Christmas Study

Even people who are not professing Christians think they are familiar with the story of the Nativity. Every Christmas, displays of Jesus resting in a manger populate lawns and churchyards, and songs about shepherds and angels fill the air. Yet despite the abundance of these Christian references in popular culture, how many of us have examined the hard edges of this biblical story? Timothy Keller takes listeners on an illuminating journey into the surprising background of the Nativity.

He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake. This lighthearted song is a bit more ominous in the context of other Christmas traditions. From beasts that threaten to cook children into stew to sinister crones who snatch little ones from their beds, you won’t find any dancing sugar plums here. Outside of the heartwarming Christmas tales we all know and love, there are an abundance of frightening stories to chill all who hear them to the bone.

The folklore roots of Christmas under its many other guises (Yule, the Winter Solstice, Saturnalia) is examined in a different, darker light. The Winter Solstice is a time to be afraid. It’s the shortest day of the year, the longest night. In some parts of the world, the sun doesn’t rise at all. It’s dark, and we have to wonder if the sun will ever come back at all. Christmas has always been creepy and with The Fright Before Christmas, you'll see that side. This is a book for everyone who loves a little darkness around the holidays.

This enchanting Christmas story by beloved author and preacher Barbara Brown Taylor follows the three wise men on their world-changing journey to Bethlehem. In this beautiful retelling of their adventure, Taylor captures the power of one very special star and gives listeners a new perspective on the three wise men and their encounters with King Herod, Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus.

Join Strobel as he invites you to push past the distractions of the holiday season and come into the presence of the baby who was born to change your life and rewrite your eternal destination: the greatest gift of all.

The Carols of Christmas is a heart-warming devotional inspired by some of the most beloved Christmas carols of all time. Inside, you’ll enjoy a fresh glimpse of some of the same joyful and nostalgic melodies you sing every year now set to personal reflections in this 28-day devotional journey.

Not so very long ago, Yuletide was as much a chilling season of ghosts and witches as it was a festival of goodwill. In The Old Magic of Christmas, you'll rub elbows with veiled spirits, learn the true perils of elves, and discover a bestiary of enchanted creatures. Rife with the more frightful characters from folklore and the season's most petulant ghosts, this book takes you on a spooky sleigh ride from the silvered firs of a winter forest to the mirrored halls of the Snow Queen.

Grow close to the Lord this Advent season with 25 insightful and meaningful devotions from The Christmas Code by best-selling author O. S. Hawkins. Trace the birth of Jesus from its roots in the Old Testament to the ultimate gift of God: salvation. With a short devotion each day leading up to Christmas, this booklet will be the perfect way to keep daily focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Each day includes a passage of Scripture, a devotional thought, a Code Word, and a prayer of reflection.

52 Little Lessons from It's a Wonderful Life will change the way you think about this holiday staple, from the lightheartedness of George and Mary's floor-parting dance to the poignancy of a community that rallies to save a desperate man, Bob Welch's 52 Little Lessons from It's a Wonderful Life will inspire you to live for the things that matter most.

Dramatized story of the Christmas story from the New Testament and the story of the wise men from the New Testament.

For more than fifty years, Madeleine L'Engle has delighted and inspired readers/listeners with her warm, eloquent prose and inspirational poetry. She continues this tradition with Miracle on 10th Street, a collection of poignant writings and reflections that give listeners a glimpse of how the wonder of Christmas resonates in her personal life, which deeply involves her family and faith: "I think back to that Christmas when my husband and I did not know whether our little girl would live to grow up," she writes.

In Keeping Christmas, novelist and Dickens enthusiast Allison Pittman offers 25 readings for advent, seamlessly bringing together the word of God and the words of A Christmas Carol. This contemplative, entertaining book is the perfect companion for those dark winter nights as we eagerly anticipate the coming celebration of Christmas when, like Scrooge, we are given the gift of reflection, repentance, and life anew.

Prepare Your Heart for the True Meaning of Christmas"Advent is not just about looking back but also looking forward, embracing the hope, peace, joy, and love Jesus brings." Embark on a sacred journey through the season of Advent with **"Advent With Jesus: A Bible Study Devotional"** by J.R. Heimbigner. This beautifully crafted devotional invites you to reflect deeply on the Advent season, its significance, and its transformative impact on your life. What You'll Discover Inside: A Weekly Focus on Advent Themes: Dive into reflections on Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love with dedicated devotions for ...

Preparing for Christmas: A Family Advent Devotional for Hope and Reflection invites families to journey together through the Christmas season with purpose, faith, and connection. This beautifully crafted devotional offers daily reflections, prayers, and meaningful discussions designed to draw families closer to each other and to the heart of Christ. Perfect for creating cherished memories, each day's devotion centers on themes like hope, joy, love, and faith, building anticipation for the celebration of Jesus' birth. Gather as a family around the table, by the Christmas tree, or during ...

Emmanuel: God’s Christmas Plan By Pastor John Eugene Miller Discover the story of Christmas like never before—woven through the pages of the entire Bible. In Emmanuel: God’s Christmas Plan, Pastor John Eugene Miller takes you on an inspiring journey from Genesis to Revelation, uncovering how the promise of Emmanuel—“God with us”—has always been at the center of God’s plan. More than a seasonal celebration, Christmas is the culmination of a redemptive story written across history, designed to restore humanity's relationship with God. Through engaging reflections and biblical ...

This book looks at the legend of Frau Perchta, the festive spectre who is famous for her punishments but could also reward the well behaved.

Christmas is a season filled with wonder and generosity. Still, all its promise can be lost in our must-do lists, preparing for something when provisions seem slim, or the advent of sometimes-messy family relationships. Instead of refreshment or rescue, Christmas can be a reminder of things or people lost, hopes deferred, or dreams dismantled by the stuff of life. Under the paper and ribbon can be piles of distraction about meaningless details or worry about what the coming year might bring. Let’s take a few moments this season, Unwrapping Christmas refreshment from the age-old story ...

The Bible teaches us the real story of Christmas. The problem is people have taken this story and added onto it. Cultures have added on to it. It’s passed through countries, and they’ve tacked on their little spin. We have thousands of years of a Christmas that is built around legends and myths. The Christmas we know is, in places, more a fairy-tale. It’s an inspiring one for sure. But a fairy-tale, nonetheless. This book helps us slow down and unpack the layers so we can see just how beautiful this gift really is.

In 1984 my little family, consisting of myself and my wife, who was pregnant with our firstborn son, moved to Astoria Oregon. I had heard of two families in the city who were praying for someone to come plant a New Testament Baptist Church. The evening we arrived in town, I met two others. While all four families would have said they were independent, fundamental Baptists, they were as different as night and day. One of those families in particular held to doctrinal positions that were strange to me and the rest of us. They derived those doctrines, to a large extent, from some typology out ...

A holiday classic by Charles Dickens. Originally published in 1843, Dickens worried about the disparity between the wealthy and the impoverished, and it was his attempt to bring this disparity into the light of day, to appeal to the die-hard capitalists to take care of the downtrodden masses. Since this inequity continues, this story is still popular, and will probably continue to be so for the foreseeable future.