From Secular to Sacred

3. From Secular to Sacred • From Santa to Savior • From Holiday to Holy Day • From Decoration to Devotion • From Getting to Giving

4. From Decoration to Devotion

5. 1 Peter 3:3-4 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

6. Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

7. SOME PEOPLE THINK CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ARE WORLDLY, BUT THEY CAN BE AN OBJECT LESSON ABOUT THE BIRTH OF JESUS.

8. Questions about the Decorations And Those Who Dislike Decorations • Why do we use decorations that have had earlier non-Christian meaning?

9.  Acts 17:22-29 Please turn in your Bible to this passage.

10. Questions about the Decorations And Those Who Dislike Decorations • Why do we use decorations that have had earlier non-Christian meaning? • Evergreen Trees, Wreaths • Pagan groves in the Old Testament • Germanic objectsof worship andhuman sacrifice • Christian meaning:Eternal life!

11. Questions about the Decorations And Those Who Dislike Decorations • Why do we use decorations that have had earlier non-Christian meaning? Evergreen Trees, Wreaths • Holly • Chinese New Year • Roman Saturnalia • Druid protection • Christians remindedof Jesus’ crown ofthorns

12. Questions about the Decorations And Those Who Dislike Decorations • Why do we use decorations that have had earlier non-Christian meaning? Evergreen Trees, Wreaths  Holly • Mistletoe -Tree parasite w/ healingpowers- Druids used forprotection -Norse myth about Balder’s resurrection

13. Questions about the Decorations And Those Who Dislike Decorations • Why do we use decorations that have had earlier non-Christian meaning? Evergreen Trees, Wreaths  Holly • Mistletoe -We love because Hefirst loved us!

14. Questions about the Decorations And Those Who Dislike Decorations • Why do we use decorations that have had earlier non-Christian meaning? Evergreen Trees, Wreaths  Holly  Mistletoe • Light(s) • Sun gods - worshipduring Winter Solstice. • Jesus is God the SON .

15. Questions about the Decorations And Those Who Dislike Decorations • Why do we use decorations that have had earlier non-Christian meaning? Evergreen Trees, Wreaths  Holly  Mistletoe Light(s) • Yule Log - Germanic root “to turn” – Sun rises again

16. Questions about the Decorations And Those Who Dislike Decorations • Why do we use decorations that have had earlier non-Christian meaning? Evergreen Trees, Wreaths  Holly  Mistletoe Light(s) • Yule Log - The SON rises, and turns everything around.

17. Questions about the Decorations And Those Who Dislike Decorations • Which decorations have distinctive Christian meaning? Nativity Scene

18. Questions about the Decorations And Those Who Dislike Decorations • Which decorations have distinctive Christian meaning? Nativity Scene  Star

19. Questions about the Decorations And Those Who Dislike Decorations • Which decorations have distinctive Christian meaning? Nativity Scene  Star  Bells

20. Questions about the Decorations And Those Who Dislike Decorations • Which decorations have distinctive Christian meaning? Nativity Scene  Star  Bells Candy Canes

21. Questions about the Decorations And Those Who Dislike Decorations • Which decorations have distinctive Christian meaning? Nativity Scene  Star  Bells Candy Canes  Christian Words (Love, Joy, Peace) and Scripture

22. Questions about the Decorations And Those Who Dislike Decorations • Which decorations have distinctive Christian meaning? Nativity Scene  Star  Bells Candy Canes  Christian Words (Love, Joy, Peace) and Scripture • Christmas Music (Carols)

23. Questions about the Decorator And Those Who Like Decorations • What do the decorations mean to us? Lights – Jesus is the Light

24.  John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

25. Questions about the Decorator And Those Who Like Decorations • What do the decorations mean to us? Lights – Jesus is the Light Evergreens – Eternal Life

26.  John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

27. Questions about the Decorator And Those Who Like Decorations • What do the decorations mean to us? Lights – Jesus is the Light Evergreens – Eternal Life • Colors • Green – Eternal Life – John 3:16

28. Questions about the Decorator And Those Who Like Decorations • What do the decorations mean to us? Lights – Jesus is the Light Evergreens – Eternal Life • Colors • Green – Eternal Life – John 3:16 • Red – Salvation by the blood of Christ – Romans 5:9

29.  Romans 5:9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!

30. Questions about the Decorator And Those Who Like Decorations • What do the decorations mean to us? Lights – Jesus is the Light Evergreens – Eternal Life • Colors • Green – Eternal Life – John 3:16 • Red – Salvation by the blood of Christ – Romans 5:9 • White – Forgiveness – Isaiah 1:18

31.  Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together,"says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. “

32. Questions about the Decorator And Those Who Like Decorations • What do the decorations mean to us? Lights – Jesus is the Light Evergreens – Eternal Life • Colors • Green – Eternal Life – John 3:16 • Red – Salvation by the blood of Christ – Romans 5:9 • White – Forgiveness – Isaiah 1:18 • Blue - Heaven

33. Questions about the Decorator And Those Who Like Decorations • What do the decorations mean to us? Lights – Jesus is the Light Evergreens – Eternal Life • Colors • Green – Eternal Life – John 3:16 • Red – Salvation by the blood of Christ – Romans 5:9 • White – Forgiveness – Isaiah 1:18 • Blue - Heaven • Gold – Christ’s Deity

34. Questions about the Decorator And Those Who Like Decorations • What do the decorations mean to us? Lights – Jesus is the Light Evergreens – Eternal Life • Colors • Green – Eternal Life – John 3:16 • Red – Salvation by the blood of Christ – Romans 5:9 • White – Forgiveness – Isaiah 1:18 • Blue - Heaven • Gold – Christ’s Deity • Silver – Christ’s Perfect Humanity

35. Questions about the Decorator And Those Who Like Decorations • What is the motivation for having decorations?  To impress other people?  • To make other people happy?  • To point other people to Christ? 

36.  1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

37. 1 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

38.  1 Corinthians 10:31-33 So whether you eat or drink or whateveryou do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God- even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

39. Isaiah 7:14 Born of a Virgin Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

40. What Should We Do? X X