Digging Deeper

Advent and Christmas

The head writer of a popular talk show wants to display an old-fashioned Christmas. The staff thinks he's nuts. This is Hollywood. There is no snow, no sleigh or sleigh bells, no reindeer, no Christmas trees and no red pick-up trucks. Everyone keeps coming up with reasons to wonder if Christmas is real. Why bother?

Something was missing in this intense discussion about Christmas. Did you catch it? No one at any time during the debate mentioned Christ. Can there even be a valid Christmas without Christ? Conflicts throughout the world, divisiveness at home and abroad, severe issues facing our economy and a whole host of issues leading to a lack of trust in our government, our criminal justice system and even our healthcare system.

Is it any wonder that we begin to ask: Does a belief in God have any real impact in the world? Where is God? Where is the Christ in Christmas?

“Dig Deeper: Advent and Christmas” explores the meaning behind the traditions of Christmas.

• Learn about the prophets who predicted Jesus’ birth, ministry and death more than 700 years before it happened.
• Why are the wise men such an important part of the Christmas story?
• What if the innkeeper could share his perspective on what happened that miraculous night?
• Who are Simeon, Anna… Walter?

You can also take the Christmas Challenge and broaden your celebration of Christmas to reach out in creative way to help others.

Larry Davies has been a pastor for over thirty years of small, medium, and large churches. He’s also been a District Superintendent supervising 90 churches and pastors. Larry is the author of ten books, all based on his devotional column “Sowing Seeds of Faith” published in newspapers and online.