1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. Reasons for Rejoicing at Christmas Selected Scriptures
Joy: “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.”
Joy is a common theme in both Christian and secular versions of Christmas

3. Secular Perspective of Christmas
Secular = of the world = not religious, sacred or spiritual
Rejoice over the gathering of family and friends
Rejoice over a holiday romance
Rejoice over getting a day off work - or getting holiday pay

4. Secular Perspective of Christmas
Rejoice over fun winter activities and seasonal traditions - including the creative mythologies
Rejoice over gifts - both giving and receiving

5. Evidence of the Dominance of the Secular Perspective of Christmas
Avoidance of mentioning Christmas –
Happy Holidays!

6. Evidence of the Dominance of the Secular Perspective of Christmas
Government entities that ban references to Christmas in the public square
The state is supposed to be blocked from interfering with the free exercise of religion, not the opposite

7. Evidence of the Dominance of the Secular Perspective of Christmas
How professing Christians celebrate it
Many churches cancelled their services in 2005 & 2011 because Christmas day was a Sunday

8. Religious Perspective of Christmas
The creche scene
The danger is romanticized version losing sight of the reality of what occurred

9. Religious Perspective of Christmas
Christmas Traditions
The danger is forgetting their purpose and meaning

10. Religious Perspective of Christmas
Church celebrations
The danger is socialization replacing fellowship

11. Religious Perspective of Christmas
Charitable giving
The danger is for religious organizations to forget the gospel as part of their purpose

12. Believer’s Perspective of Christmas Selected Scriptures
Believers can enjoy the same or similar activities as anyone, but they have deeper meaning in the truth
caivrw / chairō = inward joy with cause often finding outward expression and a desire to share

13. Joy of Zacharias & Elizabeth Luke 1:8f
Gabriel tells Zacharias that he and Elizabeth will have a son
Luke 1:41-45
John in Elizabeth’s womb leaps for joy over Jesus in Mary’s womb
Elizabeth recognizes Jesus is Lord though still in Mary’s womb - rejoicing the incarnation has taken place

14. Joy of Mary Luke 1:46-55
Her soul exalts in the Lord, her spirit rejoices in God her savior
Luke 1:48-49.
Mary rejoices that God has chosen her to be the mother of the Messiah

15. Joy of Mary Luke 1:46-55
Luke 1:50-55.
Mary rejoices over God’s character, fulfillment of prophecy & what He will through Messiah

16. Joy of the Shepherds Luke 2:7-20
Nearby shepherds are startled by an angel and heavenly host
The shepherds go see Jesus in the manger - then return glorifying & praising for what they heard & saw

17. Joy of the Shepherds Luke 2:7-20
They rejoiced over the identity of the child in the manger - “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Multiple prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus’ birth which brought hope to Israel and all mankind

18. The Joy of the Magi Matthew 2:1-12
Religious and political king makers from the Persian empire
Due to Daniel’s influence in the sixth century B.C. , they would have known Jewish prophecy
Numbers 24:17 - They noticed some sort of special star that appeared in conjunction with Jesus’ birth

19. The Joy of the Magi Matthew 2:1-12
They arrived in Jerusalem looking for “He who is born King of the Jews” for they saw His star
As they traveled to Bethlehem, they saw the star again and “rejoiced with exceeding great joy”

20. The Joy of the Magi Matthew 2:1-12
These Gentiles worship Jesus and brought Him gifts indicating they understood He was more than a king

21. Conclusions
Christians rejoice at Christmas is because God became a man in Jesus and the plan of redemption began
Christians also rejoice because Jesus fulfilled the rest of the prophecies and fulfilled the plan of redemption

22. Conclusions
Christians rejoice because our names are written in the book of life - and Jesus will take us to heaven

23. Conclusions
We rejoice with friends and family because we want to share
We give gifts in reflection of the greatest gift ever given - Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior
Have you received God’s gift?

24. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ