December 21st Family Christmas Questions / Advent Study
Here are the next questions for your family Christmas Study or Advent Study. They are followed by a creative idea on keeping Christ in your family Christmas. The answers to the questions appear at the end of this blog. One great benefit of doing this with your family is that it will become a tradition which transcends the Advent Season whereby you do a short daily Bible study as a family at every meal throughout the year. Answer each question True or False
According to the Bible… 47) _____ The angels, when they appeared to the Shepherds, were singing. The picture is of an “angelic choir”.
48) Unlike the Shepherds who were dumbfounded by the information provided by the angles, Mary, who also was visited by an angel, in contrast boldly shared the information she received publicly and with all who would listen.
49) _____ The Magi consulted the Holy Scriptures which led them to Bethlehem and the baby Jesus.
Keeping Christ In Christmas - The Scrooge Factor Charles Dickens wrote a delightful book called the Christmas Carol. It’s central character was a bitter old man named Ebenezer Scrooge. Don’t be a bitter Christian at Christmas. Here are two pitfalls to avoid as you celebrate the birth of Jesus with your family.
First – Don’t be a complainer. Be careful as you go through your day, especially now that the children are out of school, that you are not complaining constantly. Rather than complain about the traffic talk to your children about all the people who are on the road visiting family and pray for them. When the traffic snarls because of an accident rather than complaining, pray with your children for those involved and ask God to bring Christians to minister to them. Rather than complain about crowded parking lots and stores talk with your children about how wonderful it is that all these people have families and friends for whom they are buying gifts. Rather than complaining about the commercialism of Christmas talk with your children about how wonderful it is that the word “Christ” can be seen everywhere and about the prosperity with which your country has been blest so people can buy gifts for their loved ones. As you make your purchase say “God bless you!”; “Merry Christmas”; “Have a blessed day”; “Have a blessed Christmas” rather than complaining to the salesperson. (I always tell those in my Sunday School class or Bible study that if they complain about the commercialism and congestion of Christmas they have to give all their gifts to the poor. As for me, I praise God for this as some of them might be out buying gifts for me or those I love.)
Second – Don’t practice selective sacrifice. When King David went to make his sacrifice a wealthy businessman offered to supply the materials. David responded that he would not sacrifice that which belongs to another. Don’t give away your spouse’s or your children’s Christmas money to the poor. Give your own away but not there’s. I knew a businessman who did not want to buy a nice Christmas tree or gifts because of the “commercialization of Christmas”. He did though have a bass boat, hunting dog, a $300.00 shotgun and a hunting lease. He had a workshop in the garage with many expensive tools. He drove a nice car. His “sacrifice” was very selective. If you are going to sacrifice this Christmas make sure it is not your family’s Christmas but rather your own possessions. Make sure while your family celebrates Christmas you do not stand aside proclaiming, “I am not greedy like you, I gave all my Christmas gifts and money to the poor!!” Rather sell or give up personal, private possessions in a private manner. Do not give away your family vacation. Do not give away the money for your children’s toys. Do not give away your family decorating budget. Do not give away the money set aside for your spouse’s gift. Do not give away your families entertainment items. Rather think through on things you would buy exclusively for yourself in 2014 and dedicate this money to the Lord. Think through on items that are used just by you and give them away. (In the above case the Christian businessman who gave away his family Christmas budget and Christmas decorations could instead sell his shotgun and give the money to missionaries, give the money for his hunting lease to the poor, sell his workshop tools and give that money away, but not his children’s toys and gifts.)
The Answers to today’s Advent Questions -
Keeping Christ In Christmas - 47. F – Luke 2:8 – 15 The angels, when they appeared to the Shepherds, were singing. The picture is of an “angelic choir”. The angels are presented as praising God and speaking to the shepherds but no mention is made of singing nor of a heavenly choir.
48. F – Luke 1:26 – 38; 2:18 – 20, 51; (Unlike the Shepherds who were dumbfounded by the information provided by the angles, Mary, who also was visited by an angle, by contrast boldly shared the information she received publicly and with all who would listen.) Both Mary and the shepherds received angelic visitations concerning the birth of Jesus as the Messiah. There reaction is in marked contrast. Mary for the most part kept quiet. She had a burst of enthusiasm in regards to Elizabeth Mary was very forthcoming but unlike the shepherds of whom it is recorded in Luke 2:17-18 ”When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.” Mary by contrast remained quiet Luke 2:19, “ But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.” There is no Biblical record of Mary ever publicly witnessing to the fact that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
49. F - Matthew 2:1 - 6 (The Magi consulted the Holy Scriptures which led them to Bethlehem and the baby Jesus.) There are no prophetic Scripture which speak of a star. There is no indication that the magi were relying on any special ancient writings and certainly not the holy Scripture. An indication of this is that King Herod had to have the Holy Scriptures consulted for them. The Magi were simply responding to the appearance of a miraculous star, why they responded in this way, we do not know. (See question nine)
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