Christmas is such a special time of year, I thought I'd do a short series focusing on just the scriptures related to the holiday, so we may ponder, rejoice, and think about all that it means that God Himself incarnated in order to save us from our sins.

Today let's look at Micah's prophecy.

Reading and enjoying some of the verses related to Christmas, with short commentary. Today, Isaiah 9.

I enjoy biblical art, and I'm entranced with a few particular pieces. One I come back to a lot happens at Christmas time, and I love to look at it. I've written about it before. It is called The Nativity, by Gari Melchers. He depicted the scene in a more accurate way historically than others who show Jesus in a barn with Wise Men around.

Answers in Genesis: Born in a barn or stable?

Blog: Jesus was not born in a barn or stable - Gari Melchers' art, "The Nativity"

Beth Moore is preaching at Duke University chapel today. She is named as a preacher, welcomed as a preacher, and her sycophants are trumpeting their (seeming) victory of women as preacher, preaching.

Let's take a look at how we got here. Plus, I found where Beth has taught on 1 Timothy 2:11-12, a woman may not preach or usurp authority over a man.

Links mentioned in the show:

John MacArthur sermon, "God's High Calling for Women"

Tim Bates essay: DON’T MENTION THE TENSION: STTA!

Armin J. Panning: (pdf) Authentein – A Word Study, http://essays.wisluthsem.org:8080/bitstream/handle/123456789/3568/PanningAuthentein.pdf

Beth Moore's book:

How are contentment and gratitude tied to peace and endurance? Tune in to hear some thoughts on that very question, and a link to a sermon by Dr. Abner Chou on "The Secret to Endurance".

Chou sermon on Youtube

https://youtu.be/JkohzsVFrqo?si=dQe80htrOQW-M-9T

Many Christmas songs refer to angels singing. But do they? I present several theologians with differing views on the matter, but mainly, the issue is to examine our traditions (even and especially Christmas traditions) to make sure they don't contradict what is written in the Bible.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Do Angels Sing? GotQuestions says maybe

Do Angels Sing? Dr. Ryan Fraser says probably not

We heard angels sing! (or here): Auca tribe members say they heard and saw an angel choir just after the missionaries were speared

Couples. There are those who spurred each other on in Godly ways, a united pairing displaying God's glory. And I thought of couples who spurred each other on to evil deeds and eventually fell. And then couples where only one of the two was obedient and faithful and hung in there to give God glory. Let's take a look at a few, and not the most famous ones, either.

RESOURCES

MacArthur thinks yes, they were believers.

Answers in Genesis: A Lot of Righteousness (how can Lot be considered righteous when he did all those bad things?)

I was asked to review the new Bible study by Katie Noble, called God Our Home.

What follows is a review of the study, with links to support my NOT RECOMMENDED stance. Also included are recommendations for GOOD Bible studies.

RESOURCES

Bob DeWaay: Critical Issues Commentary:

Shorter essay on the Dangers of Lectio Divina by Tim Challies: https://www.challies.com/articles/a-danger-of-lectio-divina/

Lectio Divina: Explanation at GotQuestions

Marcia Montenegro on concerns with John Mark Comer: https://www.facebook.com/103502882236/posts/concerns-about-john-mark-comerby-marcia-montenegro-the-quote-that-triggered-inve/10157193876087237/

Just Thinking Podcast: The Enneagram and the Gospel

Susan Heck: https://www.withthemaster.org/

Martha Peace

Reformation Heritage Books, Sarah Ivill, author

Angels figure prominently in the NT. People don’t really know this, or they overlook angels in the created order. At the other end of the scale, some are so preoccupied with angels they nearly fall into angel worship.

With Christmas coming up, we will be singing about angels. “Angels We Have Heard on High,” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” and “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” come to mind.

Once you start studying angels, you realize how frequently they are mentioned in the New Testament. And as for the nativity story, they figure prominently, making many appearances!

RESOURCES

RC Sproul: Angels Part 1
RC Sproul: Angels part 2

Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones also has a series on angels, here

S. Lewis Johnson preached about angels from Hebrews 1:4-6, Angels Worship the Son!

John MacArthur preached "Angels- God's Invisible Army"