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Merry Christmas!. From Secular to Sacred. From Santa to Savior From Holiday to Holy Day From Decoration to Devotion From Getting to Giving. From Holiday to Holy Day. Colossians 2:16-17.
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From Secular to Sacred • From Santa to Savior • From Holiday to Holy Day • From Decoration to Devotion • From Getting to Giving
Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
WITH CONSCIOUS EFFORT WE CAN KEEP OUR FOCUS ON JESUS, THE “REASON FOR THE SEASON.”
Christmas andPagan Holidays • Samhain – Oct. 31 End of Summer • Celtic New Year • Spirits may visit as the veil between This World and the Otherworld is the thinnest...
Christmas andPagan Holidays • Becomes Halloween All Hallows Eve • All Saints Day • Harvest Calendar • Replacement • Secularized and adopted by Wicca
Christmas andPagan Holidays • Samhain – Oct. 31 • Yule – Winter Solstice – Dec. 21 • Pagan Germanic – Darkest part of year • Placed on Julian calendar - Dec. 25 • Became synonymous with Christmas
Christmas andPagan Holidays • Samhain – Oct. 31 • Yule – Winter Solstice – Dec. 21 • Saturnalia – Dec. 17-23 • Roman Festival • Dedication of Temple to the god Saturn • Feasting and Merryment
Christmas andPagan Holidays • Samhain – Oct. 31 • Yule – Winter Solstice – Dec. 21 • Saturnalia – Dec. 17-23 • "We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of him who made it." (A theologian in 320 AD)
Christmas andSubstitute Holidays • Winter Break • Kwanzaa
Christmas andSecular Holidays • Party Time • Materialism - Gift-giving
Christmas andJewish Festivals • Tabernacles • Passover • Firstfruits • Pentecost • Rosh Hashanah • Yom Kippur • Tabernacles Birth Sacrificial Death Resurrection Sending of Holy Spirit Possible Rapture Possible Tribulation Possible Glorious Return
Christmas andJewish Festivals Feast of Tabernacles – September Birth of Christ While shepherds watched their flocks Jesus “tabernacled” among us
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Christmas andJewish Festivals Feast of Tabernacles – September Birth of Christ While shepherds watched their flocks Jesus “tabernacled” among us Hanukkah – Feast of Lights – December Conception of Christ Visit of the Magi Jesus is The Light of the World
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Christmas andYour Celebrations • Your Testimony Witnessing to Family, Friends and Others
1 Peter 3:15-16 • But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Psalm 126:5-6 • Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
Christmas andYour Celebrations • Your Testimony Witnessing to Family, Friends and Others • Your Gatherings Not a stumbling-block to others Do all to the glory of God
1 Corinthians 10:31-32 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God- even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
X Please turn to this passage in your Bible.
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Isaiah 7:14 Born of a Virgin Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
