Matthew on Christmas Gift Giving | The Pastor's Workshop

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The Twelfth Day of Christmas

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Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 2:1-2, Ephesians 3:6, 1 Kings 10:1-13, John 1:9, Philippians 2:10-11

In many Christian lands Epiphany is the most important feast of Christmas. Especially in Latin countries the arrival of the Wise Men, the Three Kings, looms large in the imagination. My native city, N...

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Author

Larry Libby

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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...

liturgy

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

T. S. Eliot

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Scripture

John 1:14, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 2:25-35, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:41-52, Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 16:15-17

The hint half guessed, the gift half understood, is Incarnation.

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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

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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Author

Timothy Keller

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Scripture

John 1:14, Philippians 2:6-8, Romans 2:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Matthew 1:21-23

Christmas is telling you that you could never get to heaven on your own. God had to come to you.

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Author

G. K. Chesterton

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

Isaiah 7:14, Luke 2:1-11, Matthew 1:21-23, John 1:14, Galatians 4:4-5

When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?

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A Christmas Creed (2)

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

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Scripture

Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-25, John 1:1-15, Romans 8:14-16, Acts 1:8

Pastor: As the shepherds told everyone what had happened in Bethlehem on that first Christmas, we declare what we know and believe about God. People: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,...

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Noticing Where You Find Yourself

Author

Frederick Buechner

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:7, John 1:14, Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 40:11, Psalm 46:10, 2 Corinthians 4:7, Luke 24:13-35

One Christmas Eve in Vermont when my children were small, we did the things you do when your children are small on Christmas Eve. We stuffed and hung their stockings. We put out a draught of cider and...

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Prayer of Confession for Christmas

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:22-35, Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 2:1-12, John 1:14, Matthew 1:18-25

Leader: Today, we celebrate that Jesus has come, and that He promises to come again! We know He came to bring light and hope, People: but our hearts are often shrouded by darkness and despair. ...

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Author

Brian D. McLaren

Keywords

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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Father, in this holy night Your Son our Savior

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-25, Romans 8:38-39, Hebrews 1:3, Galatians 4:4-5, Matthew 1:23, John 1:14

Pastor: Father, in this holy night Your Son our Savior was born in human flesh. Renew Your Church as the Body of Christ. People: Holy God, hear our prayer. Pastor: In this holy night...

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A Christmas Creed

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:22-35, Romans 8:14-16, John 14:26, Acts 1:8, Matthew 1:23, John 1:14

Leader: Today, we declare what we know and believe about God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in the words of a special creed, known as the Christmas Creed. People: I believe in God, the Fat...

liturgy

Hallelujah! Help Us Shine! An opening prayer for Christmas or Epiphany

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:null, Matthew 2:null, John 1:1-14, Matthew 2:1-12

Hallelujah! Help Us Shine! Welcome Glorious One Lord of Life and Light Dawn in us your power and peacemaking Hallelujah! Help us shine! You bathe us in the light of your grace, that we may be grace...

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Almighty God, you have surprised us

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 55:8-9, Matthew 13:44, Lamentations 3:22-23, Psalm 139:7-10, 1 John 1:9, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Luke 2:1-20, John 4:7-26, John 21:1-14, Luke 24:13-35, Matthew 17:1-8, Luke 2:25-38, Luke 1:35-38, Hebrews 13:2, Isaiah 43:19

Almighty God, you have surprised us with your presence in unexpected ways. In the expectations of our routine, we have missed the treasure that you place before us. We come to worship you in community...

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Author

Billy Graham

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

Luke 2:1-7, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:8-20, John 1:14, Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 2:22-32, Luke 1:26-38, Isaiah 7:14, John 8:12, Ephesians 2:19-22

Christmas is not a myth, not a tradition, not a dream. It is a glorious reality.

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Author

Pope Paul VI

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Scripture

Luke 1:26-38, Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:8-14, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:25-35, John 1:14, Philippians 2:5-8, Matthew 3:13-17, John 3:1-21, Matthew 17:1-8

We consider Christmas as the encounter, the great encounter, the historical encounter, the decisive encounter, between God and mankind. He who has faith knows this truly; let him rejoice.

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On this Christmas morning, let us pray to our incarnate Lord

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:1-5, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-25

Pastor: On this Christmas morning, let us pray to our incarnate Lord, who has brought us out of darkness and into His own marvelous light. Christ born for us, Son of God given for us: People: ...

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Author

Stuart Briscoe

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

John 1:1-5, John 14:16-17, Hebrews 1:8-12, John 11:25-26, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 1:27, Hebrews 9:15, John 4:13-14, Matthew 28:20

The spirit of Christmas needs to be superseded by the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal. The spirit of Christmas is sentimental; the Spirit of Christ...

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Star Song

Author

Luci Shaw

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 19:1-2, John 1:9, Luke 2:13-14, Revelation 22:16, Matthew 17:1-8

We have been having epiphanies like suns, all this year long. And now, at its close when the planets are shining through frost, light runs like music in the bones, and the heart ke...

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Leader: Tonight old dreams die and new

Author

Ruth C. Duck and Maren C. Tirabassi

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Scripture

Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 2:1-20, Luke 2:13-14, Luke 2:8-20, Romans 15:13, Luke 1:46-55, Psalm 96:11-12, Luke 2:20, John 1:9, Luke 2:29-32, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Matthew 4:16, Matthew 5:14-16, Acts 2:1-4, Isaiah 11:6-9

Leader: Tonight old dreams die and new dreams come to life. The Promise is fulfilled! People: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace. Leader: Hope gives way to joy and prayer to proclamati...

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Dear Heavenly Father, We confess that

Author

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-14, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Mark 1:1-8, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:46-56, Luke 2:1-21

Dear Heavenly Father, We confess that we have not sat quietly with You and listened for Your voice Through the hustle of Christmastime and navigating our world, we have given up the quiet space alloca...

lectionary

Epiphany of the Lord

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 60:1-6, Genesis 32:30, John 2:1-12, Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16, Ephesians 5:8, Luke 1:78, Titus 2:11, Isaiah 49:6, John 1:5, Isaiah 60:19, Revelation 22:5

Preaching Commentary Word Study Ἐπιφάνεια: The Greek word from which the English transliterates Epiphany is a combination of a preposition and a verbal idea. Epi -upon and fainō -to shine, illumi...

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Author

Frederick Buechner

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:10-11, John 1:4-5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Matthew 5:14-16, Acts 9:1-22, Hebrews 13:8, Revelation 7:9-10

It is impossible to conceive how different things would have turned out if that birth had not happened whenever, wherever, however it did ... for millions of people who have lived since, the birth of ...

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Lord Jesus Christ, at your birth the

Author

Chip Hardwick

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:13-14, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:8-20, Proverbs 16:18, John 12:43, Matthew 23:1-12, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Matthew 5:9, Luke 10:25-37, 1 John 1:9, Psalm 51:10, Luke 22:54-62, Psalm 46:10, Matthew 26:36-46, John 14:13-14

Lord Jesus Christ, at your birth the angels gave glory to God in the highest heaven, and offered peace on earth to all humankind. We struggle to follow the heavenly host. All too often we focus on giv...

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Leader: God of HOPE, Your message calls us to let go of our fears

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:1-20, John 1:1-14, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 11:1-10

Leader : God of HOPE, Your message calls us to let go of our fears and place our trust in You. Sustain us in Your hope as we await Your coming. We ask for hearts to worship You fully, not only i...

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Author

N. T. Wright

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:4-5, Isaiah 9:2, Isaiah 60:1-2, Luke 2:25-32, Matthew 2:9-10, John 8:1-11

Christmas is God lighting a candle; and you don't light a candle in a room that's already full of sunlight. You light a candle in a room that's so murky that the candle, when lit, reveals ...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Isaiah 60:1-6

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 60:1-6, Genesis 32:30, John 2:1-12, Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16, Ephesians 5:8, Luke 1:78, Titus 2:11, Isaiah 49:6, John 1:5, Isaiah 60:19, Revelation 22:5

Word Study Ἐπιφάνεια: The Greek word from which the English transliterates Epiphany is a combination of a preposition and a verbal idea. Epi -upon and fainō -to shine, illuminate. An epiphany is li...

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Author

James I. Packer

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

Luke 1:26-38, Luke 2:1-7, John 1:14, Luke 2:10-11, Philippians 2:5-8, John 10:14-18, Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 20:17-19, Mark 15:33-39, 1 Peter 1:3-4

The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity--hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory--because at the Father's will Jesus became poor, and was born in a stable s...

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