Podcasts about Newborn King

Merry Christmas. Have you ever thought about your work as a gift?  Not just being grateful that you have a job/career/business and that it in itself is a gift, but what about the work that you do. Can that be a gift too? It's hard to imagine somedays but we impact somebody every day with our work. It may be a customer or an employee of the company you work with or an owner/stockholder. Any way you look at it, the way you do your work can be a gift to someone. Wrap your work gift in excellence this year as an act of worshiping the Newborn King! 

Preached by Rev. Paul Mosiejczuk on 25 December 2025. Bible Passage: Luke 2:1–20.

Christmas Service 2025 TEXT: Matt 12:1-12 God uses the wise men to call His people to worship the newborn King 1. The wise men's question and Jerusalems response 2. The wise men's example and Jerusalems apathy

Weekly Messages from Courageous Church in Salt Lake City, Utah

Title: A Christmas Carol Examined: Hark the Herald Angels Sing Text: Various FCF: We often neglect the deep theology in the Christmas carols we sing. Prop: Because Hark the Herald angels sing speaks much about the gospel, we should sing it with renewed vigor. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Genesis Chapter 3. We will reference several passages of scripture this morning but it might be wise for you to have this text open and in front of you. In light of the holiday season, I typically break for a couple weeks from whatever sermon series I am in, in order to better accommodate our traditions. What a joy it was to hear so many of our folks use the talents the Lord has given them to bring Him praise this morning. Next week I'll deliver my traditional year wrap up sermon. I'll give you some lessons I've learned and some recommendations I have. I'll also spend some time assessing where we as a church are and how we could improve. Today, I wanted to do something a bit different and a good deal shorter than I normally would. My wife actually gave me the idea, calling my attention to this particular Christmas Carol which was missing a verse or two in our hymn book. In looking into the carol, and to the distance between when most of the carols we sing were written and us singing them today, it became clear that I should devote time to taking a familiar carol and examining the rich theological depths which we unknowingly sing about each year. Today, we will consider the carol Hark the Herald Angels Sing. This is on page 192 in our hymnal. The Carol was written by Charles Wesley. He wrote five verses. Most hymnals, including our own, only have the first three verses. Primarily because George Whitfield, a good friend of the Wesley brothers, John and Charles, edited the song down to four verses, combining the last two verses into one. This edit was later removed and kept to 3 verses in most hymnals. This was not because of any theological differences or errors that Whitefield perceived, but primarily to shorten the song without repeating theological themes. Unfortunately, we will only have time to look at two verses this morning. But I will make it up to you by giving you two for the price of one. So, we'll look at the first verse which we always sing. Then we will look at Mr. Whitfield's cobbled together 4th and 5th verse, so you get some exposure to the last two verses that were later omitted from Charles Wesley's masterful carol. We'll follow the same general pattern. I will translate the idea into modern vernacular and then expand on the What doctrine is this showing us from the Scriptures in the line and prove it by quoting or referencing an appropriate scripture passage. But before we dive in, let's pray and ask the Lord to bless our study of this carol. Invocation: Loving Lord, we thank you for such a rich history of the church. For thousands of years your church has grown and your kingdom has spread. We can look to songs we sing today that were written hundreds of years ago and still find great and deep meaning in their words. Help us to be mindful of the things we sing and say. Help us to see the great meaning of this season and preach it to others with everything we are. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. Transition: Well, let's get to the verse that we all know. I.) The gospel is at the center of this Christmas carol, so we must sing it as though we were preaching it. a. [Slide 2] Hark! The herald angels sing, i. What does this mean: 1. Hark is an interjection. It is calling those present to listen closely. 2. No, the angel's name is not herald. 3. Rather this is the job of the angels who pronounced the birth of Jesus the Messiah. 4. In the song they are said to Sing this to the shepherds. 5. So, in our modern vernacular it would be – Listen up, the Angels are singing a proclamation from God. ii. What doctrine is this showing us from the Scriptures: 1. When God has an announcement for us to listen to, He often prefaces the statement with something to get our attention. Like Behold. Or Truly Truly. Or Thus says the Lord God. 2. Although in Luke 2 we do see the angels announce this news – we do not have any record in the New Testament that they sang this news. It actually says they shouted. b. “Glory to the newborn King; i. What does this mean: 1. Glory means to give praise that is due to an important person. 2. Newborn King is self-explanatory 3. “Give the honor due to this child because he is THE KING ii. What doctrine is this showing us from the Scriptures: 1. All the way back in II Samuel 7, God promised David that a King from his line would sit on the throne forever. 2. And in Luke 1:32-33 the angel Gabriel told Mary that Jesus would inherit the throne of His father David. c. Peace on earth, and mercy mild, i. What does this mean: 1. Peace here refers to the cessation of hostilities between two warring parties. 2. This is contrasted with the second phrase where this cessation of hostilities is instituted by this child who is merciful and humble – bringing salvation to sinners. 3. “Forgiveness and Rightness with God comes from this baby” ii. What doctrine is this showing us from the Scriptures: 1. Isaiah 53 teaches that the first coming of the Messiah, Yahweh's Servant, will be meek and mild, a sacrifice for sinners. 2. Not coming as someone who would be esteemed highly. d. God and sinners reconciled!” i. What does this mean: 1. Reconciliation is when two parties settle up a dispute. All debts are paid. 2. This dispute, we are told in the song, is between God and sinners. 3. God and Sinners square. ii. What doctrine is this showing us from the Scriptures: 1. The dispute we have with God is that He made us to be His worshippers but we have rebelled against Him both in Adam and in our own sin. Gen 3 and Eph 2 and Rom 1-3 2. Yet God has made promises to preserve a remnant and save His people from their sins. 3. Christ then, meek and mild King, is the instrument to settle all the debts. e. Joyful, all ye nations rise, i. What does this mean: 1. Joyful is the attitude or the manner that is being commanded. 2. Nations rising is indicating the global nature of this announcement. 3. All the world get up and be joyful ii. What doctrine is this showing us from the Scriptures: 1. Throughout the Old Testament, God desired Israel to be a light to the nations. 2. And in the prophets we see promises that the Messiah will finally succeed in what Israel was tasked to do. 3. The nations will be reclaimed as Yahweh's 4. And God ruling the nations will be praised and rejoiced in because the gentiles will be adopted into God's family too. f. Join the triumph of the skies; With th'angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” i. What does this mean: 1. This is what the nations are told to do. They are told to join the triumph. 2. What triumph? 3. It is actually going all the way back to the beginning of the song. The announcement being made about the triumph of God over sin and peace on earth. 4. How? By the Messiah being born this day in Bethlehem. 5. So joyfully the nations are to rise up and announce the same message that the angels are announcing to the shepherds. ii. What doctrine is this showing us from the Scriptures: 1. We see this happen in the New Testament. 2. The Gentiles not only inherit the gospel and become grafted into the promise of the Israelites, but they now become the heralds announcing the coming of the King. 3. A King who was born, lived, died, was raised, and ascended. All to save sinners and reconcile them to God. g. Summary of the Point: The first verse of this carol is nothing short of the gospel message. It is the announcement that Christ has come to make us right with God and change the world forever. Now not just Jews, but all the nations will rise up and announce this message as the world shifts and the Kingdom of God expands. So, as we sing this verse – we must recognize the potent dose of gospel truths being conveyed in a few seconds. And as we sing it out, we fulfill the words of this opening verse to joyfully join the triumph the angels sang about that Christmas night 2000 years ago. Transition: Let us move to the two verses not included in our hymnal. I.) Deep doctrine of redemption is found in this carol, so we must sing it as though we were preaching it. a. [Slide 3] Come, Desire of nations, come, i. What does this mean: 1. To be the desire of nations is to be the one thing that will truly fix the world. The one King that will bring everything back to what it is supposed to be. 2. This is, of course, the work of the Kingdom Christ began at His incarnation and will be completed when He returns to set up His Kingdom on the New Earth. 3. Come, one who will fix everything, Come! ii. What doctrine is this showing us from the Scriptures: 1. We referenced psalm 2 just last week. 2. The eternally begotten Son of God - Jesus the Messiah, is this one that the nations must kiss lest He be angry and pour His wrath out on them. 3. Christ came first as a meek and mild child but will one day return as a conquering King. 4. The nations would be wise to kiss the son. To welcome Him. To pay homage to Him. 5. He is… after all… their only hope. b. Fix in us Thy humble home; i. What does this mean: 1. To fix is to establish something. 2. A home would be a residence. Humble of course meaning meager or unworthy. 3. Establish in us a little hovel for You to dwell in. ii. What doctrine is this showing us from the Scriptures: 1. This probably doesn't reference God living or dwelling with us in the New Kingdom. Although that could be it. 2. Givin the context this no doubt refers to the coming of the Spirit of God to indwell those who are partakers of the New Covenant which is inaugurated in the blood of Christ. 3. This is foretold in Isaiah 44 and Joel 2 where God tells the Israelites that He will pour out His Spirit… ON ALL OF THEM. 4. In the New Testament we are explicitly told that the Holy Spirit indwells all who believe by true faith. c. Rise, the woman's conqu'ring Seed, i. What does this mean: 1. Rise again means to come out and do something. 2. A seed is an offspring or a child. 3. Come conquering child of the woman ii. What doctrine is this showing us from the Scriptures: 1. This is pulled straight from the protoevangelium, or the first gospel announcement given by God Himself in Genesis chapter 3. 2. After the fall of mankind, God promises that unto the Woman he would give an offspring that would undo what had been done in the fall. 3. This offspring would be at odds with the offspring of the serpent or the children produced by the temptation and fall of Adam and Eve, which was instigated by the serpent in the garden of Eden 4. Revelation 12:9 identifies the serpent as none other than the Devil, or Satan himself. 5. This harmonizes texts like Ephesians 2; John 8; and 1 John 3:12 which identify people who act like Satan as his children or belonging to him. 6. This sets up the idea that there are two families. The family of God and the family of Satan. The Family of Satan is the family we are all born into because of the fall of Adam. 7. God creates a new family, through seed of the woman, in which we can be adopted. More on that in a bit. d. Bruise in us the serpent's head. i. What does this mean: 1. The serpent's influence is truly IN us. 2. Otherwise, this is fairly self-explanatory. ii. What doctrine is this showing us from the Scriptures: 1. The term used in the Genesis promise is to strike, bruise, or crush. 2. Although many preachers have made the connection that Christ bruises his heel while crushing the head of the serpent – the scriptures do not overtly teach this. 3. But it is a logical and theological possibility. 4. Certainly, Paul says that if the forces of darkness knew that His death would lead to the salvation of His people, they wouldn't have done it. 5. The song references the destruction of Satan's power over us and the cessation of his claim on us as his children. e. Now display Thy saving power, Ruined nature now restore; Now in mystic union join Thine to ours, and ours to Thine. i. The rest of verse 4 goes on to speak of our restoration and salvation. ii. These are excellent lines, but Whitfield saw the next verse communicate similar teachings and decided to combine it together. iii. Still these words do add some to the meaning of the song. iv. But we'll have to cover them more deeply another time. f. [Slide 4] Adam's likeness, Lord, efface, i. What does this mean: 1. To efface something is to erase it. It is to undo something. 2. Adam's likeness refers to Adam as our first representative and how we have inherited his sin from him. 3. Erase the original sin of Adam from us ii. What doctrine is this showing us from the Scriptures: 1. Although it has been attacked in recent years, the doctrine of Original Sin has been held to by the church since the beginning. 2. If something else were taught in scripture then we should cast the teaching aside. However, Romans 5, Ephesians 2 and many other passages seem to establish this doctrine not only as plausible but as orthodox. 3. Adam was our representative being the first man created. Because of his failure, we inherit the sin-disease through his line. 4. Seeing it this way helps us to understand the scriptures when they seem to paint our problem of sin beyond even just our own personal sin. National sins and even sins that we didn't commit but inherit culpability in. Even our sinfulness before we seem to be able to willfully commit sin (ie babies crying for no reason or crying when nothing is actually wrong) These all make sense when we understand sin as something like a hereditary spiritual disease. 5. This also explains and expands the teaching of the virgin birth, keeping Jesus from inheriting this same sin nature. By being born of a virgin, he is not technically a son of Adam. Truly and completely human, but not from Adam's line. Therefore, He is a second human representative. g. Stamp Thine image in its place: i. What does this mean: 1. To stamp an image is relatively clear. 2. Instead of Adam's likeness, give us your likeness God. ii. What doctrine is this showing us from the Scriptures: 1. As a New Adam, all under Christ's headship and representation inherit a new name, a new nature, and a new birth. 2. They are put into a new family and made into a new person. 3. The old has passed away and the new has come. h. Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love. i. What does this mean: 1. These last two lines we'll take together. 2. The first Adam was formed from the dust and given life by the breath of God. 3. The Second Adam was conceived by the Holy Spirit in dust (in Mary's womb). 4. He is not from earth as the first Adam was. He is from above. A true man… but with a different fountainhead. 5. Adam was once fully in the love and grace of God. He was sinless and in right standing with God. 6. The song asks for Christ to reconcile us to God… which provides bookends between the first verse and the last. ii. What doctrine is this showing us from the Scriptures: 1. This is the primary work of the second Adam. 2. Christ becomes our second representative both passively and actively. 3. Actively he did what Adam did not. He kept the whole law of God without sin. 4. Passively he paid for what Adam could not. He accepted the penalty for human sin by suffering the full wrath of God as a human. 5. 2 Corinthians 5 says that He became sin who knew no sin that we might become the righteousness of God. 6. He is a perfect substitute not only for us but for Adam, our first representative. 7. He alone is capable of returning us to the relationship we had with God in the garden… and even making that relationship closer, since we are now not just a created being of God's, but actually His children. i. Let us Thee, though lost, regain, Thee, the Life, the inner man: O, to all Thyself impart, Formed in each believing heart. i. This is the rest of verse 5 which goes on to say similar things to what has been said already. j. Summary of the Point: Once again we must notice that the gospel is on display in these verses. And in these last two verses – the gospel is explained in rich and full theological detail. Details that are not found in the shallow end of the pool. This is well beyond the Sunday School answers of “Jesus died because He loved us.” But rather the representation of a Second Adam taking our place and restoring humanity's hope. Such are the words of this Christmas Carol. And when we sing it, we preach the gospel to one another and all who hear it. Make sure that you do that from now on. Conclusion: [Slide 5] I can think of no better application than to have the praise team come and we can sing this carol together. We'll sing Hark the Herald Angels Sing/King of Heaven but with one minor modification. We will add verse 4, which is the cobbled together verses 4 and 5 of Charles Wesley's original carol. You sing with us and sing it loud, knowing that you sing, you announce, you preach… the gospel of Jesus Christ in this carol. Benediction: May the God who humbled Himself to take on human flesh Who was wounded for our transgressions and chastised for our peace May the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace Bring to you a season of hope as you celebrate His birth and look ahead to His return Until We meet again… Go in peace.

Sunday evening message from the pulpit of Shawano Baptist Church

Message #3 by Pastor Doug Corlew - "Kingdom Come" (The Gospel of Matthew) Sermon Series

In the noise and rush of the Christmas season, it’s easy to let the message of Christ fade into the background like familiar music we barely notice. Yet Jesus did not come merely as a gift to be received and set aside—He came as a King to be welcomed, worshiped, and responded to. Scripture proclaims that the Christ child is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of His being (Hebrews 1:3). Born in humble flesh, Jesus is both Savior and Sustainer, worthy of our full devotion. This season invites us to prepare room in our hearts, step away from distractions, and bow in awe before the Newborn King. Main Takeaways You’ll learn why Jesus is more than a gift—He is a living presence who calls for a response. Discover how the incarnation reveals the radiance and glory of God in human form. Reflect on how busyness and consumerism can dull our worship during Christmas. Understand why Christ’s birth calls us to humility, surrender, and praise. Be encouraged to prepare space in your life for Jesus as King, not merely as a seasonal tradition. Bible Verse References Hebrews 1:3 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/hebrews/1-3.html Your Daily Prayer Jesus, I step away from the noise and distractions of this world to worship You. You are the radiance of God’s glory, the humble King who came to dwell among us and sustain us by Your powerful word. I open my heart to You anew and make room for Your presence in my life. You are worthy of all praise, honor, and devotion. Thank You for Your grace, Your nearness, and Your unending love. May my life be lived each day in response to who You are.Amen. Want More? Subscribe to Your Daily Prayer for daily moments of Scripture, reflection, and prayer. Leave a rating or review to help others discover this podcast. Visit LifeAudio.com to explore more Christ-centered podcasts. Read more Christmas devotionals and worship-focused articles at Crosswalk.com and Christianity.com. Relevant Links & Resources Bible study tools and Scripture exploration:BibleStudyTools.com – https://www.biblestudytools.com Christmas devotionals and worship resources:Crosswalk.com – https://www.crosswalk.comChristianity.com – https://www.christianity.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

12-21-2025 - Hail the Newborn King by Pastor Adam Bennett

Year A – Advent 4 – December 21, 2025 Pastor Megan Floyd Matthew 1:18-25 Grace and peace to you from God and the Holy Spirit, and from Jesus Christ, our savior, who is God with us. Amen. *** There is this beautiful portrait of the Holy Family by Matt Chinworth… it's called Newborn King. I saw it for the first time a few years ago… and it was so different and gorgeous, it took my breath away. Instead of the typical depiction of Mary and Joseph looking clean and serene, both gazing down at the child Jesus between them… this one is more real. In Chinworth's Newborn King, Mary is exhausted… and resting in the background… She is not the main subject of the image. This portrait… is of Joseph… calm and steady, gently holding the newborn Jesus… and loving him, the miracle that he is. In his face, you can see amazement and awe… …It is the look you have when you are overcome with love. Joseph's quiet devotion… and his attentiveness… is such a pure expression of love… love for a child that he had chosen to accept as his own. And yes, it was a choice… a very difficult and complicated choice… for this righteous man. If he had called attention to Mary's pregnancy, she could have been stoned to death… that is, after all, what the law prescribed. And if he dismissed her quietly, she could have been shunned and left to beg – or worse – just for her and her child to survive. And yet, even the choice to marry her is not without complication, for in doing so, his reputation could be marked by scandal. Her child would become his heir, and he would relinquish his lineage to a child who is not his blood. So, he decides the most righteous thing to do is to dismiss her quietly, but then God shows up… and turns his life upside down. The angel of the Lord appears to him and says… Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife… you have a role to play in God's plan, so have courage and trust in God's word. What is a righteous, God-fearing man to do? Given the circumstances, I think his trust and faithfulness to God are remarkable… he is the model of quiet obedience and commitment. And yet, it must have been terrifying, despite the angel's opening instruction not to be afraid. Being a new parent is scary enough… but to take on the parentage and protection of God's divine presence in human form… well, I expect that adds to the pressure. But Joseph is steady, and he obeys God's command, even though he only knows the next step… and not where it will all eventually lead. He trusts God. It's easy to trust the process when you know the end of the story… but Joseph… kind, supportive… righteous Joseph… is a model of courage and strength in the face of the unknown… in the face of the preposterous. But Joseph, this compassionate, earthly father of Jesus… only gets a few mentions in our Bible, and he never speaks a single word. He is there with Mary at the birth of Jesus, and later, under Herod's threat of violence, he takes his family, and they flee to Egypt as refugees… ever the protector. His last appearance is in the background when Jesus is 12 years old and has wandered away from his family, only to be found teaching in the temple. That's all we ever hear about Joseph… but it is enough to know his character, and to honor him for his steadfast and faithful support of his wife, Mary, silently supporting her in following God's call on her life to bear the child of God. And in that moment… in a dream… in humble obedience, he chooses to trust in God's word and call for his own life… to stay with Mary… to claim and name the child Jesus, meaning, God saves. He chooses to claim the child as his own, adopting him into his family lineage and thereby fulfilling what was foretold. The Salt Project commentary said this: "The angel calls Joseph to a love that doubles as a kind of courage. Courage to commit – though the neighbors may whisper and judge. Courage to nurture – though the child you raise is from the Holy Spirit. And courage to love – though the child you love is none other than Love personified, none other than 'The God Who Saves is With Us.' We often think of Christmas as a time to celebrate Love becoming incarnate in Jesus. But the season is also a time to celebrate how love becomes incarnate in Joseph, acting with compassion, courage, and grace. And what is the source, the wellspring of such courage, in Joseph… or in us, today? …It's none other than God's love… the love made flesh, the love that came to dwell with us, and save us… and love us back to life." This righteous man from the line of David trusted in the whispers of God's holy word and allowed those words to alter the course of his life… to take on the holy and challenging task of being a father to Jesus… a choice that continues to shape our lives today… through a love that endures forever. Joseph's trust in God inspires us to trust in God… he teaches us to listen to the whispers of Love in our lives, calling us to seek the good and to allow our lives to follow paths of righteousness… Meaning… allowing our lives to follow along paths that lead to being in "right-relationship" with God and with all of Creation, paths walked in humility and marked by God's justice and mercy… that is righteousness. And Joseph chose to adopt Jesus as his own… to embrace him as his own child, doing for the Christ child what God had first done for us, indeed, for the whole world… embracing us… and claiming us all as God's beloved children. This is the holy family to which we belong… a family bonded by God's love and trust… the kind of love that casts out hate and fear. This is the love we, who are followers of Christ, have the joy to share, even though we do so imperfectly… when we get it right, this love changes the world around us. So, hear now the angel's words for yourself… Do not be afraid, for you are children of the most holy, and the God who saves is with us, now and always. So have courage, like Joseph, to love others as Christ loves you. Amen. ____________________________ View Matt Chinworth's work, Newborn King, here: https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/mattchinworth/newborn-king/ Commentary citation from the Salt Project Blog:  www.saltproject.org

PRELUDE TO THE INN CROWD I spoke a couple of weeks ago about how God always steps in at critical times when God's people are ready to come into a greater fullness of what God has prepared for them from the beginning. Just as he did with setting Israel free from their 400 years of slavery in Egypt. Before Jesus ascended to Heaven he prophesied that in the last days before his second coming that Israel would be hated by all nations.                                                                                                                                                                                                               Matthew 24:5 … you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake (happening now). And then many will be offended and will betray one another, and will hate one another (happening now). Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many (happening now). And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold (happening now). But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations (happening now), and then the end will come.   My prayer is that Australia will be a nation that will not hate Israel. It will mean a wake up call to our nation, which has failed in the last three years in curbing or disciplining the open displays of hatred towards Israel from their historical Middle East persecutors – and in our very own streets of Terra Australis – In 1606 the a Portuguese explorer, Pedro Ferdinand de Queros named the region La Austrialia del Espiritu Santo The Southland of the Holy Spirit - the Great Southland of the Holy Spirit. This may be a time when God is calling the Church to be in prayer for Israel. I have looked at a couple of Scriptures over the years concerning the land of the South. I don't have a revelation of this, but I ponder these Scriptures. I always come from a place of believing that nothing is written that does not have significance – I then ask God to reveal any significance in his time and in his way. I'll submit these two Scriptures for you to look at. Jesus said  Matthew 12:42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation (houtos – this or that) and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. That of course applies to that generation in the time of Jesus, but it also applies to the last days when Paul said that because of deceitful signs and wonders even the elect might be deceived (2Thessalonians 2:9). As in most cases the word of warnings apply to both Israel and the Church. (1Corinthians 10:11) Also Zechariah 9:14 Then the LORD will be seen over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord GOD will blow the trumpet,And go with whirlwinds from the south. The LORD of hosts will defend them; And today, we find ourselves in a similar season of crisis in the earth when global darkness has never been darker upon a world of uncertainty, division, and spiritual disconnection. But in these times of empty-but-full silence, God speaks Suddenly - God's people wait with hope as God is stirring the hearts of His people to hear his voice, knowing that God is never silent without purpose. Our silence can also be purposeful, and our waiting is with hope and faith that God is at work in reordering all things.  God waits to speak. Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you THE INN CROWD  Caesar Augustus as the emperor of Rome decreed that a census be held so that everyone in the empire could be taxed according to their property ownership and other possessions. They all had to go to their place of birth to be registered so Joseph who was of the house and lineage of King David had to take Mary to Bethlehem, to his family home. The Scriptures had prophesied that the true King of Peace would be born in Bethlehem at that very time, in a small village nearly five thousand miles distance from the palace of Caesar Augustus in Rome. And we read the amazing prophecy of Micah, over seven hundred years earlier that declared that Bethlehem would be the place of the birth of Jesus. Micah 5:2. O Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are but a small Judean village, yet you will be the birthplace of my King who is alive from everlasting ages past!” God will allow his people to become subject to their enemies until she who is to give birth has her son; then at last these fellow countrymen—the exile remnants of Israel—will rejoin their nation in their own land. And he (The Son) shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God, and his people shall remain there safely, for he will be greatly honoured all around the world. He will be our Peace.  Joseph and Mary were sent to the right place at the right time for the birth of Jesus, fulfilling the seven-hundred-year-old prophesy of his birthplace, and becoming the King of Peace. Joseph walked beside the donkey that carried his wife. He was getting weary, and the journey was tiresome for Mary, and he knew he had to get his wife to the place of his family's household and out of the cold, and the time was getting close for her to give birth. They finally arrived at the family home where they were warmly welcomed and invited inside. The dwelling complex was the usual cluster of rooms surrounding a central courtyard and it became clear to Joseph that the house was overcrowded, and that all the guestrooms were occupied. The word for guestroom in the Bible is kataluma, and this is the word for ‘Inn', as in Luke 22:11 which states in the narrative that ‘There was no room at the Inn'. So we are not talking about two travellers trying to book into a local tavern that had already filled its quota in such a busy season, and they did not have to go and look for a stable in some paddock up the road. What the story is saying is that Joseph and his wife would have to stay in the stable of the family home, downstairs, in that warm place where the animals slept and fed.  Joseph saw the signs of the oncoming birth in the drawn face and the discomfort in Mary's eyes and he settled her as quickly and gently as he could.  Then Mary gave birth to her child, and a baby cried its baby cry as it entered the world. Father's joy in heaven would be echoed by Joseph in the earth, and he would now adopt the role of the child's earthly father.  On earth it was the natural and familiar scene of new birth. In the universe it was the most supernatural of any birth in history. It was also ordained that this birth would become the most celebrated event for all time, being celebrated annually by millions upon billions down through the ages, many of whom have scarce idea of what is really being celebrated. Nearby, where shepherds were looking after their sheep upon the hills a huge shining star reached its zenith and was lighting up the entire night sky. The shepherds looked up in wonder at this light and suddenly the lights of shining angels dazzled them, and they became terrified and ran and huddled together. The Angel Gabriel appeared above them, sent to tell them of the birth of Jesus. He told them not to be afraid, and that he had great and marvellous news for them, for all the world to hear. He told them that they would find a child, the Newborn King of the universe, God the Saviour, wrapped in simple clothing in a nearby stable. Suddenly Gabriel was joined by a multitude of angels as the brilliant night sky resounded with their voices singing, and they listened enraptured at the magnificent words. “The glory of God is being seen in the heavens, and his love and goodness is creating a new era of peace for all mankind.” The angelic song about this new creation in the world was the magnificent sequel to the angels' song of the first creation of the world as we read in the book of Job after God challenges Job and says ‘Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Do you know how its dimensions were determined, and who did the surveying? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? (Job 38:4,7,8). When the angels' singing had stopped, the shepherds were guided to the place where this extraordinary event was taking place in the earth. These simple shepherds became the emissaries to the world of the birth of this king of kings, this child, and all who heard them were astounded and amazed. A great light shone upon a newborn child who would bring light into this world, to every person born into this world (John 1:9). And this light would be contested by darkness as always, but the conflict now rose to a new height. Time waited for the outcome, the verdict, the final encounter between light and darkness on a cross that would come one dark and stormy day. Time would wait until Father was ready, then this light would be released into the earth with the power to overcome darkness in every single life of faith. God with us means more than just alongside us. It means he is within and through our being, and more than that, we are within and through his being. Jesus had declared this mystery of the human/ Divine intersection of life and being when he prayed to the Father in front of the  disciples “I have given them the glory you gave me—the glorious unity of being one, as we are— I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one—so that the world will know you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me. (John 17:22) This Divine intersection of our being with God is how we get to ‘know God'. The Holy Spirit speaks into our spirit the mind and words of Jesus, and we ‘see and know' Jesus in this way. Faith lets us speak to him as a person, person to person.  1John 2:27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need to learn another person's personal perception of God to know what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true. This does not mean we disregard Scriptural teaching. This Scripture simply makes alive and real the personal and individual whisper of God into our spirit as the wisdom and understanding of the mind and heart of God that we need in any given situation and at any given time. That is what Jesus accomplished for us. That becomes the light to our path allowing us to express our unique and truest self in the best possible way. That is our faith. Christmas waits to be truly celebrated within this understanding. We need to understand the story of the human beginning of Jesus. We also need to know the story of his redeeming work in the earth and we need to knowthe story of his death and resurrection, in order to know him and love him and serve him and become one with him forever. Amen. Paul O'Sullivan  - pauloss@icloud.com

A Royal Throne for a Human KingA Majestic Throne for a Divine KingA Promised Throne for a Coming KingA Humble Throne for a Newborn KingA Future Throne for the Reigning King

“ … Let me tell you a story …” Hoy es la fiesta de navidad en Hörns Üp Schööl: profesores, alumnos, familiares y amigos se reunen para vivir una noche mágica. A disfrutar … sean buenos. Carolina Rico Sydney Lipton - I'm going home for Christmas. Judy Canova & The Sportsmen Quartet - Christmas Candles. Roy Milton - Christmas Time Blues Billie Holiday - I've got my love to keep me warm. Peggy Lee - Don't forget to feed the Reindeer. Gene Autry - Here Comes Santa Claus. Alma Cogan - Christmas Cards. Gaylay Peevey - I want a Hippopotamus for christmas. Etta James - Merry christmas baby. Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jays - The Bells of St. Mary. Bing Crosby & David Bowie - Little Drummer Boy/ Peace on Earth. “ … A Newborn King to See … “ Playlist del programa independiente: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5923flnqFrfq4oEbJC7XCz?si=f3fa322f6741457c Musicas del ClassRoom: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2USKg4phkFXaWPAiEa4kwh?si=15f0d9256de84cca Síguenos en: #hornsuppodcast https://hornsup.es Canal de Whatsapp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaFJWCQJJhzZzHtuYs0i Instagram: @hornsuppodcast Twitter: @HornsUp2020 YouTube: SUSCRÍBETE !!! https://www.youtube.com/@hornsuppodcastspain Puedes ayudar a Horns Up como nuestros "Fans": Ander, Eric, Charly, Mau, Raspu, Óscar, Pedro, Juankar, Carolina, Moy A.M., Iñaki, Carlos Blasco, Valentín, Baal, José Manuel Ruiz, David García, Rick Bass Baker, Fran, Fonchi, Moy Lora, Carlos Makina, Jesús Jiménez, Esther "Impala" Miguelón, Jorge, Pablo, Pere, Xauxa666 y Una vida de cine, Alberto Chabrán y Anónimo 1. APOYA AL PROGRAMA EN ESTE ENLACE: https://www.ivoox.com/support/835002

“ … Let me tell you a story …” Hoy es la fiesta de navidad en Hörns Üp Schööl: profesores, alumnos, familiares y amigos se reunen para vivir una noche mágica. A disfrutar … sean buenos. Carolina Rico Sydney Lipton - I'm going home for Christmas. Judy Canova & The Sportsmen Quartet - Christmas Candles. Roy Milton - Christmas Time Blues Billie Holiday - I've got my love to keep me warm. Peggy Lee - Don't forget to feed the Reindeer. Gene Autry - Here Comes Santa Claus. Alma Cogan - Christmas Cards. Gaylay Peevey - I want a Hippopotamus for christmas. Etta James - Merry christmas baby. Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jays - The Bells of St. Mary. Bing Crosby & David Bowie - Little Drummer Boy/ Peace on Earth. “ … A Newborn King to See … “ Playlist del programa independiente: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5923flnqFrfq4oEbJC7XCz?si=f3fa322f6741457c Musicas del ClassRoom: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2USKg4phkFXaWPAiEa4kwh?si=15f0d9256de84cca Síguenos en: #hornsuppodcast https://hornsup.es Canal de Whatsapp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaFJWCQJJhzZzHtuYs0i Instagram: @hornsuppodcast Twitter: @HornsUp2020 YouTube: SUSCRÍBETE !!! https://www.youtube.com/@hornsuppodcastspain Puedes ayudar a Horns Up como nuestros "Fans": Ander, Eric, Charly, Mau, Raspu, Óscar, Pedro, Juankar, Carolina, Moy A.M., Iñaki, Carlos Blasco, Valentín, Baal, José Manuel Ruiz, David García, Rick Bass Baker, Fran, Fonchi, Moy Lora, Carlos Makina, Jesús Jiménez, Esther "Impala" Miguelón, Jorge, Pablo, Pere, Xauxa666 y Una vida de cine, Alberto Chabrán y Anónimo 1. APOYA AL PROGRAMA EN ESTE ENLACE: https://www.ivoox.com/support/835002

Just as the Magi expected to find the Newborn King by following a star they saw in the east, so too the Church from her earliest days has looked to the east (that is, ad orientem) in expectation of the Second Coming.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah from The Robert Scott Bell Show. Enjoy these songs created by Super D and MarkD!

Preached on December 14, 2025 from Matthew 2:1-12. For more information about Columbia Christian Church, please visit our website: www.columbiachristian.org

Weekly Messages from Courageous Church in Salt Lake City, Utah

Glory to the Newborn KingWhat if Christmas is more than a tradition—and actually an invitation?In this message, Daniel Sumoge explores the deeper meaning behind Christmas by unpacking the lyrics of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and the familiar story from Luke 2. Rather than focusing on the holiday's surface-level customs, this sermon looks at why the birth of Jesus was announced as good news for all people—bringing peace in the middle of fear, hope in the middle of uncertainty, and a Savior who comes close to humanity.Whether you've celebrated Christmas your whole life or are still curious about what it's really about, this message invites you to slow down, listen, and consider how the story of the newborn King still speaks into our lives today.00:00 Welcome and Introduction00:31 The Meaning of Christmas02:02 Understanding the Message of 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing'03:21 The Birth of Jesus: A World-Changing Event05:47 The Angel's Message: Fear Not13:14 Responding to the Newborn King14:48 Preparing for Communion16:41 Closing Prayer and ReflectionsClick here to donate to the programClick here for more sermonsOC Church of Christ

Observing how the shepherds, King Herod, and the wise men responded to news about the newborn King can help prepare us for Christmas.

••• Response to the New Born King, Ep 407b . ••• Bible Study Verses: Matthew 2:1-16, Luke 2:7-17 . ••• "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God" C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity. † ••• "Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life", Corrie Ten Boom.1892–1983 †† ••• “...And she brought forth her FIRSTBORN SON, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they WERE GREATLY AFRAID...” Luke 2.7+ NKJV . ••• What important announcement was made by the Duke of Cambridge on December 3rd, 2012? ••• How did the announcement by the Duke compare to the events almost 2000 years ago in Bethlehem? ••• What were the reactions of the world when it was discovered that the Prince of Peace had been born? ••• How has the reactions to the birth Of Christ Jesus faired over millennia? ••• What did the wise men do in order to respond to the birth of Christ Jesus in a way that was pleasing to God? ••• What was one of the key Christian attributes that were evident in the wise men from the east? ••• Why was the response of the wisemen so important in the light of eternity? ••• What were the 4-reactions of the wise men concerning the birth of Christ Jesus, Our Creator? ••• What were 3-key observations by the wise men? ••• What were at least 3-responses by the shepherds when they were informed of the birth of Christ Jesus? ••• Why were the shepherds so fearful when they heard the announcement? ••• What are at least 3-responses that a christian should have concerning the birth of Christ Jesus? ••• What responses to Christ Jesus's birth should we elicit in God's eyes? ••• What were some of the responses by the Inn Keeper related to the birth of Christ Jesus? ••• What things in one's life could possibly result in one making an Inn Keeper's response to the birthday of Christ Jesus? ••• Were the religious leaders of the day aware of the prophecy concerning the arrival of Christ Jesus to the earth? ••• What did the religious leaders do to prepare for the arrival of baby Christ Jesus? ••• How did King Herod respond to the birth of Christ Jesus? ••• What will be your response to The Creator of the Universe coming to earth as a baby to show you the way? ••• Pastor Otuno expounds on this and much more on the exciting journey of Fresh Encounter Radio Podcast originally aired on WNQM, Nashville Quality Ministries and WWCR World Wide Christian Radio broadcast to all 7-continents on this big beautiful blue marble, earth, floating through space. Please be prayerful before studying The Word of God so that you will receive the most inspiration possible . ••• This Discipleship Teaching Podcast is brought to you by Christian Leadership International and all the beloved of God who believe in its mission through prayer and support. Thank you . ••• Broadcaster's Website - https://www.lifelonganointing.com/ . ••• Exceeding Thanks to Universe Creator Christ Jesus AND photo by Nasa's Deep Space Hubble Telescope , Art Direction by gil on his mac with free mac layout software . ••• Study Guides at - https://shows.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast/episodes . ••• SHARING LINK: https://shows.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast/response-to-the-new-born-king-ep407b . ••• † http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/C.S.-Lewis-Quotes/ .† † http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/Corrie-Ten-Boom-Quotes/ .••• RESOURCE - https://www.soundcloud.com/thewaytogod/ . ••• RESOURCE - https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/john.1%20 . ••• FERP251213-Episode#407b GOT251213 Ep407b . ••• Christmas Story: Response to the New Born King . Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Weekly Messages from Courageous Church in Salt Lake City, Utah

Matthew 2:1-12 – Worshiping the Newborn King | Kingdom Come Bible Study by Tim Hatch

Sunday, January 5, 2025 Richmond's First Baptist Church

Dr. Landon Reynolds December 22nd, 2024 Southside Baptist Church Florence, SC www.SouthsideNow.church

Service from Christian Bible Church in Cissna Park, Illinois. Guest speaker: Justin Kron

Read OnlineWhen the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Matthew 2:13The most glorious event ever to take place in our world also filled some with hatred and rage. Herod, who was jealous of his own earthly power, felt greatly threatened by the message shared with him by the Magi. And when the Magi failed to return to Herod to tell him where the Newborn King was located, Herod did the unthinkable. He ordered the slaughter of every boy, two years old and younger, who was in Bethlehem and its vicinity.Such an act is hard to comprehend. How could the soldiers carry out such an evil plot? Imagine the deep mourning and devastation so many families encountered as a result. How could a civil ruler murder so many innocent children.Of course, in our day and age, so many civil leaders continue to support the barbaric practice of permitting the slaughter of the innocent within the womb. Thus, in many ways, Herod's action is not that different from today.The passage above reveals to us the will of the Father regarding not only the protection of His divine Son but also His divine will for the protection and sanctity of all human life. It was satan who inspired Herod to kill those precious and innocent children so long ago, and it is satan who continues to promote a culture of death and destruction today. What should our response be? We, like Saint Joseph, must see it as our solemn duty to protect the most innocent and vulnerable with unwavering determination. Though this newborn Child was God, and though the Father in Heaven could have protected His Son with a myriad of angels, it was the Father's will that a man, Saint Joseph, protect His Son. For that reason, we should also hear the Father calling each and every one of us to do all we can to protect the innocent and most vulnerable, especially the child within the womb. Reflect, today, upon the will of God for your life. In what ways is God calling you to be like Saint Joseph and protect the most innocent and most vulnerable? How are you being called to be a guardian of those entrusted to your care? Certainly on a civil level we must all work to protect the lives of those who are unborn. But every parent, grandparent and all those entrusted with responsibility for another must strive to protect those in their care in countless other ways. We must diligently work to preserve them from the evils in our world and the numerous attacks of the evil one on their lives. Ponder this question today and allow the Lord to speak to you of your duty to imitate the great protector, Saint Joseph. Lord, give me insight, wisdom and strength so that I can work in accord with Your will to protect the most innocent from the evils of this world. May I never cower in the face of evil, and may I always fulfill my duty to protect those entrusted to my care. Saint Joseph, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: The Virgin and Child surrounded by angels by Peter Paul Ruben, via Wikimedia Commons

It is my heart-warm and world-embracing Christmas hope and aspiration that all of us, the high, the low, the rich, the poor, the admired, the despised, the loved, the hated, the civilized, the savage, may eventually be gathered together in a heaven of everlasting rest and peace and bliss, except the inventor of the telephone.Mark Twain - Letter to the Editor, New York Evening World, 23 December 1890If you grow up on the Left, you grow up without religion. After the counterculture movement split from conventional religion in the 1960s, we'd done everything we knew how to do to fill up the eternal emptiness that had us chasing everything from sex, drugs, and rock n' roll, cults in the 1970s, gurus, and ashrams, the self-help movement, the mental health movement, and eventually, we ended up back where we started.We “found religion,” but this time as the politics of identity, where our happiness depended on how we solved the problems of society, like racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, and climate change. It came from needing to feel good about ourselves and our world, but it was followed by anger and resentment when we could not convert the entire country to our way of life.The truth about the Left is that they know no other way of life. This was the problem for the Southerners after the Civil War. They, too, knew no other way of life and could not evolve out of their hatred, fear, and hysteria. All they could do was preserve it by banishing those who threatened it. I wish I could say I've come out of these past several years with a renewed faith in humanity. The truth is exactly the opposite. What I saw was what collective hatred, fear, and tribalism can do to otherwise decent people. I saw what we're all capable of when our power is threatened. I saw how easy it is to go along with the crowd, even when what they're doing is wrong.I always thought the people I called my heroes were made of tougher stuff. Better stuff. Kinder stuff. I always thought my side was the side of the good guys who would be immune to group dehumanization. I also did I think we would ever be the ruling class aristocracy sneering at the middle and working class, gathering all of our culture, wealth, and institutions, and hogging them for ourselves.Now that the empire is in collapse, those with all of the power are scrambling, not just to explain it but as a way to get back some of what's been taken. Good luck with that one. Take yet another agonizing, unbearable column by your typical Leftist elite, Jill Filipovic, writing for The Guardian:Worse than what, Jill? Indoctrinating children to choose their genders, then surgically or chemically sterilizing them? Or does it just come down to immigrants and their right to cross the border illegally by the millions, their safety, and our safety be damned? Corruption? You mean like government censorship on a laptop or covering up the mental incapacity of the Commander in Chief for four years? Weaponizing the Department of Justice? Immorality? Like what exactly? Lying to the public via the propaganda press? Calling half the country “garbage” or “White Supremacists” or “Nazis”? And what rights? The right to have an opinion without losing your job, status, or social standing? Your right to play in sports as a biological female without having to compete with biological men? Oh, of course not. She means abortion, as usual. Honey, if you want an abortion, there's a pop-up clinic down the street. People like Jill examine half the country as insects in a jar, watching how they behave in tightly confined spaces, how they respond to being called racists, or how they are de-banked or canceled off of social media. It's fun, right? To watch the insects get stressed and claw at the glass for a way out? The disgust drips from every word, even as she tries to make nice-nice, now that her ass has been handed to her in a historic, humiliating defeat.Trump won again, Jill. Eat that for breakfast. It isn't you people who have to learn to tolerate Trump voters. It's you who have to apologize to them for what you've done not only to them but to this country. You have destroyed every great thing you ever built, and listen to you now, pretending you still have the moral high ground. She then tries to explain why she's writing this at all:To paraphrase a line from Carrie, “Shut up, Jill. Just shut up.”These are the kinds of people I used to call home. I knew them, mingled with them, read them, RT'd them and was Facebook friends with them. Now, they terrify me. They are the banality of evil. They are the side that would go along with segregation, even if they'll never admit it. They're the side that would lock arms as the Jews were carted off to camps, and no, they'll never see themselves that way. She writes:Oh, poor deluded Jill. She has no idea what just happened, does she? It would do her a world of good to start opening her mind to reality, escape the fear bunker, and start interfacing with the truth. She should read David Samuels' piece in Tablet, one I'll be writing about in more depth for my next piece: “Trump's head turn was a perfect example of an event that has no explanation outside the favor of the gods, or whatever modern equivalent involving wind factors and directional probabilities you might prefer to the word “God.” Trump was fated to win, just as Achilles was fated to overcome Hector, because the gods, or if you prefer the forces of cosmic randomness, were on his side, on that day, at that moment. That move not only saved his life by allowing him to escape an assassin's bullet; it revitalized his chi and set in motion a series of subsequent events that generated a reordering of the entire world.”“You can't stop what's coming. It ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity.”A Christmas StoryI was always the first to wake up on Christmas morning. It was almost like a job. I'd scramble into the living room before the sun even came up to gaze upon the abundance of treasures beneath the Christmas tree. I never believed Santa was real, but those presents got there somehow. It was my grandmother who enlisted my older sister to help her wrap all of the presents after the rest of us had gone to sleep. It was a magic trick she performed every Christmas to keep the illusion of Santa alive in our imaginations.She thought she had us fooled. We let her pretend. It didn't matter because every Christmas morning was a rare moment of pure joy. One after the other, we'd tear through the presents, not waiting for each person to finish before moving on to the next. Pure carnage but oh what fun. I never really thought much about what Christmas really means until recently. If it is only about driving the economy or buying stuff, then it isn't worth celebrating. But if it is about something much bigger than ourselves, a way to unify us as one people under God, well, then it means something.I began thinking back on my life, on my childhood, and how religion fit into it. Most movies during the Hays Code era (before the 1960s and 1970s) were infused with Christian ideology, especially Christmas movies. And why wouldn't they be? George Bailey prays in It's a Wonderful Life, and an angel shows up to answer his prayers. In A Charlie Brown Christmas, they sing about the “Newborn King,” who is, of course, Jesus. We all used to share that as a country. It was a thread that united us, along with being American citizens. We all watched these movies because we understood the foundational principles of what made America. That isn't true anymore. To even reference religion, as I'm doing now, is practically a revolutionary act. There is a new religion in town, a fundamentalist one that offers no path to redemption or forgiveness and demands total compliance or else.What does any of it mean to us now? Is it really just about the list of things we buy? Is it about the movies we all treasure every year? Is it about what unites us, not what divides us? Is it about something bigger than ourselves? Are we still even allowed to say “Merry Christmas?” I don't have the answers; I just know that I was raised by a devout atheist who hated religion, and thus, I never thought about Christmas other than as a way to give things and get things. But now, thanks to my four years of getting to know Trump supporters, I see that and many other things differently. I wandered out of darkness and despair toward what looked like a golden light of hope and optimism, surrounded by people our ruling class deemed “dangerous” at best and “human garbage” at worst. I knew every step that brought me closer to them would be one more step that separated me from everyone and everything else.As I've written so often here, it was another Christmas movie, maybe the best one, that reminded me of what happened to me. It was The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. The moral of that story is that you can't steal Christmas. It isn't something you can buy or attain. It isn't even something you can give. That's why the Whos in Whoville are still celebrating and singing even after the Grinch takes away every last symbol of Christmas. He couldn't take away the one thing that mattered most - what was in the hearts and minds of those celebrating.I can't call myself a Christian or even a person of faith. I lean in, and that's farther than I did before. But I also know I have learned the same lesson the Grinch did. I saw people abandoned by our political establishment, institutions, and culture - people who should have been angry and bitter. But they weren't. They were happy. That's how my heart grew and why I think differently about Christmas now.It wasn't Trump supporters who demanded I pick a side—it was the Left. They have imagined an unbearable reality for most of us. Perhaps it comforts people like Jill Filipovic, but for the rest of us, we choose the better way, one that values forgiveness, redemption, and humility. And one that allows us to say, even shout, Merry Christmas. So thank you, dear readers. When I say you saved me, I really mean it. You did. There, but for the Grace of God, Go I. // This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sashastone.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. David B. McWilliams - December 24, 2024

Glory to the Newborn King!Welcome to our candlelight Christmas Eve service at Immanuel Baptist Church!

Glory to the Newborn King!Welcome to our candlelight Christmas Eve service at Immanuel Baptist Church!

George Diwakar - Isaiah 9:2-7 promises light in darkness through a coming ruler. Despite political and spiritual despair, Isaiah foretells a child—Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace—who will break burdens, end wars, and establish eternal peace. Jesus, the fulfilment of this prophecy, offers true light and hope. Christmas isn't fleeting sentimentality but a reminder of lasting salvation and freedom through Christ, our eternal King.

God gathers a surprising group of nobodies to witness the birth of the Newborn King. Luke 2:1-20 Christmas 2024 Gene Pensiero Jr Home https://www.youtube.com/calvaryhanford Find us on Substack https://calvaryhanford.substack.com/ Experience the wonder of Christmas in The Sights Before Christmas, an expository sermon on Luke 2:1-20. Dive into the heart of the Christmas story as we […]

Kent Nighswander

God gathers a surprising group of nobodies to witness the birth of the Newborn King. Luke 2:1-20 Christmas 2024 Gene Pensiero Jr Home https://www.youtube.com/calvaryhanford Find us on Substack https://calvaryhanford.substack.com/ Experience the wonder of Christmas in The Sights Before Christmas, an expository sermon on Luke 2:1-20. Dive into the heart of the Christmas story as we […]

A new MP3 sermon from First Christian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Newborn King Reveals the Hearts of All Subtitle: Together We Grow Speaker: Dr. T. J. Gentry Broadcaster: First Christian Church Event: Devotional Date: 12/19/2024 Bible: Luke 2:34-35 Length: 1 min.

A new MP3 sermon from First Christian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Newborn King Reveals God's Perfect Timing Subtitle: Together We Grow Speaker: Dr. T. J. Gentry Broadcaster: First Christian Church Event: Devotional Date: 12/18/2024 Bible: Galatians 4:4 Length: 1 min.

A new MP3 sermon from First Christian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Newborn King Ends the Tyranny of Satan Subtitle: Together We Grow Speaker: Dr. T. J. Gentry Broadcaster: First Christian Church Event: Devotional Date: 12/15/2024 Bible: Genesis 3:15 Length: 1 min.

In this week's Advent devotional, Dr. Stewart shows us how the birth of Christ is marked by his coming death, and yet his incarnation also marks the gift of salvation and eternal life with God.

Deacon Steve Greco is a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Orange. He is founder of Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry, director of evangelization and formation for the Diocese of Orange and host of Empowered by the Spirit. Katie Hughes of Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry serves as his co-host in this episode.  They talk about Christmas.Empowered by the Spirit airs live weekdays at 10:00am and Fridays at 5pmPacific Time go to https://www.spiritfilledevents.com/empowered-by-the-spirit website or download our Spirit Filled Radio App for Android or Apple Devices.APPLE LINK FOR APPGOOGLE PLAY LINK FOR APPArchives of shows from Spirit Filled Radio are available on podcast at https://www.spiritfilledevents.com/empowered-by-the-spirit

Kent Nighswander

Kent Nighswander