101212-0830-Loran Livingston - A Journey Through Christmas: The Birth

2010-12-12-0830 Pastor Loran Livingston is the speaker this morning December 12th, 2010 in the 8:30 service.

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20; Matthew 15:3; Colossians 2:8; Titus 1

Topic: Traditions

Notes:

- Warning against traditions that strengthen loyalty to an organization rather than Christ- People become bound to traditions as though equal to scripture- Scripture translated over time through cultural perspectives- Christmas wasn’t celebrated until 300 years after Jesus’ birth... Constantine declared Christianity the state religion- Nobody knows when Jesus was born... doesn’t matter when we celebrate Jesus’ birthday; don’t just remember Him on Dec. 25th- The traditional view of Jesus birth is incorrect... Jesus wasn’t born in a stable.  Middle Eastern culture hospitable, Joseph of royal lineage, “inn” is a guest room in a private home.- Nothing wrong with bows lights and trees... unless we only feel this way once a year... if it takes this for me to have compassion on the needy... then it has become tradition...- Christianity is doing what Jesus would every day of your life- Can’t live at the start of something (Jesus’ birth); gotta move on- Jesus isn’t lying in a manger but sitting on a throne; live the life...- Christmas is about God coming to draw us to Himself and about God in us driving us to where people are, living in their midst