Christmas promotes a degree of goodwill, cheer, and love. It is a light-hearted, joyful time. Families spend time together. People attend church, who never do at other times of the year. But I think all of us would agree that Christmas has become very commercialised and materialistic. Decorations on houses and in stores seldom reflect the true meaning of Christmas. Most secular Christmas music promotes Santa, gifts, festivity, and partying but does nothing to glorify Christ. Christ is not the centre of worship at Christmas, not even in most Christian’s homes. Christ is just an excuse to celebrate.

Read Matthew 2:11. When the wise men saw young Jesus, the fell down and worshipped him. They gave Him valuable gifts.

Transition

As Christians, our heart’s desire ought to be to make the worship of Christ the centre of our Christmas. This evening I want to point out three duties which ought to help you make this Christmas a Christ-centred Christmas.

Our first duty is to

Know the Bible Facts About Christmas

  1. The Word “Christmas” is not found in the Bible
    1. Some claim that Christmas was a pagan holiday converted by the Catholic Church and called Christ-mas. While that may be true, the purpose of the holiday is not evil. Most unsaved people know that Christmas is connected with Christ, so having a truly Christ-centred Christmas should not harm our testimony.
    2. The Bible does not tell us the date of Christ’s birth. He may not have been born on 25 December, but the date does not really matter.
    3. For many, Christmas has become a secular, materialistic, selfish, party-time that ignores Christ, but that does not have to be the case.
  2. The Bible does not forbid Christmas
    1. Though the Bible does not say we should celebrate Christmas, neither does the Bible forbid it.
    2. No Bible principle forbids honouring Christ’s birth.
    3. In fact, many special events in the Bible are marked by celebrations like the Feast of Passover, Feast of Pentecost, Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Trumpets, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Feast of First-fruits.
  3. The Bible shows that God honoured Christ’s birth
    1. Many prophecies predicted it (Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2)
    2. An angel announced it to Mary (Luke 1:28-38)
    3. Elizabeth and her babe rejoiced over the news (Luke 1:41-43)
    4. An angel announced it to Joseph (Matthew 1:20-23)
    5. Mary sang praise to God for it (Luke 1:46-55)
    6. An angel announced it to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-14)
    7. Shepherds visited the baby (Luke 2:15-20)
    8. Simeon honoured the Lord’s birth (Luke 2:25-35)
    9. Anna honoured the Lord’s birth (Luke 2:36-38)
    10. God created a special star to guide the wise men (Matthew 2:2)
    11. Wise men worshipped the baby Christ (Matthew 2:1-12)
      The arguments against Christmas give reason for caution, but I believe the fact that the Bible gives many examples of how God had the birth of Christ honoured gives us reason to do the same.
      Our second duty is to

Test Christmas Activities with the Bible

  1. God commands that we prove all things.
    1. (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22) “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” To “prove” means “to examine and keep what passes.” Hold tightly the things that pass. Reject from all that fails.
    2. (Ephesians 5:10) “ Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”
    3. The Bible is to be our strainer, not men’s opinions. Don’t be lazy here! Put your Christmas through God’s strainer.
  2. Use Bible principles to choose Christmas activities.
    1. We must reject anything about Christmas that is a form of evil. “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
    2. All we do for Christmas must glorify God. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) Every gift we buy must glorify God and not promote worldly character. (i.e., Star Wars toys promote the demonic Force, Barbie and Frozen dolls are often immodest and worldly, many games promote witchcraft, aliens, and evil, and popular clothing is often worldly, unisex or immodest. On the other hand, buy gifts that help to develop good character and skills. Board games can be educational. Baby dolls can develop motherhood skills. Building toys and play dough develop skills. Exercise toys promote health. Colouring and reading books can be good if you avoid witchcraft and unrealistic cartoons. Card games can be good if they do not have bad connections like Pokémon. Bible story books can be good if the pictures are realistic and the story is accurate. Children’s religious videos can be good if they do not contain rock-type music or inaccurate doctrine.)
    3. Test all your Christmas decorations with the Bible. If they do not point others to the true meaning of Christmas, they are probably not the right choice.
    4. We must tell the truth about Christmas. Never tell the lie about Santa giving gifts. “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” (Colossians 3:9)
    5. We must not give in hopes to get. “Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.” (Luke 14:12)
    6. It is not wise to go into debt to buy gifts. The Bible speaks of giving to help others, but I cannot think of one example where it speaks of borrowing to do it.
    7. Christ must be the centre of worship in our Christmas as He was at His birth. Review the 11 points above.
      Our third duty is to

Glorify Christ on Christmas

  1. Make Christ the centre of the Christmas season
    1. Play godly Christmas music in your home.
    2. Decorate with nativity scene or Bible verses.
    3. Be Christlike when you must refuse an invitation.
    4. Do not attend parties that may offend the Holy Spirit living in you.
    5. Focus on Christ not on gifts by keeping gifts simple, inexpensive and God-honouring.
    6. Teach your children that Christmas is about worshipping Christ not about getting gifts.
    7. Give a special gift to someone in need.
    8. If you send Christmas cards, be sure they are Christ-centred.
    9. Pass out Christmas tracts to people you meet. People will talk about spiritual things much more readily at Christmas time.
  2. Make Christ the centre of your Christmas day
    1. Do not make a big deal about gifts. That promotes selfishness and greed. Promote giving more than getting.
    2. Before any gift-giving, worship Christ as a family (do this privately if you are not in charge).
      1. Sing Christmas hymns.
      2. Read the Christmas story from the Bible.
      3. Thank God as a family for Christ’s birth.
    3. End your gift-giving with a time of prayer. Have each member of the family thank God for gifts they received.

Conclusion

As Christians, we ought to do our very best to have a Christ-centred Christmas. Jesus is the only reason for the season. We ought to choose our activities and decorations biblically by sifting all that we do in the Christmas season through the Bible. We ought to select gifts thoughtfully with the goal of glorifying God and edifying others. We ought to seek to keep Christ in the very centre of all Christmas celebrations.

The Christmas season is an excellent time to share the gospel with others. Pray for opportunities. Look for opportunities. Be bold.

Song: Hark the Herald Angels Sing 93
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A Christ-centred Christmas
13 December 2015 PM – Matthew 2:11– Christmas 2015 – Scott Childs