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About Christ’s Mass     (Pg. #1)

What we call ‘Christmas’ began from the 11th century Old English celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The title comes from the phrase ‘Cristes-messe’, meaning Christ’s feast. Over time this has changed to become the familiar term ‘Christmas’ of today.

— The worldly have always tried to change what we are SUPPOSED to be celebrating at Christmas.

 

Q1. So, let’s see what Christmas means to you? – (Mark what you hold dear in your celebrations.)

O – Getting together with family.     O – Church celebrations of the birth of Christ.     O – Gift giving.

O – Gift receiving.     O – Shopping.     O – Decorating your home.     O – Christmas dinner.

O – Seeing you community decorations.     O – Hearing and singing Christmas carols and songs.    

O – Watching Christmas movies.     O – Christmas time off (holidays).     O – Christmas travel.    

O – More ideas: ______________________________     O – _______________________________

— Some of these answers written above can become a problem in our celebrations. This happens when they take on more importance than the true reason for the season.

Let us be determined to remember the reason we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

— Starting with question #2

Q2. How did Christmas start? (How and why did it ever fit into God’s plan?)

— This is not as simple as we may think… So, for discussion:

What do the following scriptures have to do with Christmas?

Genesis 2:15-18 (ERV) The LORD God put the man in the Garden of Eden to work the soil and take care of the garden.  (16)  The LORD God gave him this command: “You may eat from any tree in the garden.  (17)  But you must not eat from the tree that gives knowledge about good and evil. If you eat fruit from that tree, on that day you will certainly die!”

— Think about why God put that forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden.
2a) 1. — Do you think that God was surprised when Adam and Eve disobeyed?
2a) 2. — If God was not surprised, do you think that He had a plan for our restoration?
 

Romans 5:14-15 (ERV) But from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, everyone had to die. Adam died because he sinned by not obeying God’s command. But even those who did not sin that same way had to die. That one man, Adam, can be compared to Christ, the one who was coming in the future. But God’s free gift is not like Adam’s sin. Many people died because of the sin of that one man. But the grace that people received from God was much greater. Many received God’s gift of life by the grace of this other man, Jesus Christ. 

2b) — Does this tell us the reason for the birth of Jesus?

If the plan of God was for Jesus to be born to become the sacrifice for our sins, why do we CELEBRATE His birth, should we be mourning His coming crucifixion instead?
— SEE Luke 2:8-14 (ERV) That night, some shepherds were out in the fields near Bethlehem watching their sheep.  (9)  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord was shining around them. The shepherds were very afraid.  (10)  The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I have some very good news for you—news that will make everyone happy.  (11)  Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord.  (12)  This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.”  (13)  Then a huge army of angels from heaven joined the first angel, and they were all praising God, saying,  (14)  “Praise God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace to the people who please him.”

 

About Christ’s Mass     (Pg. #2)

Q3. If the message of Christmas is “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” – How do you feel about Christmas and our celebrations? (Discuss.)

 

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Q4. How are we able to respond to the call of Christmas?

— There are as many ways to witness the message of our Savior’s birth as there are giftings.
Let’s make a list of some of these that come to mind:

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The shepherds who were first told of this Good News did what was natural and right for them.

— See Luke 2:15-20 (ERV) The angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this great event the Lord has told us about.” (16)  So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box.  (17)  When they saw the baby, they told what the angels said about this child.  (18)  Everyone was surprised when they heard what the shepherds told them.  (19)  Mary continued to think about these things, trying to understand them.  (20)  The shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard. It was just as the angel had told them.

 

— Isn’t that the way we should all behave, taking every opportunity to share the JOY of our Savior’s birth, in any way we have opportunity to be a witness of God’s good news?

…(KK)