Scripture Reading — Luke 21:25-28 “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”— Luke 21:27The Christmas season looks back to the time when the Son of God first came to live among us and to bring us salvation. But this season has a f
Scripture Reading — Matthew 2:19-23, Luke 2:39-40 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.— Luke 2:39I like to have the Christmas season continue as long as possible. In our home we often
Scripture Reading — Matthew 2:13-18 “Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt . . . for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”— Matthew 2:14Not everyone loves Christmas. Maybe you’ve heard about Ebenezer Scrooge in the Charles Dickens novel A Christmas C
Scripture Reading — Luke 2:36-38 [Anna] gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.— Luke 2:38Sometimes just after the Christmas holiday, I feel a bit of a letdown. For weeks I’ve built up excitement for the comi
Scripture Reading — Luke 2:21-35 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.— Luke 2:33Now that Christmas Day has passed, let’s try to make sense of all that we have experienced in the past few weeks. What is the significance of our celebration? Does thi
Scripture Reading — John 1:14-18 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.— John 1:14Today is Christmas Day, on which most Christians mark the birth of Jesus over 2,000 years ago. While celebrations may vary, depending on cultures and family traditions, the central
Scripture Reading — John 1:1-13 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.— John 1:5I often feel like the world holds its breath on Christmas Eve. For weeks, we’ve listened to advertisements telling us to get ready for the holiday. Perhaps we’ve do
Scripture Reading — 1 Timothy 3:14-16 He appeared in the flesh. . . .— 1 Timothy 3:16The Christmas holiday is nearly upon us. For many people Christmas is a special day filled with family gatherings, gift exchanges, and other holiday traditions. In my own family, we look forwa
Scripture Reading — Revelation 12:1-17 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.— Revelation 12:2What is the real impact of Christmas?For many of us in the Western world, the story of Christmas has a familiar cast of characters: Joseph and Mary, th
Scripture Reading — Matthew 2:9-12 They opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.— Matthew 2:11What’s the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received?A number of years ago, my in-laws gave me a heavy winter jacket and overalls—the kind
Scripture Reading — Matthew 2:7-8 “As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”— Matthew 2:8Christmas in the Western world has become a highly secularized holiday. While the celebration still bears the name of Christ, the season marks a time of
Scripture Reading — Micah 5:2-4; Matthew 2:1-6 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.— Matthew 2:4Sometime (probably a few months) after the birth of Jesus, Magi from the east came in