Podcasts about nativity story

In episode 519 of the podcast I'm joined by astrologer Reverend Lindsay Turner to discuss the story of the Magi, the birth of Jesus, and the astrology surrounding the Nativity story. We explore the celebration of Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, and analyze the Gospel of Matthew's account of the astrologers from the East who followed a star to Bethlehem. We discuss the distinction between approaching the Nativity as a historical event versus a literary narrative, and how the author of Matthew partially used the story of the Magi to legitimize Jesus as a king in the 1st century. We also look at technical astrological terms found in the Greek text, such as anatole or "at its rising," and how this relates to Hellenistic astrology. We also talk about the relationship between early Christianity and astrology, including the non-canonical Acts of Paul and Thecla, the liturgical seasons aligning with the Zodiac, and how modern Christians can reconcile their faith with astrological practice. Lindsay's Website https://badpastor.me Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro00:00:34 Epiphany and Three Kings Day traditions00:01:45 The Nativity story and the Star of Bethlehem00:03:50 Historical vs. literary approaches to the Gospels00:05:41 The Gospel of Matthew and Hebrew prophecy00:08:05 Reading the Magi passage (Matthew 2:1-12)00:10:52 Who were the Magi? Astrologers vs. Persian priests00:12:00 The context of natal astrology in the 1st Century00:13:30 The political subversion of the Nativity story00:16:27 "At its rising" (Anatole) as a technical astrological term00:18:23 Crossover between New Testament Greek and astrological texts00:20:14 Theories on the Star: Comets, conjunctions, and novae00:26:27 The solar eclipse at the crucifixion00:31:00 Astrology used to legitimize Jesus in Matthew00:33:30 Did the Magi renounce astrology?00:36:51 The Manger nebula in the constellation Cancer00:39:19 The Thema Mundi and the birth chart of the cosmos00:41:05 The debate over the date of Jesus' birth00:48:25 The Acts of Paul and Thecla and lost Christian texts00:54:38 Mary Magdalene and the seven daimons01:02:15 Fate, free will, and Stoicism in the ancient world01:05:45 Early Christianity as social rebellion01:09:30 Identity in Christ vs. astrological identity01:15:33 Liturgical seasons and the Zodiac01:17:28 Saturnalia, Sol Invictus, and the origins of Christmas01:21:50 Stigma against astrology in the modern church01:29:50 The shared origins of Christianity and Hellenistic astrology01:32:00 Astrology as a bridge between science and religion01:35:10 Lindsay's upcoming book and contact info01:36:35 Sponsors and credits Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J68CV7YYm0 - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

Brockport First Baptist sermon audio from Sunday, January 4, 2026: “Intrigue and Subterfuge: The Nativity Story,” by Dr. Elizabeth Thorpe. Scripture reading: Matthew 2.Our mission is to embody God's love outside the walls of the church, in Brockport and beyond. SUPPORT OUR MINISTRIES: www.brockportfirstbaptist.org/giveLEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CHURCH: www.brockportfirstbaptist.org

Pastor Dru walks through the story of Joseph to show how God's plans can be impossible and uncomfortable yet always lead to salvation and calls us to respond with simple, faithful obedience.

Pastor Bill uses the example of Mary and Joseph to show us how to say yes to God's plan even when it's uncomfortable.

Pastor Bill finishes up our Nativity Story sermon series with a short message as we celebrate the birth of Jesus in our Christmas Eve service.

Why are society's outcasts among the first to hear about the Messiah? When angels proclaimed Jesus' birth to shepherds, they show how God's kingdom offers a different kind of peace than earthly empires. True shalom isn't earned through status but freely given through God's favor. Listen now and be inspired to embrace this peace and share it with others searching for hope.

Today we will learn about the joy that comes from giving Jesus away.

Thank you for listening to our Surge Church Podcast. The baby Jesus lying in a manger in our traditional nativity sets should be a reminder to us all that Jesus is the gift. As the Angels declared on the night of His birth - "Peace on earth, goodwill toward all men." Jesus is the one gift we're meant to give away. 

Send us a textWhen I was in Turkey I visited a caravan serai.  It was a place where a caravan would stop along the way.  (And where travelers could find a place to spend the night).  When we read that there was "no room in the inn" and Mary had to deliver in the stable, what does that mean?  I suspect it was not nearly as harsh as I learned when I was a kid. 

FOLLOW RICHARD Website: https://www.strangeplanet.ca YouTube: @strangeplanetradio Instagram: @richardsyrettstrangeplanet TikTok: @therealstrangeplanet EP. #1297 The Case for Christmas: Could the Nativity Story Survive a Courtroom Cross-Examination What if Christmas itself were placed on trial? Not as a matter of faith, but as a question of evidence. This episode of Strange Planet takes listeners into a courtroom-style investigation of Christianity's most consequential claim—the birth of Christ. Trial attorney Daniel P. Buttafuoco examines the Bible not as devotional literature, but as documentary evidence, weighing eyewitness testimony, manuscript reliability, and forensic archaeology. From the Dead Sea Scrolls to Messianic prophecy written centuries before Bethlehem, this is a Christmas episode without sentimentality—rooted in ancient texts, hard proof, and a single, unsettling question: if this were any other case, would the evidence really be dismissed? GUEST: Daniel P. Buttafuoco is a veteran trial attorney who brings the discipline of the courtroom to the biggest questions of faith. Known for his rigorous, evidence-based approach, he treats Christianity as a legal case—argued with rules of evidence, standards of proof, and historical documentation. In his book Unapologetic: Clear Answers to Tough Bible Questions, Buttafuoco examines Scripture as an ancient legal record, drawing on eyewitness testimony, textual consistency, and forensic discoveries like the Dead Sea Scrolls. He doesn't ask audiences to believe—he asks them to examine the evidence and reach a verdict. WEBSITE: https://www.historicalbiblesociety.org BOOK: Unapologetic: Clear Answers to Tough Bible Questions SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! CARGURUS CarGurus is the #1 rated car shopping app in Canada on the Apple App and Google Play store. CarGurus has hundreds of thousands of cars from top-rated dealers, plus those deal ratings, price history, and dealer reviews on every listing so you can shop with confidence. Their advanced search tools and easy-to-use app put you in control, with real-time alerts for price drops and new listings so you'll never miss a great deal. And when you're ready, CarGurus connects you with trusted dealerships for a transparent and hassle-free buying process. Buy your next car today with CarGurus at cargurus dot ca. GHOSTBED Every GhostBed mattress is designed with premium materials, proven cooling technology, and their exclusive ProCore™ layer—a targeted support system that reinforces the center of the mattress where your body's heaviest. It helps keep your spine aligned and your back supported while you sleep. Right now, during GhostBed's Holiday Sale, you can get 25% off sitewide for a limited time. Just go to GhostBed.com/strangeplanet and use promo code STRANGEPLANET at checkout. FOUND – Smarter banking for your business Take back control of your business today. Open a Found account for FREE at Found dot com. That's F-O-U-N-D dot com. Found is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. Join the hundreds of thousands who've already streamlined their finances with Found. HIMS - Making Healthy and Happy Easy to Achieve Sexual Health, Hair Loss, Mental Health, Weight Management START YOUR FREE ONLINE VISIT TODAY - ⁠HIMS dot com slash STRANGE⁠ ⁠https://www.HIMS.com/strange⁠ MINT MOBILE Premium Wireless - $15 per month. No Stores. No Salespeople. JUST SAVINGS Ready to say yes to saying no? Make the switch at MINT MOBILE dot com slash STRANGEPLANET. That's MINT MOBILE dot com slash STRANGEPLANET BECOME A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER!!!⁠ ⁠https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm⁠ Three monthly subscriptions to choose from. Commercial Free Listening, Bonus Episodes and a Subscription to my monthly newsletter, InnerSanctum. Visit ⁠https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm⁠ Use the discount code "Planet" to receive $5 OFF off any subscription. We and our partners use cookies to personalize your Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm/

The Jesse Tree story continues in Genesis 37 when we learn about the family of Jacob and his favored son, Joseph. We also begin wondering about the similarities between the families who came before Jesus as we lead up to Christmas and the coming of Jesus. Listen to our Advent Series 2025 while we discover and learn about the family tree of Jesus. Let us prepare our hearts and the WAY for Jesus as we learn about God's love and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.Each episode is just right for listening as you begin and/or end your day. Listen with us about the journey to the nativity and Jesus.Support the showWelcome to Bible Stories and Wonder for Kids and Families. Join us while we wonder and learn about God's special people.Reach out to us at biblestories.wonder@gmail.comInstagram biblestories_wonder.podReach out to us, we love feedback and want to hear from our listeners.biblestories.wonder@gmail.comGet a shout out and let us know where all of our listeners are from! We have many listeners around the world!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/biblestorit

Especial Navidad 2025. Para celebrarlo, contaremos con extractos de San Agustín, Thomas Merton y Henry Nouwen, relativos a la celebración de la Navidad. ¡Feliz Navidad! Música: Roger Subirana Mata: -"Between Worlds" Maryna: -"Uplifting Emotion Background" http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ Película: "The Nativity Story" (2006)

To celebrate the birth of Mr. Jesus we decided to watch an ahistorical recreation of it starring Oscar Isaac, 2006's The Nativity Story - directed by the same person who did the first Twilight movie.Tune in next week when our movie will be... Go!-----Visit Emily's ETSY store FlemGems!Check out the MaxFun Gift Guide! https://gift-guide.maximumfun.org/Get a copy of Jordan Morris's comic book Predator: Black White and Blood #4!Also click this link to get a signed copy of PREDATOR Bloodshed #1-5! https://bit.ly/coolfight

The Nativity story is told from a fresh perspective. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From the Archive! Dr. Tom Curran asks Fr. Kurt Nagel about many different important figures in the Advent story leading up to Christ's birth: What does St. John the Baptist teach us about Advent? Was Joseph young or old? How are we like the Innkeeper? Why did God use Caesar Augustus to bring about the prophecy?

“The Child—Giving Jesus Away”

Thank you for listening to our Surge Church Podcast. What makes Mary & Jospeh's story so powerful is the fact that in the face of the unknown, the costly, and the risky they found the courage to say, "Yes, Lord." Their testimony reminds us today that when we say "Yes" to God's plans it empowers ordinary people to do extraordinary things! 

This week we watched a movie that somehow slipped through the cracks of popular culture. A Christmas TV movie called Unlikely Angel, starring Dolly Parton as a recently deceased country singer who needs to help a motherless family in order to avoid eternal damnation in hell. No, really. That's the plot.Tune in next week when our movie will be... The Nativity Story (2006)-----Visit Emily's ETSY store FlemGems!Check out the MaxFun Gift Guide! https://gift-guide.maximumfun.org/Matt will be at The Ice House comedy club in Pasadena on December 13th!Get a copy of Jordan Morris's comic book Predator: Black White and Blood #4!Also click this link to get a signed copy of something else Jordan made! https://bit.ly/coolfight

It's the most famous story ever told. But what do all the details mean? What was Nazareth like? What is a Messiah, anyway? How long was the journey? And what does it all mean? This episode is a replay of a popular episode from a few years back. Enjoy this serious historical deep dive into the nativity story from Luke 2. "Long-looked for is come at last."

“Mary and Joseph—When God Disrupts Your Life”

Through the story of the Magi, Pastor Bill invites us to examine whether our worship truly reflects the worth of Jesus and calls us to give Him our hearts this Christmas.

Pastor Dru explores the story of the Magi to reveal what authentic worship looks like.

The Christmas story is often viewed through the lens of a cozy Nativity scene—peaceful, beautiful, and picture-perfect. But was the journey of Jesus' parents, Mary and Joseph, truly that simple? Join Pastor Derek Holmes as he dives into the biblical account in Matthew 1:18-25 and unpacks the extraordinary, and often incredibly challenging, faith journey of this young couple. What You Will Learn: The Unexpected Call: Discover the immense personal and social difficulty Mary and Joseph faced when called to be part of God's redemption plan. This was a path filled with uncertainty, risk, and potential shame. The Reality of Following God: See how their story powerfully illustrates that faith is not always easy. Following God's will can be "hard to follow," demanding difficult choices and deep trust. The Greater Reward: Explore the profound truth that even when the path is difficult, the ultimate reward—participating in God's plan and experiencing His glory—is immeasurably great. God's Constant Presence: Be encouraged by the assurance that God is not absent in our trials. Just as He was with Mary and Joseph, His presence (Immanuel) is with us as we step out in faith. This message will challenge you to look past the stained-glass image of Christmas and embrace the courageous, messy reality of a life lived by faith. Key Takeaways from This Sermon: -Following God's will requires radical obedience and a willingness to embrace the difficult. -The life of faith is not a comfortable journey, but a transformative adventure. -The promise of "God with us" is the greatest strength in times of uncertainty. Press play and be challenged to trust God's plan, even when it's "Hard to Follow."

The Christmas story is often viewed through the lens of a cozy Nativity scene—peaceful, beautiful, and picture-perfect. But was the journey of Jesus' parents, Mary and Joseph, truly that simple? Join Pastor Derek Holmes as he dives into the biblical account in Matthew 1:18-25 and unpacks the extraordinary, and often incredibly challenging, faith journey of this young couple. What You Will Learn: The Unexpected Call: Discover the immense personal and social difficulty Mary and Joseph faced when called to be part of God's redemption plan. This was a path filled with uncertainty, risk, and potential shame. The Reality of Following God: See how their story powerfully illustrates that faith is not always easy. Following God's will can be "hard to follow," demanding difficult choices and deep trust. The Greater Reward: Explore the profound truth that even when the path is difficult, the ultimate reward—participating in God's plan and experiencing His glory—is immeasurably great. God's Constant Presence: Be encouraged by the assurance that God is not absent in our trials. Just as He was with Mary and Joseph, His presence (Immanuel) is with us as we step out in faith. This message will challenge you to look past the stained-glass image of Christmas and embrace the courageous, messy reality of a life lived by faith. Key Takeaways from This Sermon: -Following God's will requires radical obedience and a willingness to embrace the difficult. -The life of faith is not a comfortable journey, but a transformative adventure. -The promise of "God with us" is the greatest strength in times of uncertainty. Press play and be challenged to trust God's plan, even when it's "Hard to Follow."

What do you give in recognition of the best gift that was ever given and what do you give to someone who ultimately already has everything?

Thank you for listening to our Surge Church Podcast. The Wisemen's long journey from the East to find the King of the Jews and worship Him with gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh demonstrated their hearts. This cuts through to us today in our modern world. We must give our Time, our Love, our Resources, our Patience and our Talents, but most of all we must give Him our hearts. It's the one gift God treasures the most. 

Sunday teaching on Matthew 2:1-2, 9-10. The journey and impact of realizing Jesus as the gift of all gifts. 

Well the holidays are here and trying to keep meaning in those holidays can be pretty tough. One way to do this is to have a correct understanding of the events those holidays are being remembered and the Nativity and Christmas are no exception. This week Drew Briney joins me as we take a more scholarly look at the Nativity story. Drew with his wealth of information and resources lays out the Nativity from scripture to examine what the scripture actually says and what it doesn't, he draws out some hidden symbology, obscure ideas that would have been understood by the ancients, and who the magi were possibly, the significance of the gifts and the ties back to Adam and Eve, and what the timing of the events that made up the story of the Nativity. Stick around for all that and more. The Restored Version Of The Scriptures www.restoredscriptures.com 1830 Mercantilewww.1830mercantile.org

Send us a textIn this Play it Again episode from Season Four, Valerie interviews author Maria Antonia about her picture book, The Christmas Elephant, A Nativity Story. They discuss family Christmas traditions, sibling dynamics, and the inspiration behind the book. Maria shares her writing journey and the process of getting her book published. They also talk about their favorite books and what to expect from Maria's upcoming projects. Takeaways Family traditions around Christmas can vary, such as when to put up the Christmas tree.The Christmas Elephant is a picture book about two sisters putting on a Christmas play and the younger sister's desire to be the Christmas elephant.The book explores themes of imperfection, uniqueness, and finding joy in unexpected moments.Maria's writing journey began with writing stories for her nieces and nephews as birthday gifts.Critique groups and online communities can provide valuable feedback and support for writers.The Christmas Elephant was published after a two-book deal with Paraclete Press.Maria's next picture book, The Runaway Sheep, is based on the parable of the lost sheep.Readers can find more about Maria and her books on her website, where she also offers downloadable activities for kids.  Maria Antonia | children's picture book author Let's discover great books together!Follow for more:FB: @bookworthypodcastInstagram: @bookworthy_podcastYouTube: BookWorthy Podcast - YouTubetiktok: @valeriefentress

“The Wise Men—A Gift for the Gift”

As our video focuses on the shepherd in A Nativity Story, Pastor Bill shows how our God is like the shepherd who is always there to find His lost sheep.

As our video focuses on the shepherd in A Nativity Story, Pastor Dru reminds us that God Himself is our Shepherd who seeks us out and rescues us from our sin.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Not only does he seek us but he carries us through the hard times if we will allow him to carry us. He longs to hold us close.

Thank you for listening to our Surge Church Podcast. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He came to gather His flock. He doesn't just welcome the well-behaved sheep, but He also seeks out the messy ones, the loud ones and the ones who wander off. Jesus knows His sheep. This means we are not a face in the crowd, He knows us by name. He knows where we tend to wander and seeks us out to lift us up and carry us close to His heart back to where we belong. 

Pastor Bill shows us the many ways that God speaks to us as we begin our new Nativaty Story series.

“The Shepherd—Gathered and Carried”Mark Wilson

Mark and David discuss the film Nativity Story, the accuracy and impact of Christmas stories (the birth of Yeshua/Jesus), the Magi/Wise Men/Kings and traditional Christmas music. (Recorded in 2020) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

God still speaks today but he doesn't always speak through a display of his glory. Usually He speaks in less dramatic ways. Instead of asking why God isn't speaking we need to ask why am I not listening.

First Sunday of Advent teaching on Luke 2:8-143; I Kings 19:11-12; and John 1:14. 

“Gabriel and God's Quiet Glory”

Thank you for listening to our Surge Church Podcast. In the busyness of life and the holiday season, we often fail to stop and make room for wonder. The Nativity reminds us that Jesus doesn't need a spotlight. He only needed a manger. So often we look for God to move in dramatic ways. He is a God who still thunders and works miracles. He is also the God who speaks in the still small voice. We must remember to take time to pause in His presence to hear His voice of love and direction. 

A special Christmas day program featuring a classic presentation of the Nativity story. Plus, Janie B. Cheaney reflects on the central event of history, Bonnie Pritchett highlights songs that echo the angels' chorus, and the Wednesday morning news. Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate. Additional support comes from Asbury University. Enrollment is now open for January online grad and undergrad classes. Asbury—where Christ is central. And from Season 2 of I-Witness: Silent Night, the student-led podcast drama following time-travelers to the first Christmas. On podcast apps or at: iwitnesspod.com

Merry Christmas! I wanted to share a Christmas morning greeting and read the Gospel of Saint Luke's Christmas story about the Nativity of Christ with a reflection. https://amzn.to/4gpLIDI Get the book Nikolaos: A Retelling of the Saint Nicholas Story (discounted for Christmas)

How accurate is the Nativity story as portrayed in popular media like The Chosen, Jesus of Nazareth, and The Nativity Story? We explore whether these depictions align with biblical accounts and Church teachings. Did the Blessed Virgin Mary experience pain during childbirth? Drawing from Scripture, Church doctrine, and mystical visions of saints like Anne Catherine Emmerich and St. Augustine, we reflect on the miraculous birth of Christ and its deeper spiritual meaning. Join us as we rediscover the mystery and beauty of the first Christmas.U.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews ****PROTECT Your Wealth with gold, silver, and precious metals: https://stjosephpartners.com/lifesitenews +++SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/ ****Download the all-new LSNTV App now, available on iPhone and Android!LSNTV Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lsntv/id6469105564 LSNTV Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lifesitenews.app +++Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenews John-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings finally commence the discussion of Season 4 of The Chosen, starting things off with episode 1.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbBEMA 310: The Nativity Story