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Mills River SDA Church

Cory Reeves

What is Christmas?

1 of my thoughts for Christmas stories, 1 of my favorites of things that have happened was I think my dad was probably 64.

And what do you get a 64 year old my mom got him a cool remote-control helicopter right and He had a blast we went out and he was flying it around our property videoing our property a little bit and Wouldn't you know it he got the thing stuck in a tree on Christmas Day.

And it was, I can throw the ball pretty far.

We couldn't hit it with a stick where it was at.

And probably what annoyed him more than anything is every evening for about a week, week and a half, you could see the little green blinking light on this helicopter up in the tree.

Becky, when you were sharing, that's 1 of the stories that popped into my mind that still makes me smile today.

I felt so bad for him at the same time as it was funny, because we were out there throwing rocks at that thing.

It was on a hill and it would have been really hard to fall.

This sermon I'm going to share, I think 95 percent of you are going to be excited about and be fine with I'm probably gonna make about 5% of the people in here I Don't know angry.

Maybe it's the right word at me I don't know we'll see but I'm gonna share a little bit about what Christmas is.

And you know, when I was a kid, it was my favorite holiday.

I love this time of year because to me, it also speaks of family.

That's what I remember all throughout my whole life, is family getting together and spending time together.

But it wasn't until I was older that I heard the weird question, should Christians celebrate Christmas?

Now, I get Santa Claus, Magic Reindeer, and getting every gift you could ever imagine.

So the question I want to start out with today is, should we as Christians celebrate Christmas?

Does the Bible or spirit of prophecy help guide us in any way?

Well, the Review and Herald, December 9, 1884, starts with this question, but what is Christmas?

This day has been made much of for centuries it is accepted by the unbelieving world and by the Christian world generally as the day on which Christ was born when the world at large celebrate the day they show no honor to Christ." It's interesting, huh?

As we ponder this question today, I also wanna ponder, do we show honor to Christ?

Now, I have, believe it or not, when I prepared this sermon, I read all of the quotes that Ellen White uses that say Christmas.

If you take out duplicates, there are 161 quotes where she talks about Christmas.

I'm gonna start out today by reading them all to you.

I was hoping that wouldn't flop, and you guys would just stare at me ready to go.

I'm even having my notes wait for the laugh.

And then I want to summarize a little bit.

And then I want to spend some time reflecting on the gift.

The big 1 I hear is that Christmas was not when Christ was born.

It's volume 21 of manuscript releases 223.

It is supposed that Christ was born on the 25th day of December.

And for that reason it is celebrated as his birthday.

But it is impossible for us to know upon what day he was born.

You can know no more about that than the children of Israel could know where Moses was buried.

The reason God has not revealed that fact is because you would have worshipped that day as they would have worshipped the grave of Moses had they found it.

And this is just what they have done with the day they supposed was the 1 which Christ was born.

It's important to know that this Christmas isn't a day, a holy day.

It's a day of thoughtful wondering of Christ in that gift.

But it hasn't been given to us as a specific day, because we would have worshipped that day.

The Christian world would have fallen for that day.

However, does that mean we should shun the 25th of December?

Our children have learned to regard Christmas as a day of rejoicing, and we should find it a difficult matter to pass over this holiday without some attention.

The youth should not be left to find their own amusements in vanity and pleasure-seeking.

If parents will make the necessary effort, the minds of the children may be directed to God, to His cause, and to the salvation of souls." You see, she's suggesting here that this holiday is too big just to ignore.

As some have suggested maybe we should do.

We should use it for the salvation of man.

The whole world is looking to Christmas and everyone I think Andy alluded to this and in some of the things he said everyone kind of gets the idea that it's about who Jesus what a better day what a great day we can use to point people to Jesus.

If we keep Christmas at all, we should show that we understand its significance.

Instead of saying by our actions that we are putting Christ out of our minds and hearts, let us testify to men, to angels, and to God that we remember our Redeemer by following His example of self-denial for others' good.

You see, when we celebrate Christmas, we should make Christmas about Christ and His work.

It says it's not required to keep Christmas.

However, in looking at this quote, in the quote before, and lots of others, I feel you could harm others if you are so negative about Christmas.

You know what is worse than not being a Christian?

I would say it's being a grumpy, mean, unloving Christian that pushes people away from Christ.

We have to accept Christ in, and in a holiday, even if we don't fully agree with everything that holiday does, We should be still reflecting Christ to those around.

What better time to do this when others are looking at that day?

There are certain times of the year when churches are more full than any other day, and this is 1 of them.

People are curious about the birth of our Savior.

We should be open to sharing the true Christmas story.

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What is Christmas?

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