Welcome To Our Services This Morning December 26, 2010 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth" (Jesus of Nazareth from John 4:24) This morning's Scripture reading is... Matthew 1:18-25

Is Dec. 25 Jesus' Birthday? Should Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus (on Dec 25 or otherwise)? Should Christians celebrate the secular holiday Christmas?

Is Dec. 25 Jesus' Birthday? Scriptural Clues shepherds, sheep, Zecharias' temple service, John's birth, inn Non-Scriptural Clues astronomy, history, ancient writers NT Writers Intentionally Vague Jews did not celebrate birthdays Deuteronomy 18:9-12 "Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children, and thereby afford occasion of drinking to excess; but it ordains that the very beginning of our education should be immediately directed to sobriety." (Against Apion 2:26) ""The celebration of birthdays is unknown in traditional Jewish ritual." (Encyclopedia Judaica)

"Originally the idea [of birthday greetings and wishes for happiness] was rooted in magic. The working of spells for good and evil is the chief usage of witchcraft. One is especially susceptible to such spells on his birthday, as one’s personal spirits are about at that time. Dreams dreamed on the birthday eve should be remembered, for they are predictions of the future brought by the guardian spirits which hover over one’s bed on the birthday eve. Birthday greetings have power for good or ill because one is closer to the spirit world on this day. Good wishes bring good fortune, but the reverse is also true, so one should avoid enemies on one’s birthday and be surrounded only by well-wishers. ‘Happy birthday’ and ‘Many happy returns of the day’ are the traditional greetings" (The Lore of Birthdays, Linton, p. 20)...

"The Egyptians have discovered to which of the gods each month and day is sacred; and found out from the day of a man’s birth, what he will meet with in the course of his life, and how he will end his days, and what sort of man he will be" (Herodotus, Persian Wars, Book II, ch. 82) "Horoscopes were of very early use in Egypt… and Cicero speaks of the Egyptians and Chaldees predicting… a man’s destiny at his birth" (translators footnote) "Birthdays are intimately linked with the stars, since without the calendar, no one could tell when to celebrate his birthday. They are also indebted to the stars in another way, for in early days the chief importance of birthday records was to enable the astrologers to chart horoscopes” (The Lore of Birthdays, p. 53)

Is Dec. 25 Jesus' Birthday? Why Jesus' Birth Matters fulfills prophecy - Ge. 3:15, Is. 7:14 "I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel." (HCSB) "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (NKJV)

Is Dec. 25 Jesus' Birthday? Why Jesus' Birth Matters fulfills prophecy - Ge. 3:15, Is. 7:14 shows Jesus' divine origin - Ma. 1:18-20 validity of adoption concept - Lk. 3:23 "Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, " (NIV)

Should Christians Celebrate The Birth Of Jesus? Did Anyone Ever Celebrate His Birth? parents? - Lk. 2:21-24 angels, shepherds, Simeon, Anna, Magi Is It Wrong To Celebrate His Birth? we do; as part of our worship to God "Christmas is part of my individual worship!"

Should Christians Celebrate Secular Christmas? History of Christmas Greek/Roman festival Saturnalia ( BC) "adapted" by Catholics in early 300'sAD Nicholas: Bishop of Myra "Christians" tried to end pagan celebrations became opp. to abuse Jews (Warsaw 1881) 1800's saw invention of family oriented Christmas all Christmas traditions rooted in pagan idolatry 1 Corinthians 10: Corinthians 10:19-33

Should Christians Celebrate Secular Christmas? History of Christmas Greek/Roman festival Saturnalia ( BC) Jewish feasts & celebrations Romans 14:5-9