Lesson: Christmas is a Time for Joy Because Heaven Announces the Birth of a Savior for Everyone Who Believes
OUTLINE: Christmas is a Time for Joy I.Because Heaven comes down to earth II.Beause Heaven comes with Good News III. Because The Good News is for Ordinary People, Like You & Me IV. Because The Good News is Real
Conclusion: This season, take heart; renew your confidence in Christ. Shake off your doubts, your fears, your discouragement. Take confidence in Christ; Take joy; for this small Child is born to rescue you from your broken human condition.
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“ Intriguing Insight into Spurgeon on Dec.25 ” Regarding Christmas: I agree with Spurgeon's doctrine and practice.
CONCERNING SPURGEON'S BELIEFS:
"We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons...because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Saviour."
CONCERNING SPURGEON'S PRACTICE: His sermon text for Dec.24, 1871 is Luke 2:10-12 "Joy in Bethlehem" --
-- an intriguing insight into the true Spurgeon, who was both a guardian of the truth and a wise pastor, selecting the appropriate text for the season which surrounded him.
DR (12/6/2005)
“ another response ” "However, I must admit, I once met a minister who generally preached on the theme of resurrection during Decembers.) (By the way, his church eventually folded)"
Folded since he didn't tickle the ears. ?
Dr. Dan Broadwater (12/5/2005)
from Relay, Maryland
“ Response to Newington, Connecticut ”
Your comments still make me wonder if you've even listened to the sermon.
The sermon does not advocate the establishing of some superstitious day as the day of our Lord's birth. This sermon assumes that the overwhelming majority of American culture already celebrates the Christmas season (though with a mixed understanding), and thus the sermon seizes the cultural opportunity to become all things to all people to win some for Christ (I Cor.9:19-23) and to help the sermon listeners to enrich their understanding of Christ and to prompte in them a joyful response -- and to appreciate our Lord's wonderful incarnation on behalf of an undeserving people, like you and me.
(However, I must admit, I once met a minister who generally preached on the theme of resurrection during Decembers.) (By the way, his church eventually folded.)
James Farley (12/4/2005)
from Newington, Connecticut
“ Response to Dr. Broadwater ” If you read the full quote, it is even more amazing. However, even going off of the quote that was given (my space was limited by the form submission), you miss the real thrust of the whole thing. His main focus was not on the issue of the date of Christ's birth. His focus was on the fact that it is superstitious to even set up a holy day that isn't taught in Scripture. Upon this point, you ducked. Further, I cannot wish you a merry Christ's Mass, since I am not Catholic. However, I do praise the Lord for the incarnation of Christ, His life, His death on the cross, His shedding of blood for the remission, His bodily resurrection from the grave, His ascension, and His soon coming.
Dr. Dan Broadwater (12/4/2005)
from Relay, Maryland
“ Response to Newington, Conn. ” Great quotation from Spurgeon. I agree wholeheartedly regarding the actual date of our Lord's birth -- No one knows. However, if you actually listen to the sermon you'll see that the precise date has nothing to do with the sermon or the textual exposition. One thing is for certain: Our divine Lord was born as a human on some specific date in history; and it is appropriate to celebrate his incarnation, as long as it is not mandated as a divinely appointed day.
Merry Christmas -- the Lord is come. Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
James Farley (12/3/2005)
from Newington, Connecticut
“ Joy Born At Bethlehem ” Spurgeon, preaching a sermon on December 24th, 1871 had the following to say, "We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons...because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Saviour; and, consequently, its observance is a superstition, because not of divine authority. Superstition has fixed most positively the day of our Saviour's birth, although there is no possibility of discovering when it occurred...It was not till the middle of the third century that any part of the church celebrated the nativity of our Lord; and it was not till very long after the Western church had set the example, that the Eastern adopted it. Because the day is not known, therefore superstition has fixed it...Probably the fact is that the holy days were arranged to fit in with heathen festivals. We venture to assert, that if there be any day in the year, of which we may be pretty sure that it was not the day on which the Saviour was born, it is the twenty-fifth of December."
Dr. Daniel C. Broadwater: Former owner of Boone’s Billiards; was converted to Christianity. Attended Westminster Seminary (M.A., M.Div.). Later graduated from Gordon-Conwell Seminary (D.Min.). Dan is Pastor Emeritus of Grace Ref. Presby. Church, which he organized in 1979, and...
