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December 2022 Plan of Salvation:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever shall believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Why Christmas is the most unique holiday of the year Christmas is the most commercial season in our society, but for a significant percentage of the population it is also a holiday packed with meaning. For Christians who take their faith seriously, Christmas is the celebration of one of the most important events in history.
dates throughout the history of the Christian Church. In fact, even today Christians in some parts of the world celebrate Christian on different dates. December 25 is simply an arbitrary date chosen to celebrate the birth because the exact date is unknown.
Christians consider Christmas to be the celebration of the day Jesus Christ was born as a baby. Known in theology as the "Incarnation," it signifies that God became human and entered into His own creation. According to the biblical nativity narratives, Jesus was born to a virgin named Mary in the town of Bethlehem in the Judean countryside.
The date is non-consequential, anyway, since the true significance of Christmas for Christians is not found in the coming of Jesus. It is in why He came. The Bible explains (and Christians believe) that Jesus is (and was) divine, and that He came into the world for the primary purpose of eventually giving up His life as an expression of His love and grace. Ultimately, it was part of a grand plan to offer forgiveness and life to all who would willingly choose to place their faith and hope in Him.
Though most people identify Christmas with the date of December 25, Christianity does not actually claim that Jesus was born on December 25. In fact, Christmas has been celebrated on a variety of different
theists, those who do not take a literal view of the Bible, and members of other religions argue from the opposite position. Holy Scripture, text, historical, archaeological, and logical evidence support evidence of Jesus Christ and biblical claims. Ultimately, it is up to each person to examine the evidence and decide which is the most persuasive. There is no denying the impact that this Christian holiday has had upon society and upon the faith community that celebrates it for reasons of faith. While many people complain about the holiday’s modern emphasis on consumerism, Christians throughout the centuries have recognized that Christmas represents a turning point in history when the Savior entered the world.
Christian apologists (defenders of the faith) argue in defense of the Biblical accounts. Anti-
Over 1,000 faith leaders call for a Christmas truce in Ukraine A diverse and quickly growing coalition of over 1,000 faith leaders in the United States– representing a massive number of believers from every major tradition–have signed onto a Christmas Truce statement demanding a temporary ceasefire in the War in Ukraine. Spiritual leaders from across the spectrum of faith communities and a diversity of ideological perspectives have become signatories in recognition of the fact that the way out of the war in Ukraine will not be a military solution. They have signed on with the belief that a temporary ceasefire
America; Rev. Jim Wallis, offers an opportunity for moral Georgetown Center on Faith and clarity that could be the first step toward a negotiated peace. Justice; a full list is available. Signers include Bishop William J. Barber II, president of Repairers of the Breach; Dr. Cornel West, Union Theological Seminary; Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rainbow Push Coalition; Rev. Liz Theoharis, Director of the Kairos Center for Religion; Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Jewish Renewal movement; Mary Novak, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice; Thay Phap An, the Plum Village Buddhist community; Rev. Wesley GranbergMichaelson, General Secretary Emeritus, Reformed Church in
“As the war in Ukraine drags into its 10th month, the only certainty is that the estimated hundreds of thousands killed and wounded will continue to grow, as will the 14 million war refugees not to mention the humanitarian impacts felt across Europe and the globe,” said Ariel Gold, executive director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation USA, the oldest interfaith peace organization in the United States. Finish reading story at www.goodnewspress.us
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The Christmas Story Luke' Chapter 2 explains the reason for the season.
The Hope of Christ this Christmas: Christmas classics and favorites as part of the program. Will Graham to Share Special Message Online Dec. 23 "To sing at Rev. Billy Graham's last crusade in New York City and "Will Graham: Christmas from stand alongside this great man of Little Piney Cove" will feature
The Christmas story
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed, each in his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for, behold, I
The Hope of Christ this Christmas:
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, good will toward men. They made haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
God was one of the greatest honors of my life. Now to be invited to share this time with my treasured friend, Will Graham, at Rev. Graham's home is an extremely speCHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 20, cial moment," said Crabb. "Rev. 2022 /-- As the world prepares to Graham's main goal in life was to celebrate Christmas this weekend, point people to the hope found in Evangelist Will Graham and the our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Billy Graham Evangelistic Associ- and that's just what we're going to ation, along with musical guest do this Christmas—point people to Jason Crabb, will premiere an Jesus. I can't wait to share this online Christmas special on Fritime with all of you." day, Dec. 23, at 8 p.m. ET. music by award-winning guest Jason Crabb
The program, which was recorded live at "Little Piney Cove," the mountaintop home of Billy and Ruth Graham in Montreat, North Carolina, will air at WillGrahamLive.com, as well as on YouTube and Facebook. The special will be available for ondemand viewing in the days following the initial airing.
The online Christmas celebration has become an annual tradition for Graham, with past events being hosted at the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove (2021) and the Billy Graham Library (2022). Those two online outreaches were viewed more than 43,000 times combined, across 45 countries around the world. More than 1,900 people During the program, Graham will indicated that they made a decishare the hope found in a relation- sion to follow Jesus through the ship with Jesus Christ, whose two programs. birth we celebrate on Christmas. "Jesus is not a myth. He's not a About Will Graham legend. Jesus actually walked the Will is the third generation of Graearth. He talked with people and hams to proclaim the Gospel of healed people. He experienced Jesus Christ under the banner of the same pains and sorrows that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Asyou and I experience. He was sociation (BGEA). The grandson 100% man," said Graham in his of Billy Graham and son of Frankmessage. "At the same time, He lin Graham, he also serves as vice was 100% God. He was God in president of the BGEA, and as flesh. He was 'Emmanuel ... God executive director of the Billy Grawith us.'" ham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville. Follow Will Grammy and Dove Award-winning on Facebook, Instagram and Twitartist Jason Crabb will perform ter (@WillGraham_4).