2. Americans love/hate the “holiday season”! Feel good season Candy, food, gifts Family gatherings Loneliness/ depression Materialism* Family feuds * $616 Billion estimated spending in overall holiday shopping in 2014

3. Do You Think Christians Should Celebrate Christmas?* King James Bible News (Dec. 23, 2012) http://kingjamesonline.org/what-do-christians-really-believe-about- christmas/christians-celebrating-christmas-2/ http://kingjamesonline.org/what-do-christians-really-believe-about- christmas/christians-celebrating-christmas-2/

4. Do You Believe December 25 is the true day that Jesus Christ was born?* King James Bible News (Dec. 23, 2012) http://kingjamesonline.org/what-do-christians-really-believe-about- christmas/december-25-jesus-birthday/ http://kingjamesonline.org/what-do-christians-really-believe-about- christmas/december-25-jesus-birthday/

5. The Great “Christmas” Debate YES! Christian Liberty Rom. 14:5 NO! No Bible Authority Col. 3:16 Yes, but No - National/ secular celebration.

6. The Apostle Paul said… “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.” (Philippians 1:15–18)

7. The Lord Has Come!

8. Facts are Facts: There was great joy when Jesus came into this world! Rejoicing from Elizabeth and her babe/John. Luke 1:39-44 Wise men/magi/astrologers – came to worship “the King of the Jews”. Matthew 2:1-2 An angel declares “good tidings of great joy” with the announcement of the Messiah. Luke 2:8-11

9. The Good News for this world Without the birth of Christ, there would be no death, burial and resurrection for us to remember. But, through Christ’s birth: Fulfillment of prophecy. Isa. 9:6-7; Matt. 1:22-23 A life lived among us, as one of us. Heb. 4:14-16

10. Paraphrase of Psalm 98:4-9 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise…. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity (vv. 4-9).