Just a thought... How many family Christmas traditions revolve around office parties, food, fun, festivities and Old St. Nick and how many are spending time thinking about triva when the Christmas Story is the greatest story ever told? Does your family have a Christmas tradition that allows others to hear the fabulous Scriptures which first proclaim that Jesus will be born in a stable, and where... and do you read the various selections about His wonderful birth as part of your celebrations. Here is just one of them. How many can you find either Prophecy that He's coming and/or the Gospel accounts of His birth...


Matthew 2:1-9 (Amplified Bible)

1. NOW WHEN Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men [astrologers] from the east came to Jerusalem, asking,

2 Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east [a]at its rising and have come to worship Him.

3. When Herod the king heard this, he was disturbed and troubled, and the whole of Jerusalem with him.

4. So he called together all the chief priests and learned men (scribes) of the people and anxiously asked them where the Christ was to be born.

5. They replied to him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is Written by the Prophet:

6. And you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are not in any way least or insignificant among the chief cities of Judah; for from you shall come a Ruler (Leader) Who will govern and shepherd My people Israel.

7. Then Herod sent for the wise men [astrologers] secretly, and accurately to the last point ascertained from them the time of the appearing of the star [that is, how long the star had made itself visible since its rising in the east].

8. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search for the Child carefully and diligently, and when you have found Him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship Him.

9. When they had listened to the king, they went their way, and behold, the star which had been seen in the east in its rising went before them until it came and stood over the place where the young Child was.


Please lets bring Jesus back into focus on these boards. It may not feel as safe when discussions get heated but when all we do is listen for the sound of people who agree with us, we don't really grow. I know iron sharpens iron and that might not be popular but this is "church" right? Isn't it about growing in the Lord? Maybe we must agree to disagree sometimes but please can't we talk about Jesus?
We've raced through the alphabet to name our favorite Christmas songs, can we stop a moment in the final week of preparations to hear the cattle lowing in the manger and smell the pine and read "His Story"? His story becomes HISTORY because God didn't leave Jesus "away in a manger" He, by the power of the Holy Spirit raised Him from the dead but not before allowing His death so we might be forgiven of our sins and come back into fellowship with The Father who GAVE the first Christmas present EVER.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Katie42,

Katie42,
I do agree that some times Christ gets overlooked during Christmas, but if you go back and read about people's traditions, it is interesting that most everyone had a Christian focus some place in their traditions. Ingrid said she didn't, but does now. I know my family always made sure that the TRUE meaning of Christmas was focused on. That being the birth of Jesus. People posted how they go to church, how they put up a creche to remember the season, how they have Advent calendars to help them focus on the birth of Christ. I am not sure what else you want people to share.

Thanks Groucho,

I thought perhaps sharing the Christmas story directly from Scripture would be "Advent-tagous!


Katie

OUCH, Katie.

It does bother me sometimes how Christ gets kind of nudged to the side, almost an afterthought, in many Christmas festivities. We try to keep a tradition of my husband reading the Christmas story from the Scriptures on Christmas Eve. And I absolutely LOVE watching the kids/now grandkids in their Christmas program at church! (This year, rumor has it my grandsons are both cast as animals--which is very appropriate & likely to create less havoc during the program--Ha!)

Ok, here is a little quiz. See how much you know without looking. I am not going to post the answers right away. I did give some Scriptures as helpful hints. Pick one to answer or try as many as you like.

1. Which Gospel(s) speak of the events surrounding Christ's birth?

2.. How many magi visit Christ after his birth, according to the Bible?

3. Where is Christ when the magi come to visit Him? (See Matthew 2:11.)


4. The magi ask Herod where Christ is to be born. Herod summons his priests and scribes, who know the location of the birth. Who had made this prophecy? See Micah 5:2 and Matthew 2:6.

5. In a dream, an angel tells Joseph to name his child Jesus, for it was prophesied that a virgin would give birth and call her son Immanuel. What does Immanuel mean? See Matthew 1:23.

6. Herod's slaughter of the children two and under, according to Matthew, fulfills a prophecy uttered by what man? See Jeremiah 31:15.

7. How much younger was Jesus than his cousin John the Baptist? See Luke 1:36.

8. Why was Jesus born in Bethlehem? See Luke 2:1-6.

9. Christ was laid in a manger. What is a manger?

10.How do the shepherds learn of Christ's birth? See Luke 2:8-9.

11. Who prophesied to Mary that Christ was "destined for the fall and rising of many" and that "a sword" would "pierce" her "own soul also"? See Luke 2:25-35.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: groucho,

Okay here goes..... and I'm not looking at scripture at all.

1) Matthew and Luke.

2) is three too obvious? 'Some' - no sepcific number.

3) Nazareth I think.. or it may be Capernaum... not Bethlehem anyway.

4) Sorry - is this a question? Or am I being dense?!

5) God with us.

6) Could that be Jeremiah? Or maybe Isaiah.

7) 6 months - wasn't Elizabeth 6 months pregnant when she went to see Mary after the angel had visited?

8) Cos of the census the governer ordered - Joseph's family came from there so they had to go back there to be counted.

9) A feeding box that you put hay in for cattle and horses to eat.

10) The angels come to them while they're up on the hills with the sheep.

11) Oooo.... tough one... my guess is Simeon. Or maybe Anna. Wasn't Jesus taken to see them in the temple?

Wow Wanderer. You did very well. Now I have to look for some more questions!!

1.Who told Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem? Caesar Augustus Lucke 2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

2.When did the Magi begin following the star? When they left Herod. Matt. 2:1-121After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east[b] and have come to worship him."


3. What did the Innkeeper say to Mary and Joseph? There was no innkeeper in the Biblical story. Luke 2:6-7 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

4. Where did the Magi find the child Jesus. In a house. 9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east[a] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

5. Where did the shepherds find the child Jesus. In a manger. Luke 2:7 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

6. What animals were around the manger? There is no mention of animals.

7. How did Mary and Joseph get to Bethlehem? We would guess walking, but the Bible does not say Luke 2:4
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

8. What were the "Magi?" Astrologers/Astonomers

9. What did the angels sing to the shepherds? They didn't sing, but said. Luke 2:13-14

10.How many gifts did the Magi give? 3, Gold Frankensence and Myrrh (see test 1)

11. Were Mary and Joseph married when Jesus was born? Matthew says yes, Matthew 1:24 Luke says no Luke 2:5-6

This quiz was also found on the Internet.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: groucho,

Here are the answers to the first quiz:

Q 1. Which Gospels speak of the events surrounding Christ's birth?

A-Matthew and Luke. Matthew alone includes the story of the magi, as told in chapter 2 of his Gospel. Luke alone includes the details of the birth of Christ's cousin, John the Baptist, and Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth during her own pregnancy. Mark and John begin with Christ's ministry after first describing Christ as being with God in the beginning.

Q-2 How many magi visit Christ after his birth, according to the Bible?

A-An undisclosed number. Christian tradition has numbered the magi at three probably because three gifts were given (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) Tradition has even given names to the wise men--Melchior, Kaspar, and Baltazar. However,, the Bible itself does not disclose the number of magi who visited Christ.

Q-3 Where is Christ when the magi come to visit Him?

A-In a house. Though our traditional manger scenes usually place the magi at the manger, they did not, in fact, visit Christ until he was a "young child" and came to him in a house. (Matthew 2:11 NIV)
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Q-4 The magi ask Herod where Christ is to be born. Herod summons his priests and scribes, who know the location of the birth because of the prophecy of this man.

A-Micah
Micah 5:2
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,though you are small among the clansof Judah,out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Q-5 In a dream, an angel tells Joseph to name his child Jesus, for it was prophesied that a virgin would give birth and call her son Immanuel. What does Immanuel mean?

A-God with us
Matthew 1:23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

Q-6 Herod's slaughter of the children two and under according to Matthew, fulfills a prophecy uttered by what man?

A-Jeremiah
Jeremiah 31:15
This is what the LORD says:"A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted,because her children are no more."

Q-7 How much younger was Jesus than his cousin John the Baptist?

A- 6 months
Luke 1:36-36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.

John's mother was Elisabeth, whom Mary visited while she was pregnant with Christ.

Q-8 Why was Jesus born in Bethlehem?

A-His father went home for a census.

Luke 2:1-6
The Birth of Jesus
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,

Q-9-Christ was laid in a manger. What is a manger?

A-A feeding trough.

Q-10-How do the shepherds learn of Christ's birth?

A-An angel appears to them.
Luke 2:8-9
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Q-11
Who prophesied to Mary that Christ was "destined for the fall and rising of many" andthat "a sword" woud "pierce" her "own soul also"?

A-Simeon
Luke 2:25-35
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,you now dismiss[a] your servant in peace. 30For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the sight of all people,32a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

33The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."


I got these questions from www.funtrivia.com

Whoa, Groucho...now there are some serious scriptures! I like how you've linked the scriptures in context with the questions. Sorry I didn't get to answer them before you gave the answers. The Christmas season has been crazy busy for me!