THINGS WE APPRECIATE AT CHRISTMAS

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    There are eleven (11) Federal holidays currently on our calendars each year.

 

B.      Each one of them carries its own importance.

Each one is celebrated in a different manner.

Each one is valued differently by those who celebrate them.

 

C.     Christmas seems to be the biggest holiday of them all.

1.        There’s a lot of hype.

2.       There are lots of lights and decorations.

3.       There are all kinds of Christmas shows that are watched.

4.       There are a lot of parties.

5.       There are lots of family gatherings.

6.       There are lots of presents that are exchanged.

7.       There are many who travel and stay with family for several days.

 

D.    During this time of year, there are many things for which all of us can be thankful.  In this lesson, let’s look into this title:  “Things We Appreciate at Christmas.”

 

I.             TRADITIONS

 

A.    In many places, the word “traditions” is an ugly word. 

 

B.      This is true even within the church.

1.        The thinking about traditions:

a.       Traditions are old-fashioned.

b.      Traditions hinder growth.

c.       Traditions are boring.

d.      Traditions are for the old folks, not the young.

2.       Some of the traditions that are despised:

a.       The old church songs

b.      The King James Version of the Bible

c.       Dressing up for worship

d.      Not eating or drinking during worship

3.       The thoughts and actions of many are:   “Let get rid of as many of the traditions as we possibly can.”

4.       What people fail to understand is that when you remove traditions:

a.       You remove history.

b.      You remove a link that connects the old generation with the young generation.

c.       You create hard feelings and division.

d.      You remove profitable tools that teach valuable lessons that are learned and passed down from one generation to another.

5.       NOTE:  Traditions are only evil when they conflict with the teachings of God’s Word (Matt. 15:1-9).

a.       “Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” (v. 3)

b.      “Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition” (v. 6).

 

C.     When it comes to Christmas, however, traditions are very, very important.

1.        Types of traditions:

a.       Lights, displays, and Christmas trees

b.      Family gatherings at certain places on certain days

c.       Food, clothing (PJs, ugly sweaters), baked goods, watching movies, songs, pictures

d.      Getting up early on Christmas morning

e.       Handing out gifts and opening them

2.       Two important points:

a.       Enjoy your traditions and support them.

b.      There are times when traditions come to an end, and when they do, the family can only reminisce and be sad that they are gone.

 

II.           GENEROSITY

 

A.    At Christmas, individuals are much more compassionate and generous than at other times of year.  Perhaps it is because Christmas is a “giving” season.

 

B.      Two examples:

1.        When we were at the Children’s Home in Paragould, AR, churches and Christians from many places would donate money, food, parties, and gifts to the children in our care.

2.       There have been two or three Christmases here at OceanSide wherein we have assisted single mothers with gifts for their children on Christmas. 

 

C.     Yes, at Christmas, people are willing to reach deep into their pockets for others.

1.        We mimic the God of heaven who gives abundantly.

a.       John 3:16

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…

 

b.      I Timothy 6:17

 

…who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

 

2.       We follow the example of others who have given abundantly in the past (i.e., the Macedonians, II Cor. 8:1-2).

 

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

 

3.       We enjoy the truth of the words:  “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

4.       We get a taste of what it means to be selfless rather than being selfish (Phil 2:4-5).

 

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

 

5.       We get to see true joy when our generosity blesses another person.

a.       The reaction:

1)       People cry

2)      People cannot say “thank you” enough

3)      People cannot speak at all

4)      People shake

5)      People hug us profusely

b.      The sinful woman of Luke 7:36-50.

1)       She washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and dried them with her hair.

2)      She continually kissed his feet.

3)      She anointed His feet with ointment.

4)      Why?  Because she had been forgiven much according to Jesus (See Luke 7:47).

 

 

III.         POSITIVES

 

A.    We live in a very negative world.

1.        Political parties are constantly at odds.

2.       Races are always in conflict.

3.       War seems to be looming on the horizon.

4.       The headlines are centered upon the coronavirus and death.

5.       Riots, vandalizing, assaults, and murders are on the rise.

 

B.      It is nice to have a time of year wherein we emphasize some positive terms. 

1.        During the Christmas season three words are plastered upon things like walls, ornaments, signs, apparel, and commercials.

2.       The three words are love, joy, and peace.

 

C.     The meanings of the words:

1.        Love:  putting the needs of another before our own coupled with feelings of compassion, care, and concern

2.       Joy:  an inner sense of well-being deep in one’s heart due to a relationship one sustains with God who governs and protects

3.       Peace:  freedom from agitation, conflict, and war, coupled with harmony, concord, and tranquility

 

D.    Every one of these words is Biblical in nature.

1.        Love

a.       God is love (I John 4:16).

b.      God loves us (Rom. 5:9).

c.       We love God (Matt. 22:37-38).

d.      We love one another (John 13:34-35).

e.       We love, even our enemies (Matt. 5:44).

2.       Joy

a.       We have a message of joy (Luke 2:10).

b.      We have joy within our hearts (Phil. 4:4)

c.       We will eventually enter into a place of complete joy (Matt.25:21).

3.       Peace

a.       Christ came to bring peace (Eph. 2:14).

b.      If we have obeyed the gospel we have peace with God (Rom. 5;1)

c.       When life crumbles in on us, we can have peace through prayer (Phil. 4:6-7).

d.      We seek peace with all men (Rom. 12:18).

 

E.      We don’t get to advertise these words very often.  They certainly are not lived out in our society on a regular basis.  It is pleasant to hear them in our ears.  It is comforting to see that many in our society still long for them.

 

IV.        CHRIST

 

A.    Over the years, we have become a godless society.  In the public square it is taboo, if not against the law, to mention God, Christ, or God’s Holy Word.

1.        If you do, you will be shamed.

2.       If you do, you will be chastised.

3.       If you do, you will be threatened.

4.       It you do, you could face censorship, loss of a job, and threats of court cases.

 

B.      When Christmas comes, however, then name of Christ is made manifest throughout our community, our nation, and the world.

1.        Just the word “Christmas” contains the name of Christ.

2.       People talk about “baby Jesus.” 

3.       People put up scenes of the nativity.

4.       Most are very familiar with various aspects of the Savior’s birth.

a.       Born in Bethlehem.

b.      Born in a manger.

c.       His mother’s name was Mary.

d.      His father’s name was Joseph.

e.       Angels announced His birth.

f.        Shepherds and wise men came to visit the Christ-child.

5.       Songs about Jesus are sung by many.

a.       Silent Night

b.      O Come, All Ye Faithful

c.       O Little Town of Bethlehem

d.      Away in A Manger

e.       Joy to the World

f.        Mary, Did You Know?

g.       The First Noel

 

C.     Can you imagine the feelings of anger, hostility, and rage that some people get at this time of year when the name of Jesus Christ is proclaimed for an entire month from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day?   (i.e, the atheist, the skeptic, the agnostic, the evolutionist, those in religions that deny the deity of Christ).

 

D.    I realize that Christmas is not a holiday authorized in the pages of the Bible.  I realize that December 25^th is not the day of Christ’s birth.  I realize that celebrating Christmas as the birth of Christ is an addition to the Word of God.

1.        I am just glad that Jesus is still mentioned to the world.

2.       Paul said that God exalted our Lord and gave Him a name that towers over all other names (Phil. 2:9).

 

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.

 

3.       If we as Christians do our job right, we can have several opportunities during this time of year to teach others the truth about Christmas as a religious holiday.

4.       We can also teach them that only the name of Jesus will bring salvation (Acts 4:12).

 

Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Christmas is a holiday for which there are many things to be thanksful

1.        For all of the traditions.

2.       For the generosity that is displayed.

3.       For the positives that it brings:  love, joy, and peace.

4.       That the name of Jesus is vividly declared in many places throughout the world.

 

B.      We are one day past Christmas.

1.        The traditions will come to an end.

2.       Generosity will be replaced with greed.

3.       Love, joy, and peace will be overcome with hate, anger, and turmoil.

4.       And, Christ will be put on a shelf until next Christmas season.

 

C.     Christians cannot allow all of these things to end.  We certainly must not let the name of Christ be hidden for another year.  We need to be shouting the name of Jesus from the rooftops every day.