let’s ask some questions and look at the story of Christ’s birth in Luke 2:1-40.
Questions
What does the word Christmas mean? It literally means Christ’s Mass, or the Mass of Christ. Mass is an old word for the Eucharist (communion thanksgiving) or Lord’s Supper because it was held at the dismissal of the service. An old tradition held three masses at midnight, dawn and in the day on this special occasion.
Is Christmas pagan? The angels and shepherds celebrated the birth of Jesus when He was born, and the Magi celebrated it on a different date. Some pagan festivals were coincidentally held in December, but Christians do not celebrate them, they celebrate Jesus.
Was December 25th a pagan celebration? Yes, but God owns all days of the year. Nature worshipers do not own any days exclusively. What better way to eradicate false worship on a day than to rededicate it to God!
Was Jesus born on December 25th? Probably not. Many possible dates for his birth have been suggested over the centuries. On December 25th we do not celebrate a calendar day, but like the Magi, we celebrate the fact of His birth at a different time.
Does the Bible condemn worshiping God, in a manner like pagans worshiped their idols. It specifically forbids child sacrifice and forced ritual prostitution, not prayers, singing, setting aside worship dates, or any similar practices that Christians and idolaters may have had in common.
Is Christmas too materialistic? Yes, anything can become materialistic. Even the Temple was used for merchandising when it should have been dedicated to prayer.
Is the Christmas tree forbidden in Jeremiah 10? No, it actually describes carving idols from a tree and covering them with gold, not decorating a Christmas tree.
Were Christmas trees once pagan? Pagans once decorated trees for nature worship. But, they have always been God’s trees and Christians also use creation for godly purposes. A good use is to decorate them as a reminder of the tree of life with its 12 fruits and New Jerusalem.
Why don’t we just celebrate the Old Testament festivals? We are free to (Romans 14), but they primarily celebrate Old Testament events and while many of them anticipate New Testament events, none of them specifically celebrates the birth or resurrection of Jesus. The spirit of the law (2 Corinthians 3:6), that we learned under the guardianship or tutoring of the law (Galatians 3:24), teaches us the principle of celebrating New Testament events in a similar manner to celebrating Old Testament events.
Is gift-giving appropriate for Christmas? Jesus said that it is far better to give than to get (Acts 20:35). Giving is a good thing but we must also give wisely. When we focus on getting, or teach our children that Christmas is about what they will get, we are totally missing the point.
Is Christmas in the Bible? The word Christmas is not in the Bible, but the story of Christ’s birth is. Let’s look at Luke 2:1-40.
Reading
Luke 2:1-40 The Birth of Jesus
Postlude: Why would somebody NOT want to celebrate this marvelous event? We can have a worldly Christmas, if we focus on materialism, lie to our children and wear ourselves out with physical preparations that we have no time left for Jesus. Let’s have a Holy Christmas, by making the worship of our Lord the most important part of this season.
A Christmas Service at Home
Ring some bells
Away in a Manger [light a candle]
Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer
It Came upon the Midnight Clear
1st Reading: Luke 2:1-7
What Child Is This
2nd Reading: Luke 2:8-20
O Little Town of Bethlehem
O Come All Ye Faithful
3rd Reading: Luke 2:21-24
Angels We Have Heard on High
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4th Reading: Luke 2:25-35
The First Noel
Joy to the World
5th Reading: Luke 2:36-40
O Holy Night
6th Reading & Offering for the Poor: Proverbs 28:27
Doxology
Silent Night
Together: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” (2 Corinthians 13:14 NKJV)
