4. From Secular to Sacred From Santa to SaviorFrom Santa to Savior From Holiday to Holy DayFrom Holiday to Holy Day From Decoration to DevotionFrom Decoration to Devotion From Getting to GivingFrom Getting to Giving

5. From Holiday to Holy Day

6.  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.

7. WITH CONSCIOUS EFFORT WE CAN KEEP OUR FOCUS ON JESUS, THE “REASON FOR THE SEASON.”

8.  Christmas and Pagan 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...

9.  Christmas and Pagan Holidays  Becomes Halloween  All Hallows Eve  All Saints Day -Harvest Calendar -Replacement  Secularized and adopted by Wicca

10.  Christmas and Pagan 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

11.  Christmas and Pagan 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

12.  Christmas and Pagan 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)

13.  Christmas and Substitute Holidays  Winter Break  Kwanzaa

14.  Christmas and Secular Holidays  Party Time  Materialism - Gift- giving

15.  Christmas and Jewish 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

16.  Christmas and Jewish Festivals  Feast of Tabernacles – September  Birth of Christ  While shepherds watched their flocks  Jesus “tabernacled” among us

17.  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.

18.  Christmas and Jewish 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

19.  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."

20.  Christmas and Your Celebrations  Your Testimony  Witnessing to Family, Friends and Others

21.  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,

22.  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.

23.  Christmas and Your Celebrations  Your Testimony  Witnessing to Family, Friends and Others  Your Gatherings  Not a stumbling-block to others  Do all to the glory of God

24.  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.

26.  X Please turn to this passage in your Bible.

27.  X X  X  X

28.  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.

29. What Should We Do? X X