There is some common misconceptions with the lyrics in the song: Calling birds = “colley birds” (blackbirds) Golden rings = Gold-necked pheasants * If you add up all the gifts, they add up to 364 gifts.

Around the 1990’s, without any proof and in contrast to all of the evidence of history, the legend began of this song being a “secret catechism” for persecuted Christians to pass on their faith to children. Many well-meaning Christians cling to this legend and still pass it on.

7 Gifts of the H.S. or 7 “Sacraments” 11 Faithful Apostles Jesus Christ The Pentateuch Fruit of the H.S. Old & New Testaments 6 days of Creation 10 Commandments Faith, Hope, Love 7 Gifts of the H.S. or 7 “Sacraments” 11 Faithful Apostles The 4 Gospels The 8 Beatitudes 12 doctrine pts. in Apostles Creed

Like The Legend of the Candy Cane, “The 12 Days of Christmas” legend creators make an important error that needs corrected: * Just because we can use a secular item to creatively share or remember our faith, that doesn’t mean that the origin of such a thing is “Christian”… nor does it have to be for it to be useful to The Kingdom of God.

Acts 17: 22-23 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. Now, what you worship as something unknown—this is what I am going to proclaim to you.”

Acts 17: 27-28 27 “God did this [created humanity and placed them in exact places] so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find him, though He is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ [from Epimenides] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’” [from Aratus]

1 Timothy 4: 1-2 1 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.”

1 Timothy 4: 6-7 6  “If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.”

When we choose to stand our ground and cling to such “tales”, rather than proclaim the unchanging truth of the Gospel of Jesus, we risk losing our integrity before the eyes of the world.

This Scripture is a quick summary of Hebrews 1: 1-4 This Scripture is a quick summary of the Gospel message. All of it pointing to the supremacy of Jesus Christ and how He is the “star” of Creation & Scripture.

Colossians 1: 15-20 Another great “Gospel Summary”, Paul writes to superstitious Colossians about the supremacy of Jesus Christ, affirming His central role in all Creation, the sustaining of all life, and the redemption of humanity.

“Simplify” New Sermon Series begins Next Week: * Based on the book by Pastor Bill Hybels