Host: Dan Panetti

Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis

It’s always winter, but never Christmas…

The Hunger Games - how did President Snow go bad?

God revealed His plan of redemption and restoration in the Garden, immediately following man’s sin - see Genesis 3:15

The Old Testament of Scripture is FILLED with so many prophecies about the coming Messiah so that man wouldn’t miss the incredible gift that God was sending for us - some of the most important of those prophecies are found in the Book of Isaiah in chapters 7, 9, and 53. The prophecy that the Messiah would be born in the “little town of Bethlehem” is found in Micah 5:2.

The genealogy of Jesus, the one born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem, is found in Matthew 1:1-17. Jesus is a descendent of Abraham, the father of the promised nation of spiritual children, and David, the symbol of the king.

In Matthew 1:3, Jesus is said to be a descendent of “Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar” - the twins Perez and Zerah are both mentioned in the lineage of Jesus, but for what reason - because Jesus isn’t just coming once, but twice - and both Perez and Zerah give us insight into what we should be looking for - first, one who “burst forth,” the unexpected one from insignificance; the second, bearing the scarlet thread on his body.

Christmas - everything points to Jesus…

Christmas tree - gifts at the bottom - and it points to the heavens…with a STAR on top - reminds me of Numbers 24 - Balaam’s final oracle - verse 17 - I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel…

O Holy Night, song by Adolphe Adam

O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of the dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

'Til He appeared, and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn'

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle ([email protected]) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.