Category: Heart of Christmas

The Spirit of Christmas Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You...

Yahweh Is Salvation She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. —Matthew 1:21 Hard to believe, but our twenty-five-day odyssey to the heart of Christmas...

The Final Advent of Christ Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no...

The Daily Advent of Christ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And...

The First Advent For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. —Isaiah 9:6 The term...

Miracle or Myth? Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore,...

The Giving of Gifts Just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. —2 Corinthians 8:7 Some of the most...

Epiphany After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem. —Matthew 2:1 Epiphany (meaning “to reveal”) is arguably the oldest and most significant of all the...

The Magi “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” —Matthew 2:2 No single tradition is more widely adhered to during the Christmas season than that of giving...

Are Images Idolatrous? The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of...

The Christmas Tree Tradition To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. —Revelation 2:7b This Christmas season, as in those gone by, it is commonplace to hear...

Can Santa Claus Be Saved? The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” —Luke 1:35 Believe it or not, even...