Luke on Christmas Shopping

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Isaiah 9:6-7, Micah 5:2-4 , Jeremiah 23:5-6, Luke 2:8-14 , Matthew 2:1-12 , Psalm 96:1-3

We know instinctively that Christmas is more than shopping mall Santas, silver bells, and snow-flocked trees, but such things are so entangled with our impressions of Christmas that it’s hard to kn...

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The Anti-Gift League

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

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Scripture

Matthew 6:19-21, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:10-11, Matthew 2:1-12, 1 Timothy 6:6-7, Luke 12:16-21

If you ever find yourself sympathizing with Charles Dickens’ character Ebenezer Scrooge regarding the commercialization of Christmas, you’re not alone—this has been a common complaint for quite some t...

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Author

David Letterman

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Scripture

Proverbs 21:5, Proverbs 31:15-18, Acts 20:35, Luke 21:1-4, Matthew 25:1-13

Halloween is the beginning of the holiday shopping season. That’s for women. The beginning of the holiday shopping season for men is Christmas Eve.

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Dear Lord, We come to you this evening

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

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Scripture

Isaiah 9:2, John 1:4-5, Luke 2:8-14, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 13:13, Luke 19:1-10, Philippians 1:6, Matthew 6:33, Luke 10:38-42, Luke 2:11, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 2:1-12

Dear Lord, We come to you this evening with great expectations. Expectations that your Son Jesus has been born, and that his life is a light for us and all people. We come with expectations that He c...

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Author

Augustine of Hippo

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Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 1:14, Revelation 22:12, Hebrews 13:8, Galatians 4:4-5, Micah 5:2

Christmas is fast approaching. And now that Christ has aroused our seasonal expectations, he’ll soon fulfill them all!

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The Dicey Side of Christmas

Author

Emily Hunter McGowin

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Luke 2:10-11, Romans 12:2, Luke 2:8-20, Colossians 2:8, Matthew 5:16

Christmas (a shortened form of "Christ’s mass”) has been an embattled holiday for much of its history— and not just because talking heads on TV like to argue about the “war on Christmas” every ye...

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Bigger and Bigger Christmas

Author

Kristen Welch

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Scripture

Luke 12:15, Ecclesiastes 5:10, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Matthew 2:11, Hebrews 13:5

Kristen Welch, in her book Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World , described the growing discontent their family experienced after pursuing more and more stuff. She describes it this way with ...

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Author

E. B. White

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Luke 2:6-7, Luke 2:8-14, Luke 1:46-55, Matthew 2:1-12, Isaiah 53:2-3, Matthew 6:19-21, John 2:13-16, 1 Samuel 16:7, Philippians 4:11-13, Mark 10:17-22

To perceive Christmas through its wrapping becomes more difficult with every year.

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Author

David Jeremiah

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John 14:27, Matthew 1:22-23, Luke 2:15-20, Luke 10:38-42, Galatians 2:20, John 15:4-5, Matthew 17:1-9, John 6:35, Matthew 28:20, Joshua 1:9

All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.

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Author

Dale Evans

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Scripture

John 3:16, 1 John 4:9-11, Acts 20:35, Luke 2:1-20, Luke 10:25-37, Mark 12:41-44

Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.

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Author

Steve Maraboli

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Scripture

Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 7:12, Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 5:43-48, Matthew 18:21-22, Mark 2:1-12, Hebrews 13:2, Matthew 5:7, Acts 4:32-35, John 6:1-14

Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you.

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Author

Washington Irving

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

Luke 2:8-14, Acts 2:42-47, Matthew 14:13-21, John 2:1-11, Romans 15:7, 1 Peter 4:9, Luke 14:15-24, 2 Corinthians 9:7-8, Luke 10:27, Hebrews 10:24-25

Now Christmas is come, Let us beat up the drum, And call all our neighbors together, And when they appear, Let us make them such cheer, As will keep out the wind and the weather.

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We confess, O God, that the Christmas

Author

Chip Hardwick

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Scripture

Isaiah 26:30, Ephesians 4:31-32, John 15:11, Hebrews 4:15, Psalm 46:10, Colossians 3:17, Luke 2:13-14

We confess, O God, that the Christmas rush is typical of our efforts to live the Christian life. We pursue peace on earth, but we end up with frayed nerves and short tempers. We wish good will to all,...

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Crafting the Perfect Christmas

Author

Andy Cook

Keywords

Scripture

Proverbs 31:10-31, Matthew 6:19-21 , Luke 10:38-42, Ecclesiastes 4:6 , Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, James 1:17, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:11, John 3:16-17 , Luke 2:10

Ann was a working mother in her 30’s, and one of the millions of women who saw the marshmallow castle on the December cover of a popular women’s magazine. Ann confessed, later, that she felt like a “b...

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Holy Lord, in this time of Advent, we

Author

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 10:41-42, Isaiah 55:2-3, Luke 10:38-42, Matthew 25:44-45, Psalm 46:10, Luke 2:7, Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 5:9, Luke 10:1-12, Romans 8:24-25, Luke 2:25-32, Luke 2:25-38, Philippians 2:10-11, Colossians 3:17, Luke 2:13-14

Holy Lord, in this time of Advent, we confess we often are distracted by the season’s busyness, by the stress of commitment, and even by putting our own traditions ahead of the true meaning of Christm...

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Author

Mother Teresa

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

Matthew 22:37-39, Luke 10:25-37, 1 John 3:18, John 13:1-17, Matthew 25:31-46, 1 John 4:7-12, Acts 2:44-45, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Mark 6:30-44, Galatians 5:22-23

It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you.

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A World Three Times Bigger

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

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Scripture

Genesis 28:10–17, Isaiah 9:2–7, Micah 5:2–5, John 1:1–14, Luke 2:8–14 , Psalm 96:10–13

Our family started watching our Christmas movies early this year. We love Christmas Vacation , Charlie Brown’s Christmas, Home Alone (one and two), Rudolph, and Frosty the Snowman ...

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Our Christmas is Complete

Author

Tsh Oxenreider

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Scripture

Matthew 25:40, Luke 2:6-7, Isaiah 9:6, 2 Corinthians 9:15, Hebrews 13:2, Luke 2:7

There is a story from Czech bishop Monsignor Hnilica of a Christmas Eve with Saint Teresa of Calcutta. There was a knock on the convent’s door during their simple but festive dinner, and the nun who w...

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Author

Lucinda Franks

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

Matthew 2:1-2, Luke 2:8-20, Matthew 2:11, John 1:14, John 4:9-10, Micah 5:2, Luke 2:4-7

Christmas in Bethlehem. The ancient dream: A cold, clear night made brilliant by a glorious star, the smell of incense, shepherds and wise men falling to their knees in adoration of the sweet baby, th...

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A Day with Jesus

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

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Scripture

Mark 10:13-16, Luke 19:1-10, Matthew 9:10-13, John 15:15, Mark 5:35-43

A group of fourth-graders at a Christian school was given an assignment to draw what they would like to do if Jesus spent a day with them. After working diligently on their pictures, one little girl a...

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Author

John Donne

Keywords

Advent

Scripture

Luke 2:25-32, John 1:9-14, Titus 2:13

The church prepares our devotion before Christmas Day with four Sundays in Advent, which bring Christ nearer and nearer to us and remind us that he is coming to enable us by a further examination of o...

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The Legend of La Befana

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

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Scripture

Luke 10:41-42, Ecclesiastes 3:1, Matthew 2:1-2, Isaiah 60:3, Matthew 6:33, Jeremiah 29:13, Luke 2:8-20

If we’re ever concerned with being wrapped up in Christmas busyness, it may be worth considering the Italian legend of La Befana. The elderly Befana was in her home when suddenly she was visited by th...

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Hard Holy Days and the Wondrous Mystery

Author

Leslie Leyland Fields

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

Isaiah 9:2, Ecclesiastes 3:1, Luke 2:1-7, John 1:14, Isaiah 7:14

Christmas is Over It’s Christmas morning, not yet light. I am ten years old, creeping down the stairs, and I am full of hope. My siblings and I were told there will be no Christmas. Our mother told u...

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Author

John Piper

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

John 3:16-17, John 1:14, Romans 5:8-9, Matthew 1:23, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Romans 8:1, Luke 2:8-14, Luke 15:11-32, Psalm 16:11, Revelation 21:3-4

Christmas: the Son of God expressing the love of God to save us from the wrath of God so we could enjoy the presence of God.

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Author

Hamilton Wright Mabie

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Luke 10:25-37, Acts 1:44-47, Luke 2:10-14, Matthew 28:19-20, John 6:1-14

The season which Engages the whole World in a Conspiracy of love.

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Author

Brian D. McLaren

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Scripture

Isaiah 9:6, Philippians 2:6-7, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Luke 2:10-12, Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-2, 11, John 1:14, Isaiah 52:2-3, John 18:36

Politicians compete for the highest offices. Business tycoons scramble for a bigger and bigger piece of the pie. Armies march and scientists study and philosophers philosophise and preachers preach an...

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Author

Larry Libby

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:8-14, Luke 2:1-7, Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:46-55, Micah 5:2, John 1:14, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:25-38, John 10:10-11

Late on a sleepy, star-spangled night, those angels peeled back the sky just like you would tear open a sparkling Christmas present. Then, with light and joy pouring out of Heaven like water through a...

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A Christmas Blessing

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:1-5, Luke 2:22-35

Leader: As we go from here, May the love of the Creator, The joy of the Christ-child And the peace of the Spirit be with you this C...

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Author

G. K. Chesterton

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:7, Matthew 8:20, Isaiah 52:2-3, Hebrews 13:2, John 14:2-3, Micah 5:2

Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home.

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Longing for Home: Christmas Movie Cheer

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

Luke 15:null

Getting in the Mood for Christmas Christmas movies do a variety of things: get us in the mood for the season, connect us with family, and entertain us. Alongside the stockings, fir tree, and nativity...

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