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As Christmas approaches, it's not a bad thing for us to step back and think about the implications of what we celebrate. In the newly-released Why I Am a Christian (Baker), Peter Kreeft writes the chapter on "Why I Believe Jesus is the Son of God." Speaking of the incarnation, he points out, "If Christ is both God and man, then he reveals to us, in a final and unsurpassable way, both who God is and who we are. God holds nothing back in Christ: the Son is equal to the Father in all things (Col. 1:19). If Christ is pure love, this shows that the Father is pure love. 'Philip said to him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.' Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father' (John 14:8-9). "Christ also shows us the true nature of humankind -- our true identity. Here is what we were made for: here is 'success'; here is a complete human being and a perfect human life; here is the ultimate standard for everything human. Christ shows true God to man and shows true man to man." (Click here to learn more about Why I Am a Christian.) As you preach this Sunday, tell them about Jesus. He's reason enough to celebrate. Michael
Duduit, Editor Click here to visit "I Was Just Thinking" (Michael's blog) for insights and observations about faith and culture issues. Recent topics: Born of a Virgin; The 100 Most Influential Americans; Why They Lost To be sure each issue of PreachingNow makes it direct to your inbox (without a detour to the spam folder), be sure to add preachingnow@preaching.com to your address book and/or safe file. There will be no issue of PreachingNow next week. The next issue will be dated January 2.
God will provide In his December newsletter, pastor Stan Toler tells this story about a memorable Christmas for his family: "I'll never forget "that" Christmas morning. On Christmas Eve the Toler family had gone to bed without a meal because there wasn't any food in the house. Dad had taken my brother Terry and me to a place on Broad Street in Columbus, Ohio, where government food and commodities were to be handed out. "Standing in the long line on a blustery day, Dad suddenly took us by the hand and stepped out of line. "Boys, we're not going to do this," he said, looking into our surprised faces. We both knew that without that government food, we would be going to bed without a meal, and would be facing a pretty bleak Christmas Day. My dad said with a firm voice, "God will provide." We followed him back to the car. The words "God will provide . . ." echoed in our minds. Two hungry boys didn't quite get the theology of all that. "The next morning there was a knock at the door. Dad opened it to familiar faces. Some dear folks from our home church were standing on the front porch. In their arms were shopping bags filled with food. "Merry Christmas," they said as they sat the bags on the porch. After the hugs and words of thanks, we picked up their gifts with indescribable joy and headed for the kitchen. As Mom began to put the food away, my brothers and I could see tears of joy welling up in her eyes. Dad had that "I told you so" smile on his face. Terry, Mark and I understood it now. God had provided. "I pray that the message of the Savior will burn in your heart with renewed strength and resolve. God has provided. You and I faced a lonely and hungry night away from hope. But God delivered a priority package to a manger cave. The Christ who was born to us, and who died for us, now stands alongside us." (www.stantoler.com)
Do you believe? My family recently watched the animated movie The Polar Express yet again, so I was interested a few days later to see this Breakpoint commentary by Chuck Colson: "Jesus' saying in Mark 10 is a familiar one: 'Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.' Children show us how to approach Jesus: with wide-eyed belief and unquestioning faith. "One animated film worth seeing again this Christmas reminds us of what it means to have faith like a child's. Based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express takes us on one boy's journey from doubt to belief. On one level, the story can be interpreted as a retelling of The Miracle on 34th Street, but for Christians, this film can also be seen as a tale about a return to untainted belief. "In the movie, a young boy struggles with his belief in Santa Claus. He lies in bed on Christmas Eve, hoping to hear the bells on Santa's sleigh, but his doubt grows. Later, he is awakened by the loud and surprising arrival of a train in his front yard. Walking outside, the boy is greeted by a conductor, who asks, "Well, are you coming?" Boarding the train, we find, is the most important decision he makes. "Along with many other children, the boy travels to the North Pole, where Santa will present the first gift of Christmas. During the trip, the boy continues to struggle with doubt, at one point trying to wake himself up. There are two messages from the movie that stand out. First, as the conductor later remarks to the boy, 'It doesn't matter where you're going; what matters is deciding to get on.' Often we allow life's disappointments to make us cynical. Or we expect to get something for our faith. But life usually doesn't work out according to our plans. So yes, what's important isn't where we end up or what we get, but that we trust God enough to act on faith. "Second, the conductor also reminds us: 'The most real things in the world are the things we can't see.' That's when we need the faith of a child to ask what Max Lucado calls the "fundamental question": 'Can I afford to believe in what I have never seen?' "Bill Broyles, the film's screenwriter, notes: 'We all go through that passage . . . to that world of adulthood where that magic and wonder is gone -- or maybe deeply buried.' As we enter the Christmas season, this is a good time to rekindle a sense of wonder and awe of our Creator and Savior. The Polar Express is a great holiday film with a story even the youngest child can understand -- and a profound message about faith and belief that no adult can miss."
Ten steps to a great new year Timothy Satryan of Wilmington First Assembly of God offers ten rules to make 2007 truly a happy new year! 1.
Today I will not strike back 2.
Today I will ask God to bless my "enemy" 3.
Today I will be careful about what I say 4.
Today I will go the extra mile 5.
Today I will forgive 6.
Today I will do something nice for someone, but I will do it secretly 7.
Today I will treat others as I wish to be treated 8.
Today I will raise the spirits of someone who is discouraged 9.
Today I will nurture my body 10.
Today I will grow spiritually
ILLUSTRATION: Christmas -- He deserves our best Dr. Paul White, missionary physician in East Africa, recalled Christmas Eve on the mission field. All the national Christians had come to the hospital to use the ironing board, wanting to press their old clothes and rags. A long line formed outside the ironing room. One young man was wearing little more than a castoff apron. "What are you up to?" Dr. White asked him. "Christmas tomorrow, Bwana," he replied cheerfully. "We've got to look our best. We are ironing our clothes. Behold, it is our Savior's birthday. We want to look our best to honor Him."1 David Jeremiah says, "The splendor of Christmas brings out the best in us -- the best of who we are and want to show up for His birthday. We want to look our best, to be our best, and to do our best for Him. Though He was rich, He became poor that we through His poverty might become rich. Let's praise Him richly, love him richly, and proclaim His riches to the nations. Take some time today to worship Him in your heart." (Turning Point Daily Devotional, 12-20-06) 1. Dr. Paul White, Doctor of Tanganyika (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1955), 167.
ILLUSTRATION: Light, Christmas In one of his online commentaries, R. Albert Mohler wrote, "When Isaiah told of the coming Prince of Peace, he spoke of light dispelling darkness. The metaphor of light is central to our celebration of Christmas. After all, even as John introduces his gospel by identifying Jesus as the Word who became flesh, John also describes Jesus as "the True Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man." "The image of light dispelling darkness is central to our understanding of the incarnation and its meaning. When Jesus was presented at the temple shortly after His birth, the aged Simeon recognized this child as "A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel." "The metaphor of light makes sense only against a background of darkness. In the Bible, darkness is a rich metaphor that points to a double reality. In one sense, darkness points to the simple fact of human ignorance. Those who are "in the dark" are those who lack knowledge. To the Jewish mind, this metaphor had particular application to the Gentile world -- a world that had not received the grace of God through the revelation of the Torah, the prophets, and the written revelation of God. Even today, we know that untold millions still dwell in deep darkness, having never heard about the one true God or of Jesus Christ, His only Son. "In a second sense, darkness refers to evil and willful blindness. This points beyond the mere fact of simple ignorance. In this sense, darkness refers to the fact that many will reject the light. As John explained, "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came into His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him." "This is hard to believe -- the Son of God took on human flesh and came to live among sinful humanity, but the vast majority did not recognize Him for who He is. "As a celebration of light, Christmas is the festival that points to the glory of God in the revelation of the Son in Bethelehem's humble manger. We rightly point to Christ's birth as the central event of human history -- the dividing line between the age of darkness and the age of light. This is reason enough to celebrate Christmas, for our response to this gift of light must be a celebration, thanksgiving, and rejoicing. . . . "The image of light is central, not only to Christmas, but to Christianity. Jesus said: "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." [John 8:12] This is the sum and substance of Christmas. The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who have lived in a dark land have now experienced the shining of the Light of life." (www.AlbertMohler.com, 12-21-05)
ILLUSTRATION: Christmas, Santa A few days after Christmas last year, a six-year-old boy approached his mother and said, "Mom, is there a Santa Claus?" "Well, what do you think?" she asked him. He replied, "Well, my Playstation that I got from you and Dad and my gift from Santa were wrapped in the same kind of wrapping paper." Then he paused, thought for a few moments, and said, "I'll tell you what . . . let's just forget we ever had this talk!" (Pastor Tim's Cleanlaugh List)
ILLUSTRATION: Christmas -- Good Intentions Grandma Ruby found buying presents for family and friends a bit much at Christmas now that she was in her 90's, so this time she wrote out checks for all of them to put in their Christmas cards. In each card she carefully wrote, "Buy your own present" and then sent them off. After the Christmas festivities were over, she found the checks under a pile of papers on her desk. So everyone on her gift list had received a beautiful Christmas card from her with "Buy your own present" written inside -- without the check!
"This Christmas, don't get so wrapped up in what the world has to sell that you miss what God has to give."
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ILLUSTRATION: Christmas, Reindeers According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid December. Female reindeer retain their antlers until after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to every historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, every single one of them -- from Rudolph to Blitzen -- had to be a girl. We should've known when they were able to find their way.
Last minute ideas for your Christmas list . . . Some excellent recent releases that you may want to add to your shopping list this year. (If you'd like to learn more or order a copy of any book, just click on the title, which will link you to Amazon.) In the introduction of today's PreachingNow I mentioned a revised and expanded edition of Why I Am a Christian (Baker Books) that has just been released, containing 17 outstanding essays that offer compelling support for Christian faith. Edited by Norman Geisler and Paul Hoffman, the volume contains a variety of insightful contributions, including "Why I Believe God Exists" by William Lane Craig, "Why I Believe in Christ in Spite of Evil and Suffering" by John S. Feinberg, and "Why I Believe Jesus Christ is the Ultimate Source of Meaning" by Ravi Zacharias. Not only are these essays valuable apologetic tools, but the volume offers a launching pad for a great sermon series. One of the areas where many pastors and church leaders struggle is prayer. Though we know (and preach) its importance, too often we find our own prayer lives are anemic. That's why you may find real value in J.I. Packer's new book Praying: Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight (InterVarsity). Co-Authored with Carolyn Nystrom, the book helps the reader better understand prayer so that it becomes not only a duty but a joy and privilege. If you haven't already seen the movie The Nativity Story, let me encourage you to go; it's a moving retelling of the Christmas story. (Don't get hung up on the fact that they compress many events into a brief time span; it is a movie, after all.) Several books were released in conjunction with the film. Two you might find of interest are Why the Nativity by David Jeremiah and A Classic Nativity Devotional, compiled by James Stuart Bell; both are from Tyndale House Publishers. The former asks and answers 25 questions about the Christmas story, such as "Why did Jesus come as He did?" and "Why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25?" The latter is a collection of sermon excerpts, poetry, and fitting quotations relating to the Christmas story, and offers much to accent your devotional reading during this special season. Finally, an interesting project that would make a special gift for someone on your list is The Bible Experience, a dramatized reading of the New Testament, available on audio CD or MP3. The production -- complete with musical score -- includes the vocal talents of some of the top acting talent today, including Samuel Jackson, Angela Bassett, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, LeVar Burton and many more. (Even T.D. Jakes had a part.)
A Defensive Night Before Christmas 'Twas
the night before Christmas, and all through the skies Every
jet on the apron, each SAM in its tube When
out of the klaxon arose such a clatter And
there found the source of the warning we'd heeded: On
Aegis! Up Patriot, Phalanx and Hawk! They
turned toward the target, moved toward it, converged. So
we sent out some recon to look for debris, Now
it isn't quite Christmas, with Saint Nick shot down. For
look how the gadgets we use to protect us But
a crash program's on: Working hard, night and day, (from
Pearly Gates list)
And finally . . . Who said video games are for couch potatoes? In fact, the buzz about the new Wii game system from Nintendo is that players are getting carried away using the new wireless controller and are accidentally throwing it into TV screens, ceiling fans, and other unfortunate locations. The distinctive feature of the Wii is a motion-sensitive wireless remote. Used with the proper games, it means swinging the arms as if bowling, hitting a baseball or engaging in swordplay. As players get involved in the action, they sometimes get so energetic that the Wii goes flying -- sometimes because of a defective wrist-strap. (Nintendo is quietly beefing up the fabric strap, according to a Dec. 14 AP story.) A Nintendo spokesman insists that the firm has only verified a few scattered instances of Wii remotes flying because of faulty wrist straps. The company has noted that gamers seem to be blaming each others' klutziness more than they're criticizing Nintendo's design. "On one hand, obviously we love that people are talking about our system. But we prefer when it's talking about the great game play experience," the spokesman said. "Fortunately, I think that's what everybody is really talking about." http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20061214/D8M0SO080.html
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