1. 4 Words That Could Transform Your Christmas

2. ‘Tis the Season… for not-so-subtle advertising

3. Ecclesiastes 2: 10-11 Solomon’s “pile of presents” didn’t satisfy him

4. Isaiah 55:2 “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?”

5. If we want this Christmas to truly transform our Families, Friends, and our Church… We’re going to need to REBEL a bit!

6. The Roman Empire at the time of the Birth of Jesus Christ

12. Matthew 22: 15-22 Jesus makes a statement about the Roman Empire versus God’s Kingdom Denarius Coin: “Augustus Tiberius Caesar the Son of the Divine Augustus.” “High Priest”

13. Domitian: “Dominus et Dues” “My Lord and My God” Nero: Infamous for torturing and killing Christians

14. Quotes about Christian Persecution under the Roman Empire: - Tacitus (Historian) - Francis Schaeffer

15. Acts 4: 12, 18-20 John and Peter on trial for preaching in Jesus’ name Romans 10:9 Confess “Jesus is Lord”… and you will be saved

16. Matthew 2: 1-12 The Magi are led by God to rebel against the wishes of King Herod.

17. Luke 1: 32-33 32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

18. Luke 1: 51-52 51 “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.”

19. I don’t mean to sound like Scrooge or the Grinch. I love Christmas! I like gifts! BUT…

21. What if we treated our Christmas spending and shopping like our trips to Ponderosa Steakhouse…?

22. Matthew 2: 13-14 God warns Joseph to take his family and flee to Egypt. God still warns us to protect our loved ones from the “empire.”

24. “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” "Peace on the earth, goodwill to men from Heaven’s all-gracious King!”