Editor’s Note: The following is a transcript of a testimony by College at Southwestern Dean Steven Smith on the importance of preaching, given during the MacGorman Chapel dedication service at Southwestern Seminary, Dec. 1. Read More »
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on the blog for Southwestern’s Women’s Studies Programs, www.biblicalwoman.org/voices.
Make this year’s celebration of Christmas more meaningful to you, your family, and friends! Here are some ways to do just that: Read More »
Christmas is a time for singing. What better thing to sing about, especially at this time of year, than the birth of Jesus the promised Messiah? Of the two Gospels that tell of Christ’s birth and infancy, it is Luke’s Gospel which contains several songs or poems of praise of Jesus’ advent: for example, the Magnificat (Song of Mary, 1:46-55), the Benedictus (Song of Zechariah, 1:67-79), the Gloria (Song of the Angels, 2:13-14), and the Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon, 2:28-32). What is the meaning of each of these songs within their context and to the overall narrative? What do they declare about Christ’s nature? Read More »
Editor’s Note: The following article was first published as part of the Dying to Preach series on patheos.com.
At Christmastime, it’s worth remembering what made Jesus “the great shepherd of the sheep.” Read More »
The excitement of Christmas is in the air. There is a buzz around all of the holiday activities, Christmas parties, family gatherings and of course, shopping for gifts. Finding the right gifts for extended family can be a real challenge. Questions abound. “Is it Aunt Martha or Aunt Judy that is allergic to nuts?” “Did we give Cousin Billy socks last year?” “How many kids do the Smiths have now?” “Is their youngest a boy or a girl?” Conclusion: it can be really hard to find the perfect gift for someone when you hardly know them. Read More »
Receiving gifts is fun. Watching others receive gifts we have planned and given is more fun! Read More »
During the Christmas season, a few Old Testament passages are quoted regularly as prophecies concerning Christ’s birth: Isaiah 7:14 and Micah 5:2, among others. It is clear that Jesus fulfills these kinds of prophecies. However, is there a larger sense in which Jesus fulfills the Old Testament, not just single prophecies? What I hope to show is how Jesus fits into the larger message of the Old Testament in such a way that He fulfills it. Read More »
Christmas offers multiplied opportunities for evangelism. The Christmas season lasts longer than other holidays and involves more activities. What a thrill that the attention of much of the world focuses on Christ’s birth. Great Commission Christians must not miss these opportunities to evangelize during Christmas. I’d like to offer some principles of Christmas evangelism and organize them around three personalities of Christmas. Read More »
Just the word “Christmas” typically generates warm feelings and memories: hot wassail, snowy weather, gift shopping, and most importantly Jesus’ birth. For parents and grandparents, it is important to establish family traditions during the Christmas season emphasizing our Savior. What family traditions did your family practice during your childhood? Are these traditions ones you want to pass down to your children? What traditions do you want to begin? Read More »
A family friend told me a story of how a while back his child approached him with the following conundrum, “Dad, I believe in Jesus, even though I cannot see him, but I don’t know about Santa because I cannot see him either.” I was struck by the child’s confusion and by the parent’s dilemma. Later, as I reflected on the story, I wondered how Christian is it to go along with Santa. Some people may go over the top, but Santa himself should be harmless, right? Surely, the merry old myth doesn’t undermine the Gospel story. Read More »
