Q of the Day: What the particular value of including the shepherds?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Luke 2 - click here.

Second, read Luke 2:1-20.

Third, answer the following question: In God's complex scheme of how the Christ child was announced, what's the particular value of including these shepherds?

Can we witness to someone we're boycotting?

Ahhh, the Christmas season - the lights, the sounds, the songs, ..., and the bickering about whether businesses are or are not using the word "Christmas" in their advertising.

Many Christians are moved to boycott businesses that avoid the word "Christmas" when advertising for their biggest selling season of the year. (Indeed, many businesses get half of their annual revenue during this season.) The point the boycotters make is that there are still plenty of people in this country who are not ashamed of the Christian angle to Christmas. There have been several advertising reversals lately because of these boycotts.

If that's your reaction, you are free to do so. But please consider two things:

1. How can we witness to someone we're boycotting? Or, perhaps I should say, "What kind of witness do we have to those we boycott?" Clearly, the boycotts pressure companies into a response, and a response they don't make willingly. So, their interaction with Christians is adversarial. How receptive would they then be to the real message of Christmas?
2. By boycotting, aren't we just reinforcing the false idea that Christmas is all about money? Boycotting "works" because it hits businesses in the pocketbooks. A boycott says that one party will financially pressure another party until they take the desired action - using money to coerce a response. Suddenly, the debate over Christmas is about revenue, not Christ. And the boycott helped make it that way. A boycott threatens to "take away" Christmas (financially) from a business, and in the process takes away Christmas spiritually.

There are times for boycotts - I'm not against them in principle. However, I question the overall effect of these particular boycotts. They may "work" in the short-term, but do they really advance the Kingdom of God?

For me, Christmas will be Christmas whether or not Acme Clothing Company uses the word "Christmas" in their commercials. I don't think forcing them to use the word will draw anyone closer to Christ. In fact, it may only help to promote the idea that Christmas is just about shopping. Maybe it's better they don't use the word Christmas for luring shoppers in.

Jesus condemned false religion, where people worshiped Him with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him. When an advertiser is forced to use the word "Christmas" (not even the word "Christ"!), he has "honored" Christmas with his lips, not his heart. We're promoting false homage (and not even to a Person, but to a holiday).

The message of Christmas is our responsibility to get out - not the advertisers.

Q of the Day: What is the temple experiencing in Luke 2 that it hasn't experienced since Ezekiel 10?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Luke 2 - click here.

Second, read Luke 2:22-40.

Third, answer the following question: What is the temple experiencing that it hasn't experienced since Ezekiel 10?

Q of the Day: What is ironic about "presenting" the baby Jesus to the Lord?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Luke 2 - click here.

Second, read Luke 2:22-40

Third, answer the following question: What is ironic about "presenting" the baby Jesus to the Lord?

Q of the Day: What other episodes do you remember that involve Jesus and the temple?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Luke 2 - click here.

Second, read Luke 2:22-40

Third, answer the following question: What other episodes do you remember that involve Jesus and the temple?

Q of the Day: What do you think it must have been like to be Joseph?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Matthew 1:18-25 - click here.

Second, read Matthew 1:18-25.

Third, answer the following question: What do you think it must have been like to be Joseph?

Q of the Day: What do you think it must have been like to be Mary?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Luke 1-2 - click here.

Second, read Luke 1:26-2:52

Third, answer the following question: What do you think it must have been like to be Mary?

Q of the Day: What do you think it must have been like to be Elizabeth?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Luke 1-2 - click here.

Second, read Luke 1:5-17, 39-45.

Third, answer the following question: What do you think it must have been like to be Elizabeth?

Q of the Day: What do you think it must have been like to be Zechariah?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Luke 1-2 - click here.

Second, read Luke 1:5-25.

Third, answer the following question: What do you think it must have been like to be Zechariah?

Q of the Day: How is Psalm 67 Messianic?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Psalm 67- click here.

Second, read Psalm 67.

Third, answer the following question: How is Psalm 67 Messianic?

Q of the Day: What is the expected result of being blessed (Psa 67)?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Psalm 67- click here.

Second, read Psalm 67.

Third, answer the following question: What is the expected result of being blessed?

Q of the Day: What does the Psalmist request from God in Psalm 67?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Psalm 67- click here.

Second, read Psalm 67.

Third, answer the following question: What does the Psalmist request from God?

Q of the Day: Who else is blessed in Eph 1:3-14?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Ephesians 1- click here.

Second, read Ephesians 1:3-14.

Third, answer the following question: Who else is blessed in this passage?

Q of the Day: What is the one main thing Paul prays for in Eph 1:15-23?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Ephesians 1- click here.

Second, read Ephesians 1:15-23.

Third, answer the following question: What is the one main thing Paul prays for? Why is that significant?

Q of the Day: What is the significance of the verb tense for "blessed" in Eph 1:3?

First, open the following link in a new window to get to Ephesians 1 - click here.

Second, read Ephesians 1:3-14.

Third, answer the following question: What is the significance of the verb tense for "blessed" in verse 3?

Q of the Day: Find the Trinity in Eph 1:3-14. What is said about each Member?

irst, open the following link in a new window to get to Ephesians 1 - click here.

Second, read Ephesians 1:3-14.

Third, answer the following question: Find the Trinity in this passage. What is said about each Member?