Preparation And Expectation
When our children were young, we observed Advent (the time beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas through Christmas Eve) by making a wreath and lighting candles each night after…
Topic > Biblical Studies > Themes of the Bible > Christian Celebrations >
Discover The Profound Meaning Imbedded In The First Communion
“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the…
Live Like You’re Healed
Two sisters from India were born blind. Their father was a hard-working provider, but he could never afford the surgery that would give them sight. Then a team of doctors came to their region on a short-term medical mission. The morning after their surgery, the girls smiled wide as the nurse unwrapped their bandages. One exclaimed, “Mother, I can see! I can see!”
A man who had been lame since birth sat in his usual spot at a temple gate, begging for money. Peter told the man he didn’t have coins, but he had something better. “In the name of Jesus…
The Whole House
Wearing his striped jumpsuit, James walked across the steamy jail gym and climbed into the portable pool where he was baptized by the prison chaplain. James’ joy multiplied, however, when he heard that his daughter Brittany—also an inmate—had been baptized that same day . . . in the same water. When they realized what had happened, even the staff got emotional. “There wasn’t a dry eye,” the chaplain said. In and out of jail for years, Brittany and her dad both wanted God’s forgiveness. And together, God gave them new life.
Scripture describes another prison encounter—this time with a jailer—where Jesus’…
Food That Says I Love You
I attended a family birthday gathering where the hostess wove the theme of “favorite things” into the decor, the gifts, and best of all, the food. Because the birthday girl loved steak and salad—and white chocolate raspberry Bundt cake—the hostess grilled steak, spun spinach, and ordered that favorite cake. Favorite foods say, “I love you.”
The Bible contains many references to banquets, feasts, and festivals, pairing the physical act of eating with celebrations of God’s faithfulness. Feasting was a part of the sacrificial system of worship practiced by the Israelites (see Numbers 28:11–31), with Passover, the festival of weeks, and new…
Celestial Communion
When Apollo 11’s Eagle lunar module landed on the moon’s Sea of Tranquility on July 20, 1969, the space travelers took time to recover from their flight before stepping onto the moon’s surface. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin had received permission to bring bread and wine so he could take communion. After reading Scripture, he tasted the first foods ever consumed on the moon. Later, he wrote: “I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon the wine curled slowly and gracefully up the side of the cup.” As Aldrin enjoyed this celestial…
God’s Moves
I love a good game of Scrabble. After one particular game, my friends named a move after me—calling it a “Katara.” I’d been trailing the entire game, but at the end of it—with no tiles left in the bag—I made a seven-letter word. This meant the game was over, and I received fifty bonus points as well as all the points from all of my opponents’ leftover tiles, moving me from last place to first. Now whenever we play and someone is trailing, they remember what happened and hold out hope for a “Katara.”
Remembering what has happened in the past…
Remember and Celebrate
On December 6, 1907, explosions rocked a small community in the US state of West Virginia, producing one of the worst disasters in the history of the coal mining industry. Some 360 miners were killed, and it’s been estimated that this horrific tragedy left behind about 250 widows and one thousand children without fathers. Historians maintain that the memorial service became the seedbed from which the celebration of Father’s Day in the US would eventually grow. Out of great loss came remembrance and—eventually—celebration.
The greatest tragedy in human history occurred when human beings crucified their Creator. Yet, that dark moment also…
What Do We Do Now With All Those Christmas Gifts?
Can you believe it? Christmas Day has come and gone—just like that. Over the last month or possibly just this past week, you probably spent a great deal of time writing Christmas cards
Hang On, Should Christians be Celebrating Christmas?
I don’t know about you, but when it gets this close to Christmas, I often look at the tinsel, the sparkling lights, and the crowded stores and wonder if I should be engaging in all the hype.
How Excited Are You For Christmas?
Fairy lights. Pretty baubles. Marshmallows roasting over the fire. The fresh smell of pine trees. Loved ones gathered around a table sharing stories and good food.
Have you allowed the true meaning of Christmas to impact your life?
I’d encourage you to get together with the Discover the Word team today. They have a question they’d like you to think about. Beyond the lights and the presents, when did the true meaning of Christmas impact your life? When did Christmas become Christmas for you? Has it? Well, join us to hear how “Christmas […]
Silent Night of the Soul
Long before Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber created the familiar carol “Silent Night,” Angelus Silesius had written:
Lo! in the silent night a child to God is born,
And all is brought again that ere was lost or lorn.
Could but thy soul, O man, become a silent night
God would be born in thee and set all things aright.
Silesius, a Polish monk, published the poem in 1657 in The Cherubic Pilgrim. During our church’s annual Christmas Eve service, the choir sang a beautiful rendition of the song titled “Could but Thy Soul Become a Silent Night.”
The twofold mystery of Christmas is that God became…
Choosing faith over fear
As the Christmas carol tells us, Christmas brings “tidings of comfort and joy”! But it’s safe to say that not everyone buys into the Savior in the manger. Today on Discover the Word, we turn our attention to one person in the Christmas story who saw Christmas as a threat. Yes, “Christmas Changes Everything,” but […]
Seeing Christmas in a New Light
My all-time favorite occasion is Christmas. Why, you may ask? Well, which other occasion can match up to the myriad of activities?
A closer look at the shepherds
Most nativity scenes are pretty similar. You’ve got Mary, Joseph, and Jesus of course, usually some sheep, a donkey, an angel, and a couple shepherds. Today on Discover the Word, we’ll take a little closer look at those shepherds, who discovered that “Christmas Changes Everything.” Be listening today to Discover the Word!
So what made Joseph stay?
Today on Discover the Word, you’re invited to put yourself in Joseph’s shoes. Your fiancée comes to you and says, “I’m pregnant.” How would you react? Like Joseph, you’d probably consider the option of backing out of that marriage. So what made Joseph stay? Learn how “Christmas Changes Everything” when you join us today for […]
