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The Birth of Christ

Below is a short summary of the Birth of Christ. You can find the Christmas Story in Luke Chapters 1 and 2 and Matthew Chapters 1 and 2. 

Mary and Joseph were a young engaged couple living in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. God sent the Angel Gabriel to visit Mary. Gabriel said to her:

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 

Luke 1:30-33

Confused, Mary asked Gabriel how that could be so, considering she was a virgin. 

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Luke 1:35

Mary faithfully agreed, stating that she was the Lord’s servant. 

Evenso, Joseph began to have doubts. Because Mary was pregnant, he wasn’t sure if he should still marry her. 

So an Angel visited him in a dream:

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”).

Matthew 1:20-23

This comforted Joseph, and he took Mary as his wife. 

Months later, all the people of the Roman Empire were ordered to register for a census. Because Joseph was from the line of David, the couple traveled by donkey to the town of Bethlehem so they could register. It was here that Mary went into labor.  Because of the census, Bethlehem was overcrowded. Mary and Joseph were turned away for a room.  

They took refuge in a stable. Surrounded by farm animals, Mary humbly brought The Son of God into His earthly existence. Baby Jesus was swaddled and placed into a manger full of hay for a bed. 

In the nearby fields, an angel appeared to a troop of shepherds that were watching over their flocks.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:9-12

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven ,and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:13-14

The angels left, and the shepherds excitedly agreed to find the stable giving shelter to the Baby Jesus. After visiting the new family, the shepherds joyously told everyone about the Messiah. They left glorifying God. 

After some time, three Magi (Wise Men) came to Jerusalem, seeking out the Messiah. 

and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2:2

This made King Herod angry, for he wanted to be seen as the king of the Jews. Herod met with the Magi and instructed them to follow the star and find Baby Jesus. They were to report back to him the exact location of the Christ Child. 

The Magi followed the star until they found the small family. 

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

Matthew 2:10

The three men offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and they worshiped The Newborn King. 

Soon after, the Magi left back to their country, taking a different route so they would avoid Herod. 

Other Places in The Bible Christ’s Birth is Mentioned:

 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Micah 5:2

One Last Note...

Although we do not know the Month of Christ’s birth, we do know it was during the time Herod governed. Even though we do not know when He was born, December 25th and the Christmas Season as a whole, have been designated to celebrate His birth since 336 A.D. 

Author Max Lucado observed, “ Christmas begins what Easter celebrates.”

Regardless of knowing the factual date, the extraordinary reality that most of mankind is focused on Him is simply beautiful. What is truly important is that He was born, whatever date that was, because if He hadn’t been born, He couldn’t lead us toward eternal salvation. Therefore, let’s celebrate His birth with the rest of the world! 

Take delight in this sacred celebration that enables us to honor Christ by employing the Christmas Spirit to spread goodness and love to all. 

We are Wishing You a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas!

- Torrance Church of Christ

Fun Family Activities for the Christmas Season

The Christmas Season is about love, giving, peace, spreading cheer, and celebrating the birth of God’s greatest gift: His Son. It is through Christ that we are able to live in light and return to Our Father in Heaven. 

As the stresses of life turn over to Christmas Joy, the harmony and hospitality that come from God are magnified. We need to nourish these feelings of goodwill and benevolence. 

Below are activities the entire family can enjoy that will help capture the true meaning of the Season. 

The Activities

Learn More About Christ with a Characteristics of Christ Christmas Countdown Jar- Grab a jar and print out the characteristics of Jesus printables below. Fold and place each characteristic of Jesus into the jar. Beginning December first, pull out one of the attributes and read one (or more) of the scriptures relating to the trait. Do this every day leading up to Christmas. (There will be leftover papers, but that just adds to the surprise of the next Christmas). This activity allows you and your family to get to know Jesus a little better as well as deepen your sacred relationship with Him. 

Donate Food to the Local Food Bank- The Christmas Season is full of the spirit of giving. Collecting and donating non-perishable food items is a great way to harbor the giving bug. Bonus- it is a fantastic teaching moment for children. 

Go Caroling- Brush up those singing voices and spread merriment by caroling throughout your neighborhood. 

***BONUS*** You can gather a group (maybe another family or friends) and sing carols at a local retirement home. 

Find an Angel Tree and Go Shopping for a Present as a Family- Give a gift to a child in your community! As a group, choose a child to gift. Altogether, shop for and wrap the present. Make it an experience the whole family can enjoy. 

Arrange a Service Manger- On the first of December, set aside a space in your home and find a manger. Leave a small stack of straw nearby. Every time someone in the household does something kind for another person, they get to place a piece of straw into the manger. The objective is to have the manger filled with straw by Christmas Day so that Baby Jesus would have a warm, and cozy bed. 

Bake and Decorate Holiday-Themed Cookies for Your Neighbors- Some of the best memories are made in the kitchen. 

Every Day in the Month of December, Have a Family Devotional Focused on the Birth of the Savior- The Birth of Christ should be the center of Christmastime. A great way to make sure you don’t lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas is to dedicate a time to gather as a family and hold a devotional about His birth. 

Decorate the Christmas Tree as a Family- This one may seem obvious, but it is a fun and festive way to connect with your family. 

As a Family, Create Your Own Christmas Cards and Send Them- Release your creative side and design homemade Christmas cards to send to your loved ones. Christmas cards are an excellent way to spread some Christmas cheer. If you want to include a message from the Bible, click here for inspiration. 

Donate Gently Used Books to a Women's Shelter- Clean out your bookshelves and donate your gently used books to women's shelters. Women's shelters are often looking for all sorts of books, ranging from children’s books to adult novels. 

Watch a Christmas Movie- Throw the popcorn in the microwave, snuggle up on the couch wearing your favorite PJs, nestle into your warmest blanket, and watch one of your treasured Christmas movies together. 

Setup a Nativity Together- Enjoy putting together a nativity scene as a family. As you’re doing so, be mindful of Christ and reflect on all that He has given us. 

Make a Night of Driving Around and Looking at Christmas Lights- Get out of the house and admire all of the festive lights and decorations around your community. 

Make Little Goodie Bags for Kids in the Local Children’s Hospital- Light up a child’s life by donating goodie bags to children who are unable to spend the Christmas Season at home. You can assemble these bags with simple things such as: coloring books and coloring supplies (crayons, markers, colored pencils), stickers, legos, or anything else you can think of. 

Organize a Christmas Music Dance Party- It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. All you need is you, your family, and some Christmas tunes. Pump up the volume and let loose!

Read the Story of Christmas- Pull out your Bible and flip it open to The Book of Matthew and The Book of Luke. Both Matthew chapters 1 & 2 and Luke chapters 1 & 2 contain the story of the Savior's birth. 

Make Peppermint Bark and Gingerbread Men and Pass Them Out to Your Local Police and Fire Departments- Pass along the holiday joy by showing your appreciation to the first responders who work hard and diligently to protect your community. 

Donate Clothing to a Homeless Shelter- Some useful and needed items you can donate are pants, jackets, and gloves to help keep some of our unhoused brothers and sisters warmer. 

Make Ornaments Together- Not only will these ornaments be unique and personal, but they’ll also serve as a great reminder every Christmas about the time you spent as a family. 

Download and Print Christmas Coloring Pages and Color Them Together- Locate your inner child and take satisfaction in coloring bright and cheery Christmas coloring pages with your kids. It is a remarkable way to get in some quality time together. 

Assemble a Christmas Present for Any Teachers in Your Life- Go shopping with your kid(s) and let them choose a Christmas present for their teacher(s). The present doesn’t have to be anything extravagant, just a little something to remind the teacher that they are cherished. 

Donate to a Charity- Mutually agree on a charity and send a Christmas donation. 

Decorate Gingerbread Houses- Building and decorating gingerbread houses is a classic holiday tradition that is fun for the whole family!

Put Together a “Gifts for Jesus” Box- Find a box that will serve as your “Gifts for Jesus” box. As a family, decorate the box. Everyone then fills out a note, explaining what gift they are giving to Jesus that year. Some examples of gifts are: being kinder to siblings, letting go of grudges, helping others, or anything else that exemplifies Christlike behavior. Place the notes in the box and keep it under the tree until Christmas is over. Set the box aside until the following Christmas. Devote yourself to keeping your gift to Jesus. The next Christmas, pull out the box and assess how well each of you committed to your gift.

Read Christmas Stories- Classic and modern Christmas stories are a fun and fantastic way to delight in the joy the Season brings. 

Create a Christmas Dinner Menu- Let everyone have input on what they would like to eat for Christmas dinner.

 ***BONUS*** Put together a box of your Christmas dinner menu items and donate it to a family in need. 

Leave a Basket of Treats on Your Porch for Your Delivery Persons- Christmastime is one of the busiest times for delivery persons. Show them your appreciation for the work that they do by leaving out a basket of treats they can pick from. Attach a note of gratitude to each of the snacks. 

Spend Quality Time Together with a Puzzle- Working together to assemble a puzzle is a positive way to reinforce patience, teamwork, harmony, and unity. 

Have a Game Night- The games don’t need to be Christmas-themed. Game nights are a great way to enjoy and connect with each other. 

Make White Chocolate Peppermint Hot Cocoa- Warm up with a yummy hot treat the whole family will enjoy!

Remember

Christmastime is a wonderful time that we can not only grow closer to our earthly family, but we can use this time to honor and celebrate Christ by becoming more Christlike. We can serve others, spread goodwill and love, and follow the path of righteousness. 

- Torrance Church of Christ

 

 

Bible Verses To Include In Your Christmas Cards

History of Christmas Cards

Take a guess at what year the first-ever recorded Christmas cards were sent.

Do you have your guess?

Are you ready for the answer?

In 1611, the Prince of Wales, Henry Frederick, received the first-ever recorded Christmas cards!

Were you close to guessing 1611? Even though Christmas cards were sent in the early 1600s, it wasn’t until 232 years later that the first commercial Christmas cards were put into production. This card had a picture of a family raising a toast on the cover. There were 1000 of these cards made, and Queen Victoria was the first sender of this card. 

By 1860, sending Christmas cards was a common practice throughout England.

Here is the first official Christmas card:

Even though Christmas cards had been sent to residents in America in the 1840s, Christmas cards weren’t in production until Louis Prang, a Prussian immigrant, made the journey to the United States. He opened a print shop in Boston and in 1875 he introduced the Christmas card manufacturer to the United States; producing the first Christmas card in America. This card featured a simple flower and read, “Merry Christmas”.

Sending Season’s Greetings swept the nation, and in 1910, the Hall brothers opened the doors to the ever-famous Hallmark company. 

From 1948-1957, artist Norman Rockwell designed 32 Christmas cards for Hallmark. In 1963, Jackie Kennedy designed two Christmas Cards for Hallmark. 

Hallmark published a Christmas card in 1977 that featured three cherubs, two of which were humble in prayer while the third was gazing up, her doe-eyes peering from under her halo. This card is still in production and is the most popular selling Christmas card in history. 

Today, Hallmark is still family owned and operated, but there are many different companies that manufacture Christmas cards. Additionally, the Christmas card of today is versatile in appearance. Many families today opt to send photo cards. Others choose to send a postcard, and some choose to send a letter along with the card, giving updates and sharing news about their life over the past year. Even though there is a multitude of Christmas cards to choose from, sometimes it can be fun to create your own cards.

Why Send Christmas Cards?

The convenience of technology would make sending a Christmas greeting more simple, but there is something truly special and personal about a handwritten message. The tradition of sending Christmas cards has been able to withstand the growth of technology. Sending Christmas cards is a great way to let your loved ones and acquaintances know that you are thinking of them and remind them that they are important. By sending a Christmas card, you are showing the receiver that you are grateful for them in your life. Spreading holiday cheer, and sending Christmas cards is another way to make the Christmas season a little sweeter, a little kinder, and a whole lot more special. 

National Christmas Card Day

December 9th is National Christmas Card Day. This day serves to remind you to get your cards ready, purchase stamps, and send off your warm wishes in order to have them arrive in time for Christmas. 

Bible Verses for Christmas Cards

Here are some meaningful and significant verses you can include in your Christmas cards. These verses focus on the birth of the Savior and capture the true meaning of the season. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

-John 3:16

~

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!

    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you,

    righteous and victorious,

lowly and riding on a donkey,

    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

-Zechariah 9:9

~

…God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”  “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”  The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

-Luke 1:26-35

For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given,

    and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

-Isaiah 9:6

~

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

-Matthew 2:10-11

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

-John 1:9

~

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

-Matthew 1:20-23

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

-2 Corinthians 9:15

~

God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 

-Acts 5:31

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

-Luke 2:11

~

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 

-Galatians 4:4-5

~

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

-Isaiah 7:14

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

-James 1:17

~

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

-Isaiah 11:1

~

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.

-Luke 1:30-31

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

-Luke 2:14

~

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

-John 1:14

~

Who, being in very nature God,

  did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

    by taking the very nature of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    by becoming obedient to death—

        even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

    and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

   to the glory of God the Father.

-Philippians 2:6-11

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

-Romans 15:13

Last But Not Least

Sending Christmas cards is a remarkable way to remind others that you care for them as well as spread the holiday spirit. By adding in your favorite Bible verse,  you are including the all-important reminder that this season should be focused on Christ, and effectively sharing your testimony of Him. 

-Torrance Church of Christ