Why?

Why?Why?

What Story are we telling?

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600 B.C. Middle Eastern pagans were bringing felled trees into their homes and decorating them. Jeremiah warned Jews to stop copying this practice. (Jer 10:2-4)

Ancient pagans used to cut evergreen boughs and bring them in their homes around Dec. 20-23 to recognize the

winter solstice.

English Puritans condemned “heathen practices like carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that

desecrated the sacred event.”

Early Christians were condemned for copying pagan practice of adorning their homes with lamps and boughs

of laurel at Christmas.

The decorated Christmas tree only began to catch on slowly in the mid-19th century in America.

The modern Christmas tree tradition dates back to Western Germany in the 16th century.

Today, the Christmas Tree has become accepted by most Christians, by people of other faiths, and for those who do not follow an organized

religion.

8 There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were looking after their sheep. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. It is for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. 12 Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God. They said, 14 “May glory be given to God in the highest heaven! And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!”

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15 The angels left and went into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem. Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby. The baby was lying in the manger. 17 After the shepherds had seen him, they told everyone. They reported what the angel had said about this child. 18 All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

19 But Mary kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. She thought about them over and over.

20 The shepherds returned. They gave glory and praise to God. Everything they had seen and heard was just as they had been told.

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13 Christ set us free from the curse of the law. He did it by becoming a curse for us. It is written, “Everyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse.”

Deuteronomy 21 23 his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God. (NKJV)

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15 Christ is the exact likeness of God, who can’t be seen. He is first, and he is over all of creation. 16 All things were created by him. He created everything in heaven and on earth. He created everything that can be seen and everything that can’t be seen. He created kings, powers, rulers and authorities. Everything was created by him and for him. 17 Before anything was created, he was already there. He holds everything together.

18 And he is the head of the body, which is the church. He is the beginning. He is the first to be raised from the dead. That happened so that he would be far above everything. 19 God was pleased to have his whole nature living in Christ. 20 God was pleased to bring all things back to himself because of what Christ has done. That includes all things on earth and in heaven. God made peace through Christ’s blood, through his death on the cross.

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God’s only beloved Son Jesus came to be born on earth so that he would one day grow up to save us from our sins and give hope to a lost world.

Jesus proved once and for all that he alone is

our Salvation by dying for the

world’s sins and coming back to life three days

later.

Christmas means nothing without the Cross.

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This is God’s story and God is sticking

to it.