Do you ever find it hard to "get into the Christmas spirit"? Yeah. Me, too. But I think that's because we too often think about and do Christmassy things without really focusing on what Christmas points to! Take a moment with me to think more deeply about what it's all about. Then, no matter what else is going on, we can have a truly merry Christmas.

Resources for why it's good (and not wrong) for Christians to celebrate Christmas:

Wes Huff

"Christmas isn't pagan and here's why" https://youtu.be/5zcaQlBbk6s

Mike Winger

"Is Christmas PAGAN? In defense of Christmas" https://youtu.be/ugxJBb0lPXQ

"Debunking Christmas Myths" https://youtu.be/kmLyxtImeYM

"Stop Twisting Jeremiah 10 Because It's Not About Christmas Trees" https://youtu.be/GFhHmj77_rg

a short: "WORST Christmas Myth Still Believed" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4WHFFbhrou8?feature=share

and a bonus because I love these Christmas carols:

"The Theology Behind Six Beloved Christmas Songs" https://youtu.be/ooXcxf-H4t0

Foundation Worldview (how to deal with Santa)

"Navigating Santa at Christmas: A Biblical Parenting Conversation" https://youtu.be/rWopANlVRSI

Jennifer DeFrates (The Mamapologist)

"How did December 25 become Christmas" https://youtu.be/mrKX_g1PSq4

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Read chapter 17 of Luke with me! :) Are you enjoying focusing on what Jesus came to do as we prepare to celebrate His first coming?

One of my favorite lessons in this chapter: a mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds. It's not the size of our faith that matters, but the OBJECT of our faith: God Himself. He's the one with all the power!

Looking for a biblical definition of faith?

https://youtu.be/ghZO38UL7cI

The Gospel of Luke Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jweHJVfx3v92e-BHb3BY6qI

Favorite Scriptures Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

Proverbs Chapter a Day Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jw10rbK-jyXkOok4uVa_muJ&si=VeJdxHq9L8qzI94X

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

"Bible Study Basics" Blog Series: https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Read chapter 16 of Luke with me! :) This chapter has several hard-to-understand passages. When we read something we don't understand in Scripture, we should try to understand, ask the Lord for help in understanding correctly, and hold loosely to what we think it means until we're sure. (Commentaries can be helpful -- but always remember: they're not infallible!) See my Bible Study Basics series (below) for more.

"Bible Study Basics" Blog Series: https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

Jesus calls us to be faithful in the little things. Read or listen to "Every Moment Matters," my blog post about this, at

https://morethanthismess.com/2024/01/09/every-moment-matters

The Gospel of Luke Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jweHJVfx3v92e-BHb3BY6qI

Favorite Scriptures Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

Proverbs Chapter a Day Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jw10rbK-jyXkOok4uVa_muJ&si=VeJdxHq9L8qzI94X

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

---------------------------

The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Read chapter 15 of Luke with me! :)

Good questions to ask while you read: What is God teaching us about Himself in this passage? What is God teaching us about people?

The Gospel of Luke Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jweHJVfx3v92e-BHb3BY6qI

Favorite Scriptures Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

Proverbs Chapter a Day Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jw10rbK-jyXkOok4uVa_muJ&si=VeJdxHq9L8qzI94X

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

"Bible Study Basics" Blog Series: https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

---------------------------

The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Read chapter 14 of Luke with me! :)

🔹Jesus heals on the Sabbath AGAIN -- this time, in a Pharisee's home!

🔹Do you want to be humiliated, or exalted? Jesus tells us how to choose which one we'll get.

🔹Everyone is invited to the feast (see also Isaiah 55!) -- but not everyone is willing to go.

🔹Salvation is a free gift, paid for by Jesus on the cross...but there is a cost to following Him, and we need to be ready for that.

🔹Be salty (but only if you define that like Jesus does)!

Isaiah 55: How to Be Totally Satisfied in Life (It's Not What You Think)

https://youtu.be/hLSEgCtuv1c

The Gospel of Luke Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jweHJVfx3v92e-BHb3BY6qI

Favorite Scriptures Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

Proverbs Chapter a Day Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jw10rbK-jyXkOok4uVa_muJ&si=VeJdxHq9L8qzI94X

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

"Bible Study Basics" Blog Series: https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

---------------------------

The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Read chapter 13 of Luke with me! :) Jesus heals on the Sabbath...and humiliates His adversaries for objecting to that. Here's a challenge for this chapter: take each section, and answer these questions: What is God teaching us about Himself? What is God teaching us about people? What's the main point God is making in that passage?

The Gospel of Luke Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jweHJVfx3v92e-BHb3BY6qI

Favorite Scriptures Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

Proverbs Chapter a Day Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jw10rbK-jyXkOok4uVa_muJ&si=VeJdxHq9L8qzI94X

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

"Bible Study Basics" Blog Series: https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

---------------------------

The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Read chapter 12 of Luke with me! :) All but two of the 59 verses include words Jesus spoke to His disciples and the crowds. What do you notice about His teaching?

The Gospel of Luke Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jweHJVfx3v92e-BHb3BY6qI

Favorite Scriptures Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

Proverbs Chapter a Day Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jw10rbK-jyXkOok4uVa_muJ&si=VeJdxHq9L8qzI94X

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

"Bible Study Basics" Blog Series: https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

---------------------------

The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Read chapter 11 of Luke with me! :) Did Jesus rebuke the Pharisees for obeying details of the law? Or for something deeper? What did He say they should have done? What else do you notice in this chapter?

The Gospel of Luke Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jweHJVfx3v92e-BHb3BY6qI

Favorite Scriptures Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

Proverbs Chapter a Day Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jw10rbK-jyXkOok4uVa_muJ&si=VeJdxHq9L8qzI94X

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

"Bible Study Basics" Blog Series: https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

---------------------------

The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Have you noticed the problem with nativity scenes? This is something we all need to be aware of, because it deeply affects us. I hope after watching this video you'll be able to appreciate (and be encouraged by) what all your favorite nativity scenes are hiding.

Read chapter 10 of Luke with me! :) Some sober warnings in this chapter. But also a welcome of those with childlike (not childISH!) faith! What else do you observe?

The Gospel of Luke Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jweHJVfx3v92e-BHb3BY6qI

Favorite Scriptures Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

Proverbs Chapter a Day Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jw10rbK-jyXkOok4uVa_muJ&si=VeJdxHq9L8qzI94X

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

"Bible Study Basics" Blog Series: https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

---------------------------

The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.