Tag Archives: Christmas

God’s Blessings Come Through Little Things

Posted on December 15, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

Luke 1:39-46 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord ..

I have a video from Homicide Detective J. Warner Wallace. He is a Senior Fellow at the Colson Center and an Adjunct Professor of Apologetics at the Talbot School of Theology. It’s only about three minutes – but it answers the question “Are there many ways to God?”

What makes Christianity unique is Christ Jesus Himself.

He was uniquely born into this world, unlike anyone who has ever been born. It was prophesied of God in the Old Testament that the Messiah or the Christ was going to come into this world uniquely through the Prophet Isaiah. Of all the Prophets of the Old Covenant, ALL heard the Voice of God but very few looked into Heaven. Ezekiel saw into Heaven, … Continue reading →

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Wise Men Look For The True King

Posted on January 1, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem

WHEN was Jesus born? When we celebrate the holiday we call “Christmas”, we are celebrating the unique birth of the Son of God. First off, we do not know exactly when Jesus Christ was born. The Christian History Institute notes:

“{Church Pastor} Hippolytus, writing around 200, set 25 December AD 8 as Christ’s birthday, but he mentioned no celebration. Early in the third century, {Pastors} Africanus and Evodius both gave 25 December {as His birthday}. Apparently the date {of December 25th} was already an old tradition … Around AD 350, {Roman Catholic} Pope Julius I declared December 25 the official date for Christmas.”

December 25th is a tradition the that most of the Church follows. I believe this is a good tradition. America needs more of Jesus, not less. When we celebrate Christmas as Christians, we are not celebrating the birth of Jesus as we might celebrate your birthday or my birthday.

What we are celebrating at Christ is called “The Incarnation”

The word “Incarnation” speaks to “when the Holy Son of God became Perfect Human”. Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, is like no other Man who has ever lived. The Apostles believed that Jesus was – prior to His birth – co-equal and co-eternal with the Godhead. The Scripture says:… Continue reading →

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You Have Free Will (A Christmas Message)

Posted on December 27, 2022 by bibleteacherorg

Adam and Eve have both free will and the image of God. God told Adam that he was free to choose to eat of any tree in the Garden BUT the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). Someone asked me once, “Why did Adam have ONE tree that he could not eat of? Why did God even put that tree there?” Again, this is a fair question.

Free will assumes a person has a choice.

If I went to the market to buy bread, but say, only one type of bread – white Wonder Bread – was the only bread available. If that’s all you can get, there is no free will. Free will means a choice. If you had a Garden where absolutely everything is edible, you have no opportunity to exercise your free will. Free will would just be a blank concept, but would never be practically expressed. God gave man free will, then gave humanity a choice. Choose to do your job, and never suffer. Choose to disobey God and do the forbidden, then choose death over life (Genesis 2:17).

You know the story. Adam chose to disobey God. When you disobey God you lose His blessing. God has free will too. Humanity could enjoy the Garden while they obeyed the Owner of the Garden. But once they chose to reject God’s directive, they lost God’s blessing. God said to Adam:

Genesis 2:17-19 … cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground…

Man was creation’s caregiver. Because Adam fell into sin, creation fell into sin. The ground previously brought forth only fruit bearing plants. Now the ground is cursed – thorns and thistles along with other weeds come up. Man never had to use his sweat glands…. Continue reading →

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A Biblical Examination Of The Hymns Of Christmas

Posted on December 9, 2022 by bibleteacherorg

I love Christmas and the Christmas Carols. So it’s not my intent to be a “Scrooge” tonight. This past Sunday Jerry mentioned “We Three Kings” as being one of the most theologically incorrect songs in our hymnal. That kind of peaked my interest, so I thought tonight we’d examine a few of the Christmas songs we sing and see if they are Scripturally accurate.

Away In A Manger

Away In A Manger is a beautiful song that focuses on the birthplace of our Lord Jesus. The song is supposed to reflect the Scriptures in:

Luke 2:4-7 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 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.

The first four stanzas are:
Away in a manger, No crib for a bed.
The little Lord Jesus, Laid down His sweet head.

The stars in the sky, Look down where He lay.
The little Lord Jesus, Asleep on the hay…. Continue reading →

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The Best Christmas Ever!

Posted on December 19, 2021 by bibleteacherorg

Moses was the Chief Prophet of the Old Covenant of God. When Moses prepared to die he promised that another Prophet like himself would come.

Acts 3:22 … A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

Jesus Christ is that Prophet. Jesus took the place of
Moses as leader of God’s people.

There are a lot of similarities between the life of Moses and the life of Jesus. Both Moses and Jesus were preserved in their childhood. When Pharaoh wanted Moses dead, his mother hid her son in a little “ark of bulrushes” (Exodus 2:3), and hid him in the weeds at the edge of the river Nile. It was here that the princess of Egypt found Moses, and having compassion for him, brought Moses into the palace to raise as her own.

By God’s Grace Moses had access to the best food, the finest clothing, the best teachers, the most comfortable places to live. Moses grew up in a palace.

If Moses enjoyed the abundance of God’s Grace in the palace, you would think that Jesus Christ, God’s Only Begotten Son, would also be embraced… Continue reading →

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Jesus Is The Christ

Posted on December 4, 2020 by bibleteacherorg

What we call “The Christmas Story”, the conception and birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, is only found in two books of the New Testament. It is found in the Gospel of Matthew, a Jewish Tax Collector who became an Apostle of Jesus Christ. More of the Christmas Story is found in the Gospel of Luke, a “beloved Gentile Physician” (Colossians 4:14) who was a companion of the Apostle Paul. We’ll talk about Luke’s account this coming Sunday night at Riverview. So turn with me in your Bible to Matthew chapter 1.

Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham…. Continue reading →

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Unto Us

Posted on December 22, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

God loves His people. He loved His Israel. He warned His people, His Church, not to turn away and follow other gods. But Israel did not listen. This is why, 700 years before Messiah came, that Israel found herself as a nation torn in two. Israel was no longer a free nation, but her temple was destroyed. Jerusalem laid in ruins. The glory of God seemed to have departed from the land. Continue reading →

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Questions Of Christmas

Posted on December 21, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

I thought since we have few who attend our mid-week prayer service that we would go a little deeper tonight than I go on Sunday mornings. Those who take the time to come to Wednesday night services perhaps have a stronger relationship with the Lord than the occasional Sunday morning visitor. I’m not saying this to puff you up, nor to denigrate our Sunday morning crowd. I am grateful for every person who comes, and makes up the assembly of Christ’s Church. But Wednesday nights are important…. Continue reading →

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Do You Understand Christmas?

Posted on December 8, 2019 by bibleteacherorg

I wish every Christian a Merry Christmas. But if you are not one of Christ’s redeemed, I wish you a scary Christmas. I pray the conviction of God afflict you until you can say with confident peace, “I am Christ’s and Christ is mine!” Continue reading →

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The Christmas Story Part 3

Posted on December 26, 2018 by bibleteacherorg

Jesus is in the lowest place He can be so that the lowest and least among us can reach Him. Later wise men shall bring Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But now God brings Him the shepherds. He will bring Jesus to you as well – if you but receive Him. Continue reading →

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