Merry Christmas Let's Celebrate Christmas!

According to our text verses, Christmas is our Scriptural celebration of the first coming of our Savior Jesus Christ into the world by virgin birth in order to save all who will believe on Him and receive Him as personal Savior.

How shall we celebrate Christmas?

The lost world is notorious for the manner in which they commemorate occasions, often reveling out of control. Sadly, some professing believers follow the world in lockstep.

Now for a definition from WEBSTERS 1828 – “Celebrate” means:

• To praise
• To keep holy
• To honor or distinguish by ceremonies and marks of joy and respect

Christmas ought to be a memorable event that joyfully praises and honors Christ for coming into this sin-cursed world in order to suffer and die for our sins.

Here are some principles and some ideas. You may wish to add some of your own.

Choose from these Scriptures:

• Isaiah 7:14
• Isaiah 9:6
• Luke 19:10
• 1 Timothy 1:15
• 1 Timothy 3:16

You may wish to add:

• Matthew 1:18-25
• Matthew 2:1-15
• Philippians 2:5-11

This should not be an afterthought, nor should you refrain in any way simply because family and friends may not share your intense faith. Read Scripture and study it ahead of time.

1. Keep your family Bible in easy reach of the dining table.
2. Place a Bible or a hand-written scroll with Luke 2:1-20 as a centerpiece or as part of it.
3. Have Scripture verses on pretty slips of paper by each place setting for each one to read-in-turn.
4. For the children, hide Christmas candies wrapped in Christmas Bible verses for them to find and then read the Scripture.
5. While guests are coming, play recordings of Alexander Scorby reading joyful Christmas passages from the Bible. Play the recording just above soft instrumental music, setting a great atmosphere!
6. After the meal, suggest a time for Christmas sharing. What part of the Christmas story (from the passages you read) moves you the most or touches your heart in a special way?
7. Have a Christmas prayer time. Make a list ahead of time or ask each person for a prayer request. Each person could pray for one thing (country, military, church family, loved ones…) or there could be a designated pray-er who is not intimidated to pray out loud. (Don’t put anyone to sleep!)

1. Have songbooks or song sheets with familiar Christian (not secular) Christmas carols, hymns, and choruses:
   1. Joy to the World
   2. Away In a Manger
   3. Silent Night
2. If you or your family guests are creative, write a Christmas song or poem.
3. Ask musical family members and guests to prepare some special Christmas music. (Keep it traditional and with a Scriptural message.)
4. Go Christmas caroling in the neighborhood, and/or with permission, to a senior care facility. Distribute tracts.

1. Bring out the old photo albums and review your family legacy with Christmases past. Snap new pictures to add to these.
2. Record participants reminiscing for future play: “What do you remember, Grandpa?” The older family and guests can share memories from long-ago Christmases, or all family and guests can share favorite memories.
3. Children dress up for a Bethlehem first-Christmas play (impromptu) and direct them, snapping pictures of them (video too) the entire time. Each year, show last year’s play.

1. Get together the day before Christmas or Christmas Eve and bake something.
2. Consider a Christmas potluck with everyone bringing and sharing.
3. Take plates of Christmas dinner to those who are alone or needy.
4. Have a “No Gossip – No Griping” (and no politics) rule agreed upon. Also, no discussion or debate over Santa, elves, or anything that is unnecessarily divisive and negative.